Sad day today for U.S. Soccer fans as the mens squad has been eliminated from the Olympics in the final game of the group stages. Lets face it, a great second half performance in game two against the Netherlands was erased by a naive finish to a game that they should have won. Conceding the late free kick was a disaster and if they had held on to win the U.S. would have been on to the elimination round with a historic win. Yet that naivety in the end was costly because it did not create the room to cover for the 3rd minute ejection to Michael Orozco today against Nigeria who defeated the U.S.
Expectations are higher now and to close out a game against the Netherlands would have proved to have been progress to me.

Womens Quarterfinals Friday with my predictions:

United States vs. Canada (Canada are up for the moment but the U.S. advances in Concacaf encounter)
Brazil vs. Norway (Norway doesn’t respond to pasting from Japan, Brazil advances easily)
Sweden vs. Germany (Germany in a close win over Sweden who are “game”.)
China vs. Japan (Japan upset the host nation in front of a large crowd)

Mens Quarterfinals:

Brazil vs. Cameroon (Brazil can’t be stopped by the “lions”. Diego, Pato and Ronaldinho on top)
Italy vs. Belgium (Italian quality signs through but it won’t be easy)
Argentina vs Netherlands (Will the real Netherlands step up? No stopping Argentina and rested Messi and Riquelme)
Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria (Battle of AFrica could be the most interesting of quarterfinal matches.)

Give me your thoughts on the Olympics from predictions, to the U.S. loss and the quality of television coverage. All opinions are accepted here?