Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 12

After the shocking elimination of Germany yesterday at the World Cup, honestly, anything can happen during the knockout stage. France bounced back from a goal down to beat England in penalties to win the earlier quarterfinal match. So what will happen today?

Women's World Cup Panos Power Rankings - Edition #2

With the group stages completed at the Women's World Cup, I must say I have been captivated by the tournament. The level of play has surprised me and the lack of the theatrics that mar that men's game are not on display. The three big favorites still remain in Germany, the United States and Brazil with the only surprise, if you can even call it that, is that Canada were sent home early. Of course with the conclusion of the group stage, there is only one thing left to do . . . here are the PBP Power Rankings, Edition #2.

Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 10

First of all I would like to extend my apologies to the loyal followers of Posts By Panos, because as I assumed the Day 9 fearless predictions did not post. Of course, any betting losses that have been incurred, just be sure to put it on my tab. But if you are betting on the Women's World Cup and relying on me for your advice well you have bigger problems than a couple lost dollars.

The Most Unbelievable Non-Call Hand Ball . . . Ever

At the Women's World Cup, check out the most amazing non-call hand ball during the match between Australia and Equatorial Guinea. The original shot, from Australia's Leena Khamis, hit the post in the 16th minute and bounced towards Equatorial Guinea's defender Bruna. At that point, Bruna plucked the ball out of the air and held it with both hands, a blatant penalty. However no penalty was called. You really have to watch the video to believe it. I am still in shock.

Credit: The Dirty Tackle

Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 8

Exhausted, so this is a short fearless predictions for Day 8 at the Women's World Cup.

Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 4

Day 3 at the Women's World Cup continued with Marky Mark's good vibrations for our fearless predictions as both Sweden and the United States won their respective matches. Day 4 sees Group D take center stage and all the focus will be on Brazil and the attacking threat of their superstar Marta.

Women's World Cup Panos Power Rankings - Edition #1

With a couple days to go before the start of the Women's World Cup it is time for a Posts By Panos tradition as we present the first edition of the Women's World Cup Power Rankings. Enjoy!

Sidenote: Odds are given as a multiplier and were taken from www.betbrain.com

Women's World Cup Preview - Group D

Welcome to the final World Cup group preview featuring Brazil, Norway, Australia and Equatorial Guinea. This group will likely come down to the Brazil-Norway match to determine who finishes first and second. Norway has been one of women's soccer greatest powers while Brazil have dominated South America due to the all-world talents of Marta. The key is if they can avoid a slip against Asian champion Australia or newcomer Equatorial Guinea.

FIBA World Basketball Championships - Sweet Sixteen Preview

After a week and a half of round robin basketball action, we have finally entered the knock-out single elimination stage of the FIBA World Basketball Championships. We have had our fair share of disappointments, thank you Canada and surprises, way to go New Zealand. So let's get our perspective on the upcoming matches with some fearless predictions.

FIBA World Basketball Championships - Group A Preview

In less than a week the FIBA World Basketball Championships will tip-off in Turkey with the top 24 teams competing for the title of World Champion. The United States, Spain, Argentina and Greece are the four favorites for the semifinal spots, with a champion emerging from this group. Spain are the defending World Champions, beating Greece in Japan four years ago. The US have not won this competition since 1994 when the tourney was held in Canada. The competition divides the 24 teams into four groups of six, with the top four teams in each group advancing to the knock-out stages. Over the next couple of days PBP will look at each group and try to provide a concise preview. Let's begin with Group A! Enjoy!

Day 13 Fearless Predictions

After making a spirited comeback to climb two games above .500 I faltered on Day 12 and picked games based on my heart rather than my head. But, I can hold my head up high, I did pick the French to choke and hoped that Nigeria and Greece would be able to accomplish the miracles needed, but sometimes in soccer the better teams win. So congratulations to Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina and South Korea for reaching the Round of 16. We are onto Group C & D and at the end of the day we will have more than half of the teams who will continue onto the next stage. Onto the picks!

Day 13

Slovenia - England

John Terry is a complete jackass, there I said it. First he sleeps with Wayne Bridge's baby mama, and then he speaks out of line and is a rat to the media regarding Fabio Capello. If I was Don Fab I would bench Terry and play Dawson and Upson in the center of the defensive back four. Regardless this is it for England. To fail to advance to the Round of 16 will a complete and utter disappointment and although they are playing a very tough Slovenian squad, there are weaknesses that the United States exposed that England could use to their advantage. The Brits need to use their wingers and Wayne Rooney needs to be at this best form or else good bye England.

Slovenia - England (0-2)

United States - Algeria

Did you know that the United States is 0-6 in the third game of the group stage at the World Cup? Well tomorrow the tide needs to turn for the United States to advance into the Round of 16. I believe Bob Bradley needs to encourage Uncle Sam's men to attack from the onset and play a complete game, because the US in their two earlier matches allowed early goals. The key for the Algerians is defensive organization coupled with counter-attacking play. As the game draws further along still scoreless, the Algerians could sneak in a winner. Should be an exciting match.

United States - Algeria (2-1)

Ghana - Germany

Ghana is the last great hope for the African teams at the World Cup. So much for the 'home-continent' advantage, it has been a complete joke. Ghana needs to play strong defensively to shut down a German attack that will be playing without Miroslav Klose due to his red card in the match against Serbia. The Germans should be able to exploit Ghana's weaknesses if it uses Philip Lahm as a wingback and the darting runs from midfielder Ozul. Germany should be able to overcome Ghana in this match.

Ghana - Germany (0-2)

Australia - Serbia

Australia will be welcoming back Tim Cahill for this match against the Serbians still hopeful of a chance to advance to the Round of 16. I am not sure what to make of Serbia. Picked by many to be a dark horse in this tourney they have disappointed but I see them playing a full 90 minutes of football and squeezing out a result against Australia. The key for the Serbs is the focus and organization from center backs Vidic and Subotic.

