France 3-1 Spain

Now, this, friends, is what I call football. Two excellent and cohesive teams with brilliant players. Had France lost to Spain, I would not have minded so much ... Okay, no, not really. I don't know how I would have reacted. But this was a fast-paced game, with a good distribution of the ball, beautiful steals, many shots on the goal magnificently saved by both goalkeepers (I have regained my faith in Fabien Barthez), Ribery dribbling through defenders near the edges of the field while keeping the ball in (I also have a renewed faith in Ribery). And then that goal by Zinedine Zidane at the 92nd minute that shouted "I might be old, I might be retiring, but I am still the best player in the world."

Because let's face it. Zinedine Zidane was always the star player of Real Madrid. Not Ronaldo, not Luis Figo and certainly never David Beckham. Zinedine Zidane. That last game in the Spanish league, it was Zidane the Madrilenes were cheering for. Sure, Ronaldo has scored more World Cup goals, but well, you can't say much when you're scoring them against Japan and Ghana.

So yeah, France is playing Brazil on Saturday. I hear many people saying that France will receive a beating. But have you seen Brazil against Ghana? Sure, they scored three goals, but the Ghanaeans were playing like crap during the first half and only woke up after the second goal. And the Brazilians were uninspired, unambitious and particularly selfish. Watch Ronaldinho bitch about not being able to score (and contrast that with Zidane joking with the linesmen about being barely offside). The thing about Brazil is that they have extremely talented players, but those players can't play as a team. That's why France beat them in 1998. And Germany lost in 2002 because they were playing like crap.

Quarterfinals Picks
Friday
Germany-Argentina: As much as I like Argentina, Germany is really scary this World Cup. They're probably playing their best game since, well, Klinsmann was a player instead of manager.

Italy-Ukraine: Italy, no questions asked. Italy is basically the best of AC-Milan and Juventus.

Saturday
England-Portugal: The Portuguese are mean, competent and fast. England has a crybaby (Rooney), two midfielders who can't play together (Gerrard and Lampert) and let's not even mention David Beckham. Okay, I'll give them Joe Cole and John Terry too.

Brazil-France: See post above.