Madness and Mayhem

There still seem to be a number of people who don't think Americans care to watch or attend soccer games. I think this photo, taken during the U.S./Ghana game last week, sets the record straight. Also, look at the ratings for the game on ESPN; a 3.2 share, making it one of the most watched events on cable this year.

Moving on, I will be unable to post tomorrow, so I'm going to go ahead and do a quick breakdown and predictions column on each of the quarterfinal games kicking off on Friday morning.

Match 1: Argentina vs. Germany

I've got mixed feelings for this one. I'm part German, so rooting against them would be terrible. However, if they lose, Klinsmann will almost certainly not be brought back as their Coach, freeing him up to take the U.S. job once Arena resigns (yes folks, it'll happen soon enough, like when he accepts the Red Bulls offer to be Coach AND Technical Director). Dismiss the talk about him saying he has no interest in the job. What else is he supposed to say when his current team is still alive and his close friend Arena is still the U.S. coach?

With all of that out of the way, I'm still going to go ahead and pick Germany to advance. I think Argentina is a better team with better individual players, but Klinsmann's got his boys buying into the total team strategy, his 2 strikers in Klose and Podolski are operating as a machine, and Michael Ballack continues to impose his will throughout the midfield. Argentina's main chance is to strike early, forcing the Germans to open up the game and force the issue, whereas Riquelme, Crespo, and company can kill them on counters. I don't see it happening, although I think this will be the best game of the 4.

Prediction: Germany 2 - Argentina 1

Match 2 - Italy vs. Ukraine

Gotta hand it to Ukrainian Coach Oleg Blokhin, who knows a thing or 2 about World Cups as a former member of the team from the Soviet Union. After their opening round 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain, he circled the wagons, tightened up on defense, and got Shevchenko the support he needed to create scoring opportunities. Interesting how Ukraine is still playing while Spain once again heads home early in a World Cup. Italy will again be without all-world defender Nesta, it appears, but this team is still rock solid on defense. Have to be honest and say I've been a little disappointed in the play of Luca Toni up top. With his size, speed, and technical ability, I figured he'd have 4 or 5 goals by now, but he's not showing much of anything. The Ukraine will dominate this match but fail to score. They'll make 1 mistake on the defensive end, and it'll be enough for Italy. Why do I get the feeling that Francesco Totti will once again be the hero the Azzuri?

Prediction: Italy 1 - Ukraine 0

Match 3 - England vs. Portugal

Once again, England catches a break, as Portugal will be without 2 starting midfielders, and Cristiano Ronaldo is nursing a thigh injury. He'll play, but probably won't be 100%, which means speed, a huge part of his game, will be affected. Still, anytime someone like Luis Figo directs your attack, you're going to cause some sleepless nights for defenses. Pauleta needs to take control of this match up top and keep English defenders Ferdinand and Terry busy, which should create space for Figo and company. On the other side, David Beckham needs to do more than strike 1 brilliant free kick per game (and no, I don't count throwing up on the field as an accomplishment). Lampard, Gerrard, and Joe Cole need to be relentless in their attack on the somewhat susceptible Portuguese back line, and I hope Sven Goran Eriksson decided to pair Crouch up top w/ Rooney. Crouch will occupy 1 or 2 defenders constantly, which will allow Rooney to find and exploit 1v1 matchups. This match won't have a winner through 120 minutes, so it'll go to penalties. England's got the advantage there.

Prediction: England 2 - Portugal 1 (penalties)

Match 4 - Brazil vs. France

This match will get the most press coverage, as it's a rematch of the '98 Final and also pits the past 2 winners against each other. France surprised everyone, including me, with their gutsy performance against a red-hot Spanish team that seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. Save for the penalty in the 1st half, the unheralded French defense stymied Spain's attack all game, and Zidane and company struck late to put the dagger into Spain's hopes for a showdown w/ Brazil. Les Bleus' old guard of Zidane, Henry, Thuram, and Vieira all showed they still have life left in their legs, and Frank Ribery is quickly becoming an established superstar on a team already loaded with them. They might not be as flashy or attractive as some of the other teams still left, but this is a team that knows how to win and has done so repeatedly over the past 8 years. Confidence plus experience is hard to overcome. However, if anybody can do it, it's Brazil, the heavy favorites going into this tournament, and although they aren't playing great, most people still have them winning it. No other team in the world can match their attacking abilities, but defensively, the team is giving up way too many chances. Don't let the 3-0 scoreline yesterday deceive you. Had Ghana been more precise in their finishing, that game could have been a nailbiter. France can't allow this match to be a track meet, so they'll take it slow, let Brazil possess, and not let them run through the middle as so many other teams do. Brazil needs make the game fast, make the older French chase the ball, and they need to avoid giving Zidane free kick opportunities in their defensive 3rd, where he's killed other teams his whole career. This one is the toughest to call, but I'll take a stab and say...France.

Prediction: France 2 - Brazil 1

I'll be out tomorrow and Friday as well, so check back on Saturday for a complete wrap-up of the quarterfinals and a peek at the semis.

Again, you might get tired of reading this, but thanks to all of you who are reading, making comments, or sending me emails. This has been fun, and yes, as some of you have asked, I'll continue this even after the Cup, talking (what else?) soccer.

Brazil and Les Bleus: Part Deux

So am I the only person thinking Bruce Arena will be the new coach for The New York Red Bulls? Why would they keep ass't coach Richie Williams on staff unless the new coach wanted him to be a part of the new coaching regime? I'm just saying, that's all...

The final quarterfinal is now set, w/ a French team most of us left for dead playing some inspired soccer to knock out arguably the hottest team in the tournament, Spain. What a disappointment for the Spaniards once again, as I had them penciled into the quarters and even giving them the slight nod over Brazil. However, Zidane and Henry will the French to victory, and the rest of the supporting cast stepped up to take Les Bleus into the most eagerly anticipated of the 4 quarterfinal matchups. Any chance Henry will send Spain's Head Coach Luis Aragones an olive branch after the coach's racist remarks against Henry a few years back? Yeah, me neither.

I know lots of you are more interested in the Argentina/Germany game, but whenever you have the past 2 Cup winners squaring off, it's the best possible matchup.

Brazil still didn't look great today, although 3-0 is a score 99.9% of the population would be happy with. Still, Brazil hasn't yet fond any rhythm for other than a few minutes at a time. Ghana played very well today and were unlucky not to make the game closer were it not for a couple of great saves by Dida. By the way, how many times can we be subjected to the media's headlines of "Going, Going, Ghana?" They used it after the U.S. was knocked out, then today...hopefully this is the end of it.

Okay, I've got some stuff to do that isn't soccer-related, so I've got to close now. The games are off for 2 days, but don't worry, I'm not taking a break. I'll be back tomorrow to break down the first 2 quarterfinal matchups, and I'll get the next 2 done on Thursday.

As always, feel free to post your comments or drop me an email at soccertalk@hotmail.com

See you tomorrow!

Sometimes It's Just A Cruel Game

I've actually started to write this while they're still in OT of the Ukraine/Switzerland game. Why? Because I was literally falling asleep in my chair, and also enjoyed watching the rain come down outside moreso than this travishamockery of a game. After each team hit the post early on, they both seemed to say 'Well, there's our chance. Might as well play for penalties." Both teams sat back and looked to counter, which is only effective if 1 of the teams is actually trying to score...

As much as it pains to admit it, Giorgio Chinaglia is right; Italy will beat either one of these teams and cruise through to the semifinals. By the way, I've said it before, but it's REAL obvious Giorgio and Eric Wynalda don't like each other. Since I don't care for either of them, a nice studio brawl would be cool to see.

As for Italy, well, like England, they dodged a bullet. Not sure why Gus Hiddink got so conservative when the Socceroos went up a man. Even after the Italians went down to 10, they never really looked like they were in trouble. a big part of that was due to the fact that Australia never applied pressure. They kept 3 and 4 players back on defense, even when it was obvious Marcelo Lippi was only going to attack w/ Totti and look to muster the occasional counter.

Okay, first OT over and still no score (surprise!)... Can we change the rules and go ahead and send Australia through anyway? Neither of these clowns deserves to be in the final 8. I think it also shows just how weak groups G and H were, which lends more credence to Bruce Arena's assertion that FIFA should start seeding teams 1-32. That's one of the only sensible things he's said in the past 3 weeks.

Anyway, back to Italy. Things have a way of working out, I believe. I don't think the red on Italy was deserved, but the penalty call against Australia was. Australia, as I mentioned, had the opportunity to force the issue on an exhausted Italian squad and score the knockout of the tourney, but again, played tentative and waited for the Italians to make a defensive mistake, which we all know happens roughly once per tournament, and it already happened in game 2 against the U.S. Still, way to go Australia for playing some good soccer in their 4 games, and with so many of them playing in Europe now, look for them to be a regular participant from here on. Hold on, I've got to go watch the penalty kicks...

Ukraine wins despite Shevchenko missing his penalty kick, as the Swiss miss all 3 of their attempts and will go home without yielding a goal. There's something odd about that, isn't there? But that explains the title of today's blog, right? You've got to do more than just sit back and let the game come to you.

So, although no goals were scored today from the run of play, I look for a bunch to come tomorrow. Brazil should get 3 or 4 past Ghana, and I think Spain will score early on France, make them open up the game into more of a track meet, and we get a nice high-scoring 2nd round finale. At least, that's what I hope after the past couple of days.

See you tomorrow.

Bored and Frustrated

Beckham celebrates his goal by preparing to blow chunks...

