Instant Round of 16 Review: Germany Cruises Thanks, in part, to "Goalgate"

Read it here.

Germany-England Preview: Germany Has the Edge, As Usual

Read it here.

Wednesday Review of Group C and D Final Games; Thursday Preview

Read it here.

Group A and B Final Reviews and Wednesday Preview

Read them here.

Thursday Wrap-Up: You Want Goals? We Got 'Em! Plus, Friday Preview and Odd Stats

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Review of England-USA: Once Again, Football Isn't Coming Home

Read it here.

Previews of Saturday Games: South Korea-Greece, Nigeria-Argentina, and USA-England

Read them all here.

Predictions From Some Experts (and not-so experts)

Tomorrow you'll get our predictions. Today, we hear from others, experts and otherwise:

EA Sports 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: Using the game - which apparently even measures for altitude -- Brazil wins it all, defeating Spain in the final. We have our doubts: The game also has England in the semis.

VIP Communications Customer Survey: 32.2% pick Brazil; 23.5% pick Spain; 12.3% pick England.

Rome Hartman, Executive Producer, BBC News America: Brazil to win.

Piers Edwards, BBC: Brazil over Argentina in the final. Also thinks the Dutch may do well.

For more, read here:

Grant Wahl, SI: Spain tops, Brazil 2nd, Netherlands 3rd in power rankings.

US Opponent Watch: Why England Needs A Tactical Makeover

England's recent 3-1 victory over Mexico was an extremely flattering result. England chased the ball for much of the game, out-passed and out-paced by a technically superior Mexico side, and owed their victory primarily to Peter Crouch's height advantage over a small Mexican back line and Carlos Vela's woeful finishing (he is capable of better and will have to step up in South Africa if Mexico is to advance). If England is truly to be a title contender, a comprehensive tactical re-think is needed.

For more, read here:

Surprise Selections (and other news) from Group C, the Most Overrated Group in South Africa -- England, USA, Slovenia, and Algeria

The hype surrounding this group could move mountains. That's because it contains the Cup's two most overrated teams, at least by their fans - England and the USA. But interestingly, Group C also has two of South Africa's more underrated squads - Algeria and particularly Slovenia. Upsets are definitely possible in a group without a truly dominant squad.

So, it's on to recent developments with the teams, in an order of finish on which we wouldn't bet the farm:

ENGLAND

Every four years, the English are convinced that "football is coming home." But the reporters who cover the team - who usually join in the mass delusion - have begun to notice that the good ship England is taking on water. Note the recent headlines: "England Remain A World Cup Longshot," (from When Saturday Comes) and "Rest of the World Will Not Fear England Squad," says Oliver Kay" (from the UK Times). After a season in the always tough and physical Premier League, England's players are tired and hurting, and the team never had a keeper, or a decent second striker, or enough defenders to be a top-flight contender anyway. That's why manager Fabio Capello tried to get both the aged Paul Scholes (Man U) to return (he failed, fortunately) and defender Jamie Carragher of Liverpool (he succeeded, unfortunately), who had already lost a step several years ago. This is the same Jamie Carragher who wrote in his autobiography after he retired from international duty two years ago, "I was never in love with playing for England in the first place." Not a good sign.

To read more, click here:

Beckham is a Sentimental Loss for England, Not A Real One

Ollie Kay of the UK Times has it about right: David Beckham is a sentimental loss to the Cup (and our cover!) but not to the team. He likely would have come in only at the end of games in the hopes of taking an important free kick or even a penalty kick (which given his history, he might well have missed). Life marches on.