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PST writers make World Cup picks and predictions

By Joe Prince-WrightJun 9, 2014, 2:53 PM EDT
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With the start of the World Cup fast approaching, we’ve been having some fun here at PST.

Our wonderful staff have pit their wits against each other and were asked to come up with their predictions for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

RELATED: World Cup homepage, the latest news from Brazil

Needless to say, banter has been flying around: “Seriously… the U.S. is going to the quarterfinals?” “Umm… I think you made a mistake with England, guys.”

As they say, making these picks is all part of the fun.

Below we have full selections from the PST crew, and why not have a go yourself in the comments section below.

Have fun and enjoy studying the field before watching your picks disintegrate in the first week  following the first wave of upsets. Come on… it always happens!

Joe Prince-Wright

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon. Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece. Group D: Uruguay, England, Italy, Costa Rica. Group E: France, Ecuador, Switzerland, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, Portugal, USA, Ghana. Group H: Belgium, Russia, South Korea, Algeria

 

source:
JPW has hosts Brazil winning their sixth World Cup.

Round of 16
Brazil over Netherlands
Spain over Croatia
England over Colombia
Ivory Coast over Uruguay
Bosnia over France
Argentina over Ecuador
Germany over Russia
Belgium over Portugal

Quarterfinals
Brazil over England
Germany over Bosnia
Argentina over Belgium
Spain over Ivory Coast

Semifinals
Brazil over Germany
Argentina over Spain

Third place
Spain over Germany

Final
Brazil over Argentina

Richard Farley

Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Cameroon. Group B: Spain, Chile, Netherlands, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Japan, Ivory Coast, Greece. Group D: Uruguay, Italy, England, Costa Rica. Group E: Switzerland, France, Ecuador, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, Portugal, United States, Ghana. Group H: Belgium, Russia, South Korea, Algeria

Round of 16
Chile over Brazil
Italy over Colombia
Switzerland over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Germany over Russia
Spain over Mexico
Uruguay over Japan
Argentina over France
Portugal over Belgium

source:
Farley has gone for Spain to win back-to-back titles.

Quarterfinals
Chile over Italy
Germany over Switzerland
Spain over Uruguay
Argentina over Portugal

Semifinals
Germany over Chile
Spain over Argentina

Third place
Chile over Argentina

Final
Spain over Germany

Mike Prindiville

Group A: Brazil, Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico. Group B: Chile, Spain, Netherlands, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece. Group D: Italy, Uruguay, England, Costa Rica. Group E: France, Ecuador, Switzerland, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, USA, Portugal, Ghana. Group H: Russia, Belgium, Korea, Algeria

Round of 16
Brazil over Spain
Chile over Cameroon
Uruguay over Colombia
Ivory Coast over Italy
France over Bosnia
Argentina over Ecuador
Germany over Belgium
USA over Russia

source:
Les Elephants are Prindi’s surprise pick to reach the final four.

Quarterfinals
Brazil over Uruguay
France over Germany
Argentina over USA
Ivory Coast over Chile

Semifinals
Brazil over France
Argentina over Ivory Coast

Third place
Ivory Coast over France

Final
Brazil over Argentina

 

Kyle Bonn

Group stages

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico. Cameroon. Group B: Spain ,Netherlands, Chile, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Greece. Group D: Italy, Uruguay. England, Costa Rica. Group E: France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, United States. Group H: Russia, Belgium, South Korea, Algeria.

source:
According to Kyle, Bosnia is heading to the semifinals.

Round of 16
Brazil over Netherlands
Spain over Croatia
Uruguay over Colombia
Italy over Ivory Coast
Bosnia over France
Argentina over Switzerland
Germany over Belgium
Portugal over Russia

Quarterfinals
Brazil over Uruguay
Spain over Italy
Bosnia over Germany
Argentina over Portugal

Semifinals
Brazil over Bosnia
Argentina over Spain

Third place
Spain over Bosnia

Final
Brazil over Argentina

Kirsten Schlewitz

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon. Group B: Spain, Chile, Netherlands, Australia. Group C: Colombia, Japan, Greece, Ivory Coast. Group D: Italy, Uruguay, England, Costa Rica. Group E: France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA. Group H: Belgium, South Korea, Russia, Algeria.

source:
Kirsten is going with Brazil. If in doubt… pick the host nation.

Round of 16
Brazil over Chile
Colombia over Uruguay
France over Bosnia
Germany over South Korea
Spain over Croatia
Italy over Japan
Argentina over Switzerland
Belgium over Portugal

Quarterfinals
Brazil over Colombia
France over Germany
Spain over Italy
Argentina over Belgium

Semifinals
Brazil over France
Spain over Argentina

Third place
France over Argentina

Final
Brazil over Spain

Nick Mendola

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Cameroon, Mexico. Group B: Chile, Spain, Netherlands, Australia. Group C: Ivory Coast, Greece, Colombia, Japan. Group D: Italy, Uruguay, England, Costa Rica. Group E: France, Switzerland, Honduras, Ecuador. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Nigeria, Iran. Group G: Germany, USA, Portugal, Ghana. Group H: Belgium, Russia, South Korea, Algeria

Round of 16

Brazil over Spain
Uruguay over Ivory Coast
France over Bosnia
Germany over Russia
Chile over Croatia
Italy over Greece
Argentina over Switzerland
Belgium over USA

source:
Mendola thinks Germany will win its fourth World Cup.