Let me make this perfectly clear; if England had played anybody other than Ecuador in the round of 16, they'd be going home. This is a team that had very few ideas today offensively. That worked out for them, as they played an Ecuadorian team that had ZERO ideas offensively today. W/ the exception of his brilliant free kick, and a soon-to-be famous picture of his on-field vomiting, David Beckham was once again invisible. England's wing play is supposed to be a huge advantage for them, but so far it's been non-existent. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard also need to step up their game, and it looks like Wayne Rooney could use some help up top. Defensively, England will be able to stay in every game, as they're only giving up 2 or 3 chances per game. Against stronger competition, that might be enough for the opposition. This 2006 England team is eerily similar to the Argentine team of 1990 and Italian team of 1994,where they played JUST well enough to keep winning and find themselves in the Final.

Ecuador, after starting out in such great fashion the first 2 games, crashes out after 2 straight dismal performances (they rested several players for the Germany game, so I'll give them a pass for that). Other than Tenorio's one v one opportunity against Robinson in the 1st half, the boys in yellow seemed content to play slow, methodical soccer, rarely venturing forward. At times, it looked like they were playing for extra time, hopefully then taking advantage of the tremendous heat, and maybe even willing to take their chances in penalties. I just think that if they tried to force the issue a little bit, they could have created more against an English team that was noticeably dog tired in the final 15 minutes. However, they're now going home, but they should be proud of their overall performance in the tournament.

As for game 2, well, at least I got the score right, just had the teams reversed. They'll be talking about this one for a long time to come in both Portugal and Holland. First, what initially looked like a great game was soon ruined by shoddy officiating, poor coaching decisions, and a reinforcement in the stereotype that too many soccer players are the biggest wussies on the planet.

1. Officiating - For all of the great soccer we've seen so far, this tournament might be remembered for the officiating. Unfortunately, it's playing too big of a hand in matches, and this gentleman from Russia lost control of the game and then made the players pay for it, to the tune of 4 red cards and 16 yellows. I'm not sure how to fix this, but that's FIFA's job, not mine. I'm here to 2nd guess and critique. :) All I know is that, once again, England gets a big break, as they'll play a Portuguese team that'll be short-handed at least 2 starters, maybe a 3rd if Ronaldo is unable to shake off the injury that forced him from the game in the first half. Heck, even if Holland had come back to win, they'd be down 2 starters as well. England, for as bad as they're playing, are actually staring the semifinals square in the face...

2. Coaching - Portugal's Costinha committed at least 3 or 4 fouls worthy of yellow cards in the 1st half alone. Scolari, after seeing his player barely escape an ejection late in the first half, left the player on rather than subbing him, and the undisciplined midfielder saw red 2 minutes later. I understand he had already used a sub on Ronaldo, but he had to have seen the direction the game was heading, and known Costinha was not long for the game. Now Portugal goes into the England game w/ as many as 3 starting midfielders out of action. As for Marco Van Basten, he should probably go on a long vacation, and fax his resignation from wherever he is. I understand his unhappiness w/ Ruud van Nistelrooy's play recently, but once Portugal went down a man and played more conservatively, there was no way Holland was going to get in behind them. Ruud's size, strength, and ability to hold the ball would have been a tremendous advantage in the 2nd half. What made it worse was that the guy starting in place of Ruud, Kuyt, was basically an oxygen thief on the field today, adding little except for the occasional dive, which leads me to...

3. This whole "Please help me, I've been shot!" routine being perpetrated by too many players in too many games. Want to know another reason soccer hasn't caught on here in the U.S.? Because of the crap we saw in both of today's games (not so much England as was Ecuador), plus the Ghana game against the U.S. on Thursday. I've already had some non-soccer friends give me grief about it, particularly watching the U.S. game. Listen, I understand it's a part of the game, but does it really have to be? Faking an injury in the hopes of getting a player on the other team booked or sent off is just plain wrong. Doing it for the purpose of time-wasting and delaying or breaking up another team's rhythm is also frustrating. But trust me, I'm not the only one who's tired of it. I got a phone call from a professional coach on Friday who thinks FIFA should implement a rule that if they bring out the stretcher, you must sit out at least 3 minutes. I can hear you purists shrieking in horror, but let's give it a try to see what happens. Sure. it's a pipe dream, but as you can tell, I'm frustrated. Portugal/Holland could have/should have been an absolute classic, but it was ruined by the various problems I've raved about for the past few paragraphs.

Believe it or not, I still think this has been a great tournament so far, it's just that as we get to the later rounds, and more and more star players are sitting because of yellow and/or red cards, I think it'll take some of the shine off the potential classic matchups we'll soon see.

Thoughts? Post 'em and let me know.

See you tomorrow.

An almost classico

After the first 10 minutes, all the signs were there that the Argentina/Mexico match was going to be one for the ages. The first half produced a tremendous number of scoring opportunities for both sides, with Marquez shocking a large part of the viewing public by striking first for El Tri, only for Crespo/Borgetti to equalize 4 minutes later. Both goalkeepers came up w/ some big plays to keep the teams level going into the half, and I thought the next 45 would be just as exciting.

I was wrong. Both teams, after playing on Wednesday, had only 3 days rest, and were noticeably slower in the 2nd half. There were still a few chances, mostly by the blue and white, but the frenetic pace of the 1st half couldn't be matched. The match settled down into game of "can you break my defense down?" and nobody could for the rest of regulation. I think the big difference came in the form of subs, as Argentina was simply able to bring better and more explosive players off the bench, while Mexico's Ricardo Lavolpe could only bring on blue-collar guys whom he hoped could maybe break out and score on a counter. No such luck, as Maxi Rodriguez scored the goal of the tournament (I've been saying that a lot, haven't I?) in OT to set up a date with the hosts on Friday in what will almost surely be fantastic.

So, for the 4th straight Cup, Mexico goes home after the round of 16. Nothing to be ashamed of, as they at least are consistent enough to get that far repeatedly, unlike anybody else in CONCACAF. There will be unfair calls for Lavolpe's head, mostly by Hugo "I know I can do a better job" Sanchez. I think Hugo might finally get his chance, but I'm not sure how much of a difference he'll make. Still, congrats to Mexico for playing arguably the best team in the world to a draw for nearly 105 minutes.

The Germany/Sweden game started at 11 am eastern time, and was over at roughly 11:03. Podolski and Klose are working as cohesively as any other striker tandem in the Cup. Before the Cup, Germany was said to have only 1 world-class player (Michael Ballack), but these 2 are quickly climbing the ladder to join him. The defense has tightened up immensely since the first game against Costa Rica, and a now healthy Ballack is dominating the midfield. The supporting cast knows their roles and are fulfilling them perfectly, and Jurgen Klinsmann's mixture of American fitness and European flair is kicking into high gear, and this is going to be a tough team to stop.

As for Sweden, they never seemed to find a rhythm on offense, and once they were down 2 goals, then to 10 men (on a ridiculous 2nd yellow, by the way), that game was decided. Even if Larssen had made his penalty kick, it wouldn't have made a difference. Was it just me or did Henrik look really old and slow in these games? Again, there's a reason there aren't many players over 32 in this tournament.

That's all for today. See you tomorrow.

Not much to say...

Sorry folks, this is up later than usual, but between work, the fact that I missed today's games, and the fact that I'm still pretty much gutted after watching the U.S. yesterday, means I don't have much to say (for once)...

Thanks to all of you who have submitted comments yesterday, some interesting points and counterpoints made.

As you can imagine, the press has been brutal on both the U.S. players and Bruce Arena, and rightfully so. However, when Eric Wynalda goes on ESPN and calls Arena "fat," which he did on at least 2 occasions today (as I've been told by multiple people), then that crosses the line just a bit. The criticism yesterday from Eric was professional; today's was personal and has no place in the sports world. What's the difference between what he called Arena and what Ozzie Guillen called sports columnist Jay Mariotti earlier in the week? Regardless, Eric's been busting Bruce's chops ever since Arena didn't take Eric's "chosen one, " Taylor Twellman, to Germany. Seriously, what would Twellman have brought to the table? Anyway, maybe Eric and Bruce will square off in a cage match, with the proceeds going to the U.S. Soccer Foundation. I'll pay top-dollar for it...

As for today's games, France actually found their offense, but it's a little late for them, I believe. Since Switzerland won the group by beating South Korea, the French will now play a rested and very motivated Spanish team in the round of 16. Switzerland will play the Ukraine, who rebounded nicely from their first game disaster against Spain to place 2nd in the group. Hats off to Tunisia and South Korea for playing so hard and so well in this tournament. you did your country proud (unlike another group of supposed "contenders")...

Okay, so here we go w/ the final 2 matchups in the round of 16:

Switzerland/Ukraine - I have to admit I was surprised by the Swiss, who's defense was suspect coming into this tournament, but have yet to allow a goal. They match up pretty evenly with Ukraine, but once again, I've gotta go with my man, Shevchenko, to get his team through. This is the type of game where your superstar makes a difference. Switzerland, while solid and cohesive, don't have anyone who can match Shevchenko or Rebrov.

Prediction - Ukraine 2 - Switzerland 1

Spain/France - I think this will be the best game of the next round. You have the historic underachievers in Spain trying to escape the ghosts of the past, while Les Bleus are trying to recapture the ghosts from their past for at least another game or two. Will Zidane actually play with some energy, of which we saw nothing in his first 2 games? Can Henry continue his spectacular form? Even if the answer to both questions is "yes," I don't think it'll be enough to win. Spain has too many weapons on offense, and their defense is severely underestimated. They also have this guy in goal named Casillas who doesn't make the kinds of mistakes his counterpart, Barthez, makes on the other end of the field.

Prediction - Spain 3 - France 2 (OT)

So, of the 16 teams remaining, I correctly picked 13. Not too shabby, eh? I only missed the U.S., Costa Rica, and South Korea.

