La Copa Mundial: Knockout Stages!

Sixteen teams. Knockout stage: Win or go home. Ninety minutes. If scoreless, 30 more minutes. If still tied, five penalty shots each, winner takes all.

Two teams. Two goals. One ball. One chance. This is it.

Eight matches occupy the computer screen. It's time to break down the 16 teams, their matchups and their chances.

First things first:

June 24 -- Kickoff 11 a.m. EST
Germany vs. Sweden
This match will be free-flowing and exciting. Both teams showed their preference to push the envelope, attacking the majority of the game while putting constant pressure defensively on their opponents. Both teams like to stiffle counterattacks in their opponents' half of the field; in other words, they will try to force their game on the other team, maintaining possession and a consistent potency.

If we break down each team statistically, this match's prediction would be easy to figure out: Germany won all three of their Group Stage matches; Sweden was just 1-0-2. Germany scored eight goals while conceding just two. In fact, they shut out their last two opponents. Sweden scored a meager three goals after tallying 30 goals in 10 matches in qualifying. The Swedes allowed two goals.

Players to Watch: Whenever Germany plays, it's always Klose and Ballack. For Sweden, see if Ibrahimovic has any impact in his return. Also, watch Larsson and Ljungberg.

Styles of Play: Germany -- Possession with great technical skill; attacking; height and power in attack as well as defense; attacks come from wings or up the middle, they are quite potent.
Sweden -- Possession team with flair and excitable speed; lots of fancy movement, runs and passing; attacking at all times; speed and skill are main attributes of Swedes.

Germany wins this game, 2-1. What gave it away? Germany will be at home, in extremely hot weather and they are on fire, figuratively of course.

June 24 -- Kickoff 3 p.m. EST
Argentina vs. Mexico
This match, on the cover, appears to be a formidable one -- pitting two quality Latin teams against each other on the world's biggest stage.

But Mexico has played very poorly in this World Cup, exposing their bloated world ranking. They barely made the second round in a group that featured two 99-percent-positive-they-should-walk-through-this-game-and-win type matches against Angola and Iran.

It's hard to really gauge Argentina after they played two odd matches. Against Serbia & Montenegro, S & M just gave up. Argentina had a training match and a field day against them. So that wasn't really a challenge. The Holland match featured two teams already in the next round, cautiously playing for first place in the group.

Players to Watch: Juan Roman Riquelme and Javior Saviola for Argentina. For Mexico, Rafael Marquez and Raul Bravo.

Styles of Play: Argentina -- Possession with flair, determination and persistent attacking; lots of diagonal runs into space, good through balls, plenty of goals from passes on the ground; tons of individual, on-ball skill; lots of dribbling; smart defending.
Mexico -- Long ball attacks; quick counterattacks; height on free kicks and corners; good running ability, plenty of stamina; comfortable knocking the ball around midfield to control game's pace; great defending.

Argentina wins 2-0. What gave it away? The Mexicans just haven't played very well at the World Cup and Argentina is more explosive than ever. They will possess the ball and assault the Mexican defense.

June 25 -- Kickoff 11 a.m. EST
England vs. Ecuador
England will have Wayne Rooney playing full tilt, without Michael Owen competing for the title of "The Man." David Beckham expressed his frustration over his performance in the Sweden match and should show up guns ablaze in this match.

Ecuador sat their two on-fire strikers and will be looking to rectify their surprise image after their 3-0 destruction by the Germans. This might be a better match than people think.

Players to Watch: Of course Wayne Rooney, but also Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the midfield. For Ecuador, Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado.

Styles of Play: England -- Possession with technical preference; strong midfield, probably the best at the World Cup; solid in defense; mixture of service passing, lofting long, high balls or short passes into the box.
Ecuador -- Attacking style with over-the-top balls to their dynamic forwards; shaky in defense; great speed; can score from the air or from the ground; lots of flair and creativity in attack.

England wins 2-1. What gave it away? England has a strong midfield and a better defense than any of Ecuador's opponents in the first round. Rooney should get a goal in this match.

June 25 -- Kickoff 3 p.m. EST
Portugal vs. Holland
Portugal hasn't played any good teams yet, and they don't have the defense to deal with Holland's three-headed monster of Robben, Van Nistelrooy and Van Persie.

