[Stanley Nickels]

Looks like we might've done ourselves a favor today with the way the brackets are shaping up for the single-elimination phase...
Here's what Germany's bracket looks like:

Brazil
Chile

Colombia
Uruguay

France
Nigeria

Germany
(Russia/Algeria)


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And here's what our side of the bracket looks like:

Netherlands
Mexico

Costa Rica
Greece

Argentina
Switzerland

Belgium
USA
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I've got to say, I like our side more.

Going forward:
Belgium has for the past couple years been considered a "sleeping giant", and there's no denying that there is immense, young talent on that team. However, their play in the World Cup to this point suggests that the Giant may not yet have awoken. We can absolutely play with the Belgians, but will need a tremendous improvement from Michael Bradley to combat the Belgian midfield. If we make it past...

...sure, Argentina's another mammoth task, but they too have struggled to live up to their expectations thus far. A near-draw with Bosnia Herzegovina (who are no schlubs, mind you), and a last-minute bailout from Messi against Iran, suggest that this team is beatable. Messi will be Messi, and there's nothing you can do about it, but the real struggle will be whether Beasley can keep up with DiMaria for 90', because he's a terror on wheels, almost literally, with tremendous pace and ball control. If we get here, I don't expect us to beat Argentina, but IF WE DID...

...we face my odds-on favorite to win the WC, the Netherlands. I really can't come up with any convincing reasons why we could beat them. Even if you drop 5 defenders so Besler and Gonzalez can mark Robben and van Persie, I just don't see us having enough to keep possession for any length of time. Making it this far, though, would be the biggest accomplishment in US Soccer history. It's nice to dream, I guess.