FIFA World Cup: Lull before the storm?

FIFA World Cup 2010

So we have reached the business end of the World Cup with all the deserving teams in the last 8. After a relative slow start the World Cup has gathered pace with loads of controversies, goals, major upsets and high drama so much that Mr. Blatter, the FIFA president had to apologize in public.

There is a two day gap between the pre-quarters and quarterfinals giving all the teams a breather, the pundits more time to analyse each team and fans to prepare for a final battle among their friends and family, get the betting pots rolling.

Expect anything

Two days of inactivity followed by high stake games , with electrifying atmosphere (no one really cares about Vuvuzela when Brazil take on Holland) and with players who wish to rise above the rest.

Time to fire

Among the 8 teams remaining Brazil, Holland, Spain , Argentina and Germany are the heavyweights with dark horses Paraguay and Uruguay still in the frame along with Africa’s last hope Ghana. This is how the teams line up against each other with high octane, explosive matches with world class players digging it out in the middle :

Quarter-finals

Match	Date – Time	Venue
57	02/07 19:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Netherlands		Brazil
58	02/07 23:50	Johannesburg		Uruguay		Ghana
59	03/07 19:30	Cape Town		Argentina		Germany
60	03/07 23:50	Johannesburg		Paraguay		Spain

Semi-finals

Match	Date – Time	Venue
61	06/07 23:50	Cape Town		W58	-	W57
62	07/07 23:50	Durban		W59	-	W60

Match for third place

Match	Date – Time	Venue
63	10/07 23:50	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		L61	-	L62

Final

Match	Date – Time	Venue
64	11/07 23:50	Johannesburg		W61	-	W62

Holland and Brazil will light up the quarters when Sneijder goes head on against Kaka, and Lucio will look to keep the dangerous Robben out. It promises to be the greatest match so far with the winner taking on Uruguay or Ghana, who have exceeded their expectations and have nothing to lose.

Then on the 3rd Argentina will clash with Germany who thrashed the English 4-1. With comparisons being drawn between Ozil and Messi , both will look to get their teams to the Semi Finals. Also the winner of this match will take on Spain most probably (being the favourites against Paraguay).

Then finally on 11th of July we will have the grand finale with South American fans hoping for a Argentina – Brazil final, although it could well turn out to be an all European affair. Keep your Saturdays free, cancel all appointments, remain glued to the TV, because it’s showtime soon.