I have been so wrapped up in following ISIS this week, I've forgotten to post open threads Here's one, all topics welcome.

Groups A and B finish today in relatively unclimactic fashion, as both groups are basically decided, with one exception - Mexico v. Croatia, which is the marquee game of the day. It kicks off at 4 pm. There is some drama in the Chile v. Netherlands tilt, in that one imagines both will want to avoid Brazil in the Round of 16, and winning their group is how to do it. The other games lack drama.

Yesterday I went 2-1, with good payoffs. Today's picks:

Group B - Curitiba, Spain -1½ (+115) over Australia. The end of an era. Spain's scrubs are all stars too.

Group B - São Paulo, Chile Pick over Netherlands. Get the feeling Chile more excited to be here. Plus great fan contingent will keep Chile energized.

Group A - Brasília, Brazil -2½ over Cameroon. Brazil has qualified but can realistically lose top group spot to Mexico, either outright or on goal differential. what's not realistic is Brazil losing this game, though rumors of match fixing have been swirling.

Group A - Recife, Croatia vs. Mexico, Draw +250. Two very good teams, Arguably Croatia has more talent, but Mexico on better form. Through sheer effort, I think El Tri gets through (draw qualifies them for Round of 16.).

This is the most important day in USA soccer history since the last most important day in USA soccer history But seriously, it is a huge day, USA needs to not leave qualifying for Round of 16 to a game with Germany where Germany is not already through. Klinsmann needs to design an approach that is intended to play for the win, not be content with a draw. Ghana WILL beat Portugal. The USA needs to do that today.

In the early game, Group H - Rio De Janeiro, I like Belgium EVEN over Russia. Belgium is one of the top teams in the tournament and finally found itself in the second half of its opening game. Russia seems lackluster.

In the second game, two weak teams meet, Group H - Porto Alegre, South Korea vs. Algeria, I pick Draw +230.

The marquee game, USA v Portugal, is in the Amazon rain forest. Group G - Manaus. I believe the USA needs to win this game. I believe they will not. DRAW (+300).

Go USA!

0-2-1 yesterday, 7-14-3 overall ATS in the World Cup. The choices today:

Group F - Belo Horizonte - Argentina -2 over Iran. My reasoning: Messi, Aguero, di Maria, Higuain . . .

Group G - Fortaleza - Ghana +1 (+180) over Germany. My reasoning: Ghana was much better than USA in that first game. Think they can scare Germany.

Group F - Cuiabá, Bosnia-Herzegovina -1 (+165) over Nigeria. My reasoning: Bosnia is the better team. Did you see the Iran-Nigeria game?

3-0 yesterday (and with nice odds), 7-12-2 ATS overall for World Cup. The hot streak continues today! the picks:

Group D - Recife, Italy vs. Costa Rica, Draw +350. My reasoning, this is the most gut wrenching result for England.

Group E - Salvador - Switzerland Pick (+250) over France. My reasoning? One of the favs is due to throw in a stinker.

Group E - Curitiba, Ecuador -1 (+115 over Honduras. My reasoning - South american teams on a roll.

The Rolling Stones are tweeting lyric lines from songs played at their Dusseldorf concert last night. Is there a message?

• "Lost all the treasure in an overseas war-just goes to show you don't get what you pay for" Doom and Gloom
• "Just as every cop is a criminal & all the sinners saints, as heads is tails, just call me Lucifer" Sympathy for the Devil
  
• "Say now baby, I'm the rank outsider, you can be my partner in crime" Tumbling Dice
  
• You Got the Silver
• Worried About You
• Out of Control

And the winner of the Dusseldorf contest for favorite song request: Street Fighting Man.

It's been a pretty exciting World Cup so far. There has been only 1 scoreless game and it may have been the most exciting one of the tournament, Mexico-Brazil. Now my account is not so excited as I went 0-2-1 yesterday dropping me to a dismal 4-12-2 so far. But hope springs eternal, though I don't really care for today's games as great betting propositions. In any event, today's picks:

Group C - Brasília, Colombia over Ivory Coast. The 2 favorites in this rather weak group. A slight lean to Colombia though I expect a tightly played game where both teams know a point suffices for them.

