World Cup Round of 16 and we are off.....

Well Brazil squeaked through like most predicted and Columbia sailed past the toothless Uruguay.  Great games to watch, it seems as though the smaller South American nations have more passion than any other team.  Both Uruguay and Chile played like it was a fight to the death.  I kind of like to see that from some of the English lads from time to time.  I guess if you are making 100,000 pounds a week it will soften the blow of any loss.

A few things did pop to mind while watching yesterday's games.

• Why did Alexis Sanchez keep tucking his shorts into his underwear.  With miracle fibre wicking and cooling properties built in to each Puma shirt, you think they could have made a pair that Alexis would have felt comfortable in. 

That can't be the look he was hoping for.

• David Luiz, what can you say about the big fella?  A surging run forward one minute and then the spaced out look of a man who can't find his puppy the next.

• It was kind of nice to see the Brazilians have a good goal disallowed.  Big Phil was not happy, but I didn't see him complaining when they got a penalty that they should not have had against Croatia.
• I don't know if it's the pressure of playing at home, but Brazil really play the victim card to its full extent.  Every time they lose possession, it had to be a foul and of course, the cards should some out.
• James Rodriguez, what can you say.  Goal of the World Cup for sure and he now has 5 in 4 games.  Can he take Columbia past Brazil.
• All credit to the small, bald Uruguayan defensive midfielder.  If I was a club manager, I would buy Egidio Arévalo and build a team around him.
• 

Today's 1pm match-up promises to be a great game.  The canny overachieving Mexicans backed by 50,000 Sombreros taking on the confident, fancied Dutch.  I'll give the edge to the Dutch as they have Robben and Van Persie.  A sneaky 1-0 perhaps.

In the second game, I'm going to take the Greeks on penalties or a slim 1-0.   It's a clash of styles.  Neither team can sit back and play out their normal game plan.  There could be 1000 unopposed passes in this game, or they could surprise us with some attacking intent.