On Holland v. Brazil: Who will win

This is the most important match so far in the tournament. It is the belief of many, including myself, that the winner of this game will be very likely to win it all. But before we cut to the projected scoreline, let's go over what this game means to the tournament.

The two sides that are meeting here are two legends of football. On one side of the Atlantic, you have the magnificent Oranje known as simply the "Dutch Masters," and that name suits them, as they've invented their own style of play, total football, and they also sport one of the most impressive rosters of superstar players year in and year out. In one of the most traditional countries on earth, football runs through the people's veins.

On the other side of the Atlantic, you have the authors of the term "The Beautiful Game." Or at least, if they didn't coin it, someone coined it watching them play. Brazilians play, historically, with a calm, crafty, off-the-cuff style of play in which every players individual talents are utilized to their fullest potential while still preserving a great team element that propels them to victory over any side. And talent is never a problem in Brazil, as Andy Gray says in Fifa 10, Brazil literally have enough players "to field seven national teams." And that's just got to be true. Look at all of the players who weren't selected: Ronaldhino, Ronaldo, Alexandre Pato. Or even the ones who are some of the best in the world at what they do and can't start because some other great player is sitting in their spot, like Barcelona star Dani Alves who sits on the bench while Inter Milan phenom Maicon towers onfield.

So that's what these teams represent historically, but what about in this tournament?

Let's start with Holland. There has been some griping that Holland have been "boring" to watch because they aren't scoring enough. But let's look at the facts. Holland haven't lost a game since 2008. They were undefeated in qualifying and ran the table in their group. They've only conceded one goal in this tournament. This is a team that's absolutely on fire, and just because they aren't scoring four goals a match doesn't mean that they don't know how to win, because they obviously do.

Now for Brazil. Brazil have impressed massively in this tournament, as one would expect. But people have started asking questions, particularly with the injuries of key players like Felipe Melo and Elano. They also conceded a goal against North Korea in their opener, and some were a little nervous even as the final whistle blew in that match on a 2-1 win for the Brazilians. That said, they still ran the table in their group and pretty much handed Chile their asses in the first Knockout match.

These teams however are also remarkably similar. Both have been criticized for not being as creative as past sides, but are still doing as good as they could possibly do. Both are also key players in world football and came into this tournament as favorites to win it all.

This was a tough one to call, but I think I have decided who I think will win this one: Holland 3-2 Brazil.

I think Holland is going to win this one, but I imagine it will be very close and the Oranje may need 120 minutes to decide it. But I think Holland are going to win this game for a number of reasons:

1. Arjen Robben v. Michel Bastos. This match-up will decide the game. Robben is back and, as he shown with his miraculous goal against Slovakia, he's ready to do some damage in this tournament. With Robben back, the Dutch just look more lethal. When he gets on the ball and starts cutting in on that left foot, you can't help but think something big is about to happen for the Dutch. And I think the inexperienced Bastos, who has been playing quite well mind you, is going to have a problem with "Yellow-Shoes Man," as my girlfriend first called Robben before she knew his name.

2. Injuries on Brazil. Elano is an inspirational talisman of the Brazilian side of 2010. With him gone, a lot of air can go out of them. He's the guy who can pull them up by their boot-straps when they are down, he's the guy who can deliver perfectly weighted passes to Fabiano streaking down the middle. To make matters worse, his replacement Ramires won't be available because of a yellow-card suspension. I think that the Dutch holding midfielders with stars like Mark Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong, and Wesley Sneijder will be able to win the battle in the middle of the field, especially with a crippled Brazilian center.

Out wide, Brazil will have to cope without Felipe Melo, who in all honesty wasn't a particularly marvelous player in the first place, but he was a great passer of the ball and he represented the majority of Brazil's pace away from the ball getting behind defenders. I would expect Dunga to put in one of the younger guys with comparable skill to Melo, like Nilmar or someone like that, but we'll have to see.