See you back here tomorrow!

A change is gonna' come...

"Will somebody please tell me how to properly utilize my substitutions?"

Okay, I admit it; I drank the Kool-Aid. After an abysmal start to the 2006 World Cup, I left the U.S. for dead. Then they had to go and play inspired soccer against an Italian team in a game nobody thought they could tie, much less win. So, many of you apparently fell for it as well, and thought the boys would get the result they needed today against Ghana, and we'd be shopping for presents for the Italian team after they dispatched the Czechs. Well, 1/2 of it was right. Italy held up their end of the deal, while the U.S. once again played with frustrating inconsistency, and, let's just say, deservedly are going home.

Lots of stories will be coming out in the next few days about this game, the poor refereeing once again going against the U.S., bad luck in finishing, such as hit posts, but's let's be honest, this is all about the players and coaches.

First, coaching. For once, I agreed with Eric Wynalda when he said Bruce Arena poorly managed this team in this tournament, and arguably leading up to it as well. The 4-5-1 has never worked under Arena, not last year down in Mexico, not 5 years ago when they played in Costa Rica, and not once during this tournament. McBride was on an island up top, and it let opposing defenders play higher up w/out worrying about U.S. players getting in behind them. The result? A crowded midfield where U.S. players had more alternatives going square or backwards rather than forwards. An Eddie Johnson or Landon Donovan up top would stretch the defense out and provide more room for Reyna, Convey, Dempsey, etc. Such was not the case.

Arena's substitution pattern (or lack thereof) was also mind-boggling. The lack of Eddie Johnson in this Cup was a crime. Granted, Johnson is a streaky player, but we never really found out what he could do because his time was so limited. He brought a spark off the bench in game 1 against the Czechs, didn't get on the field against Italy when fresh legs up top would have held Italian defenders in check, and today, it was 60 minutes in, and the U.S. a goal down, before he entered the fray. Johnson's strength is getting behind defenses, and he couldn't do that when he came in because of Ghana's tactical approach to defense, when simply a draw would get them through to the 2nd round. Johnson didn't really have a meaningful touch all game, when, had he started, I feel he and McBride could have created havoc against the Black Stars defense. Also, why was John O'Brien on the roster if he couldn't play? Bruce took a gamble that he'd be ready to go, and was obviously wrong. Bobby Convey played well in the first 2 games, so why was he on the bench today? You want Eddie Lewis on the left? Fine, but you can't tell me Beasley was a better option in central midfield w/ his recent form. Remember Convey as the attacking mid against Germany 2 months back? Yeah, the Convey that ran at people and made knifing runs. Bringing him in the last 15 minutes didn't let him get much of a chance to do anything.

I could go on and on, but my hands are starting to cramp up and I need to rate the players.

Kasey Keller - good tournament, made several crucial saves
Gooch - Solid, solid solid...didn't deserve the penalty call against you. Had a great tournament overall and I expect him to be in the English Premier League this season (Middlesborough?)
Steve Cherundolo - Pretty good overall. Provided good service and could be a part of the 2010 team.
Carlos Bocanegra - I won't blame him for not clearing the ball on the call that led to the penalty kick. Played pretty well in both games.
Jimmy Conrad - Not bad, didn't do anything poorly or anything especially well.
Eddie Lewis - Did little w/ the few opportunities he had.
Claudio Reyna - Not the way he should go out of the International scene. A horrible mistake that led to Ghana's first goal is what most people will remember.
Ben Olsen - I was proud of Ben. He brought a ton of energy and fire to the game, and made solid plays on both sides of the ball.
Eddie Johnson - Can't really give you a grade, son, since we were never given a good chance to see what you could do.
Clint Dempsey - Outside of Gooch, maybe the best overall U.S. player in the tournament. No fear, made good plays on offense and defense, which was supposedly one of his weaknesses. I think he'll get some offers from overseas, and he deserves them.
Brian McBride - Looks old at times, but still did the best he could under tough circumstances w/ no partner up front to draw defenders away from him. Like Reyna, deserves to go out on a better note.
Bobby Convey - played well in each of the first 2 games, and should have started today. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in the Premier League next year w/ Reading.

And now, the 2 "Golden Boys."

DeMarcus Beasley - Has been out of form since February, when he lost his starting spot at PSV Eindhoven. The usually jovial Beasley was noticeably more reserved, whiny, and downright indignant at times over the past few months. Had a horrible tournament and needs too clear his head so he can be a productive member of the team in the future, or he might not be on it.

Landon Donovan - Did he play today? How about in game 1? I think I saw #21 out there, usually putting free kicks out of bounds or corner kicks square into the heads of the first defender. Landon, here's some unsolicited advice; keep your mouth shut for the next4 years. don't talk about how you hate Mexico, how you're gonna' do this, do that. You did nothing when your team needed you most today. You looked lost, scared, and most of all, uninspired. Stop reading your press clippings and get back to being the fearless, take-no-prisoners player we saw 4 years ago in Asia and immediately following in MLS. Maybe when you get back to L.A., Frank Yallop will put his foot in your *ss. you need it. Speaking of Yallop...

U.S. Soccer should give Frank Yallop the job. Yes, I know he just joined L.A. Let him finish the season there and then move on to the National team. Yallop knows the American player, knows tactics, and although people will say he didn't get the job done in Canada, remember that he had very little talent to work with. Yallop's won 2 MLS titles, and has the respect of people like Bruce Arena, who no doubt will advise USSF President Sunil Gulati on whom should be his successor, provided he steps down. Whether he will or not is another story. There is no other American coach who could step in and do the job, so why not go w/ the Canadian who knows the American player? I know there will be cries for Dick Advocaat (who wouldn't be a bad choice either), Carlos Quieroz, even Sven Goran Ericksson, but I think we still need a person who knows the psyche of the U.S. player. Yallop's that guy.

From a personal standpoint, I have to admit this was a pretty crushing blow to watch this team go out this morning. I thought a possible 2nd round game against Brazil, regardless of the score, would have drawn huge ratings on tv and gotten more people watching the games. This was a big opportunity for the U.S., and they couldn't get the job done. It's time to make some changes within the organization to take the next step, and I hope Arena will see that it's time to move on.

Next round matchups:

Brazil/Ghana - Hats off to Ghana for being the best story of the tournament so far. NOBODY expected them to go through this group, which was the toughest of the 8 (and don't even think about arguing with me on that one). Brazil finally found their rhythm today against an overwhelmed Japan team, but still have had moments of sluggishness (is that a word?). However, Ghana's best player, and arguably the best player so far in the tournament, Michael Essien, will be sitting this one out because of yellow cards. No Essien, no chance.

Prediction: Brazil 2 - Ghana 0

Italy/Australia

Australia gets by Croatia for 2nd by the skin of their teeth, and are probably the 2nd best story of the tournament. They're getting quality play from their top stars in Kewell, Viduka, and Cahill. Italy looked really good against the Czechs today, and as this team usually does, seems to get stronger as the tournament goes on. Although it's an intriguing matchup, Italy is just a better team from top to bottom and will find a way to get through to the quarterfinals.

Prediction: Italy 2 - Australia 0

I was able to chat w/ a couple of DC United players last night about the Cup and get their opinions, but I'll save those for tomorrow when I don't have quite so much to write about.

As always, please feel free to leave your comments on today's match the future of the U.S., whether or not you think I'm full of crap, etc. Post 'em in the comments section, or email me if you're more comfortable.

It's a pretty sad day, folks, but it's not the end. Remember, the 2010 Cup is right around the corner in 1,450 days. :)

2 more matches are set

Wow, so Mexico tried their darndest to get eliminated today. Just relax and get the tie and they go through to the next round, but a stupid red card and some poor defending almost did them in during their 2-1 loss to group-winner Portugal. Too bad Angola couldn't hang on to beat Iran. Would have been nice to send them home 0-3 and especially for Angola to make things interesting for Mexico.

Still, Mexico escapes and gets 2nd. When I saw Rafael Marquez had gotten a yellow in this game, I immediately assumed he'd gotten 1 in the first 2 games and wouldn't be available in the next round. My buddy Pat Walsh (www.thesoccershow.com) told me no, he didn't have one, although Pat thinks he should automatically have been given one because of his stupid ponytail.

Seriously, hats off to Angola for playing some decent soccer. They were very defensive, but they were obviously well-coached, disciplined, and showed they weren't just a team filling out the brackets. The 2 points they earned were 2 more than most of us thought they'd get. Hopefully the program will continue to improve and we'll see them in South Africa in 4 years.

Another African team which showed a lot of guts is Ivory Coast, who battled back from a goal down to beat Serbia and Montenegro in one of the tournament's best games. Even w/out the suspended Didier Drogba, IC was pretty dangerous all day, just like they were in the 1st 2 games against Argentina and Holland. This is another team that could make some noise on their home continent in 2010. S&M played well today until losing Nadj to a red card. Then they had to go into a more conservative mode and give credit to IC for taking advantage of the numbers game.

The less said about the Holland and Argentina match, which was possibly the most anticipated 1st round matchup, the better. They were both going through regardless, and sure played that way.

So the matchups are:

Argentina/Mexico - Mexico just hasn't looked very good at all in this tournament. They had about 15-20 minutes against Iran where they were cohesive, but Iranian defensive miscues were largely responsible for the goals. On the other hand, Argentina has played better than anybody else in the first round. Too many weapons offensively, and the defense is much better than I thought it would be. This will be a real tough team to beat, and I don't think Mexico is the team that can do it.