Holland looked great the whole Group Stage, playing poorly only for about 20 minutes in the Ivory Coast match (remember, at the end when Ivory Coast pounded the Dutch to no avail?).

Players to Watch: The wingers for Holland: Robben and Van Persie. Cristiano Ronaldo and Simao for Portugal.

Holland in penalties. What gave it away? This will be a good match. But Holland looked better in the first round, even though the Portuguese were two points better. In penalties, I like Edwin van Der Sar over Ricardo.

So, to recap: Germany over Sweden 2-1, Argentina over Mexico 2-0, England over Ecuador 2-0 and Holland over Portugal in penalties. The rest of the previews will come Sunday.

La Copa Mundial: Owen Injury a Blessing in Disguise

England striker Michael Owen tore his anterior cruciate ligament, or as sports fans more knowingly refer to it, his ACL. Just minutes into England's third and final Group Stage match, Owen lost his footing under his cleat, slid awkwardly and buckled his knee. Sure, it looked painful, but it might actually be a blessing for the English.

Owen will probably be out for six months, effectively missing the English Premiership's opening month or two at the least, but more likely missing all action until 2007. Now, Owen's injury is just a new development on a string of bad ones since Dec. 2005. I feel bad for the guy -- he's a competitor, works hard and never complains.

But Owen looked uncomfortable in the first two matches against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, respectively. He didn't have his usual pace, quickness or great first touch. At times, Owen drifted out of the match, completely disappearing at critical moments. Owen wouldn't want to be seen as a drifter, a guy who lacks that competitive flame, so maybe this injury will help him more than hurt him, at least figuratively.

At just 18, Owen stepped onto the global stage at World Cup '98, dazzling supporters with his lightning-quick speed and blistering shots. He even scored the goal of the World Cup in England's loss to Argentina, collecting a clearance at midfield, dribbling through several Argentine defenders and finishing with beauty and grace -- a classic Owen goal.

Four years ago at World Cup '02, Owen scored a magnificent goal against Brazil before his teammates wilted under the hot heat of the Japanese sun. The goal came one year after he won the European Footballer of the Year award for the 2000-2001 season, making Owen the first Englishman to win the award in 20 years.

In total, the striker collected 80 caps for England after starting Tuesday's game. In those appearances, he scored 36 times. He is a legend and a staple of English soccer.

And that's where it gets complicated.

Owen assumes the striker slot remains open for him until he retires from international play. He deserves that respect, being the only English player to ever play in three World Cups for England.

But there comes a time when respect loses meaning, and results -- or in this case, a new wonderboy -- take the spotlight. Again, Owen is hurt now, was hurt before the World Cup and looked quite sluggish in the first two matches.

In other terms, Michael Owen became a liability, a problem. He became the awkward, 5th-year senior at the party. The guy everyone used to love but slowly lost his status as "The Guy Everyone Likes" because he tried to force too many good times.

He brought England's scoring chances down a little bit with every gimpy run, with every frustrating touch. He just wasn't the Michael Owen that earned every ounce of respect the world held for him.

It's sad when stars and legends struggle. Even worse, Owen is just 26. He looked 36 at World Cup '06 in Germany. And now with the new knee injury, his promising career might be in jeopardy.

Owen will never stop fighting to return to international soccer. But for this World Cup, he will watch with frustration, disappointment and agony.

England might be better off. Now Wayne Rooney is alone in the spotlight. And the English are ready for a new wonderkid.

La Copa Mundial: Day 10

Approaching the final three games of Matchday 2, the Round of 16 gained a new member, while one more team all but solidified their chances of moving through as well. It was a great day of exciting soccer, so why don't we talk about the games?

Croatia missed a HUGE chance to get some critical points, tying Japan 0-0. It was a good match with plenty of excitement, but both teams needed the three points. Japan is practically finished, needing to win their final match. Unfortunately, that match is against Brazil. Croatia, on the other hand, has to play well and beat the Australians to advance. We'll see how that all goes.

Brazil beat Australia in a great match, plotting skill and flair against physicality and toughness. Brazil won 2-0, but Australia made a major case for my Surprise Team of the Tournament after their gritty effort. They showed a way to challenge Brazil, using their strength and a little bit of rough play to keep Brazil at bay for most of the match. The Aussies had a few chances to equalize, including Harry Kewell's heartbreaking miss that cost them the game. But don't fear, the Aussies are still in great position. The team they must focus on as their main contention for that second place spot is Croatia, the team they play on Thursday. So everything comes down to that match.

