FIBA World Basketball Championships - Quarterfinal Preview

I am batting .750 going six for eight in picks for the first knockout round of the FIBA World Championships, but let's be honest the games were not that difficult to pick and if I used my head instead of my heart I would have been perfect. Regardless, we are at the quarterfinal stage of the competition, so onto the fearless predictions.

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 B 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. It's time for Group B! Enjoy!

Live Commentary - Group C

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 8 Fearless Predictions

Buoyed by Greece's first ever goal and victory at the World Cup, I slept in, so excuse the late posting of Day 8 Fearless Predictions. That felt good to write. Day 8 sees the Germans in action again against the Serbians while the US battles Slovenia and England takes on Algeria. Should be a great slate of games, so onto the picks, while I am off to the bar to enjoy the fine Toronto weather.

Day 8

Germany - Serbia

Can the Germans continue the form that they showed against Australia? Serbia needs a result in this game especially considering their loss to Ghana and should provide a more formidable defensive presence than the Aussies did. I expect the Germans to continue their fine form and muster a victory. However, the longer the Serbs hold their defensive shape, their confidence will grow and they could sneak a victory.

Germany - Serbia (2-0)

Slovenia - United States

Finally, some trash-talking but who knew it would come from the Slovenians. With a victory Slovenia will all but secure their place into the Round of 16. I expect this to be a tight and nervy affair with both teams intent on their defensive responsibilities and offering very little going forward. The Americans will need more offensive play from their creative players like Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley to break down a sturdy Slovenian defense. This will be a tight affair and end in a draw.

Slovenia - United States (1-1)

England - Algeria

Early reports are all but confirming that David 'Calamity' James will be in goal for the British against Algeria. I do not understand why Fabio Capello does not have faith in youngster Joe Hart. Regardless, the English should in all reality crush the Desert Foxes in the late game. I expect Captain Gerrard to pot a goal, while Wayne Rooney gets his name on the scoreboard coupled with a headed goal from John 'I'll Sex Up Your Girl' Terry. England strolls to victory.

England - Algeria (3-0)

OVERALL RECORD

10-10

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 C Preview

Overview:

Group C sees England, the United States, Slovenia and Algeria battle for the top two spots. Many have predicted that England and the US should advance, and I would tend to agree with that notion. The British under Don Fabio Capello are using a 4-2-3-1 formation with Wayne Rooney leading the charge and Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard providing support through the midfield. However, like any British team there is the usual high levels of hype and expectation and anything less than first place for the Three Lions will be viewed as a major disappointment. Furthermore with the exclusions of Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson there is not much depth along the wings. In regards to the United States, the 2010 World Cup represents their easiest path to the Round of 16. Usually, the US is paired with two European heavyweights in prior World Cups. (2006 - Italy & Czech Republic & 2002 - Portugal & Poland) Well, maybe Poland is not a heavyweight, but at the time they were a formidable squad. This version of the US team is also dealing with abnormally high expectations which are evident in the increased television coverage this World Cup is receiving in the United States from ESPN and Sports Illustrated. I mean Peter King, of Monday Morning Quarterback, is going to South Africa to offer analysis. Perhaps the good people at SI can't differentiate between the two types of football, and figured one football expert would be able to relate to the other football. Slovenia qualified for the World Cup by dispatching Gus Hiddink's Russia in the European play-offs. The squad currently have no long-term injuries, one of the few at the tournament, yet they are extremely young and perhaps this squad will be better prepared for 2014 in Brazil. Algeria qualified for the World Cup after their one match play-off with Egypt. With the majority of the Algerian squad plying their trade in France, this squad will have a distinctive Ligue 1 feel to them. Discipline and maintaining one's composure will be instrumental for Algeria's success.

Players To Watch:

England - Wayne Rooney - Rooney is the most talented player England has possessed since probably the days of Paul Gascoigne. This last domestic campaign Rooney benefited the most from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid and had his highest goal-scoring total with 34 goals in 44 appearances. However, Rooney has a tad of a temper just like Mr. Gascoigne and could be liability at the World Cup if he is not able to manage his emotions.

United States - Clint Dempsey - While Landon Donovan may be receiving the most publicity, in my humble opinion Clint Dempsey is the key man for the Americans. Dempsey just came back from a fantastic campaign helping Fulham to the Europa Final and if on the right form, will provide the secondary scoring that the US has lacked in prior World Cups.

Slovenia - Valter Birsa - Birsa, who currently plays for Auxerre, is a 23 year-old inside-out winger who usually attacks from the right. Birsa in the earlier part of his career struggled as a striker but the transition to winger has beneficial for not only his club side but also for Slovenia throughout the qualifying process.

Algeria - Madjid Bougherra - Bougherra plays in the center of defense for Algeria and Glasgow Rangers and helped lead Algeria to only allow 8 goals in 12 qualifying matches. Bougherra is extremely experienced form his time in the Scottish Premier League and is one of the few players who has the physicality to deal with the strikers from England and the United States.

Projected Order Of Finish:

England

United States
Slovenia
Algeria