3. Juan is kind of an idiot. Juan, the center defender of Brazil, has scored a goal in this tournament, but he's also been playing like a bit of an idiot. His tendency to ball-watch is what gave Drogba his headed goal in the Ivory Coast match, and his other tendency to be woefully out of position is what gave North Korea their gift of a goal in the Brazilian opener. Basically Brazil's central defence is characterized by Lucio cleaning up Juan's mess, and I think that Holland are particularly good at making messes really messy, particularly if that mess is made by a defender giving the ball away in his own half, being out of position, or just giving away free kicks with ridiculous handballs and bad challenges. Watch for Brazil's number 4 to give Holland their first real chance on goal.

4. Holland's defence are great at shutting down individuals. If you think about most of Brazil's goals so far, they have come from great individual efforts by either Fabiano or Robinho, with the exception of Elano's goal and his assist in a goal Fabiano scored, but those don't count because Elano is done, as we know.

This is important because Holland's defence is characterized by great pressure on the ball and a stalwart desire to keep people out of the penalty area. Of course that leaves them open to balls over the top and coming in from out wide, but you get the point. What I'm saying is that Holland's defence is structured around preventing goals from being scored the way Brazil likes to score goals.

5. Robin Van Persie wants to prove himself. Frankly, I'm getting a little tired of Van Persie. He's kind of a little brat and he really doesn't seem to be particularly good at finishing his chances. Right now he has one goal, and he was supposed to be a front runner to win the Golden Boot. Other Golden Boot contenders like Luis Fabiano (3) David Villa (4) and Gonzalo Higuian (4) are clearly really far ahead of him. But I think Van Persie is pissed, I think he's going to come into this game with the clear intention of staying in this game for the duration, and keeping Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a 23 year old phenom from AC Milan that I am quite a fan of, on the bench. Van Persie knows that he's got a youngster with the same goal tally as him breathing down his neck, and he also knows that his name is nowhere near as fun to say as "Class-Yan-Hoont-a-lar."

These are my keys to a Dutch victory that I think is going to happen. How full of crap am I? Comment!

On Goalkeepers: The five best in the world

If the 2006 World Cup showed us one thing, it's that having a great goalkeeper is a major plus in the World Cup. These are my top five keepers:

1. Iker Casillas. Country: Spain.


















I've mentioned the Spanish mainstay in goal before in my post about Mourinho, but the reason that he's in this post is the same as the reason he's there. Casillas is Spain, just as he is Real Madrid. Casillas has been between the posts since he was 7 at his club, and has always been regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.

There are a couple of reasons why. He doesn't make mistakes, he's completely reliable, never gets injured, and is extremely good at starting attacks, mostly because he can punt the ball about the length of the field. He's also got really long arms and can jump like a freak, so that helps.

Casillas made headlines recently when he was one of the foremost players outspoken against the new "Jubalani" ball Addidas made for the World Cup. I saw the two goals that the UAE scored on Casillas in the friendly and I have to say, that ball did move in quite a peculiar manner. Then again, I could have just been shocked to see the ball get past Casillas and made up some reason why.

2. Gianluigi Buffon. Country: Italy.























When I mentioned that the 2006 World Cup taught us something I meant it. In that tournament, the man you see above allowed two goals. A penalty and an own goal, neither of which can be blamed on him. He is an aboslute psycho and is the highest paid keeper in the world.

Like Casillas, he also plays for a major national club, Juventus. He is internationally recognized for having lightning quick reflexes, fearless resolve, and an ability to get in front of any ball, no matter what.

It's odd to say that the most exciting player on a team could be the keeper, but in Italy's case, that just might be true.

3. Hugo Lloris. Country: France.















The youngest player on my list, 23 year old baby face Hugo Lloris made a name for himself accompanying major national club Lyon to the semifinals of the Champions League this year.

Lloris' story is a magnificent one. A player who didn't even make France's squad for the Euro 2008, Lloris proved himself to be the number one after an incredible performance in a qualifier against Republic of Ireland and, as mentioned, his stellar efforts at Lyon.

A true commander of the box, Lloris is known for being extremely reliable in one-on-one situations because of his spectacular reflexes and good decision making.

4. Tim Howard. Country: USA.





























Yes, I did it.

Tim Howard is an extremely important part of the United States' national team. Not only is he one of the most experienced players on the roster, but he's also known for being extremely vocal about what he wants from his back line. And the much criticized US back four need all the "support" they can get. After every shot that he miraculously blocks, watch for Howard to explode off of the ground and scream at Bocanegra about not cheating up too far, and telling Gooch to wake up.

