Mundial Haterade
Damn, doooo youuu beeeeelieve iiiiiit?
Seriously, that was perhaps the nuttiest quarterfinals I can remember. Perennial powers squaring off and lots of PKs settling it.
First off, I dig PKs, I think they're a good way to settle things if you haven't gotten the job done after 120 minutes. By then, kicking PKs is the only part of the game that hasn't been tested and if you're kicking these things after playing for 120 minutes, shit's hard.
But anyway, here are the picks, with commentary on how the teams go there
Germany v. Italy- Italy
I know, I know, I need to stop hating on the hosts, betting against them at every turn. I need to NOT put a Portuguese special on these guys saying they're too gassed to get it done. But I'm done picking teams that haven't been cruising. I'm done picking teams who have gutted out wins and persevered. Because when you do that...you pick England. I'm also done picking teams that are pacing themselves. Because that's what Brazil was all about. Nothing left to do here but pick the Azurri.
Portugal v. France- Portugal
I really should stop picking against both of these teams, but sadly I have to pick against one of them.
It's hard, yo. On one hand you have the Zidane farewell tour. But retirement in soccer is about as legit as retirement in pro wrestling, so we'll see about that.
On the other hand you have a Portuguese team that believes in themselves and has consistently done those little things that keeps them from becoming a truly elite team. This year is the 40th anniversary of a guy from Mozambique named Eusebio carrying Portugal farther than they'd ever gone before. To celebrate, these boys are going past France and then past whomever they get in the final.
Yup, these kidz are going all the way baby.
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Well, I'm late here, but I was going to pick Germany anyway.
I guess I gotta go with Zidane and co. all the way now. Of the 3 teams left, they're certainly the ones I hate the least.
I didn't want to ride with Portugal, but y'know what: dudes haven't lost in something like 25 international matches, they only lost Euro '04 because Greece caught breaks, and I don't think their manager has ever lost a game in his entire career. And they're at full strength again.
So yeah, I can see it. Portugal joins the winners' club. But this will be one hell of a semifinal.
My god, Zidane is a man possessed. I don't see Italy beating France. I also find it funny that the World Cup will be decided between two countries with hilarious war records. . . yeah, I'm a history dork like that.