Prediction - Argentina 3 - Mexico 1

Holland/Portugal - This might be the most even 2nd round matchup. Both teams love to attack, have skill and flair, and some world-class players on both sides of the ball. Both also squandered numerous scoring chances in their first round games against teams where goals should have been easier to come by. I give Holland the slight advantage because they're a bit deeper and a bit younger, which means a lot in this tournament.

Prediction - Holland 1 - Portugal 0

As for the U.S./Ghana game, everybody has an opinion on it, just look around the internet and you can find 200 stories and previews about this game, so I won't go into it again here. I'm just going to take a stab in the dark and say the U.S. scores early, Ghana equalizes, and the U.S. scores late to win it 2-1. Italy will beat the Czechs as they feel they have something to prove, and want to make sure they win the group so they won't have to play Brazil. They'll leave that for the Americans.

I'll be at the DC United/Chicago game tonight and I'll be sure to get thoughts on the Cup so far from some players, which I'll put up in tomorrow's entry.

4 Teams Move On...

...and 4 go home. No surprises really, although there was a chance that if England beat Sweden and T&T beat Paraguay, the Soca Warriors could have eked out 2nd place. No such luck, as Paraguay ends on a high note and wins 2-0. T&T played hard, but didn't score a goal in 3 games. Tough to advance w/ those kind of numbers.

Another CONCACAF team goes down as well, w/ Costa Rica dropping a 2-1 decision to Poland. You know the foreign soccer press is going to talk about the relative weakness of our region, as well as Africa and Asia, so be prepared for it, folks. They laid low after the last Cup because of the success of the U.S. and South Korea, but unless one of these teams, or Ghana, goes far into the tournament, the debate and whining will begin again...

Now, onto the other games of the day. Don't read too much into the Ecuador beatdown by Germany. The Germans are playing at home, had a chance to win the group and avoid England, and were really fired up. They're playing quite well, getting the 3 wins in 3 games. The shaky defense from the first game against Costa Rica seems to have been solidified, and after some rumors the 2 were fighting behind closed doors, Podolski and Klose sure seemed in sync today. Ecuador's performance was nothing to write home about, but they had already secured passage to the next round, were facing the home team today, and played cautious so as to avoid any injuries or yellow card suspensions for Saturday's matchup w/ England. This is still a dangerous team.

So will England EVER beat Sweden? Doesn't feel like it, does it? They had the lead late, and Paul Robinson makes a mess of things to allow the Swedes to tie and clinch 2nd place. I picked England to win this whole thing at the start, and although I'm not going to change my mind, I think if/when they get eliminated, it'll be because of Robinson. That being said, who else could they put back there? David "Calamity" James? I think not.

So, moving on to Saturday's games:

Germany vs. Sweden - I originally had Sweden winning this and sending the Germans home early, but not now. The Germans are playing great soccer on both sides of the ball right now, and could very well wind up in the Final once again. Sweden still has the potential to be offensively dangerous, but I haven't seen it in 3 games.

Prediction: Germany 2 - Sweden 0

England vs. Ecuador - This is a trap game for the English. Delgado and Tenorio have proven to be a lethal combination so far, so Ferdinand, Terry, and the rest of the English defense will have their hands full. On the other end, Rooney and Crouch will need to put pressure on Ecuador's stingy defense, which will prove to be tough to crack. When all is said and done, this game will be won in the midfield, and as I said at the beginning of this thing, England's got the best.

Prediction: England 2 - Ecuador 1

I'll get to C and D after the games tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Leavin' on a jet plane (This song's for you Togo)

Well, whaddya know? Togo actually decided to play their game against Switzerland this morning. It wasn't looking good for awhile there, as they continually threatened to boycott the games and turn the whole tournament on its ear if they actually withdrew from the competition. Fortunately, FIFA steps up to the plate and takes care of things, for the most part. Then they go out and get eliminated w/ a 2-0 loss. Sorry, I know the underdogs tend to be the fan favorites early on in the tournament, but not these clowns. This is their first appearance, it's over just like that, and hopefully we won't have to hear from Togo anytime in the next several World Cups. Good riddance!

So, w/ a win, that Switzerland/Korea matchup becomes VERY interesting. France SHOULD beat Togo, and 5 points SHOULD get them through, leaving the former 2 teams fighting for that last spot. A draw would send the Swiss through as the result of a better goal differential. Friday afternoon should be interesting.

And yes, thank you, Ukraine, for showing up today and putting a whuppin' on Saudi Arabia 4-0. got a ton of fantasy points from Mr. Shevchenko, which keeps me near the top of the Washington Post fantasy challenge. Seriously, I think this team played as badly in their first game as the U.S. against the Czechs. And, like the U.S., played a MUCH better 2nd game (although I wish the U.S. could have played the Saudis rather than Italy). Still, 4 goals puts the Ukrainians back at a "0" goal diff, which again could decide the final group standings. Probably not, though, unless they lose to Tunisia on Friday.

Which is not entirely out of the realm of possibilities after watching this team give Spain all they could handle. The Spanish gave up the early goal, and were frustrated through large portions of the match by the disciplined and organized Tunisian defense, but once they finally broke through and got level at 1-1, the flood gates opened. This was big for Spain because they showed they could come back, as well as keep their composure. I still think this team is going to go far.

I'll give Shevchenko and Rebrov the advantage on matchday 3 in the group, but wouldn't be stunned if Tunisia pulled off the upset.

That's all for today. See you tomorrow.

At least I got a nap...

Remember kids, according to most people, soccer is a NON-CONTACT sport that only sissies play...

Okay, a day after one of the most dramatic days in U.S. soccer history is followed up by some absolutely boring garbage for most of the day. Neither Japan or Croatia has shown me anything in the first 2 games, and while it''s easy to say Brazil hasn't exactly played inspired soccer, Australia still found a way to make the game interesting in the 2nd half. I expect my prediction at the beginning of the Cup to stand, as the Socceroos will hold onto 2nd place and go through to the next round. Still, if you're a Brazilian fan, and it seems like most people are (according to Rob Stone), you've got to be a little concerned with their form right now. Yes, they're probably pacing themselves, but it's not always so easy to just "turn it on" when you want to do so, especially when you start to play against better competition. These first 2 games have shown that neither Croatia or Australia feared Brazil, which has always been one of their biggest weapons not named Ronaldo. I think they need to destroy Japan in game 3 just to make a statement that whomever they play in the next round and after, this is a team that can do what they want, when they want.

As for Group G, could France try to make things more difficult please? The coaching was ridiculed in 2002 as one of the primary reasons why they played so poorly, but what's the excuse now? Henry looks good at times and disinterested at others, as do Zidane, Makalele, and Wiltord. I think they miss Cisse more than they realized, as he was another weapon who could draw people away from Henry. I don't think they have another forward who can do that. Also, Zidane gets a stupid yellow card and will miss the vital game 3 match against Togo. Call me crazy, but I think they can beat Togo w/out Zidane. However, if they stumble and get another draw, it's not out of the realm for this team to be going home again after the 1st round. As of now, they will more than likely finish 2nd and play Spain in the round of 16. So, even if they advance, they'll go home soon anyway.

1 last thing. I actually took a chance and watched "Sports Reporters" on ESPN this morning just to see what they would say about the U.S. game. Well, they got a SOLID 2 minutes in, after discussing the all-important U.S. Open, but at least Bob Ryan complimented the U.S. and tried to explain what a remarkable achievement they accomplished on Saturday. Rick Reilly dismissed it, saying they still haven't really done anything, nor scored a goal, and Mike Lupica played Devil's Advocate and said they showed a lot of heart, but he still wasn't too impressed. I guess it beats getting ignored or being ridiculed, which is still all too common in the rest of the media.

That's it for today. Nobody's given any comment slately, so I hope you all are still reading...seriously, put up your thoughts on the tournament, the games, the fans, etc. Heck, feel free to insult me, if you want. I KNOW there's a ton of you who would love to do that!

See you tomorrow.

HOLY SH*T!

Before he ruined the U.S./Italy game today, hockey fans also could prove the ref was a dumbass...

Seriously, can you think of any other expression that would be more appropriate than the title of today's Blog? The phrase was used about 50 times at my house during the game, as I was fortunate to be joined by the Cull brothers (there's 4 of them) and we used the phrase when we were happy, mad, dejected, inspired, etc. It seemed to fit every portion of that game, didn't it? What sucks is that I had pretty resigned myself to the fact that we'd lose to Italy, the Czechs would beat Ghana, and our Cup would be over. Then I could sit back, relax, and enjoy the other games. Now I'm going to be a nervous wreck until Thursday. Thanks, U.S.!!! :)

What an amazing result and performance by this U.S. team!!! Granted, there were some serious issues and questions to be raised, like who paid off this referee, why didn't Arena use his 3rd sub when his 9 remaining players on the field were obviously gassed (I think Eddie Johnson would have been a GREAT sub in the 75th minute), and what lineup will we go with on Thursday (could someone PLEASE tell the ESPN News anchor that the game is on at 10 AM, not PM??)... Still, this might be the best story of the tournament, save Ghana's performance against the Czechs (I'll get to that in a bit). To give up the first goal, then get 2 players ejected, coming off a horrible 1st game performance, hats off to Bruce Arena, and especially the players, for being professional and passionate enough to leave everything on the field today. I don't think there will be any comparisons to the '98 team after today, even if they lose to Ghana on Thursday, which is a real possibility. Landon Donovan, after a slow start, seemed to relax and play better when we went to 9, Onyewu showed great discipline in not getting a yellow today, which means he'll be available Thursday, Keller played like the world-class 'keeper he is, and Carlos Bocanegra played solid on both ends today. I'll give you my Thursday lineup at the end...

