Group Winners - 8 for 8

[BKH70041]

I don't recall that ever happening before. There's usually someone who bows out that won their group.

I suppose one could say the group winners deserved to be where they are and that, in theory at least, the best 8 teams will battle it out has never been more true. Might be a stretch but I couldn't totally argue against it.

Great tourney so far. Never imagined so many games going into aet and pk's. Tells me there's not a big difference between the top 8 and the next 8 as far as national teams talent and play.

[jakeXT]

1. I was hoping for Benaglio and Howard to show their skills in penalties

Sergio Romero from Argentina got lucky, I would say.

Sergio Romero isn't even the number one keeper for his club AS Monaco, and despite keeping two clean sheets in this World Cup, his international performances have hardly been unblemished. In Argentina's match with Germany at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he had to fish the ball out of his net four times.

And as if to remind fans of his vulnerability, early in the second half against Switzerland Romero contrived to bobble the ball four times within seconds and almost ended up with it in his hands outside the area. Argentina would be well advised to not let games get to penalty shootouts.

http://www.dw.de/three-key-points-about-argentina-a-sputtering-favorite/a-17752123