USA Look for First Quarterfinal Since 2002, Argentina Take on the Swiss

Today's games are the final 2 for the round of 16. Argentina play Switzerland at 12:00 ET, and the United States challenge Belgium at 4:00 ET.

Argentina vs Switzerland

The Argentines navigated their group without losing a game. Led by Messi with 4 goals, they beat Iran 1-0, Nigeria 3-2, and Bosnia 2-1. The rest of the team hasn't really shown up. The team is filled with stars like Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, but Messi is the only one who is producing in this competition. Argentina hasn't faced a really good team so far in this competition, and the Swiss will probably be their toughest opponent yet. If they want to advance into the quarters, someone other than Messi will have to step up today, against a Swiss side that is ranked inside the top 10 in the world. 

Switzerland finished 2nd in their group to France. They defeated Ecuador 2-1, and a hat trick from Shaqiri gave them a 3-0 win over Honduras. Their 5-2 loss to France has been their only blemish so far in the tournament. This Swiss team is solid at the back and has a couple explosive attacking players, but they don't have the superstars that nearly every team has at this point in the competition. If Switzerland is going to beat Argentina they will have to play a strong game in all phases of the match. The defense will have to be aware at all times of the runs of Messi and Di Maria. These 2 players have been fantastic during their club seasons, and if you switch off for a moment they will punish you. The Swiss will need to gain some control of the midfield in order to break up the Argentinian attack, and they will try to hit on the counter with the fast wing players.

Game Prediction:

Argentina are still my pick to win the tournament. It's just a matter of time before their big name players start to find their form in this tournament, and take some of the load off of Messi. I think this game against the Swiss is when that begins to happen. Argentina will loom on the attacking end, while Switzerland try to hit on the counter. Ultimately I think that the strike force of Argentina will be too much for the Swiss. 

Score Prediction: 

Argentina 3 Switzerland 1

USA vs Belgium

The United States escaped the group of death in second place behind Germany. Their 2-1 victory over Ghana, along with a 2-2 tie with Portugal, were enough to put them through despite a 0-1 lose vs Germany. Overall the Americans have look strong on the defensive end. Matt Besler has been one of the best players for the US side so far this tournament. His play at the back, along with Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez, is a big part of why the US are where they are. The outside backs have also been phenomenal. Fabian Johnson at times has been the best player in the attacking third for the US, while Beasley has been a capable security blanket for the back line. The US midfield has been shaky so far in the tournament. Their performance was fantastic against Portugal, with Jones and Beckerman holding the center while Bradley tried to create going forward. But against Germany and Ghana the midfield couldn't get a foothold in the game. For the most part Bradley has looked poor. His touch has been heavy and he hasn't been able to find any of those incisive passes in the attacking third. He needs to be the leader in the middle of the park that he has been in the past, if the US wants to advance. The attack force for the US has struggled apart from Dempsey. Although with the news that Altidore is fit to play, the attack may be getting the back up that it needs to take on the big defenders of Belgium. The United States can defeat the Belgians if the put in a performance like the one against Portugal. The midfield will decide this game. Scoring early would be huge for the US against a Belgium side that has struggled to score.

Belgium finished atop their group with 3 wins. They defeated South Korea 1-0, Russia 1-0, and Algeria 2-1. Despite their record of 3 wins and no defeats, the Belgians have looked far from impressive so far. They have a star studded line up which includes players like, Lukaka, Hazard, Kompany, and Courtois, but the team hasn't added up to the sum of its parts. They needed a come from behind victory against Algeria, and late winner against Russia and South Korea. The Belgians haven't scored before the 70th minute so far in this World Cup, and all but 1 of their goals has been from a substitute. They struggle to find the back of the net and create chances. This Belgium team is a dangerous side when they are firing on all cylinders, but they are vulnerable right now, and if they play like they have in their opening 3 games they are going to get knocked out.

Game Prediction:

If the US are going to win this game, Bradley will need to have his best game of the tournament. Dempsey and Altidore are going to be a handful for the Belgian defense, and if the US midfield is able to hold possession against the Belgians, there will be opportunities to attack the Belgian goal. An early goal would really put the pressure on Belgium. Belgium hasn't created a ton of opportunities on the attacking end, and they had one of the easiest groups in the tournament. If they attack like they did in their previous games, they will have a tough time scoring against the US defense. I think that the US will be able to breakdown the Belgian defense and put a couple past Courtois, but Belgium won't get shutout.

Score Prediction:

USA 2 Belgium 1

Germany Survive, France Advance

France vs Nigeria

France came into the game looking like one of the strongest teams un the competition. Nigeria were one of only 2 African teams to make the round of 16, and they were the ones who went close first. Early on in the first half a through ball to Emenike was tucked into the net, but he was rightly called offside. The moment was the closest the Africans came to scoring the whole game, but they still had hope as Enyeama's heroic performance was keeping the French at bay. Pogba almost opened the scoring late in the first half with a sweetly struck volley, but he couldn't put it past the Nigerian goalie. In the second half the French kept getting closer to finding the breakthrough. Enyeama saved a 1 on 1 with Benzema, and Cabaye hit the crossbar with a shot, but the French didn't find their goal until the 79th minute. A corner kick wasn't dealt with by Enyeama, and Pogba looped his header into the goal (http://gfycat.com/GrossTartGnu). The French were in complete control of the game after that point and if it weren't for Enyeama, Nigeria would have been down by a lot more than 1. In the 94th minute the French got the goal that ended the game. A short corner was dribbled in by Valbuena, whose low cross was hit in by Yobo for an own goal (http://gfycat.com/CleanBruisedFiddlercrab). France advance to the round of 8 to play Germany.

Germany vs Algeria

Most people probably thought this match would be a walkover for Germany, but it ended up being a battle against the Algerians. Algeria came out with the perfect game plan against the Germans, and in the first half they probably looked like the better team. The Germans took hold of the game as the second half went on, but neither teams' effort produced any goals in regulation. Just 2 minutes into extra time, the Germans found the opener through substitute, Andre Schurrle. A run down the left hand side by Muller resulted in a driven cross towards goal, which was back heeled by Schurrle into the far post (http://gfycat.com/SourShockedGrassspider). Algeria now had 28 minutes to find the goal they couldn't find for the first 92. They threw everything forward but struggled to create opportunities against the German defense. Instead of Algeria tying it up, the Germans added a second goal. In the 120th minute, a shot by Schurrle was deflected into the path of Ozil, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net, effectively ending the game (http://gfycat.com/DimwittedSlightEyra). The Algerians didn't go quietly. Just a minute later they got the goal they deserved for their effort in this match. A good passing move ended in a cross to the back post, where Djabou scored with a sliding effort (http://gfycat.com/EvergreenInstructiveCopperhead). The Germans survived the fight with the Algerians and won the right to play France in the quarterfinals.