Round of 16 Qualifiers (top 2 in each group in the group stages):
Group A: Mexico, France
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Paraguay
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H: Spain, Chile
Round of 16 Matches:
Mexico d. South Korea
Argentina d. France
England d. Serbia
USA d. Germany (upset pick!)
Netherlands d. Paraguay
Italy d. Denmark
Brazil d. Chile
Spain d. Ivory Coast
Quarterfinals:
England d. Mexico
Brazil d. Netherlands
Spain d. Italy
Argentina d. USA
Semifinals:
Brazil d. England
Spain d. Argentina
Final:
Spain 3-2 Brazil
On a related note, I will be going to the USA-Slovenia game on the 18th of June at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, which should be a ton of fun. I've never been a soccer fan in particular, but the World Cup is by far the largest sporting event in the World. Many of the people I've met here are crazy excited that the first World Cup ever held in Africa is going to be right in their backyard this summer. I felt like I had to take the opportunity to go to a game, and it would be very cool to see the USA shake its reputation as a soccer lightweight in the coming weeks.
Update: Well, my predictions were pretty bad, although I did correctly pick Spain to win it all. The USA played some good games (and had a bit of help from Robert Green), but could've done better against Ghana. Unfortunately, my World Cup ticket never made it to me (though my folks sent it 4 weeks before the game), so I did not make it to the USA-Slovenia game. Oh well, I'll just have to go to Brazil in 2014.
