World Cup, humble pie boy I'm glad that I didn't wake to watch the US play at 4:30 like I'd considered. Yes, perhaps that makes me not a real fan. Poland handed us a piece of humble pie, how does it feel to have the cleat on the other foot! Only we couldn't mount an offense to speak of to make a comeback (although the dissallowed goal of Donovans, should've been a goal, which I'm sure would've changed the game), until way too late. We just kept doing the same thing over and over, which wasn't working. the score could've been worse too, if it weren't for the awesome Brad Friedel (another penalty kick stopped!), too bad he wasn't awesome enough to stop the other three!

So thank god for the Koreans! who handed out another piece of humble pie to Portugal and knocked them out of the tournament with a 1-0 win -- and sent themselves and the US to the next round. Sure Portugal was down a man, but every other game with a team down a man for any length of time has won in this cup (I think).

Japan also went through in a pretty dull game. The Belgium Russia game was also deadly dull until the Russians tied it 1-1 in the second half, and then the game picked up like you couldn't believe and ended up 3-2 Belgium, with Russia threatening to tie it up at the end and sending Belgium home. Alas they couldn't quite pull it off (not that I had any partisan thoughts one way or another really).

So on we go!

Brazil playing against Brazil The Costa Rica v Brazil game was great. 5 to 2, lots of shots, few fouls, wide open play, amazing footwork, passes, flips, flicks and bicycle kicks. At least one of the best goals of the tournament, if not a few. Costa Rica gave Brazil a run for their money, and kept trying til the end. Feel sad that they are going home.

Italy v Mexico was also a good match, I'm not sure that Italy really deserved the tie. They were outplayed by Mexico for the most part, except on the few occassions (including the one goal) where the Italian brilliance came out. They just couldn't finish. The mexican goal was certainly in the top 10 of best 2002 world cup goals. A beautiful nod across the goal mouth, away from the line of attack.

World Cup So england is through, yeah! Though the game versus nigeria was a bit dull. The first half was fun enough. But then the second half, both teams decided that losing would be bad. It was the most gentemenly game though. Nary a card proffered.

Spain v South Africa was a great game. Very open and for the most part (until the South Africans got a little desperate in the end) free of any tackling nastiness. Beautiful passing though, both teams fun to watch, especially spain, who in all fairness deserved the 3-2 win. Alas the South Africans did not make it through, Paraguay coming back to win 3-1 on 10 men. Didn't see the game though.

I'm predicting, for some vague reason, Spain v Brazil in the final, with Spain coming out on top.

Sentinmental favorites would be
US v England (who would I root for though)
South Korea v Japan (wouldn't that be awesome!)
Ireland v Senegal

Who knows it could happen!

Eclipse We had a partial solar eclipse here on Monday. I'd almost forgot til I ran into some sidewalk astronomers with solar telescopes out. I had a peak just as it was starting then headed off to a cafe for a while. At the peak time, the light was amazing, and I ran to have another look at the telescopes, the sun but a crescent, the crowd bigger and a couple friends out. Showed it to a friend later on the wane using the pinhole trick (which I only remembered after seeing people use straw hats and their hands).

Didn't hurt that it was a hot and warm day. Today alas has turned chilly and foggy.

World Cup: Alors! Les pauvre bleus, coming out of the cup without even a goal! Les danes walked all over them.

Looks like the Senagalese will be the only Africans and French speakers to make it to the next round. Although, how they blew a 3 goal lead to end in a tie, I have no idea (and that first goal they got on a total dive). The uruguayans showed a lot of pluck!

Cameroon couldn't get passed the stodgy Germans. Although it seemed a match more about who could get the most cards than who could get the most goals. Not a game one would want to end your world cup dreams on!

Ireland walked all over Saudi Arabia to get land in the next round behind the Germans, couldn't quite match the 8-0 though.

great football (soccer) updates check out the minute by minute match reports. great pithy commentary.

"12 min If you were a martian who chanced upon this game, you'd get the distinct impression that these teams don't like each other very much. Or maybe it's just me..."
-- minute by minute for the US v Korea Game.

US vs Korea was a bit dissappointing. US looking pretty lackluster in the second half and not trying for goal. 6 shots to 19 Korea. We almost didn't even deserve the tie. Of course, given that pratically the whole stadium was a sea of Korean colors, and awash in supporting Korean noise, it must be hard to keep that out. And the Koreans just outran the US. The little speedskating goal celebration was pretty amusing too.

Sadly Portugal is back in form. 4-0 over Poland which bodes ill for South Korea. Lets hope crowd support kicks in there too!

The Italy loss to Croatia 1-2 was a fun game too watch. Particularly because of the contraversial calls. Best I could tell the first dissallowed goal should have been allowed. the italians were furious by the end of play. The Italy Mexico game I fear is going to be nasty.