World Cup Contest, Round Two!

Okay, soccer fans.

Eight of us entered for the grand prize and eight of us remain with some relatively sharp picking in the opening round.

Here are our current standings, out of a maximum 24 possible points, one garnered with every correct pick.

T-1^st) Michael O: 22 out of 24

Mex, Che, Can, Swi, Bra, Mor, USA, Aus, Ger, Net, Ecu, Jap, Bel, NZ, Spa, Urdu, Fra, Nor, Arg, Aus, Por, Col, Eng, Gha

T-1^st) Billy B: 22 out of 24

Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Argentina, Portugal, England, Czechia, Canada, Morocco, Paraguay, Cote D’Ivoire, Japan, Egypt, Uruguay, Senegal, Algeria, Colombia, Ghana

T-3^rd) Dave M: 20 out of 24

Mexico & S. Korea, Swiss & Canada, Brazil & Morocco, U.S. & Turkey, Germany & Ecuador, Netherlands & Japan, Belgium & Iran, Spain & Uruguay, France & Senegal, Argentina & Austria, Portugal & Columbia, England & Croatia

T-3^rd) Partykiller: 20 out of 24

Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Bosnia, Brasil, Morocco, USA, Turkey, Germany, Ivory Coast, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Iran, Spain, Uruguay, France, Senegal, Argentina, Algeria, Portugal, Colombia, England, Croatia

T-3^rd) Byron T: 20 out of 24

Mexico, Czechia, Canada, Bosnia, Brazil, Scotland, Usa, Australia, Germany, Ecuador, Netherlands, Sweden, Egypt, New Zealand, Spain, Uruguay, Senegal, Norway, Argentina, Jordan, Portugal, Colombia, England, Ghana

T-3^rd) SportsChump: 20 out of 24

Mex and the Czechs, Swiss and Canada, Brazil and Scotland, USA and Paraguay, Germany and Ecuador, Dutch and Swedes, Belgium and Iran, Spain and Uruguay, France and Norway, Argentina and Austria, Portugal and Colombia, England and Croatia

7^th) J Dub: 19 out of 24

South Korea, Czechia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Scotland, United States, Turkey, Germany, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Japan, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Uruguay, France, Senegal, Argentina, Algeria, Portugal, Colombia, England, Croatia

8^th) Jason P (18 out of 24)

Mexico, Korea, Qatar, Switzerland, Brazil, Scotland, US, Türkiye, Germany, Ecuador, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Iran, Spain, Uruguay, France, Norway, Argentina, Algeria, Portugal, Colombia, England, Croatia

I think I got all that right.  If you find any mistakes above, just drop me a line.

We are going to keep the rest of this contest simple.

ALL I WANT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW IS YOUR FINAL FOUR COUNTRIES AND THEN WHO WILL BEAT WHOM IN THE FINAL GAME.  As your tiebreak, give me the total goals scored in the final game.

You will receive four points for each of the countries you select right in the final four, six points for each country you select to reach the final game and eight points for correctly picking the winner.

Again, the grand prize is a copy of Rick Barba’s and Charlie Davis’ brand new “Immortal Moments: The World Cup” to call your own.

In case ya’ need it, here’s a bracket to help you along the way.

Cheers, gentlemen!  Good luck to you and enjoy the rest of the tournament!