Game of the Day - Group D - São Paulo, Uruguay +265 over England. Suarez comes back today, claims to be 100% Not a chance in hell of that. If he is, he would have played in the first game, a devastating loss to Costa Rica. This is a mini-Group of Death with Italy as well, and with a loss to the Ticos, Uruguay has to win today, with Italy up next. For England, a draw might suffice as they face Costa Rica in their final game and a win there probably puts them through. But a loss pretty much ends it I think. Given all of the variables, I expect both teams to gun for the win and play with great abandon. England looks the better team but they always seem to blow these type of games. Should be a fine spectacle.

Group C - Natal, Japan vs. Greece, Draw +240. Both teams lost their openers, look relatively weak and not likely to challenge for advancement. But they don't think so, so they may put on a good show.

What's on your mind this today? I'll try to put up a Daily ISIS this afternoon.

I'm glad I'll have some free time later today and over the weekend. Our webmaster Colin says he's spent the past few months building a conversion program so that the TalkLeft posts and comments can be "translated" to wordpress language and moved over to the new server. He thinks everyone will be able to use the same user name and password. He needs a few more weeks to test it and get the bugs out, but it seems like we finally may get to move and get off "Scoop." If you have forgotten what the new site looks like, here it is. There won't be any ads and it will be free. As always, I'll ask for donations 3 times a year or so. Readers here have been quite generous, and I really appreciate it.

Enjoy the weekend.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Sorry I'm late with this. Yesterday 1-1-1 ATS. Now 4-10-1 for the World Cup. Today I have a pick in the first game but did not get it up here in time so a NO ACTION for TL purposes. I'll give you a Live Bet Australia (+1) (+150)

Group A - Manaus - Cameroon +½ (+135) over Croatia.

Group B - Rio de Janeiro - Spain -1 (-115) over Chile. It's do or die for the defending champions.

Bit of a bounceback yesterday as I hit 2 out of 3 (and frankly, in terms of the run of play, all 3). Now 3-9-1 ATS for the World Cup. Today's picks:

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Group H - Belo Horizonte - Belgium -1½ over Algeria. Belgium provides good betting value as they are a top team but punters do not give it top team respect. Now if you look at FIFA rankings, the line is fair, if not favorable to Algeria (ranked 22 to Belgium's 10.) My view is that FIFA rankings are not particularly predictive (Ghana was 38 for example, Portugal 4.) And I think that's the case here. I like Belgium a lot in this spot and in this tournament.

Group A - Fortaleza - Mexico +1½ over Brazil. Off first game performance, Mexico was better than Brazil. Brazil as a team does not convince me at this point. I was thoroughly impressed with Mexico who could have won by 4. Brimming with confidence they will give Brazil all it can handle, and if the refereeing is fair (Ha!), even win.

Group H - Cuiabá - South Korea Pick (+240) over Russia. This is a fitness in the oppressive conditions (South Korea ALWAYS very fit) and price pick. Despite bad recent form, (Korea was beaten by Ghana 4-0 in WC tuneup) this is one of the best propositions all tournament imo.

Just got home from work, and I'm on my way out again. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

My disastrous World Cup investment record continues apace. Oh for 3 yesterday, 1-8-1 overall. Here are my losers for today:

Group G - Natal - Ghana Pick over USA

Group F - Curitiba - Iran vs. Nigeria - Draw +265

Group G - Salvador - Germany -115 over Portugal.

From the USA perspective, you should be rooting for Germany in today's first game as you're hoping to sneak into the second spot that advances to Round of 16 play. That means, imo, getting ahead of Portugal and Ghana. You want Germany 4-0 over Portugal and Ghana really so you can slide in with draws and a close loss to Germany. Of course a win today would be amazing. I personally don't think this USA team can get that done. Which is probably good news for USA.