--This is how Group F breaks down:

Brazil is in and has won the group, with two wins and six points.

Australia goes through if they beat Croatia, simple as that. Croatia must beat Australia and hope that Japan either loses, ties or wins by just a goal against Brazil. Japan needs to beat Brazil by at least two goals and hope Croatia only wins by a goal -- if they beat Australia.

In my opinion, the Aussies and Croats will tie and Brazil will beat Japan. Therefore, Australia will move through with four points.

France fell apart in the final 15-20 minutes of their match with South Korea, exposing their lack of team unity. True, the French were robbed of a goal in the first half when South Korea goalkeeper Woon-Jae Lee stopped a shot that clearly passed completely over the goal-line. In other words, the save meant nothing and the French should've gone up 2-0. Instead, the save was validated and the South Koreans came back with a late goal after a flurry of attacks on the French back line. It was a gritty South Korean effort and it should pay off. Now, the French are in trouble, as the Swiss take on a dilapidated Togolese side tomorrow morning with a chance to grab four points after two matches.

Group G is interesting right now:

South Korea has four points at 1-0-1. France has drawn twice, holding a 0-0-2 record and two points. The Swiss have a golden opportunity, as I said before, to get three points against Togo. If they do, they will be 1-0-1. Togo is 0-1-0 and they only need a point to stay in contention for second place. But France gets Togo in their final match while the Swiss and Koreans play each other on the same day. That means that France can still get in easily with a win over the Togolese and a victory for either Switzerland or South Korea in that final match.

Teams that are in so far:

Ecuador, Germany, England, Argentina, Holland, Portugal and Brazil. South Korea, Sweden, Mexico and Australia are in great positions to qualify while Trinidad & Tobago, Angola, the Czech Republic, Ghana, the U.S., Japan, Croatia and France all hold a chance to get in. Stay tuned for more updates on the daily!

La Copa Mundial: Day 8 & 9

Well, last night I watched three matches and then woke up this morning for three more. Four of the six turned out to be thrilling games. But because there were six, I will cut down on my comments and focus more on what's ahead for the teams vying for the Round of 16 as well as the rest of the second matches left.

--Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro will deceive anyone who didn't see the match. Serbia & Montenegro's team fell apart before the opening whistle, and it showed, as they gave up three goals in the first half. There's no way of knowing how good Argentina really is until they play Holland next Wednesday.

--Holland and Ivory Coast provided us with the game of the tournament so far, with the Dutch eeking out a 2-1 victory. Robin Van Persie looked great and Ruud Van Nistelrooy began his trek to the Golden Boot, but the Ivory Coast played yet another great match, pushing their attack to the brink of numerous tiebreaking chances. Holland will need to control more against Argentina.

--Here is how Group C shakes out:

-Holland and Argentina are into the second round with records of 2-0. As of right now, Argentina is in first because of their +7 goal differential. So, for the Dutch to take first in the group and avoid a meeting with Portugal, they need to beat Argentina. Argentina can afford a tie, needing only the point to clinch first and a likely matchup with Mexico. So on Wednesday, these teams will have something play for and it will be a fantastic match.

--Mexico played terribly against Angola, which surprised everyone...but me. If you look at my preview of this match in the last post, I said to not be surprised if they tie. And look what happened. Now, Angola has a favorable final match against a demoralized Iran team, meaning that Angola should win. But they need to win big. I'll shake it out for you in a little bit.

--Portugal hammered Iran easily, without much surprise, 2-0 to take control of Group D. Portugal now only needs a tie against Mexico to win the group. They would prefer to win, guaranteeing first place. Iran is done.

--Group D looks like this:

-Portugal is 2-0 with six points. Mexico is 1-0-1 with four points, carrying a +2 goal differential. And Angola is 0-1-1 with one point and a -1 goal differential. This means that the following results have to happen for Angola to make the next round:

Portugal needs to beat Mexico by two or more goals
Then Angola must win by one goal or more
BUT, if Portugal wins, say, 1-0 over Mexico, and Angola wins 1-0 over Iran, Mexico is through. In other words, Angola would do well to win by a few goals and hope Portugal hammers Mexico.

