Let the Games Begin (One Day Early)

I may not have the scores right for the women's soccer games last night, but at least I got most of the results correct.

Let's try this prediction thing again, this time with the men's football tourney starting tonight.

Must see game to watch: anything with the Argentines. They will be a sure joy to view, analyze, watch. Just sit back and let them take control of the ride.

Also interesting will be whether or not Peter Nowak can figure out how to get some balls in the back of the net for his American squad. Can Nowak find away to tap into that attacking and creative flair that Freddy Adu played with when he went toe-to-toe with the full national squads of Argentina and European Champion Spain? Can Jozy Altidore and Brian McBride find chemistry up top? Can Michael Bradley not be a bitch?

Those are the questions for an American side that I think can contend for a medal. But, with the U-23s, and stars like Ronaldihno and Messi leaving their club teams to play in this pseudo-World Cup, Team USA has got to get its act together.

Predictions:

Group A
Australia draws Serbia, 1-1
Argentina over Ivory Coast, 4-1

Group B
USA over Japan, 1-0 (finally, a goal for this American team)
Netherlands over Nigeria, 3-2

Group C
Brasil over Belgium, 3-0
China over New Zealand. 2-0

Group D
Italy over Honduras, 1-0
Cameroon draws Korea, 2-2