ROUND OF 16! LET THE REAL GAMES BEGIN!

Story by Patrick Kamanga (pgkamanga73@gmail.com)

ROUND OF 16! LET THE REAL GAMES BEGIN!

Its either you win or you go home!

With the advent of the round of 16, the remaining teams at FIFA World cup in Brazil offer very interesting match ups.

Some of the teams that have made it to the elimination rounds have surprised many, as well as some of the teams that got eliminated. 
Costa Rica has been quite the revelation at this tournament while Chile has been exciting, following the invincible Dutch out of the tough group B.

With some major scalps such Spain, Italy, England, and Portugal all heading home rather unceremoniously the round of elimination contains a heavy “Latin American” feel laden with teams from the host continent and the Central American region.

Europe’s challenge will be led by two of the best sides from the northern hemisphere, Germany and Netherlands with the unpredictable but utterly talented Belgians carrying the “dark horses” tag.

History is in favour of Latin American representatives as no side from Europe has ever won in the Americas.

BRAZIL vs. CHILE

NETHERLANDS vs. MEXICO

COLOMBIA vs. URUGUAY

COSTA RICA vs. GREECE

FRANCE vs. NIGERIA

ARGENTINA vs. SWITZERLAND

GERMANY vs. ALGERIA

BELGIUM vs. U.S.A

BRAZIL vs. CHILE

Brazil has largely been unconvincing, lacking creativity in their midfield relying mostly on Neymar’s magic, some lenient refereeing and the fanatical support of their partisan home crowd to get them through.

Topping a group that included Mexico, Serbia, and Cameroon this Brazilian outfit has seemed average at best. 
Most experts have been hoping that they were just warming up and would get better as the tournament progresses.

Part of the problem was a lack of an engaging and competitive schedule because as the hosts, Brazil had an automatic berth which spared them the hustle of going through the qualifying rounds.

They’ve had to rely mostly on the Confederation cup and international friendly matches to mold their team as well as gauge their strength. Going by their form at the Confederation cup last year, one would not be faulted for concluding that they probably peaked sooner than would have benefited them as far these finals are concerned.

With the hopes of the over 300 million football mad population lying on their hands, the “Selecao” better wake up from their slumber. Losing at this early stage is not an option as that would ignite an already volatile and chaotic situation caused by riots and demonstrations by the host country’s poverty stricken majority who are protesting the exorbitant cost of hosting the tournament at the expense of more pressing social programs.

Against Chile, Brazil will rely mostly on their breaks because Chile is the kind of side that plays high on the field, utilizing a 3-5-2 formation which the hosts should be able to poke holes at.

That said however, Chile are a well drilled side with players that can hurt Brazil considering how shaky their defense has been thus far.

 History is heavily in favour of Brazil with Chile’s last win over their opponents occurring almost 15 years ago. 
It will also be interesting to see how Brazil holds up against their first real quality opposition so far.

NETHERLANDS vs. MEXICO

This will be quite an interesting contest pitting two tactically resolute sides.

Mexico, like Chile utilizes the 3-5-2 formation and is one of the few sides able to apply it to perfection. 
Netherlands on the other hand are a very versatile side with Louis Van Gaal showing that he can switch systems depending on circumstances. His preferred formation is the 4-3-3 but on losing dependable midfielder Kevin Strootman to a cruciate ligament injury on his left knee, other options had to be considered.

Due to this, Van Gaal switched to a rather defensive 5-3-2 formation that ruthlessly curved out the Spaniards for a famous 5-1 win on the counterattack.

What Van Gaal has been able to do different with this squad is enhance team unity and keep his players motivated unlike other Dutch outfits of the recent past whose individualism and in-fighting worked to their demise. He has forged a team from a core inexperienced young players and a number of seasoned veterans.

Mexico has been one huge revelation at this tournament, having failed to even make it through the CONCACAF zone qualifiers, no one had expected them to play this well leave alone qualify for the knockouts! They started the tournament on a high, completely outplaying Cameroon and getting two clear goals unfairly denied by poor officiating.

They then matched the much fancied Brazil all the way on their second game, asking many a question of their more illustrious opponents and producing a class act in goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who made six world class saves to deny Brazil and maintain parity.