--Ghana! Ghana! Ghana shocked the Czech Republic 2-0, surprising everyone but me with their possession-intensive attacking. I predicted a 1-0 Ghana victory back before the entire Cup started, so I am proud to have picked the upset. But Ghana's win also opens the door for the U.S. More on that in a few lines.

--Italy and the U.S. played a match hindered by awful officiating. It's a shame when officials want the spotlight and make harsh, quick decisions that hurt the competitive nature of a game. Italy's player, Daniele De Rossi, elbowed his way to the showers, and deservingly so. I didn't understand the Mastroaeni red card, or the second yellow on Eddie Pope. The referee didn't warn players very often and almost seemed like any foul would result in a booking. But both teams played a competitive, well-fought match for about 80 minutes, then they were just tired. A great result for the U.S.

--Group E now takes on two critical matches on Thursday.

-Italy is in first place with four points.
-The Czechs and Ghanans both have three
-And the U.S. has one point

So, for the U.S. to make it, Italy must beat the Czech Republic and the U.S. must beat Ghana. Now, a tie between the Italians and Czechs means the U.S. has to thump Ghana, which I really don't see happening. So let's leave it at this: the U.S. needs to win and hope Italy beats the Czech Republic. Anything less than a Czech loss is disaster for the U.S. But they have to get things done in their own match, which could be very difficult.

--Tomorrow's matches look exciting. I expect Japan and Croatia to play a solid match, but I think the Croatians will win by a goal, say, 1-0. Brazil should beat Australia in a physical match. Watch the Aussies try to slow things down with physical, rough play, avoiding any Brazilian buildup and lengthy Brazilian possessions. That is hard though, so Brazil will probably win, I'll say, 2-0. The last match of the day is France and South Korea, and this could be problematic for an underachieving French team. The French can't seem to score, so South Korea might be able to surprise people. I'm gonna call it a 1-1 draw. Enjoy the games.

This is the new part of each blog entry, where I will include the status of teams -- Definitely in, definitely out, on the brink or close to being in.

(A) Germany is definitely in, and so is Ecuador. That means Poland and Costa Rica are out.
(B) England is definitely in. Sweden is close to being in, but Trinidad & Tobago are on the brink, hoping to bounce back. Paraguay is definitely out.
(C) Argentina and Holland are definitely in while the Ivory Coast and Servia & Montenegro are definitely out.
(D) Portugal is definitely in. Mexico is close to being in, but Angola is on the brink. Iran is definitely out.
(E) Italy is close to being in, but so are Ghana and the Czech Republic. The U.S. is on the brink.

So there you have it. This list will be longer after tomorrow.

La Copa Mundial: Day 7

I told you the second matches make everything more interesting. The elimination process continued today with three teams officially eliminated, and one more added to the brink.

--Ecuador showed that their intentions are pure in World Cup 2006 with a dominating 3-0 win over Costa Rica. Costa Rica, a side I thought would present a challenge to Ecuador and Poland, just didn't seem to really get anything going. But Ecuador, now sitting in first place in Group A based on goal differential, looked really good. On June 20, Germany and Ecuador match up for the deciding game in Group A. Winner gets first place and a crack (probably) at Sweden. Loser finishes second and plays a solid-looking English team. That said, a draw gives Ecuador first. And spells disaster for Germany.

--Trinidad & Tobago delivered yet another high-quality performance despite being big underdogs against England, faltering in the waning minutes 2-0. England's attack looked sharp and in tune after Wayne Rooney entered his first-ever World Cup match. Peter Crouch, despite scoring the go-ahead and winning goal, still looked out of his element and even bad at times. Michael Owen is out of shape and looks tired. But the midfield played well, and substitutes Aaron Lennon, Stewart Downing and Wayne Rooney all contributed greatly. England looked in form as the match wound down, and should be in good shape heading into the second round, having clinched a berth in the Round of 16.

--Sweden squeaked out a 1-0 win over Paraguay, eliminating the South Americans. In doing so, Sweden still looked troubled in the box, missing numerous great opportunities to finish chances. If they want to make any noise against England and in the next round, they have to start finishing. Otherwise, they will be in trouble right away, with a potential meeting with Germany looming in the shadows.

