[Vinny]

Absolutely amazing performance from France. The team that started off with an awful tie against Switzerland and everyone (including me) thought were a bunch of old burnt-out fogeys who weren't going to get anywhere and who qualified for the second round by the skin of their teeth beat the favorites in a brilliant performance. Zidane was amazing, he was working the Brazilian defence like there was nothing to it, he was just so relaxed and made it look so easy. It's great to see him play like his old (or should I say young) self again. Brazil didn't play well at all. I thought Ronaldo in particular was pathetic: he had two GREAT chances at goal in which he could have equalized, put his team back in the game, and earned a great deal of respect, but instead on both occasions he decided to opt for cheap dives. Absolutely disgraceful and a disservice to his teammates and a bad way to go out for the highest World Cup goalscorer ever. Ronaldinho hasn't done ANYTHING in this tournament, and everyone thought it was going to be his World Cup.

Germany has played brilliantly and Klinsmann has proven that his radical changes have truly paid off, and they have beaten the favorite of the tournament.
Italy's defense is BY FAR the best and they could cause Germany problems and they have some very good and well linked up attack in Totti and Toni, so don't rule them out quite yet.
Portugal have Figo, Pauleta, Deco, Ronaldo, Maniche (although I think he's missing the next match), and they also have the great defense of Carvalho, not to mention the wonderful Ricardo.
France have just shown what they can really do, and if they can beat Brazil, they can beat anyone. Great players, great pace, great everything (well, except Barthez who is just embarrassing).

Both favorites have been knocked out before the semi-finals. Anything could happen and anyone could win. Exciting!