Last Words of The Anti-Nostradamus until Independence Day at the WC

Wednesday, trusting to the safety of the American skies, I travel East for a fortnight. In that period, being substantially cut off from the high-powered lifestyle that is freecounterpoint blogging, I must be silent on the Round of 16 and the Quarterfinals [perhaps even the Semifinals]. Thus I hereby abdicate, after today's predictions on the remaining games of Group Round, all title, rank, and privileges pertaining to being The Anti-Nostradamus.... I ask one of you regular bloggers, at least one of you, whether AI, or Pepe, or MFT, to assume the Bully Pulpit of Prognostication. If you cannot, then perforce the throne lies vacant and this WC falls into anarchy, even chaos.....so, pretty please? Of course if more than one wants to assume the throne, then by all means make your predictions and let's see who be the finer seer!
Ok, June 21:
Portugal vs. Mexico: Scolari seems to want to rest everybody on the Portuguese side, almost as if he WANTS to play Argentina. Mexico, on the other hand, absolutely does not want to face Argentina [particularly as LaVolpe is Argo]. So I predict Lusitanian sloth meets Mexican desperation, and result is Mexico 2- Portugal 1. [to my undying shame]
Ivory Coast vs. Serbia. Both teams are already out of the WC, and play for pure pride. The Ivorians are the better team, but who the hell can best Balkanites when it comes to pride? Once the mist and blood clears, we'll see Serbia 2- Ivory Coast 0.
Iran vs Angola. Iran is kaput. Angola still has a mathematical chance, albeit a very slight one. Will the Persians fear the wrath of the Ayatollahs if they go Qom with a 0 for 3 record against Kufr? Will Angola, after two strong efforts against Mexico and Portugal, be able to keep the emotional edge?? I dunno.....Prediction, Angola 1- Iran 1.
Holland vs Argentina. Both teams have made it out of the group round, and both will face teams they may respect but do not fear. So not much incentive to go all out, and risk injuries, in what is more a practice match than anything meaningful. So very hard to predict....My guess is that Argentina will try for victory, simply because it keeps momentum going into the Round of 16. So, how about Argentina 2- Holland 1?

June 22:
Italy vs. Czechs. I HOPE Italy wins, at least really tries to win. For the Yanks need for the Czechs to lose in order to have a realistic hope of going through. Ordinarily, I would expect a wink and a nudge between the two teams, a little sneer at the Yanks' expense, and a cynical draw. But, in this case, if they did so, and Ghana won the Czechs would be out. So the Czechs have to strive for victory. Italy, in turn, would be then forced to play Brazil [if Ghana won], and that is something they do not want to do in the Round of 16. So there is a reasonable hope of a genuine game. we'll see]. Still, I predict Italy 1-Czechs 1.
USA vs. Ghana. This should be a tense, hardfought, match. Because of goal differential, a tie would risk giving the edge to Czechs, so Ghana must go for victory. The USA must go for victory, a tie simply hangs them. As Eddy Johnsons said, "the game will be like war" . Perhaps not quite as sonorous as Jimmy Carter and his "Moral Equivalent of War", but the kid makes a better point. Prediction: [admittedly a prediction weighted by my listening to my heart's command] USA-2, Ghana 1.
Japan vs. Brazil: Japan is out, but will play hard for pride. Brazil is in, and will only try marginally hard. Predicition. Brazil 3- Japan 2.
Croatia vs Australia. WAR! The winner goes on , the loser leaves in tears. .Neither Croats nor Australians are a crying people, in fact both hate to cry. The Croatian team has a number of Australians on its squad. The Australian team has a number of Croatians on its squad. So, CIVIL WAR! Prediction: Australia 2- Croatia 1.

June 23:
EOF&A-The Saudis vs. Spain. The Mamelukes of Whabhism vs the Andalusia they covet. Prediction: Spain 4- Saudis 0.
Ukraine vs Tunisia- If Tunisia wins, they go on. If Ukrain wins or ties, it goes on. One will go home in tears. Tunisians do cry, but Ukainians don't dare. Prediction: Ukrana 2- Tunisia 1.
Switzerland vs Korea. If either team wins, they go on. If they tie, they may go on, depending on what happens with France. At least one of Switzerland and Korea go on. Both teams are quite good, and well composed. The Koreans have more aggressive determination, the Swiss are more stoical in defense...Prediction" Switzerland 2- Korea 2.
France vs Togo. Togo is out, so what to aim for? Easy for France, eh? Nah! Togo would love nothing better than sending one huge Bronx Cheer back to their old masters in Paris. They will give everything they have for the sweet salvation of their honor. France must win to go on, has the talent to go on, but has played listlessly for two matches....Prediction: France 1- Togo 1. Paris weeps. Les Bainlieues do not, for there is no weeping in Car Torching.
THUS ENDS THE GROUP ROUND>

NOW, WHO WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE MANTLE FOR ROUNDS OF 16 AND YONDER??