I will be so glad when this World Cup is over. Not that it hasn't been entertaining with some surprising results but I really have kinda lost interest since England and the US went out. Plus with my favorite team, Manchester City so active in the transfer market I am itching for the EPL season to start!
It's OK though because July 31st I will drag my girlfriend to Baltimore to watch the mighty City take on Inter Milan in a friendly.
But World Cup has to reach its conclusion first. The semi finals see Uruguay play the Netherlands in the first match up and the mighty Germany take on Spain.
Uruguay made it through to the semis first by winning their Group. Then they beat South Korea before only scrapping through by the thickness of a crossbar in the Quarters against Africa's last hope, Ghana. Hollands progress was much more that of champions. They won all three of their group games to finish top. In the next round they dispatched Slovakia to set up a match with Brazil. This was a match up that on paper and according to history should have seen Brazil in the semis and cruising to yet another Final place. However no one gave the script to Holland (or Melo) and the only place Dunga and co were going to samba to was the South African International airport.
Germany stuttered in the group stage losing against Serbia. However that was just a glitch as they emulated their 1939 campaign by taking on, dominating and then crushing nations. First was Australia in the group stage, 4-0. Then in the first knockout stage my beloved England were made to look pathetic (OK so maybe we helped with that one) beating us 4-1 before tearing Argentina a 'new one'. Next up for them are Spain and the mood the Germans are in you feel for the Spanish. They didn't set the place on fire, losing to the Swiss in the opening game but have not lost since although their scalps consisted of Chile and Honduras. A single goal was enough in each of their knockout rounds, shutting out Portugal and Paraguay in the process.
My predictions have been hit or miss but like the English FA, why stop the humiliation, lets continue. I think Holland will beat Uruguay and set up a final game with Germany.
