World Cup, Quarterfinal Review -- Semifinal Preview

Results

Day 1 basically followed what the cheese foretold.


Match #1
Germany 1 -- Argentina 1 Germany advances 4-2 on penalties
An early second half goal by Argentina was equalized late by Germany's Klose (the tournaments highest scorer thus far, and he's positioned to win the golden boot) in a tightly contested match. Argentina are no doubt ruing the loss of first choice keeper as the game went to penalties and Germany's Lehmann confidently blocked two. The cheese called it, and you heard it here first, Germany will win this tournament.

Match #2
Italy 3 -- Ukraine 0
Damn Ukrainians couldn't find even one goal to bring the cheese's prediction perfect!




Day 2, sadly, did not go the way the cheese had hoped.

Match #3
England 0 -- Portugal 0 Portugal advance 3-1 on penalties
Yes, the cheese called the game being decided by PK's, but he got the result wrong. Really, though, since the second game of the group stage the cheese had tabbed Portugal as a favorite, but his heart got in the way and he picked England. Should have known better. Sadly, too, this was the best performance England put in the entire tournament, but Wayne Rooney, apparently, can ever control himself and just HAD to step on someone's groin. Add a second half injury to Becks, and the death nell had tolled for the Three Lions.

Match #4
France 1 -- Brazil 0
Since the tournament began the cheese numerous people at the cheese' place of employment have asked his opinion on which teams looked good. And every time he's said that Brazil has not impressed, and every time people have been unbelieving. Look, they came through a ridiculously easy group, and round of 16 match up. They finally came up against a real team (sure, one with an average player age of 653, but a real team nonetheless) and got beat. And yes, the cheese called this one in favor of Brazil, but this is less a surprise to the cheese than the French win over Spain (a country who had been playing well!).

So the Semifinal matchups are

Germany v Italy
Italy have been solid and efficient (almost as if they're German), and Germany have been high flying and exciting (almost as if they're anyone other than the Germans). At this point, Germany seems nearly unstoppable, though the strong Italian defense could, theoretically, do it. They could, but they won't. Podolski and Klose are just two games away from sainthood in deutschland, and no stinkin Italians are going to stop them.
Predicted result -- Germany 3 - Italy 1

France v Portugal
Look, of all the teams left, France have to be the sentimental favorites. It's the international swan song for Zidane, Viera, Thuram, Barthez and Trezuget, so it's fitting they'll go out in a bang. But just how much do they have left? Probably not enough to beat a Portugal team that's looked night unstoppable. The cheese' heart will be with Les Blues, but they're on target for a third place medal, which would still be quite an accomplishment.
Predicted result -- Portugal 2 - France 1