--To sum it all up after Day Seven:

-Germany, Ecuador and England are into the second round with one match left.
-Poland, Costa Rica and Paraguay are eliminated from the World Cup.
-With a draw against England, Sweden can take second place in Group B, whereas a win would clinch first.
-Trinidad & Tobago needs a 2-goal win and an English win over Sweden to qualify for the next round. Isn't it crazy talking about what Trinidad & Tobago can do to get into the next round? They have 1.1 million people, the smallest country competing in the World Cup, yet they've hung with England and tied Sweden. What a great story.

--Matchday Eight gives us brilliant contests in all three pairings. Argentina plays Serbia & Montenegro, Holland meets the Ivory Coast and Mexico challenges Angola in the afternoon cap.

--I expect Argentina to win 1-0 over Serbia & Montenegro. Argentina looked pretty solid in their opening win over the Ivory Coast, and they should be able to get a goal against Serbia & Montenegro's defense. The team abbreviated as S&M just doesn't have the firepower to expose a weak Argentine defense like, say, Holland.

--Holland should beat the Ivory Coast, but don't be surprised if they draw. Holland holds possession extremely well and plays with great control, but they will need all of their swagger against a good team like the Ivory Coast, who gave Argentina trouble in the second half of their opening match. So, Holland needs to involve Ruud Van Nistelrooy more up front and get the same performances from Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie that they got in their opening game to come away victorious. The Ivory Coast has to maintain their creativity and flair while cherishing their possessions, because the Dutch don't let their opponents enjoy too much time on the ball. This will be a great match.

--Mexico should beat Angola, but like the abovementioned match, don't be surprised with a draw. Angola didn't play that badly against Portugal. In fact, they looked pretty decent. Mexico is still riding high after their big win over Iran (haha, a "big" win over Iran), so they will have the edge coming in. They need to maintain their emotional high and play with purpose to trump a tough Angolan team.

Like I said before, the second day of matches in each group is absolutely critical. As you can see by three teams already being eliminated, it is vital to a team's chances of advancing to produce a good result in their second match.

This is sink-or-swim time for Serbia & Montenegro, the Ivory Coast and Angola. But also, with the Holland-Argentina and Mexico-Portugal clashes both coming on June 21, the three favorites want to win their matches and avoid nail-biting situations next week.

As always, enjoy the games and make sure you speak with me about the unfolding Cup!

La Copa Mundial: Day 6

The old saying is, "If you aren't going to try, then don't show up." Now, who said it? I don't know. Does that saying actually exist? Probably, but I really just made it up here for my purposes.

To the Ukraine: If you aren't going to try, then don't show up. The point is this: There are World Cups only every four years, and many players, if at all, only play in one. So why show up and just take a game off? It doesn't make sense. The same goes for the Americans. If you don't want to be there, drop out. Then again, both of those teams played two world-class sides in Spain and the Czech Republic, respectively. Am I rambling at this point? Yes.

--Despite winning 4-0, Spain didn't really impress me that much. It was more the Ukraine playing very poorly. Spain is still very good, don't get me wrong, I just don't think they are as good as the 4-0 result would suggest. I expect them to play collectively better when Raul and Cesc Fabregas are healthy, which is scary for Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The Ukraine still has a great shot of getting through to the second round, with two very winnable matches against the same two teams, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. Don't expect the Ukraine to repeat today's awful performance.

--The worst match in the entire World Cup in terms of pre-game significance and hype turned out to be a fantastic match, as Tunisia and Saudi Arabia drew 2-2. The real question is, can Angola-Iran match the intensity and excitement of this match? If not, that match could be the worst match we'll see. Anyway, I think both teams played very well. While I still consider Ukraine the favorites to take second in this group, these two teams proved they will not make it easy for them. I expect two great matches in the next 10 days: Ukraine-Saudi Arabia on the 19th, and then Ukraine-Tunisia on the 23rd.