He's the fire of this team, and in many ways he's their star. He made a run at Manchester United and since then has found a place at Everton, where he is extremely well liked alongside teammate Clint Dempsey.

Howard's a big ole boy, and he won't take crap from any player, no matter who it is. I'd like to propose we nickname him "Mount Helen," because of his hot temper and his solid-as-a-rock playing style in front of goal. I like making up nicknames...anyway, moving on.

5. Julio Cesar. Country: Brazil.































He's only this far down because he's injured, because the Brazilian between the sticks is widely regarded as one of the best in the business. Playing for Inter Milan, Champions League winners this year, that picture of Cesar says it all. He's willing to do anything and everything for his club and, most of all, his country.

Imagine being the keeper for Brazil. You are the last line of defense for what most consider to be the greatest team on Earth. How do you deal with that pressure? Well, it helps when you're effing Cesar. The man cannot be scored on, under normal circumstances. Cesar makes teams work, and when you've already gotten by Brazil's brutal defense, you're probably running out of ideas.

These are my selections for the top five keepers in the world. Think the order should be different? Have your own players you like? Comment!

On Cristiano Ronaldo: Profiling the biggest football celebrity since Beckham

^That is Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2003, when his first club Sporting FC of Portugal played Manchester United in a friendly match, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a revelation. By halftime, he decided: "I have to sign this boy. He is sensational." Two years later, Ronaldo would be recognized consistently as one of the three best players in the world and was absolutely tearing apart the competition alongside Wayne Rooney. He set a record that was tied this year by Lionel Messi of 43 goals across all competitions when he was at United. His performance inspired this video, and quite a few like it, that became a youtube phenomenon and sky rocketted his international celebrity.

United won three Premier League titles in a row, due in most part in most minds to Ronaldo's efforts.

However, Ronaldo's antics on and off the field soon won him a "love 'em or hate 'em" following. Those who hate him, think he is the scourge of football and represents all that is wrong with the sport. Those who love him, think he is the greatest player to ever walk the field. Much of your clout as a football enthusiast depends on what you think of Ronaldo, and that's saying a lot for any player.

He became one of the most recognizable faces in the world and was highly exposed in the media. This would only intensify the hatred of those who hate him, and would lead to massive increases in the sales of whatever sports drink or atheletic company he was representing for those who loved him.

Ronaldo was also quite vocal about his desire to go play for his childhood favorite team, Real Madrid. Soon enough, in 2009, because of the crippling debt saddled on the United Red Devils by new owners the Glazer family, Ronaldo was sold off to play for Real.

This is where my opinion of Ronaldo comes in, because this has been my first experience with him. Frankly, he's still a goal scorer, but other than a windmill of step-overs every once in a while, he doesn't flaunt all of the "wrap around crosses" and other patented moves that made him such a stupendous phenom to watch at United. Some people say that this is because he has matured as a player, and that may be so, but I have a different theory. I think he's achieved every thing he wants. It's almost like his stint as United was just him showing off to Real, which in itself is pretty impressive. Also, from watching him play, I don't detect his attitude anymore. He puts in a cross, and if his teammate can't convert it, he puts his hand in the air and says he'll do better next time, even if the cross was perfect.

I'm not sure I like the new Ronaldo though. I think I prefer him when he was screaming at refs for not calling fouls after he did 80 stepovers in a row and was cut low by a defender. I prefer when he nails a free kick from 43 yards away at an extreme angle and just puts his hands up in the air and smirks like it's not big deal. He had fire back then, attitude, personality. That was what ignited him on the field.

Now, he barely celebrates when he scores, doesn't say a word to refs, and does underwear modelling on his days off. He seems...well...bored. But this is where the World Cup comes in.

Quieroz, the Portuguese coach, has been laying the pressure on his team from day one, and continually tells his players that he expects them to win it all. Ronaldo has been the most vocal about how much pressure this puts on the players. And being in a brutal group with Brazil, Ivory Coast (now weakened with the absence of Drogba), and North Korea (who prove to be more of a fearless force week in and week out) Ronaldo and the rest of the squad are going to have to be in top form.

