OK, so the USA and my beloved Azzurri have disappointed me so. Still, I march on. After all, it's the World Cup and it comes around only every four years so why whine about the ridiculous (USA Coach Bob Bradley's tactics) and the pathetic (Italy's backwards, er...forwards).

The eight quarter-finalists are deserving of their spots and here's something to think about: we could have an entire South America semi-final (we won't, but more on that in a few seconds).

Here are my selections for the remainder of the World Cup (I have to do this because stupid Italy couldn't get out of the first round and the way their forwards played, they would have been knocked out of the US Cup by the Red Bulls).

Anyway, here goes:

Friday, July 2: Uruguay coasts past Ghana, 3-0. Holland finally puts it all together and upends Brazil, 2-1.

Saturday, July 3: Germany is playing good soccer, with Podolski and Klose playing like forwards should play, you know, making runs, scoring goals, something the Italian forwards have no idea how to do. Ah, but they come up against a tough Argentina, being led by the great Maradona, who, this humble writer has to admit while eating some humble pie, is doing a great job. But it ends here. Germany 3, Argentina 1.  In the second game of the day, the incredibly talented Spain takes on the attack-minded Paraguay. The temptation is there to pick the upset but, no dice. Spain 2, Paraguay 0.

So that sets up the semi-finals: Uruguay v Holland, Spain v Germany. Holland squeaks by, 2-1. Spain and Germany play a classic match. Goes into overtime at nil-nil. Remarkably, David Villa scores early in the opening 15 minutes. Miroslav Klose equals late in the second OT. To PKs they go. Spain connects on all 5 attempts. Germany is equal to the task. On and on it goes until...

Iker Casillas makes a save. Spain wins. On to the final vs. Holland. There is joy in Spain.

Until July 11 when Holland, after all these years, takes home the World Cup trophy. Holland 3, Spain 1.