Crazy 8's

QUICK summary of the Round of 16 games: Brazil wins on penalties after a Chilean hits the crossbar at 120,' Dutch get an equalizer at 88' and winning goal in stoppage time on a penalty, Costa Rica wins on penalties after Greeks get equalizer in stoppage time, France score goals in final 20' to break scoreless deadlock, Germans and Algeria score 3 goals in OT, including two after 120' were up, Argentina's 118' goal followed by inexplicable Swiss miss at the death, Belgians and U.S. score 3 goals in OT after inexplicable miss in stoppage time in the wildest World Cup game in 32 years.

In short, everyone in this World Cup is mad as hatters.

And now Why the Lose (WTL) presents the reasons why The Lose should write about the quarterfinal matchups. We're going with 3 reasons today. I know we've done 4 thoughts in the daily post and I gave 4 WTL reasons for the round of 16 matchups, but we'll stick to 3 reasons today because, well, because I feel like it.

Brazil v. Colombia
WTL: because the Colombians have been absolutely brilliant in this tournament and have brought back fun, joy, and imagination back to the international game; because the Brazilians had the shit scared out of them Chile, and are likely to elevate their collective game in this one; because if this game was being played anywhere other than Brazil, I think Los Cafeteros would win, but it isn't.

France v. Germany
WTL: because my god, some of the Germans looked about 100 years old at the end of that Algeria game, and now there is apparently some sort of a flu bug which has been going through the team as well which isn't going to help; because I was quite amused to read several stories online wondering how young France star Pogba would do be able to cope with the star-studded German midfield, and I wonder if the reverse is true; because the Germans have gotten away with playing slow, overly cautious football against teams who couldn't take advantage of their weaknesses the past two games, but now they're playing a team that won't give a damn that they're Germany and won't afford them much respect and the Germans can't hide any more.

Netherlands v. Costa Rica
WTL: because Duarte being out hurts the Ticos far more than De Jong being out hurts the Dutch; because the well-organized Ticos backline got away with its high line against Greece because Greece, but isn't going to get away with that against the Dutch because Robben; because the Ticos will deserve all sorts of love and plaudits for bringing some class and more respect to CONCACAF after they bow out in this game.

Argentina v. Belgium
WTL: because you would think that the rest of the Albicelestes would show up at some point, and the fact that they haven't makes me wonder about Sabella as a coach, because how can you have 122 European League goals' worth of talent up front and still be clinging to dear life at 0:0 v. Iran and Switzerland unless you didn't have a clue how to use them; because every time the Belgians play, they seem to spend about an hour going through the motions and then they make an adjustment and score late to win, which is something you can do when you have the deepest bench in the tourney; because Argentina has the best player on earth, but he's only two guys – yes, Messi counts as two – and the Belgians just have too many players they can throw at them in this war of attrition they continue to successfully wage.

And if I'm wrong, well, remember that gambling is a sin.