Germany, Portugal and Brazil are the only undefeated teams to reach the quarter-finals of Germany 2006. A team from each of the eight initial groups remains in contention for the World Cup title. Six of the eight teams won their group while two placed second.
June 30th in Berlin: Germany vs Argentina
In the four games leading up to this match #19 ranked Germany has scored 8 goals and conceded only 2 (in their first game of the World Cup). Miroslav Klose has scored 4 (best in the tournament so far) while teammate Lukas Podolski has scored 3.
Argentina, ranked #9, have scored 10 goals and let in 2. They needed a goal in overtime to get past Mexico in the Round of 16. Six of those 10 goals game in a 6-0 romp of Serbia and Montenegro in Group Play. Hernan Crespo and Maxi Rodriquez have scored 3 goals each in the World Cup.
Germany appears to be improving with every game. With the exception of the 6 goal romp, the Argentina side seem content to play only as hard as they need to get the win. Plus Germany is playing in front of a home crowd. I would give the edge to Germany in what will likely be a very skillful and tactical game.
June 30th in Hamburg: Italy vs Ukraine
Italy have scored 6 goals and conceded 1 to the USA in a game that ended in a tie. The only game that they haven’t scored in the first half was the Round of 16 vs Australia when they scored on a penalty kick in the final seconds of play to win. All the Italian goals have been scored by different players.
Andriy Shevchenko has scored two of the Ukraine’s five goals in Germany 2006. They conceded 4 goals – all from Spain in the first game. It took penalty kicks in the Round of 16 versus Switzerland to get to this game.
The Italians will be without Marco Materazzi who was expelled in the Round of 16 game with a direct red card. It was reported in the Vancouver paper today that a couple of the players flew to Italy to visit a former soccer club teammate who had attempted suicide. Hopefully this, and the club scandal in Italy, will not be a distraction to the skillful Italian side.
The Ukranian side will be without striker Andriy Voronin. If Shevchenko is off form or has no one to work with on attack, the #45 ranked Ukranians will struggle against this very skilled #13 ranked Italian side. On paper Italy is a better team and, if they come to play, should advance in the World Cup.
July 1st in Gelsenkirchen: England vs Portugal
England has scored 6 goals in their four games at Germany 2006. The only goals they have conceded, two, were in the final game of group play vs Sweden. Stephen Gerrard is England’s top scorer with 2 goals while Maniche is Portugal’s top scorer also with 2 goals. Look for Frank Lampard to shoot – a lot. In one of the group play games he had 7 shots all by himself. Plus Wayne Rooney played his first full game since breaking a bone in his foot.
Portugal has put 6 balls into the net and only allowed one, in their final group game with Mexico. They will be without two key players, Deco and Costinha, who are ineligible to play as a result of receiving red cards in the Round of 16 game against the Dutch. Christiane Ronaldo left that soccer match with a thigh injury and his status for this World Cup match is still questionable.
England has had time to adjust since Michael Owen was injured in their final group match. If Ronaldo is able to play I think this World Cup match may go to overtime. England may be a stronger side, given that Portugal will be missing two starters, but Portugal has a ton of heart and passion.
July 1st in Frankfurt: Brazil vs France
Brazil has scored 10 times and only had one scored against them in their final group match vs Japan. After being tied 1-1 with Japan at half time in that World Cup match they scored 3 goals. It was like they clicked into another gear, which was evident against Ghana in the Round of 16 play where they again scored 3 goals. Ronaldo has scored 3 goals while Adriano has netted the soccer ball twice.
France has 6 goals for and 2 against. They started Germany 2006 with two ties and then had two wins in a row. In the two wins they scored two goals in the second half. Patrick Vieira and Henry Thierry lead the French with 2 goals each.
France and Brazil last met in the Final of the 1998 World Cup of Soccer, a game host France won 3-0. The French were winless in the 2002 World Cup which Brazil went on to win. In Germany 2006 the French started slowly and have gotten better each game. Brazil hasn’t lost a game in the World Cup since that loss to France in 1998. It feels like Brazil has yet to show their full brilliance in Germany 2006, and that they have a couple more gears to tap into. Brazil by two.