Women's World Cup Bracket: 3 Bold Predictions for USA vs. Brazil Quarterfinals

Women's World Cup Bracket Discussion About Quarterfinal Match Between USA and Brazil

The United States is set to meet Brazil in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Women's World Cup.  The United States was projected to win their group stage, which would have set them up with a match against Australia, but they were knocked off by Sweden 2-1 in their final match of the group stages.

The Americans will now be part of a mammoth matchup that features them and Brazil.  As two of the top teams in the world, these teams were expected to meet in the finals, not in the quarterfinals.

With everything on the line when these two teams meet, here are three bold predictions for the semifinal match.

1. The match will need extra time to determine the winner

The United States is going to have their hands full with the Brazilians in this game and even though they are the No. 1 team in the world, they may not be considered favorites in this matchup.

These two teams are very evenly matched and it would be no surprise if this game headed to extra time. In fact, I think it would be a surprise if one of these teams won in regulation barring late heroics from one of the two teams. 

2. Hope Solo will be the game's MVP

The United States needs another terrific performance from their star goalkeeper if they want to come out of this game with a victory.  Solo has been terrific so far in this tournament and the two goals that were given up were certainly not her fault.

One was a penalty shot that grazed off her fingertips, the other was a free kick that took an unlucky deflection. 

Expect the same performance from her against Brazil—it will take some stunning play from the Brazilians to net one on Solo.

3. Lauren Cheney will score the game winner

The Americans are going to come out hungry after losing to Sweden and are going to continue their success against a Brazilian side that has struggled in big time matches in the World Cup.

Lauren Cheney has been far and away the most consistent attacking player so far for the Americans and she will likely continue to threaten the keeper in this match.  Cheney will certainly have a chance to score the game winner for the Americans, she just needs to put it on target and they will be advancing to the semifinals.

Below is the remainder of the Women's World Cup Bracket:

Date	Time	Network	Match	Site	Match #
Saturday, July 9	11:30 a.m.	ESPN	England vs. France	Leverkusen	26
	2:15 p.m.	ESPN	Germany vs. Japan	Wolfsburg	25
Sunday, July 10	6:30 a.m.	ESPN	Sweden vs. Australia	Augsburg	27
	11 a.m.	ESPN	Brazil vs. USA	Dresden	28

 Semifinals

Date	Time	Network	Match	Site	Match #
Wednesday, July 13	11:30 a.m.	ESPN	Winners: Match 26 vs. 28	Moenchengladbach	30
	2:15 p.m.	ESPN	Winners: Match 25 vs. 27	Frankfurt	29

Third-Place Match

Saturday, July 16

11 a.m.

ESPN2

Losers – 29 vs. 30

Sinsheim

31

2011 FIFA World Cup Final

Sunday, July 17

2 p.m.

ESPN

Winners – 29 vs. 30

Frankfurt

32