13. Switzerland -- They got lucky against Ecuador, got drilled by France, whooped up on hapless Honduras and competed well against Argentina. Never been a fan of these guys but they are regular fixtures in the Cup, might as well get used to them. They play like geographically you would expect: general shape of Germany, try to move forward like France. Except they're not as good as either. I don't know if they ought to be better or if I'm just blind to their charms.
14. Greece -- Lucky against Ivory Coast, lucky against Japan, not at all lucky against Colombia or Costa Rica. I still haven't gotten used to Greece. I don't see how they keep moving forward. I don't see how they get better in the future.
15. Nigeria -- They played two disappointing games (a draw with Iran, a smackdown from France) and two kinda okay games (lucky win over Bosnia, fun loss to Argentina). The two 'better' games can't in my mind overtake the two lame ones. Disappointing show from Nigeria but the fact that they still made the round of 16 is telling: they're good enough to have expectations put on them but apparently not good enough to rise to those expectations....yet.
16. Uruguay -- Uruguay didn't show well. For one of the game's true giants, a final four participant last time around, they did not look dangerous with or without Suarez. They took advantage of weak England and Italy squads but getting drilled by Costa Rica was telling and their inability to get anything going against Colombia was too. Uruguay is not a good place right now but they are as resilient as anyone in world soccer and they did advance out of groups so I guess I can't put them too far off the pace.
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