- No text -

- No text -

And more than a few French players are Algerian. There are 200,000 Algerians in the city of Marseille alone, which includes the THE hero of French soccer, Zinedine Zidane. Zizou is a hero in Algeria, too. You can barely spend a couple of hours in France without encountering an Algerian.

And the Battle of Algiers was about 50 years ago.

They'll win this one, for the reason I implied. They'll beat Colombia (which will get past a Suarez-less Uruguay). Then Germany will take them down.

--
The 2007 ND-UCLA game was a once in a lifetime experience, I hope

Seriously. I completely forgot that this was in Brazil.

There's no way Brazil loses.

Brazil -- Colombia -- France -- Germany -- Netherlands -- Costa Rica -- Argentina -- Belgium

*****

Brazil -- Germany -- Netherlands -- Argentina

*****

Brazil -- Netherlands

*****
Netherlands

1950 will not be avenged, and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth for a few more decades until Brazil gets to host again.

Brazil is good, not great. They win on penalty kicks aided by home field advantage and a roaring crowd vs. Germany even after Germany treats France like it's 1940. But the Dutch upset both the dream of a Brazil-Argentina final, as Van Persie outshines Messi, and then the hosts themselves 2-1 in regulation, and finally at long last hoist the trophy, which in case anyone hasn't noticed, isn't a cup.

Chile -- Colombia -- France -- Germany -- Mexico -- Costa Rica -- Argentina -- Belgium

*****

Chile -- France -- Mexico -- Argentina

*****

Chile -- Argentina

*****

Argentina

BRA, COL, FRA, GER, NED, CRC, ARG, USA

COL, GER, NED, ARG

GER, ARG

GER

Recalls the "Shame of Gijón" where West Germany and Austria essentially fixed their match, the last of the group, after Algeria surprised West Germany in the 1st match of the world cup in 1982. This incident lead directly to the final matches of the group stages being played simultaneously.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany_1%E2%80%930_Austria

A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962

http://www.amazon.com/Savage-War-Peace-Algeria-1954-1962/dp/0670619647/ref=tmm_hrd_swat...

FTR, I would love to see that match. Karim Benzema, star France forward, is a Berber as is national hero Zizou.

is there any chance that we, the world, could see Algeria and France face off-as in, does Algeria have a chance at beating Germany.

Because that match would have very real, ugly, historical implications.

We'd only meet France or Algeria in the final (ha!) - they're on the other side of the bracket.

--
"Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." - Yeats

Sincerely yours,

Joseph (Sepp) Blatter

--
The 2007 ND-UCLA game was a once in a lifetime experience, I hope

aka the Battle of Algiers Part 2?

Brazil
Columbia
France
Germany
Mexico
Costa Rica
Argentina
Belgium

Brazil
France
Mexico
Argentina

Brazil
Argentina

Brazil

- No text -

BRA. COL. FRA. GER. NED. COS. ARG. BEL.

BRA. GER. NED. ARG.

GER. NED.

ORANJEBOOM!

Chile. Colombia. France. Germany. Netherlands. CR. Argentina. US

Chile. Germany. Netherlands. US

Germany. Netherlands

Netherlands

Yes, I have been drinking heavily ;)

with Germany and the Dutch losing in the respective semis.

W - Brasil

W - Uruguay - Caveat: Suarez appeals FIFA's initial suspension decision and the appeal serves as a stay of execution and he's allowed to play in the R16 match. Uruguay rides an 'us against the world' mentality to a victory over Colombia.

Uruguayan newspapers are already starting in on the conspiracy angle w/r/t the Suarez suspension. They blame the English!

If Suarez doesn't play I'll flip my pick to Colombia.

W - Les Bleus

W - Deutchland

W - Huis van Oranje (*) They have to win. El Tri fans are becoming more insufferable than usual. Of course they would view a Oranje win as a upset.

Note to self - Remember to pick up a small Netherlands flag to fly at work.

W - Costa Rica

W - Argentina

W - Belgium - My head says Belgium wins. Obviously my heart is USA, USA, USA!

BRA, FRA, NED, US

BRA, NED

NED

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html