Czechs/Ghana - Okay, so all this crap about Group C being the 'Group of Death" can end, right? Serbia's a joke, and Ivory Coast, while playing well, isn't as good as Ghana. I know there are other soccer historians out there w/ a better knowledge than myself, but the last time I remember a group being this close going into the last day was USA '94, when Mexico, Italy, Ireland, and Norway were all neck and neck. Ghana plays out of their minds today and gets maybe the biggest surprise result of the Cup, as I think less than 2% of the population had them even getting a result. The Czechs looked flat, and Ghana, like they did against Italy, attacked with flair, reckless abandon, and most importantly, purpose. They could have won this game 4 or 5 to nothing if they could stay onside. Everything leads to Thursday, where a ticked off Italian team I think will knock off a short-handed Czech team (they're minus the 2 starting forwards, plus Milan Baros, and now starting defender Ifsasomethingorother). As for the U.S. game, I'll predict that Wednesday night.

Portugal/Iran - Portugal still didn't look very good, did they? After watching them play, and Mexico yesterday, I think their opponents in the next round, Argentina and Holland, will lose little sleep. Granted, anything can happen, but we've seen that teams that have been well-prepared going into these games are the teams that are winning.

Okay, with Pope and Mastroeni out on Thursday, I think the U.S. wil have to go with a more athletic lineup against a fast and lethal Ghana. Off the top of my head, here goes:

Keller
Cherundolo Onyewu Bocanegra Lewis
Dempsey Reyna O'Brien Beasley
Donovan McBride

Bring Eddie Johnson in early in the 2nd half, have Convey ready, and Conrad or even Albright for defense.

Wow, what a game! I'm exhausted. Gotta go drink a beer...

See you tomorrow!

"Hey Red Sox, how do you feel about Angola's performance in their first 2 World Cup games?"


Well, I just got through the Mexico/Angola match, and while it was certainly no classic, hats off to Angola for playing so hard and determined for a 2nd straight game. I don't think most critics, myself included, thought they would finish in anything but last place in Group D. But lo and behold, with some luck, they could actually make it to the 2nd round! Not that I think it will happen, but they've definitely earned respect from teams around the world. So Lavolpe was a genius for his subs against Iran on Sunday, huh? Wonder if they'll be hanging him in effigy throughout Mexico tonight? Wow, do they miss Borgetti up top! They seemed out of sorts all night, and you've got to figure they're in trouble when defender Rafael Marquez is their biggest offensive threat on the night.

As for the commentators, ESPN has been brutalized for the most part so far, but I don't think it's been that bad. I really liked Robin Fraser's commentary the best. He doesn't go into long-winded rants, he makes very astute positional and game tactical observations, and seemed content to let Rob Stone do most of the talking. No problem w/ that, and I hope to see more of Fraser as the tournament wears on.

As for the other 2 games, what can you say about Argentina? Were they that good or was Serbia and Montenegro that bad? I'm tending to go w/ the former. Yes, S&M (I just love typing that abbreviation) were dreadful, but that's due in large part to the superior play of Argentina. When you can bring a Messi and Tevez off the bench who can bring that kind of firepower, you've got to think they're legit contenders. I agree w/ my colleague Craig Stouffer who said there isn't another team (including Brazil) who has more offensively dangerous subs than those 2. I think, before the tourney, Argentina was overlooked by lots of people. Not anymore. And just so they get full credit, another colleague of mine, Jimmy Laroue, and Richmond Kickers' GM Paul Sterbenz both picked the Argies to win it all.

Holland/Ivory Coast was a track meet, especially in the first half. It looked like the Dutch might blow the game open early, but IC showed a tremendous amount of guts and flair by cutting the lead to 1, and nearly tied it if it weren't for Von Persie's goal-line clearance near the end. Unfortunately, one of the tournament's most attractive teams is now out, as the Dutch and Argies both punched their tickets to the next round with wins. A real shame that Didier Drogba's tournament is over a game early, as he'll have to sit matchday 3 after getting yellows in 2 straight games. However, as Tommy Smyth said today on ESPN, this IC team is very young, and could have a significant impact on the 2010 tournament when it's held on their continent.

As for Saturday's outlook, well, I guess we need Ghana to beat the Czechs and for us to beat Italy, putting everybody at 3 points. Not likely to happen, but seriously, who would have thought Angola would steal a point from Mexico, or T&T would draw w/ Sweden? It can happen, folks. Don't give up hope just yet.

See you tomorrow.

Stubborn ol' T&T...

Well, another day of fun and excitement in the Cup. I was able to get over to the ESPN Zone for lunch and watch the 1st half of the England/T&T game w/ my brother and a sizeable contingent of English fans. My brother's not a huge soccer fan, but even he was getting excited, especially on John Terry's clearance off the line for what would have been a sure goal for Trinidad. And yes, Mr. Terry is also on my fantasy roster. In case you couldn't tell, I'm doing okay in that regard. :)

England FINALLY breaks through w/ 2 goals in the last 10 minutes to get the win, although I'm still not real happy with their play right now. Defensively, they're sound, not giving up many chances. The midfield does a good job of possessing the ball, but the forwards, particularly Michael Owen, have been abysmal. Sure, Crouch scored today, but he was in a position to get 1 or 2 more and choked. Owen didn't even have an opportunity for the 2nd straight game. Good to see Rooney get on the field, as he brings better skill and pace to the frontline.

Once again, hats off to T&T for giving another Euro power all they could handle. Even if they go 0-3, I think they've been one of the better stories of the tournament, playing hard, clean, and with spirit. This could be a big breakthrough in their future program. Hats off to the "Soca Warriors" for being so easy to cheer for.

And yes, in the words of Chandler Bing, could I BE more wrong about Ecuador? I said they probably wouldn't get a point, and would be lucky to get a goal, but to win the 1st 2 games, scored 5 goals, and have yet to give up one, that's just amazing! They're in the driver's seat now in Group A, as they only need a draw w/ Germany next Tuesday to win the group and avoid England in the round of 16. I expect them to play a little more cautious against Germany, but this team's confidence has to be sky high. Good for them, and another example of a great World Cup story.

Costa Rica, like Poland, now goes home after the two battle for 3rd place next Tuesday as well. CR really disappointed me, as I though they actually had enough talent to get out of the group. Looks like I was wrong on that one as well.

And Sweden finally scores, thanks to Mr. Ljungberg. Wow, they're not exactly playing inspired and beautiful soccer, but the win means they're pretty much into the 2nd round barring a total collapse against England and a huge T&T win over Paraguay on group match 3. Not happening, although I wouldn't be surprised to see T&T get the win. Paraguay just might be the most boring team in the tournament.

That's all for today. sorry these have been getting put up so late this week. It's that stupid "real job" thing. I'm off for a few days from it, though, so I'll try to be more insightful. I'm also expecting some reports from some friends and colleagues who are over in Germany as we speak. Once I get those, I'll be happy to post them here as well.

Until tomorrow...

What's next?

FIFA was quick to disallow the new Swiss "aerodynamic" uniforms because opponents complained they were afraid to get too close to them...


Well, I have to be honest and admit I didn't get a chance to watch much of the games today. I actually had to go to work, and my place of employment does not offer ESPN 360 (the nerve of them!). Had to catch the highlights, check websites, blogs, etc. to keep up.

That being said, it's nice to know that the U.S. is no longer in last place. However, if you had told me before that it was because Spain would destroy Ukraine, I would have been skeptical. As poorly as we played Monday, looks like Shevchenko and company did the same. Can't blame all of that on he and Rebrov, as the defense was in tatters from the opening moments. If David Villa has another game like this one, people will forget all about Raul. That might be good, as he always seems to play better when there is little pressure on him. So Spain and the Czechs were the 2 best-looking teams through the first match. Look for Spain to crush both remaining opponents and cruise through to the questerfinals, at least, as their 2nd round opponent will be the 2nd place team from the weak group G.

Didn't see a moment of action from Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, but it looked like it was a solid match. SA seemed to dominate possession and shots, but in saying that, the U.S. also had the advantage in time of possession against the Czechs on Monday...that didn't exactly work out now, did it?

Poland/Germany - So those who were quick to criticize Klinnsman for putting Neuville on the squad are happy now, right? Really good intense game between 2 regional rivals that had such a dramatic ending. I had a feeling Poland was really going to bring it for today's game, as a loss essentially sends them home. Although it probably will take a while to heal, they should be proud of the way they played against the home side. As most coaches will tell you, regardless of sport, one of the toughest games a team will ever face is playing the home team in a World Cup. Poland should hold their heads high.

As for the U.S., who are still picking up the pieces of their loss, it does seem that there are a number of U.S. soccer writers who almost seem smug in taking apart Bruce Arena in their columns. It's almost as if they've been waiting for him to eventually fail at something so they can be there like vultures to pick him apart. Sure, Arena is cocky, arrogant, and downright condescending (at least he has been with me on multiple occasions), but he's had unprecedented success with the U.S. Soccer team over the course of 8 years. I don't think it's fair to label him a failure after 1 game. Granted, it was on the world's biggest stage and in front of a worldwide audience, but let's have some perspective here... If they get blown out against Italy and only get a draw or another loss to Ghana, then let the criticism begin. Until then, chalk up Monday to an ugly loss to a vastly superior Czech team, where nothing the U.S. seemed to do was right.

That's about it for today. See you tomorrow!

The Day After...

Who remembers that movie from the 1980's? For those who don't, it's about a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the U.S. and the end of mankind. So, even after yesterday's disaster on the pitch, things COULD be worse, right?

