Quarterfinal Picks

Get ready folks! The World Cup resumes Friday morning with the first pair of quarterfinals set to kick-off.

In preparation for the games, here are my picks of who will advance into the semis. There are some tough ones to call, but here goes nothing.

(Winning team in bold)

Netherlands vs. Brazil--I have to take Netherlands in this one. It may be the unpopular pick, but Brazil do not look as formidable as they have been in the past.

Uruguay vs. Ghana--Ghana has the hopes and dreams of an entire continent on its back. How can the Black Stars lose? Ghana in a close one.

Argentina vs. Germany--This game is getting played up in the papers, as both sides have had some choice words for their opposition. I think the difference will be the lack of Germany's Michael Ballack in the midfield. Without him, Argentina controls the tempo of the game and Lionel Messi nets his first goal of the tournament in a win.

Spain vs. Paraguay--Paraguay's dream run comes to an end, as Spain just has too much class to lose this matchup.