But Ronaldo is capable of anything, and he can take his country all the way. All he has to do is ignore all of the hype about him, ignore all of the Nike ads, ignore all of the bloodthirsty defenders who will be hacking away at him, and just shrug it off, smirk, and realize it's no big deal.

And maybe a few of those incredible juggling runs, knock-on nutmegs, spins, and fearless shots from 33 feet out will help, please.

On Defense: The top three back fours in the world

It's been well established at this point that a great team is built from the back up, and having a great back four that you know you can count on goes a long way in winning the World Cup. These are, in my opinion, the best three defensive teams in the world:

1. Brazil.



Brazil has one of the most offensively potent defenses in the world, and a lot of that has to do with who they have out on the wings taking the ball up field. These wings backs are Daniel Alves and Maicon (pictured above) and they lead the team in assists. They are two of the best defenders on the ball in the world. Alves is a little young, but is still proving himself as a great defender whose only weakness is that he tends to lose the ball when trying to make a play, but that's what gets him in position to get in those crosses. Maicon is every manager's dream defender. He never loses the ball, messes up a pass, or gets carded. But he's also ruthless and is known for having a flawless slide tackle. Brazil couldn't ask for two better wide backs, and that's part of what makes them such a great defensive side.

What makes them one of if not the best is who anchors that defense in the middle. Lucio is an extremely intelligent defender who knows exactly how to hide is not exactly legal tackles in the box and is the last line of defense before Julio Cesar, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Juan and Thiago Silva are both also quite good and are known for pushing the ball past the center line, giving phenom Kaka a chance to make a run ahead of the ball.

2. Spain.



This is sort of a no brainer, as Spain has the two best central defenders in the world, Carles Puyol (pictured above) and Gerard Pique. Watching the two playing the same position is frankly a little funny, as Pique, 6'3'', dwarfs Puyol, 5'10''. But the two players are remarkably different. Puyol, as one of my friends quoted from an article, "will put his head where most defenders wouldn't dare put their feet." He's basically fearless, and is every Spanish fan's favorite. The problem is that he gets carded quite frequently and that's where Pique comes in. Pique is a monolithic, calculating defender who's as reliable as he is deadly with the ball at his feet. I recently picked him as one of the best young players in the tournament this year.

Out on the wings, Sergio Ramos is one of the most exciting players to watch on the pitch for the Spanish side. He's got quite a few tricks up his sleeve, and attackers never really expect it, which is also a little funny to watch. Ramos plays cool, confident football, the perfect dish out for the mad lion of Puyol. Ramos is the starting point of every Spanish attack, so when he's on the ball, pay attention. The other side is usually Joan Capdevilla, who is always the pick for a free kick that's too far away for Xavi or Villa to try a shot from. He's got a great cross and is an important aspect of the team.

Furthermore, every player on the bench: Albiol, Arbeloa, and Marchena are fully capable of coming in the game without much energy being lost at all. This is the kind of depth that Spain has all over the field, again, making them the favorite to win the Cup this year.

3. Italy.



Italians are world famous for their defending, and in fact it was a big part of why they won the world cup in 2006, along with magnificent goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The highlights of this defense are Zambrotta (pictured above), Cannavaro, and Chiellini, but they are all basically the same. They don't push the ball up field too often, relying on retracted midfielder, Camoranesi to get an attack started. The Italian penalty box is the hardest in the world to penetrate, as the Italians are well schooled in keeping attackers out. This is the foundation of Italian football, defend, and then striking quickly with quick-legged midfielders.

On David Villa: Why he'll win the coveted Golden Boot at the World Cup

Honestly, David Villa is the current front runner to win this thing, so this looks like kind of a band wagon post. But I'm going to tell you why the obvious is what's going to happen this year at the World Cup.

To win the Golden Boot, a couple of basic things have to be in place. First, the team has to go far in the tournament so that goals can be accrued. Second, there has to be a great team element. Third, the player has to have a lot of individual talent and serve a specific niche on the team as a "goal scorer." Here's a breakdown of why all of these things are going to fall into place for Villa this year.