So here we are, a little more than 24 hours after the "loss heard 'round the world," and even though there's much doom and gloom coming from U.S. fans, I don't think it's as bad as some make it out to be. Eddie Pope has already come out and dismissed any notion that this team will implode as they did in '98. Sure, Beasley seems like he's in need of a serious attitude adjustment, but everybody else seems to be on the same page. Whether or not he believed what he was saying at his press conference this morning, Bruce Arena fell on his sword and accepted much of the blame for yesterday. Not sure if he should have thrown some of his players under the bus as he did, but it's up to him to make things right, smooth over any problems, and get this team ready to play Italy on Saturday. I don't think we'll win, but I'm pretty sure the team will at least step it up and play better. That's all we can ask.

Oh, yeah, if you read Steve Goff's chat at washingtonpost.com today, he says, for the first time, that he doesn't think Arena will return as Coach of the team. It's probable that he's taken them as far as possible, and yes, 8 years in that job is unheard of. Question is, whom do you get to replace him? I can't think of any American coach worthy of the job right now, so maybe the Federation needs to look at a Gus Hiddink or Dick Advocaat, coaches who seem to thrive at new challenges and always seem to have their teams ready to play. Anyway, that's another story for after the tournament.

As for today's games:

South Korea and Togo played an interesting match, and it would have been interesting to see the outcome if Togo hadn't had to play a man down for most of the 2nd half. Give full credit to Korea for taking advantage of the numbers (something Sweden failed to do against T&T) and score 2 goals to come from behind to get the win.

France and Switzerland, however, played the most boring match of the tournament. Geez, how can France go scoreless for more than 4 straight World Cup games with Henry and Zidane on the field? Les Blues are simply Les Boring.

The Swiss certainly didn't do much better. Looked like they were simply playing for a result, which isn't bad strategy against the best team in the group, but they're going to have to show some sort of attack if they have any hope of moving forward from this group.

Finally, after watching these teams today, I feel safe is saying that it's REALLY too bad the U.S. isn't in this group. I'd like our chances.

Now, the moment we've all been waiting for...the Brazilians.

Not great, not bad, but efficient, which is usually a word we associate w/ German soccer. Brazil looked like they were barely working up a sweat, pacing themselves as necessary when you will more tha likely play 7 games over the course of 30 days. Croatia played hard and gave a good fight, and that game against Australia on matchday 3 for the group should be a doozy. Great goal by Kaka, and for all the talk about Ronaldinho, I've seen several journalists say this will be Kaka's World Cup. He got a good start on that today...not to mention that I have both him and the Brazil defense for my fantasy team. :) Sorry, had to throw that in there.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Thoughts on today's debacle...

The picture represents Frank Deford and any number of old fart sportswriters who will lambaste soccer and the U.S. team after today's performance...Remember folks, it doesn't matter what they write! They'll all be dead or retired soon (we hope)...

Okay, first let me comment on the other 2 games today:

Australia - Good for them. They never gave up (can't say that about the U.S., now can we?). They needed those 3 points today, and the goal diff should help them against Croatia in game 3, which should decide 2nd place in the group. Japan's solid goalkeeping in the first 80 minutes was undone by his poor decision to come out and whiff on the ball, allowing the Aussies to get a cheap goal and tie. You could see the air go out of the Japanese.

Italy/Ghana - Solid Italy side beat on a better than expected Ghana squad. Ghana had some excellent opportunities and looked more dangerous and fearless on the ball. Italy played the perfect sort of game for them. Solid defending, good counterattacking, and deadly off set pieces. I'm not sure the U.S. can beat either one of these teams.

And now for the game of the day.

Let me start by saying this; Most of the comments about this game have been about how the U.S. didn't do this or that, bad coaching, etc. True, all of that was a factor, but let's understand 1 thing. This Czech team is REALLY, REALLY good. They beat us in every aspect of the game from start to finish. For all our hype, self-congratulatory success in the region, and our overall alleged "swagger," we got our asses handed to us by a superior team. There's no shame in that. The shame came in the lack of effort by too many players, notably Beasley and Donovan. For Donovan to say in the postgame that "I don't think we had enough guys who believe," made me want to reach through the tv and punch him in the eye. Shut up, Landon! Grow a pair and step up in a big game for a change. Now, will this team step up and play respectably against Italy, or do we fall apart internally and bow out meekly as we did in '98? I'll give some credit and faith that Arena won't LET these guys quit. I'll get to my preferred lineup at the end of the column. In the meantime, here are some comments I got from friends, colleagues, and readers of the blog...Enjoy!

an unsolicited email from a pro coach: "Too soft of a lineup for a World Cup."

Jimmy LaRoue - "I guess Landon can play everywhere EXCEPT Germany."

Dave Lifton - "As much as we had the right idea of using five midfielders to use our speed, we didn't count on the Czechs putting in five of their own to clog up the lanes and nullify our speed. Sometimes we put so much faith in our own teams that we lose sight of the fact that our opponents are capable of good scouting, too. Full credit to them for coming out with a solid game plan and implementing it to perfection."

David Sanford - "No energy, Played safe soccer. Looked as if no one wanted to take a risk because they were scared to mess up. I sort of stop paying much attention after the second goal. As the group of friends and I shared about how pissed off we were."

Dave Gagner - "A lack of spirit and urgency seemed to run through the squad."

Chris Snear - "They got no quality service from either Convey, Lewis, or Beasley. The only chances they had were generated on the ground (and that includes that last nearpost ball from Convey) and they played too slow the entire match."

Brian Straus - "no service, no effective dribbling or combination play, no clue. Arena has become the opposite of what he was in 2002 - stubborn."

Kevin Kozal - "If they expect to advance from this group now, they will not only have to prove they are not only the best U.S. team ever, but that they truly are one of the best ten teams in the world."

Pat Walsh - "It seemed like a match that was dying for Clint Dempsey with his swagger/cockiness/determination to take players on (which after Landon's sole contribution led to a yellow seemed like would have resulted in a yellow card everytime) and create some offense."

Thanks to everyone for the quick turnaround on the replies.

Some really insightful stuff, and I completely agree w/ Straus on Arena. Just because certain players are available doesn't mean you HAVE to play them.

Anyway, here's my lineup for Saturday. Let's give some guys a chance, and maybe if we actually play a 4-4-2, we'll have one.

Keller
Cherundolo Pope Onyewu Bocanegra
Dempsey Reyna Convey
Donovan
McBride Johnson

No way Beas should play. We need strength, not speed, against Italy, which we get in Boca. Let Reyna play the holding, and let Landon try again. Johnson needs to play after today, as should McBride, who never really had a chance.

Feel free to critique and give me your thoughts.

This was a really bad day for soccer, but it ain't the end. Trust me, we'll look back on this day and laugh about it...although it might not be in my lifetime.

Day 3...

3 down, 27 to go. Are we having fun yet? I am, for the most poart, but w/ the exception of the Mexico/Iran game, the rest of today's action lacked exactly that...action... hold on just a second.

Holy Crap!!! Did you just see that goal by Christian Gomez? Oh...My...God!!!! Go ahead and end "goal of the Year" voting, folks, Gomez just won it. Wow! That little flick to himself and then a half volley from 25 yards out to beat Kevin Hartman. I'm glad I can see the reflection of the tv off the mirror down here in the basement...That was actually better than Razov's strike Thursday for Chivas...anyway, back to the Cup.

As I was saying, it seems that all the teams who got early leads this weekend (save for Argentina), England, Holland, and Portugal, seemed to relax and play much more cautiously. Granted, I understand that defense comes first, but these are three teams w/ loads of attacking talent who got away from their game and kept the other teams in the game. Angola never really threatened against Portugal, whom after the first 5 minutes, I thought would win going away. However, Paraguay and Serbia and Montenegro both made things a little more interesting than necessary as Holland and England didn't put them away. They'll pay against better teams, so they need to work on their killer instinct. And some of the Holland players complained afterward about Robben not passing the ball? Heck, he was the only guy who looked like he wanted to win, and was easily the best player on the field. Forget 'em, Arjen, keep doing what you're doing and Jose Mourinho will have no choice but to start you for Chelsea in the fall.

Mexico has no such worries. After going up 2-1 on Iran, they immediately went for the throat, got the 3rd goal, and cruised on home. I like their chances to win the group now, as they have a +2 goal diff and will play the weakest team in the group, Angola, in the next match. Portugal might have a tough time against and Iranian team that played better than I thought they would. Oh, yeah, Lavolpe's a genius now in Mexico, and Zinha's a native-born son. Interesting how things change in 24 hours, huh? They've got to be holding their breath on Borgetti's injury, though.

As for tomorrow's game, I just don't know. I've gone through the ringer w/ the U.S. I've gone from them winning 2-1, tying 2-2, and losing 2-0 all within the last day. Folks, if you're loking for a prediction, I can't give you one, because I honestly have no idea what's going to happen. I'll get no sleep tonight, and regardless of the outcome tomorrow, no sleep then either. There's a part of me that's glad this thing is only once every 4 years. I don't think I, nor my wife, could handle it.

Okay, back to the DC United game. Go U.S.A.!!!!!

Day 2

11:30 AM

Well, the first "yawner" of a game is over. England gets the early goal (with the help of Gamarra) and holds on for the next 88 minutes to get the 3 points. I guess that's all that matters, but jeesh, England, try to be a little more exciting!!! you've got the best midfield in the tournament...dribble...take people on...look like you're trying to score. Michael Owen looked terrible, and it looks like Peter Crouch will be getting called for a foul any time he's involved in a challenge. I think he had 7 or 8 called against him today. If they're going to do that against the bigger guys, I fear for Onyewu on Monday. Paraguay seemed to gain confidence as the game progressed. They knocked the ball around, and with the exception of 1 or 2 players who did the patented "flop, dive, and act like I've been shot" routine, they weren't too bad. Never had a REAL chance to tie, but as easily as they could have fallen apart after giving up the early goal and the loss of their starting goalkeeper, they showed a lot of courage to make a game of it. They'll give Sweden a tussle in the 2nd match.