They produced a memorable second half on their last game against Serbia, winning 3-1. Like his Dutch counterpart, Mexico’s coach Miguel Herrera enjoys a healthy rapport with his players manifested in his wildly theatrical and highly animated touchline celebrations as well as remonstrations.

COLOMBIA vs. URUGUAY

This is a very evenly matched contest pitting two South American neighbours.

 With their talismanic striker Luiz Suarez having packed his bags and headed home after being banished for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, Colombia will fancy their chances against this ageing but highly tactical Uruguayan side.

Led by Argentine tactician Jose Pekerman, Colombia thus has the slight edge with a youthful side that is quite enterprising and creative with the duo of Juan Cuardardo and Jose Quintero expected to provide the extra impetus from the midfield.

Uruguay however are a battle hardened platoon of many wars. It will be interesting therefore to see how veteran coach Oscar Washington Tabarez sets out his side to deal with this threat. Uruguay is expected to play a compact defensive style, relying heavily on the counterattack. This is where Suarez’s presence will surely be missed.

COSTA RICA vs. GREECE

Costa Rica has been the surprise package for this tournament having masterminded the elimination of both England and Italy.

With a rather drab Greek outfit who sauntered into the knockouts facing a fast paced, energy packed Costa Rican outfit, with a lethal offense to match this contest can only go one way.

FRANCE vs. NIGERIA

France maneuvered their way out of a rather easy group and this game will be their first real test.

Nigeria started their challenge on a low note against a lackluster Iranian outfit but improved on subsequent matches. They gave a good account of themselves against the might of the Argentines on their last group game, with Messi’s magic ensuring the South Americans surmounted the group.

This French team lacks the finesse of other French sides of yore therefore Nigeria will be the deserving test they require to gauge their true potential.

ARGENTINA vs. SWITZERLAND

It just hasn’t clicked for the Albiceleste who’ve relied mostly on the wizardry of Lionel Messi to carry them through the group stage.

Boasting of arguably the best offense at the tournament, Argentina’s strike force has been rather sterile and disappointing thus far.

Coach Alejandro Sabella also stands culpable of poor judgement and might rue having left out experienced striker Carlos Teves who had a phenomenal season at Juventus, picking Sergio Aguerro instead who had an injury plagued season, potentially denying Messi the support he craves upfront with Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Gago, Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi all failing to gel and produce the expected fireworks.

This will be a true David vs. Goliath contest with Switzerland the overwhelming underdogs! If Argentina has written off Switzerland, they will have done that at their own peril. Coached by veteran German tactician Ottmar Hitzfield, Switzerland are largely an unknown quantity that relies on team work and a workman like style of play.

GERMANY vs. ALGERIA

Algeria will come into this game with one thing and only one thing on their mind, revenge!!

The last time these two sides met was in the 1982 edition in Spain, where a vastly talented and flamboyant Algeria shocked the then West Germany 2-1. With Algeria deserving to advance from their group, West Germany and Austria colluded to plot a malicious ploy and proceeded to conjure a result that favoured both "Germanic" neighbours thus locking out Algeria.

That shameful act is what caused the FIFA rule books to be altered in favour of the current system where all the closing group matches are played simultaneously to prevent match fixing or pre-arranged outcomes.

Algeria plays a typical Mediterranean style of football that relies on one touch passing and ball possession. 
Germany on the other hand is the master of “the transition football”, relying on speed and precision.

Algeria has proven vulnerable on set pieces and crosses from the wings conceding 3 goals from such situations. 
This fact will not have passed the German radar and with their height advantage and wing play, they should exploit that glaring weakness to the maximum.

Germany is the clear favourite.

BELGIUM vs. U.S.A

This is another fairly matched contest with a talented Belgian side facing a tactically resolute U.S side.

Belgian coach Marc Wilmots has a beautiful problem, having a vastly talented squad to choose from. That however has proven to be more of a headache than an advantage with Wilmots tinkering and changing his lineup, seemingly unsure of his best eleven.

That is a fact that the American tactician, former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann will set to take advantage of. 
He has shown a knack for setting out a team that is very difficult to break down and that ably hurts teams on the counterattack which will be a real test for the shaky Belgian defense.

Belgium will have to be at their very best to win this game.