Quarterfinals
Italy over Chile
Argentina over Belgium
Germany over France
Brazil over Uruguay

Semifinals
Germany over Brazil
Italy over Argentina

Third place
Brazil over Argentina

Final
Germany over Italy

SKC, Crew SC play to 0-0 draw; VAR steals the show (again)

Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images
By Andy EdwardsMay 27, 2018, 8:23 PM EDT
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KANSAS CITY, KAN. — The game in 100 words (or less): Nothing ruins a good game of soccer more than controversies involving the referee — and now that VAR is active within MLS, yet another failure of the video-review system to correct the most “clear and obvious” of wrong decisions. There is no longer any rhyme or reason in deciding whether or not to utilize what could be a very helpful tool. Check the third video further down this page to comprehend the absurdity of VAR in Sporting Kansas City’s 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew SC on Sunday. As for the actual soccer which was played, Tim Melia made one save to deny Gyasi Zardes with a point-blank header early in the first half, and a second to deny Zardes rom the penalty spot just before halftime. Despite being a back-and-forth affair between the league’s second- and third-place teams with a chance to take the lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, there were just six shots on target in total and genuine scoring chances were few and far between.

[ PREVIEW: USMNT hosts Bolivia in shadows of World Cup hype ]

Three moments that mattered

43′ — Zardes wins a PK, but Melia makes the save — Melia was responsible for giving away the penalty kick, and he more than made up for it by denying Zardes moments later.

45+6′ — Higuain puts studs into Espinoza, sees red — Originally not called a foul, changed to a red card following video review. On the softer side of red cards (just an opinion).

59′ — Martinez takes a swing at Sinovic, but no video review — At this point, it’s just time to disband the entire VAR experiment. It’s turned MLS into a clown show and an embarrassment. Signed, someone who was initially in favor of VAR, assuming MLS would utilize it properly.

[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s MLS coverage | Standings | Stats | Schedule ]

Man of the match: Tim Melia

Goalscorers: None

Rayo Vallecano win promotion back to La Liga

Photo credit: Rayo Vallecano / @RayoVallecano
Associated PressMay 27, 2018, 7:53 PM EDT
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MADRID (AP) Rayo Vallecano earned promotion to Spain’s top division after beating Lugo 1-0 in a second-tier league game on Sunday.

Alex Moreno’s goal for the hosts in the 40th minute sealed Rayo’s return to La Liga after two seasons away.

Huesca had already secured promotion last weekend with a 2-0 victory at Lugo.

The third team to move up will be the winner of a two-round playoff between the four teams that finish the season from third to sixth.

Malaga, Las Palmas and Deportivo La Coruna were all relegated from the top flight this season.

FOLLOW LIVE: West leaders SKC host East’s 2nd-best Crew SC

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
By Andy EdwardsMay 27, 2018, 5:53 PM EDT
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KANSAS CITY, KAN. — Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City host Columbus Crew SC, the Eastern Conference’s second-place side, at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday with both sides capable of overtaking Atlanta United for top spot in the Supporters’ Shield race.

[ FOLLOW: SKC vs. Crew SC in top-of-the-table clash ]

Sporting KC, who are unbeaten in three straight and have lost just once since opening day (11 games), lead expansion side Los Angeles FC in the West. Meanwhile, Crew SC enter Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash unbeaten in their last six games (four wins) and trail the league leaders from Atlanta by a single point.

Hit the link above to follow along throughout the afternoon, and check back with PST for coverage after the final whistle.

Ronaldo staying at Real Madrid: ‘See you next year’

by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Associated PressMay 27, 2018, 4:52 PM EDT
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MADRID (AP) — For a third straight year, Real Madrid are celebrating a European title with their fans.

Madrid brought the Champions League trophy home on Sunday and paraded it through the streets of the Spanish capital as thousands of fans saluted the newly crowned champions.

[ MORE: Ronaldo hints at Real Madrid exit | Bale does the same ]

Madrid was back in Spain after winning its 13th European title with a 3-1 win over Liverpool in Kiev on Saturday.

Players and team members participated in a ceremony at a local cathedral. After this they met with the city mayor and community president before addressing fans from a terrace at the Puerta del Sol square, one of Madrid’s main locations.

“It has become a routine to be here,” captain Sergio Ramos said. “Hopefully it will continue for many years.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who after the final hinted he could be leaving Madrid, heard fans asking him to stay at the club.

“Thank you for all of your support,” Ronaldo told the crowd. “We made history, it’s time to be happy.”

The team then got on an open bus and paraded with the trophy until reaching the club’s traditional celebration spot, the Plaza de Cibeles, where fans had been waiting for the champions for hours.

[ UCL FINAL: Player ratings | Three things we learned ]

The players chanted “Campeones, Campeones” and “We Are Kings of Europe” along with the fans. Ramos and Marcelo carried the trophy across the walkway set up over the plaza’s fountain and draped the statue of the goddess Cibele with a Spain flag that carried Madrid’s name on it. Ramos also put a team scarf around the goddess’ head to huge cheers from the crowd as the song “We Are The Champions” was played.

The next stop was due to be the team’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where nearly 80,000 fans were expected to attend a ceremony honoring the European champions.

The stadium was packed on Saturday with fans watching the match on eight big screens set up at midfield. Confetti blasted from a stage behind the screens when the players lifted the trophy in Ukraine.

Thousands had already made it to the Plaza de Cibeles right after the game in celebrations that lasted into the early hours of Sunday.

Madrid has won the Champions League in four of the last five years. It had beaten Juventus last season, and city rival Atletico Madrid in finals in 2014 and 2016.