Time for the noon match...

Wow! Talk about a shock! I had Sweden winning this one 4-1, but forgot to take into account the courage of the T&T squad. They're routinely overlooked, even in CONCACAF, but when you look at their recent history, they've done okay against the U.S. and Mexico, getting the occasional point in qualifying. So, under the right tuteledge, why wouldn't they be up for this game? They were dominated in large stretches by the Swedes, and when Avery John was sent off for a stupid 2-footed tackle when he already had a yellow, I thought it was game over. In fact, I can think of at least 4 occasions where I said "here's where Sweden scores," only to be wrong every time. Shaka Hislop is probably the first "hero" of the tourney w/ an amazing performance in a game where he wasn't named the starter until the first-stringer was injured during warmups. I still expect Sweden to right the ship and move on out of the group stage, but for at least 1 moment, T&T is beginning what could be a great story. Time for the next game...

Argentina-Ivory Coast - That was a fun one to watch. A lack of composure for roughly 20 minutes from IC was the difference in this one. I liked the pace of the match, although I thought IC would eventually fade. Turns out it was Argentina that struggled mightily for the last half-hour. Getting that goal to make it 2-1 was big, as the tiebreaker could go to goal differential after 3 games. Still, REALLY stupid yellow card for Drogba at the end. We saw a couple of those today, didn't we? Yellows for dissent, unsportsmanlike, etc. Those are what's going to kill you, because if you pick up another in the next game, or the one after, you sit. Simple as that. Drogba IS IC's chance to move forward out of this group, so w/out him, no way. Enough about that. I was impressed w/ the way Argentina moved the ball. Very efficient and lethal when they needed to be. Both goals came directly as a result of an IC chance at the other end. Riquelme was masterful at finding the open targets, and although they only brought 4 players back from their 2002 squad, the newcomers stepped up and showed they're to be reckoned with.

Overall, 2 good games and 1 below expectations, but not a bad day. The only real surprise was obviously T&T, and it'll be interesting to see how Sweden reacts when they play Paraguay in the game that will most likely decide who moves and who goes home in Group B.

I'm off to Richmond. See you tomorrow!

Day 1

Well, I can only hope the next 29 days are as fun as this one. As I ran around doing my errands this morning before the game (i.e. getting lots of food and beer to store up as I stay in my "soccer bunker" for the month), I took a chance to listen to some sportstalk radio and hear my sport get slammed by the blue-collar, xenophobic mainstream sports media. Sure, there were some condescending comments, but to my surprise, most of the chat was positive. 1 of the guys said he's not a soccer fan, but always watches the World Cup because it's such a crazy event. They even opened up the phone lines to take some calls, which I haven't heard before. Gotta admit I felt a certain amount of pride in the fact that "our" sport is finally getting some much-deserved attention on the huge U.S. sports stage.

Anyway, the reason I brought this up was because one of the guys on the radio sarcastically said "I can't for all the 1-0 games." Well, he's 0-2 for Day 1, isn't he? a 4-2 Germany win over Costa Rica in the opener? Wow, the weight of the world is off Klinsmann's shoulders, isn't it? Even w/out Ballack, the Germans were precise, tactically sound in the midfield, and scored some amazing goals today. Torsten (America's Public Enemy #1) Frings, save for a spectacular bicycle kick by someone else, might have already scored the goal of the tournament w/ that 40 yard blast. Plus, Klose scored twice, which is good for me since he's on my fantasy team...Germany's back line seemed a step slow today, but they've got 2 games to get it right before the knockout round begins. I thought Costa Rica played well, despite giving up 4 goals. Wanchope showed he's still got it by scoring 2 goals and nearly getting a 3rd, but the CR midfield was overwhelmed today, did a poor job of keeping the ball, relied on their own shaky defense a little too much, and they paid for it.

Ecuador showed significantly more than I gave them credit for. They played a counterattacking game that worked perfectly against a bigger and stronger Polish team, who, for the 2nd tournament in a row, came out flat in their opening game. They've got a REAL challenge ahead of them in game 2, where they'll play a German squad looking to clinch a spot in the knockout round. I realize I picked CR to advance out of this group, but it now appears Ecuador is a better team, and if they pull out the win in game 2, the Ecuador/Germany game will simply decide 1st or 2nd in the group.

Looking forward to a "rise and shine" game w/ my pick to win this whole thing, England, as they play Paraguay at 9 tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow's update will be late in the evening, as I not only have 3 games to watch on tv like the rest of you, but I'll be traveling down south to catch the Richmond/Charlotte game as they battle for 1st place in USL2. Should be fun.

Feel free to add your comments, or if you want to mail them to me, please do so at soccertalk@hotmail.com. I'll be happy to post your thoughts on the tournament as well!

Groups E-H and Beyond...

I needed some help this time, so I went to my trusty buddy Homer (pictured at right), who used all the power of his brain.

Let's pick right up where I left off yesterday, starting w/ Group E:

Group E
Italy
Czech Republic
United States
Ghana

To me, this is the real "Group of Death." All 4 teams have a chance to advance, although Italy and the Czechs are widely considered the favorites to do so. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if all 4 teams finished 1-1-1 and goal differential determines who goes on. Italy is clearly the established front-runner of the group, but the scandals that have hit the Italians in their home league, combined with the numerous injuries they've suffered recently, leads me to believe this is a team on the ropes. They could band together as a unit and march through this group on their way to a deep run in the tournament, or, should they not get a favorable result against Ghana in the opening match, implode and find themselves going home after the first round, such as their less than glorious exit in the 2004 European Championship. The Czech Republic also has their share of injury problems, with Koller, Nedved, Baros, and others at less than 100%. They're ranked #2 in the world, and, when fit, can beat any team in the world. A recent news story made note that several Brazilian players have mentioned they would not want to play them in the 2nd round, as the 2nd place team from this group will most likely play Brazil. They'll need to start strong against The United States who come into this group as an underdog despite their impressive quarterfinal run in 2002. Bruce Arena is one of the best player managers in this tournament, and he's probably one of the few whose players would kill themselves for him. That can't be underestimated. although this team doesn't have as much talent as Italy or the Czechs, their fitness, athleticism, and will to win makes them capable of not only advancing out of this group, but winning it. Ghana is the team that really spoil the party. They'll be playing an injury-depleted Italian squad in the first game, and their highly skilled midfield combination of Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah could wreak havoc all over the field. If they can get a draw, or even a win, in this game, it's going to through the entire group into chaos. This is such a tough group to call. My thinking here is that the U.S. gets a result in all 3 games and wins the group, while the Czechs find a way to beat Italy in game 3 and sneak into 2nd place.

1st place - The United States
2nd place - Czech Republic

Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

This is probably the easiest group to call. I've seen or read the predictions from over 150 soccer analysts and my colleagues, and not a single one of them (myself included) has anybody other than Brazil winning the group. Why should they? On paper, they are not only the best team in the tournament, but maybe the overall team since the 1970 Brazilians, widely considered the best squad ever assembled. We all know about the offensive depth and firepower they bring to the table, but there's one area where they have improved tremendously; goalkeeping. Dida is the best 'keeper they've had in some time, and with the "Samba Kings" more than likely scoring 2 or 3 goals per game, Dida won't have to be great, just pretty good. Their first game could be a bit of a struggle against the talented Croatia, but I doubt it. Croatia has struggled with their form in recent weeks, with disappointing losses to Poland and Spain in the past week. They're susceptible in the back, and there are reports of numerous people within the soccer federation concerned that the coach's son, Niko Kranjcar, is the team's playmaker. I think the nepotism thing is overblown, but if the team fails to perform in the tournament, it's obvious which two people will be blamed. If Croatia does get beaten by multiple goals in the first game, that opens the door for Australia to barge through. Although they have little experience on the world's biggest stage, many of the Aussie players ply their trade for European clubs, so any impact from traveling would be minimal. Look for key players Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka to step up big time in Germany and lead the "Socceroos" to the 2nd round. Although the travel won't affect Australia, I don't think the same can be said of Japan. They advanced to the knockout stage in 2002 as one of the host countries, and also because they were in a weak group. They'll find the challenge much tougher this time around, and so far from home. It also doesn't help that star player Hidetoshi Nakata has called the team's character into question following the recent string of bad games.

1st place - Brazil
2nd place - Australia

Group G
France
Korea Republic
Togo
Switzerland

An aging France team gets a huge break by being in arguably the weakest group of the tournament. Although the injury to Henry's front line partner Cisse is devastating, the French will have 3 games to figure out who will work best with the superstar. Like Brazil, they should clinch the group by the 3rd game, which will allow older players like Zidane and Thuram to get some rest before heading into the knockout stage. I don't think they can replicate their success of the '98 world Cup and Euro 2000 championship teams, they will still give anybody they face a grueling match. Although South Korea benefited enormously from co-hosting the tournament in 2002, where they made it to the semifinals, it wasn't a fluke. They were a good team and look to be in better shape than their rivals from Japan this time around. They have a great coach in Dick Advocaat and a world class player in Park Ji-sung, which should be enough to get them into the knockout stage. Another reason is that Switzerland and Togo should offer little resistance and will battle for 3rd place. Most of the time I would never count out a European team playing in Europe, but the Swiss are badly overmatched against most of their opponents this time around, and their suspect defense will probably yield several goals. However, they're a pretty young team, and will probably use this tournament as a springboard to a better showing in South Africa in 2010. A pay dispute has no doubt been a big distraction for Togo, who are enormous underdogs even in this group. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor needs to play the games of his life in order for them to even have a chance for a point here.

