World Cup 2010 Knockout Update

No Country For Old Men: Defending Champions Italy got what they deserved, an early exit.

If you don't try to put the ball in the back of the net, you lose.

Disappointments: Italy, Switzerland, France, Serbia

Surprises: South Korea, Japan

Soft & Overrated: Brazil, Ghana (this team qualified on an officiating connivance so that Africa would not be totally humiliated without any teams advancing to the knockout round.)

Knockout Round: We picked 12 of the 16 missing on Italy, France, Serbia & Cameroon instead of Japan, Ghana, Mexico & Paraguay

Quarterfinal Picks:

South Korea* vs Uruguay
USA vs Ghana
Germany* vs England
Argentina vs Mexico
Netherlands vs Slovakia
Brazil vs Chile
Japan vs Paraguay
Spain* vs Portugal

We pick the team on the left (* = OT or Penalty Kicks)

Champion: We still like the Netherlands to hoist the cup.