--The World Cup is down to 31 teams basically, after Germany trumped Poland 1-0 with a last-gasp goal. Poland needs the following to happen to even have a shot to through:

Costa Rica beats Ecuador 2-0 or by two goals
Germany beats Ecuador 2-0 or by two goals
Poland beats Costa Rica 3-0 or by three goals

Now, Costa Rica could very well beat Ecuador, but by two goals? Doubtful. Germany will probably rest some players in their final group match, so a 2-0 result over an Ecuadorian team that will need at least a draw is very unlikely. And Poland hasn't scored yet, so who's to say they will come alive for three goals, if not more, against Costa Rica? In other words, while it is still very slightly possible to advance, Poland is pretty much done at World Cup 2006.

--Germany is through to the next round. If Ecuador beats Costa Rica tomorrow, the group is decided, making the final match Germany-Ecuador the deciding game for first place. How exciting. Oh, and by the way, Michael Ballack looked decent in his first match back from injury. Not great, but certainly not awful. He will gain more composure against Ecuador and should be back in top form for the second round.

--Tomorrow will be very fun to watch, with Ecuador and Costa Rica both needing a result. I expect them to draw, and mathematically eliminate Poland.

--England should beat Trinidad & Tobago easily, but after the Trini performance against Sweden, anything is possible. England has a better midfield than Sweden, so they will look to score with their poaching midfielders Beckham, Cole, Gerrard and Lampard. Also, watch Owen and his fitness. He looked a little slow in the Paraguay match, and might still be hampered by a healing broken foot. If Trinis draw this match, they have a shot to get through. But I say England wins 2-0.

--This is a gigantic match for Sweden against Paraguay. Sweden has to win, in my opinion, with their last match against England fit for a draw. Paraguay will be eliminated with a loss, but not with a draw. So they might do well with a tie, turning their attention to Trinidad & Tobago for the result they need. If Sweden's attack can figure out Paraguay's defense, it will be a long day for the Paraguayans. But unless Sweden improves on their finishing around the net, they will have trouble with a tough, defensive opponent like Paraguay. I think Sweden will win by a goal, 1-0 or 2-1.

Intrigue and excitement now creep into the World Cup picture as the second matches come around and carry more significance. You will see more urgency out of teams, particularly from the ones that played poorly the first go around. Anyway, the best few days are coming up, with matches through Saturday consisting of:

Sweden vs. Paraguay -- attacking football against structured, defensive style
Argentina vs. Serbia & Montenegro -- possession-intensive attacking against extremely tough defending
Holland vs. the Ivory Coast -- possession and attacking against flair and excitement
Czech Republic vs. Ghana -- Smooth attacking against confidence (this could be a major letdown game for the Czechs after beating the Americans.)
Italy vs. the United States -- Technical brilliance and patient attack versus urgency and aggressive attacking

Like I said a few days ago, the World Cup gets better every day. It doesn't die down like the NCAA Tournament or the NBA Playoffs. So expect great matches with increased intensity and stronger urgency. Enjoy!

La Copa Mundial: Day 5

When my dad was a youth league coach, he used to say that every match was really two separate yet related games: The first half and the second half. If you win one and lose one, you will tie. If you win one and draw one, or win both, you will be victorious. But if you win a half, then play terribly the other, you can give up enough goals to lose the match.

Today, Togo won the first half. They lost a man early in the second half to his second yellow card, which means they lost twice in the second half -- by score, and by overall confidence. The rest of the game South Korea dominated and won. Maybe my dad was right.

--France and Switzerland played to an eventful 0-0 draw. France looked a little shaky around the Swiss defense. They lacked the final touches for any goals, despite plenty of opportunities. The Swiss held it together in the back, looked pretty solid in the midfield and might have a shot to win the group at this point. I think South Korea will trouble France, and the Swiss should be able to beat Togo. That will give the Swiss the lead in the group, as I think France will draw South Korea. That means the final matches will be crucial in the group -- France vs. Togo and South Korea vs. Switzerland, with the French desperately needing points.

--Brazil played well, but Croatia outshined the returning champs, despite Brazil's 1-0 win. Ronaldinho was only somewhat effective in the midfield, and Kaka was the true star. He looked dazzling in his first World Cup start. Robinho played very well off the bench, making the starting slot in Brazil's next match against Australia up in the air. Ronaldo was walking for most of his time on the pitch, with his only chance coming after striking one shot just over the bar from outside the area. He looked lazy and out of shape, and Robinho looked sharp and hungry. So we'll see with that situation. Croatia looked so good that I think they can win their other two matches and make a run at winning the group. Brazil might be headed to nine points, which shouldn't surprise anyone as this match was the only one anyone considered a dangerous pairing for the Brazilians. But nonetheless, Brazil is in form and ready to repeat and Croatia looks dangerous.