Australia - Serbia (0-1)

OVERALL RECORD

18-18

Day 9 Fearless Predictions

Day 8 brought more surprises than anyone could imagine, from Serbia's victory over Germany, to the US's comeback against the Slovenians to finally England's abysmal performance against Algeria. However, most of these games were affected by poor refereeing decisions. I will touch on the poor refereeing in an upcoming 'State of Play' piece and offer my suggestions to FIFA to help solve this problem. But that is for a different day. It's the weekend, so enjoy the games where ever you may be watching and onto to the picks.

Day 9

Netherlands - Japan

The Dutch were victorious in their prior match against the Danes, while the Japanese shocked Cameroon 1-0. The Oranje are expecting Arjen Robben back for this game, and he could provide a difference on the wings and relegate Rafael van der Vaart to the bench. I was thoroughly impressed Eljero Elia in his cameo appearance and he was unlucky not to grab a goal. The Japanese will remain compact and organized and look to nip a goal from a set piece or via the counter attack.

Netherlands - Japan (2-0)

Ghana - Australia

Ghana are in prime position to put a stranglehold on Group D especially with Serbia's victory over Germany the day before. Ghana did not offer much going forward against Serbia but they are still extremely organized and structured and Australia will find them difficult to breakdown. The Aussies are missing their best player Tim Cahill due to suspension and will find it difficult to score.

Ghana - Australia (1-0)

Cameroon - Denmark

The best game of a rather boring group of games sees Cameroon and Denmark embark on a must-win scenario. Both teams lost their previous match and will be going for the three points. I see a determined Cameroon using Samuel E'too as an out and out striker and eventually outscoring the Danes in what might be the match of the tournament. I hope!

Cameroon - Denmark (3-2)

OVERALL

11-12

Day 3 Fearless Predictions

I promised myself that I am waiting at least 24 hours before offering any sort of commentary on the sorry excuse of a performance by the Greek national team, but hell there are more games to play, so here are some more fearless predictions, although with my current predictive power they might be fearful.

Day 3

Algeria - Slovenia

So far no European team has managed to win a game at the World Cup, so I am bucking the trend and declaring the Slovenians the first European team to win a game in South Africa. Expect a nervy affair with a late goal.

Algeria - Slovenia (0-1)

Serbia - Ghana

In my opinion this is the best game of the day because of the ferocity of the tackling and the ultra aggressive play that both sides will deploy in this match. However, there will be goals and there will be a draw.

Serbia - Ghana (2-2)

Germany - Australia

Here is hoping that one favorite shows up and plays football properly and maybe manages to put away the weaker opposition. So Germany here is your chance, and I expect that they will deliver with a confident performance and win by 3 goals.

Germany - Australia (3-0)

OVERALL RECORD

2-3

Group D Preview

Overview:

Injuries have unfortunately robbed Group D of two of the best holding midfielders in the game today, as both Ghana's Michael Essien and Germany's Michael Ballack will miss the World Cup with their respective injuries. Perhaps there just might be something in the water in North London. Regardless Group D sees Germany, Serbia, Ghana and Australia do battle for the coveted top two spots. Germany enters the tournament without their talisman captain Michael Ballack, who not only is injured but was recently kicked to the curb by Chelsea as his contract was not renewed. However, even with these problems the Germans still possess a highly organized team that is committed and always seems to rise to the challenge. The Germans will count on the youngsters Mesut Ozil and Marko Marin to provide some attacking flair for Joachim Low's squad. The Serbians  qualified for the World Cup ahead of France in their group and are favored to advance to the Round of 16. Nemanja Vidic, from Manchester United, is the captain and is part of a tremendous back four that will comprise the spine of the Serbian squad. The Serbs will also likely attack through the wings via the play of Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanovic. Jovanovic looks to be heading to Liverpool on a free transfer but with the dismissal of Rafa Benetiz perhaps Jovanovic will not push the transfer through on his end. The Black Stars of Ghana will undoubtedly be missing the services of their own captain Michael Essien. However, it should be noted that this team climbed to the final of the African Cup of Nations without their captain and with a very young squad. Asamoah Gyan, from the French club Rennes, is the key man upfront for the Black Stars and will be asked to shoulder the load. The Socceroos from Australia find themselves back in the World Cup for the first time in consecutive tournaments. Although the talent is not quite there for the Australians their tenacity and determination will make them a difficult out in South Africa. Keeper Mark Schwarzer from Fulham will expect to see plenty of shots but he does have the pedigree to keep the majority of them out of the net.

Players To Watch:

Germany - Bastian Schweinsteiger - Beyond having the greatest name in modern football, Schweinsteiger will be asked to be the key creative force for the German squad. He is a right-footed player that usually plays on the right wing but with the injury to Michael Ballack he could find himself in the middle of the park.

Ghana - Asamoah Gyan - Gyan must equal goals for Ghana for the Black Stars to have any hope of advancing to the Round of 16 considering the injury to Michael Essien. Gyan was Rennes' leading scorer during the past domestic campaign and his speed will play a major role for the Ghanaian attack.

Serbia - Neven Subotic - It would be easy to put Vidic as Serbia's player to watch, but rather his partner in the back line is the more intriguing story. Subotic actually had the chance to play for Germany, the United States and Serbia, so the match between the Serbs and Germans could test his young emotions.

Australia - Tim Cahill - If you love the little man with the big heart, then Tim Cahill is exactly your type of player. Cahill plays for Everton in the EPL and for a player with a short stature he scores the majority of his goals with his head. Cahill will be looked upon to lead the Aussies to the next round.

Projected Order Of Finish:

Germany

Serbia

Ghana

Australia