1st place - France
2nd place - South Korea

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

The "in" statistic that's getting thrown around right now is that less than 5% of the teams who've lost their opening game go on to advance out of the group stage. Well, the group's 2 best teams, Spain and Ukraine, meet in the first game of the group. Win, lose, or draw, I still see both of these teams easily progressing to the 2nd round, simply because the rest of the group isn't good enough to pose much of a threat. The Spanish are historical underachievers in this tournament, but there's reason for hope this time around. Casillas is one of the world's best goalkeepers, and he has the sturdy Carles Puyol in front of him. The attacking options are numerous, with Raul desperate to make an impact on the biggest tournament in the world, and my pick to be the breakout player of this tournament, Francesc Fabregas. How he handles the pressure will go a long way to determine just how good this team can be. Ukraine, along with Sweden, is my sleeper team of the Cup. They have one of the world's top scorers in Shevchenko, who would almost be enough against the other teams in the group. However, the reemergence of Serhiy Rebrov gives the team another threat, and Manager Oleg Blockhin has been in this tournament before, as a player with the former Soviet Union. That should be crucial. Tunisia has been one of the better teams in Africa recently, but I don't like their chances this time around. They've got some experience on their roster, as several were on the 2002 squad, but they won't be able to hold off the firepower of the Spanish and Ukrainians. Saudi Arabia just hopes they can avoid a repeat of their 2002 debacle, where they gave up 8 goals to Germany in the first game enroute to 3 straight losses, 0 goals scored, and 12 scored against. Let's hope they can get one past Tunisia in the opener, otherwise they could leave the 2006 tournament with a bunch of gooseggs in the stats column once again.

1st place - Ukraine

2nd place - Spain

Round of 16

Sweden over Germany

Netherlands over Mexico

England over Costa Rica

Argentina over Portugal

USA over Australia

Spain over France

Brazil over Czech Republic

Ukraine over South Korea

Quarterfinals

Netherlands over Sweden

Spain over USA

England over Argentina

Brazil over Ukraine

Semifinals

Netherlands over Spain

England over Brazil

World Cup Final

England over Netherlands

Wow, I'm pretty surprised myself. Everyone's picking Brazil, for the most part. As great as they are, I've got this feeling they're going to stumble, albeit in the later rounds. This is England's best team in more than a generation, and even if Wayne Rooney's playing time is limited, they still have the talent to win it all.

I'll try to update the site with my thought and analysis after the day's games, so check back often and let me know what you think. You can be honest, I've already had 1 commenter ask if I was on drugs because of my Costa Rica prediction. Thanks for reading!

Groups A-D

If you heard my insightful and informative appearance on "The Munk and Mick Show" last night (www.thesoccershow.com), you know what my breakdown is for the first 4 groups. What? you weren't listening? Shame on you. Guess I'll have to break it down here, but not as thoroughly as I did last night. As much as I love to chat, being on the radio for a full hour even had me reaching for words at the end. Hats off to the guys for pulling off a solid 2 hour preview show!

So, let's start at the beginning:

Group A:
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

This entire group depends on the health of Michael Ballack, Germany's only true world-class field player (they have 2 world-class 'keepers in Lehman and Kahn). If Ballack plays in the opener against Costa Rica on Friday, then the battle will be for 2nd place among the other 3. If Ballack sits, I truly feel Costa Rica can get a result, thereby blowing the group wide-open. The heavy favorites to advance are Germany and Poland, as they'll be bringing a large contingent of supporters across the border to their next door neighbor. Still, Costa Rica has some skilled attacking players in Wanchope up top and Fonseca and Centeno in the midfield. Poland has a great work ethic and hard-nosed players, much like Ecuador, but nobody on either roster really strikes the fear of God in the opposition. If you saw the goal Poland's 'keeper gave up the other day against Colombia, there's cause for concern. I think Ecuador would do well do to get a point out of this group, as they're the weakest of the South American contingent this time around. The thinking here is that Costa Rica gets a draw with Germany on Friday, which will help them capture 2nd place, while Germany will find a way to win the group.

1st place - Germany
2nd place - Costa Rica

Group B
Sweden
England
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago

This is the best team England has fielded since they won it all in 1966 (40 years ago!!!), even without the injured Wayne Rooney. Strikers Michael Owen and Peter Crouch might not be the most consistent duo in the field of 32, but with arguably the best midfield group behind them (Carragher, Beckham, Lampard, and Gerrard, with Hargreaves off the bench), Crouch should feast on good service throughout the tournament. The defense, when healthy, is among the best, although goalkeeping might be a bit of concern. Sweden's "Big 3" of Larsson, Ljungberg, and Ibrahimovic will determine how far this team will go. They could fall flat in the first round, or make a serious run to the semifinals. I think they want to make up for their disappointing showing in 2002, and are primed to be a solid team this time around. Paraguay has a couple of scary players, like the now healthy Rogue Santa Cruz, but they've lost their talented and all-time goals leader in Jose Cordoza. Although he was 35, he would have brought some poise and leadership to a team which may struggle to find an identity. Although they've made it to the knockout stages the past 2 Cups, they'll find themselves going home after 3 games this time around. As for Trinidad and Tobago, you won't see another team's fans partying harder after a loss, which the Soca Warriors will probably do in all 3 games. They've got a couple of players in Dwight Yorke and Stern John who could make things interesting, but they just don't have the horses to compete at this level for 90 minutes a game.

1st place - England
2nd place - Sweden

Group C
Argentina
Netherlands
Ivory Coast
Serbia and Montenegro

Despite what most analysts say, I still think Group E, with 4 legitimate teams fighting for 2 spots, is tougher than this group, which boasts 3 class teams and 1 probable whipping boy. Argentina is desperate to erase the humiliation of 2002, where they were widely considered the favorites but bowed out meekly in the first round. Gabriel Heinze is healthy and ready to anchor the defense, while youngsters Leo Messi, Juan Riquelme, Carlos Tevez, and Javier Saviloa will team up with veteran Hernan Crespo to try and replicate the offensive magic of the '78 and '86 championship squads. Historic underacheivers the Netherlands brings a young and eclectic group of players to the tournament. Does 'keeper Ed Van der Sar have the ability to make the huge save when the defense around him falters? Will the Dutch be able to avoid the mental mistakes that have plagued them in previous Cups? Will Ruud van Nistelrooy step up and be the man? I predict the answer to all 3 questions is a resounding "yes!" Ivory Coast is probably the most dangerous first game opponent when you look at it as an "underdog/favorite" game. Argentina needs to be poised because the game could easily be a track meet, with a potential 4-3 or 3-2 scoreline. Drogba is a ferocious player up top and will be a handful for defenders throughout the tournament, even with the tight marking sure to be geared towards him. Arsenal defenders Toure and Eboue have enough "big game" experience not to be intimidated on the World stage, and this should be one of the more entertaining sides to watch. Serbia and Montenegro had it tough going into the tournament, and the loss of top striker Mirko Vucinic to injury was a blow they won't be able to overcome. However, the defense gave up the fewest goals during the finals of qualifying, and if they can keep the games close, might be able to pull out a point or 2.

1st place - Netherlands
2nd place - Argentina

Group D
Portugal
Mexico
Iran
Angola

On paper, Mexico and Portugal are the obvious favorites, but that's why they play the games. However, after the first 2 games for each team are played, Mexico and Portugal will spend matchday 3 determining which of them will win the group. Like Argentina and France in 2002, Portugal will look to avenge their dismal showing and make a run deep in the tournament. Luis Figo would like nothing more than to hoist the trophy in his (probable) final World Cup, and he'll have plenty of help with the amazing but unpredictable Cristiano Ronaldo on the flank and strikers Pauleta and Boa Morte up top. Mexico brings their best side to the tournament since they hosted in 1986. Arguably playing the best soccer of anybody in the first round of 2002, they were bounced hard by their bitter rivals from the United States in the round of 16. Borgetti is the main offensive weapon for El Tri, and he should have plenty of opportunities in the first 2 games against Iran and Angola. After that, when defenses get tougher, Franco or Fonseca will have to be on their game. The midfield is a bit of a question mark, as there is no clear cut "#10" to guide the attack. Someone will have to step up. The defense is led by the rock solid Rafael Marquez, a key component in Barcelona's run to the Champions League Title and arguably the best defender in CONCACAF. 37 year-old Claudio Suarez might not see much playing time, but his leadership and guidance will be important for a team that has looked lost at times in previous Cups. Iran has a chance to pull off a shocker in the opening game against Mexico, but it won't happen. Ali Daei is the team's best and most experienced player, but at age 37, will he be able to go 90 minutes in each game? The rest of the team has virtually no experience on the World's biggest stage (save for Mahdavikia), and they might not find much vocal support in the country either. They should still finish 3rd, ahead of Cup virgin Angola. The "Black Antelopes" are clearly near the bottom of the 32-team field, but could surprise Iran in the battle for 3rd. They only have a couple of players who play top flight club soccer, which means they'll probably be overwhelmed in the first 2 games against Portugal and Mexico. Still, just getting to this tournament is an accomplishment, considering they were in a qualifying group with traditional African power Nigeria. Hopefully, this is just the first step in the team's progress over the next several years. One last note about this group; how confident am I in my predictions for this group? If you look at my lineup for my World Cup Fantasy team, I have Pauleta and Borgetti as 2 of my 3 strikers.

Tomorrow, I'll preview groups E-H, and then give my predictions for the knockout rounds.

And as for the image, it's a scene that will probably be all too familiar in Germany over the next 5 weeks.