Masoud SHOJAEI UD Las Palmas (ESP)

Reza GHOOCHANNEJAD Charlton Athletic FC (ENG)

Alireza HAGHIGHI Sporting Covilha (POR)

Steven BEITASHOUR Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)

Alireza JAHAN BAKHSH NEC Nijmegen (NED)

Daniel DAVARI Eintracht Braunschweig (GER)

Ashkan DEJAGAH Fulham FC (ENG)

Tues 6/17

Running out of time, dont have time for writeups.... Wanted to get them up now but will be around to discuss in the next couple of days...

Belgium / Algeria - Under 2.5 +100 (1 unit)

Brazil / Mexico - Brazil -1.5 +100 (3 units)

Russia / S Korea - Russia to win +125 (2 units)

Monday June 16

Germany / Portugal - Under 2.5 -115 (1 unit) - Going under seems like a death wish so far in this tournament.  And although both of these teams can be offensive minded and very efficient - I point to the Euro 2012 opener where these teams were in the same group - playing in the first round.  It ended 1-0 to Germany, but was a very slow defensive match up until the second half goal.  I see Portugal playing much the same way - defend and counter - but their lack of a striker hurts them against better teams.  It could be said that Germany have similar issues without a traditional striker - but their loaded midfield creates a lot more than Portugal can.  Portugal rely on the speed and individual talent of Nani and Ronaldo without the combination of a truly gifted striker.  Predicted final score Germany 1 Portugal 1

Iran / Nigeria - No Bet - Really tough game to figure.  Iran personnel for me is somewhat of an unknown - most of the players play in the Iranian league which (no surprise) is tough to follow.  A couple of guys play midlevel in England (Dejagah) - but other than that it almost all Iranian based players.  All I have to go on is qualifying and friendlies - so while it looks like they will set up to be defensive and play behind the ball - they havent played many friendlies to even look at.  They have a very high level coach in Queiroz (Real Madrid, Portugal) who is historically defensive minded so they should be well organized.  Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations last year - but questions around their midfield creativity and lack of scoring punch plague them outside of Africa.  They seem well organized on defense, but it will be interesting to see if frustration against a defensive minded opponent will set in and create gaps at the back.  This one is a watch and see for me.  Lean to a low scoring close game.  Predicted final score 1-1

Ghana / USA - over 2 and 2.5 +100 (1 unit) - If I were Jurgen Klinsmann, I would abandon the diamond midfield for this game and play a traditional 4-4-2.  The issue I see with the US is the lack of a defense that has any time to play together, and a lack of quality on defense.  So with the diamond - there is a defensive midfielder sitting on top of the 4 in back providing support - but the nature of a wide diamond is that it creates space in the midfield for a counter attack.  If your wide midfield players dont get back on counter attacks - it is an easy linkup from the defense to midfield with space to move.  In a more traditional approach of 2 banks of 4, the opposition is forced to be creative and make plays in the midfield.

This is Ghanas weakness - the lack of a playmaker.  They have great talent and speed all over the field, but no Pirlo in the middle making it happen.  So giving Ghana any kind of space to use on the counter is not good in my opinion. 

But assuming the US sticks with the midfield diamond - there should be gaps for very speedy runners to get behind the US defense - especially if the US plays a high defensive line.  On the other side of the ball - the US should also get opportunities against a Ghana defense that is prone to mental lapses in the back.  Finishing those chances is another story.  Jozy Altidore - for all of his well documented struggles - serves a purpose.  But that purpose at this point should not be a player who is relied on to provide speed and break - a guy like Johannsson is a better fit IMO.  But Altidore will be out there and hopefully will regain the form he once had.  He needs service in deep positions - and there will be chances to do that - Michael Bradley is therefore the key to the US scoring goals.  He has been and continues to be the main man on this team - and if the US do anything at all in this tournament it will be on his back.  His play in the Turkey game is a perfect example.  He played almost flawlessly - and will be needed to provide that type of play in order to put Altidore in positions where he can use his size to control and take one touch on goal.

Im certainly hoping to see the US put in a good performance and get a result - and I do think it is possible - but my head says there is a slight edge to Ghana here and there should be lots of chances on both sides of the pitch.  Predicted final score Ghana 2 USA 1

Tues 6/17

Running out of time, dont have time for writeups.... Wanted to get them up now but will be around to discuss in the next couple of days...

Belgium / Algeria - Under 2.5 +100 (1 unit)

Brazil / Mexico - Brazil -1.5 +100 (3 units)

Russia / S Korea - Russia to win +125 (2 units)