1. Spain is in a crap group. It's no secret that past Golden Boot winners profitted by scoring two to three goals in one match against particularly defensively weak opponents. Spain is in a group with Chile, Honduras, and Switzerland. None are push overs obviously, but all of these teams are characteristically weak defensively. Spain will surely be able to crush at least Switzerland and Honduras, and the man behind it will be Villa.

2. Xavi is passing to him. Xavi is considered by most to be one of the best passers of all time. In the 2006 World Cup, he got four assists in A GAME. He's the orchestrator of the entire offense, and the venom of that offense it Villa. Which brings me to my next point.

3. Villa is a great striker. As a player in his own right, Villa has established himself as one of the best strikers in La Liga and the world. He's famous for his scorching shot, but he's got great pace and ball skills. Really the only thing not going for Villa is his size, but being in a group against undersized South Americans helps that issue. He'll also probably get a crack at a few free kicks, maybe getting a goal or two there too.

4. Spain is a team. In the truest since of the word, Spain's players work together, and quite well. This is because at least seven of the players in the starting lineup have been playing all season for Barcelona, winning the La Liga there. This is a bunch of guys who know how to win together, and they'll be utilizing Villa to the best of his abilities.

5. Torres chokes. It's sad but true, Fernando Torres is infamous for being unable to deliver in big game situations. Coupled with a disappointing season at Liverpool, the weight of goal scoring will fall on Villa in Torres' absence. And Villa is notorious for being a fearless, clutch player.

6. Spain is favorited to win the World Cup. In my mind, anyway. EPI has Brazil ranked over them, but you can't tell me Spain isn't the favorite. This is a team that will at the very least make the final, meaning Villa will have plenty of opportunities in plenty of games to score.

On Manchester City: How Peter Crouch's forehead ruined the hopes and dreams of a franchise

Late in the second half of the Manchester City vs. Tottenham game, Peter Crouch bumbled into a cross and headed it into the net of City, 1-0. City was unable to respond, and secured their fifth place spot in the Premier League. Tottenham's three points from the victory secured fourth place for them and a berth into the Champions League next season. But there are two big implications for City losing this game other than not making the Champions League. Let's take a look:

1. Keeping foreign players here. Coming into this season, City were criticized as a team of stars with no real team element. Their front three clearly shows this. Carlos Tevez (pictured above), Robinho, and Emmanuel Adebayour. These guys all came to City with promises of a couple of things: a Premiership within two years, a Champions League berth this season, and a lot of playing time. It seems that those first two are going to be a little out of reach. That has made these guys pretty antsy. Particularly Robinho. The Brazilian on loan came out yesterday pleading to return to Brazil to play for a club like Sao Paulo, so he's probably gone. Manchester United and even Real Madrid have also shown a vested interest in Tevez, and he knows if he goes there he'll get what he wants. But Tevez is a great guy, he scored 23 goals in League play this year and by all accounts is extremely happy at City. But will he be able to resist the temptation? Only time will tell. But as the World Cup gets closer and closer, it seems that a lot of clubs are waiting to see how the Argentinian will perform. Adebayour is talent that will be particularly hard to hold on to. His ball skills are already turning heads, despite an underwhelming goal tally. The loss of these players, particularly Tevez, is a major threat to City's chances next season.

2. Getting new players. City is among Chelsea as one of the first clubs to make an offer to Fernando Torres. They are offering the same amount (perhaps even more) and another laundry list of players for Liverpool to choose from. But Torres probably won't go there. The Spanish phenom wants to go to the Champions League, and Crouch's forehead ruled that out for City. They also made a big offer to Aston Villa attacking midfielder Milner yesterday, but he hasn't made a statement about that yet. One can't help but wonder if Milner would want to leave a club where he is the established star to go to a team with no chemistry and have to prove himself all over again, without even having a crack at the Champions League. Oh how the dominoes fall.

But things aren't all bad for City. They've got some experience under their belt, and this means that they'll only work harder next season. They also made the Europa League with fifth place, which isn't bad at all. At least they have something to take how to their fans, and they'll certainly be one of the strongest clubs in the tournament next year.

So perhaps my title was a little harsh, there maybe hope yet for City.