--A few people have asked me what the United States' chances are at this point. Well, Group E looks like this:

Czech Republic 1-0-0 with three points and +3 goal differential
Italy 1-0-0 with three points and +2 goal differential
Ghana 0-1-0 with nothing and a -2 goal differential
USA 0-1-0 with no points and a -3 goal differential

The next match will probably put the U.S. on the brink, if not out of the Cup all together. With the Czech Republic and Ghana pairing off, I expect at least a draw for the Czechs. Assuming the two sides draw, then the U.S. still has hope. But they'd have to beat Italy. Good luck with that. Italy is a composed team with great World Cup experience and incredible skill. They are better than the Czechs. I think the U.S. winning against Italy would be a miracle. Bigger than the U.S. beating the Soviets in the Olympics. Yeah, I said it. It's that hard. So, the U.S. will be lucky to escape with a point, and then they'd need to beat Ghana by several goals, which I don't see happening; then the U.S. would hope the Czechs dismantle Italy, which also will not happen. In short, yes, the United States are done at World Cup 2006 after one match, thanks to goal differential and a very difficult group.

--Don't pay any attention to the FIFA World Rankings. They aren't really considered valuable to any soccer critics and analysts around the world. The favorites of this Cup, based on proven talent and great managing, are Brazil, Italy, Argentina, England and Germany, with Portugal, Holland and the Czech Republic as outside contenders. The following are the FIFA rankings of the aforementioned teams:

Brazil-1
Italy-13
Argentina-9
England-10
Germany-19
Holland-3
Portugal-7
Czech Republic-2

As you can see, the favorites are all highly rated, but I've listed the favorites in order of their expected finish. In other words, Italy, the second-highest rated favorite, is 11 spots below where they should be. Argentina and England are six and seven below, respectively. Plus, Nigeria is No. 11 and they aren't even in the Cup. Oh, and Denmark, the Nigerians' partner in possession of No. 11 aren't in Germany either. So the moral of the story is -- don't put too much faith in those rankings.

--Tomorrow's matches look interesting, with Spain and Ukraine topping my "Must See" list. The list doesn't really exist, but I will be up at 6:30 a.m. to see that match. Then I will go back to bed, skipping the Tunisia and Saudi Arabia game. If by skipping I mean watching it and staying awake. Haha. That match will decide who takes 3rd in Group H. I expect the Germany-Poland afternoon-cap match to be a good one. Poland needs three points and the Germans can lock up a spot in the next round with a win, or even a draw, honestly, with how even the other three teams in their group are. So I'll take a Spanish draw with the Ukraine, a Tunisian win over the Saudis and a German-Polish draw. Enjoy the games, and be sure to tell me your thoughts!

La Copa Mundial: Day 4

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you get hammered. The Czech Republic dominated and annihilated the United States. It was an embarrassing day to be an American soccer fan.

--Australia surprised everyone with three goals in eight minutes at the end of their match with Japan, winning 3-1. They are physical and resilient, but they will have trouble against more skilled teams like Brazil and Croatia. Japan looked pretty bad for about 30 minutes, the final eight of that half-hour being the three-goal explosion. Or should I say implosion on the part of the Japanese? Anyway, I fast-forwarded through parts of the match, mostly because these teams will not really be contenders unless Croatia can draw or beat Brazil.

--The Americans, as I said before, played horribly and the result reflected that. But give credit where credit is due, the Czechs played extremely well after all of the questions surrounding their side. They dominated the midfield, controlled possession and scored quality goals. They will be the only challenge to Italy in this group. As for the Americans, this match is hugely disappointing. It might break their backs after just one match. The true test is their match with Italy on Saturday. The Italians will play (probably) without Francesco Totti, but they are still a great team. If the U.S. loses to Italy, they are done. But they are tough guys, and they can fight back. So we'll see how they bounce back after the disastrous loss.

--Italy played the best first match of anyone in the Cup so far. Their attacking was very well organized, despite Ghana playing a decent match. Italy will pose a serious threat to the Czechs, making their match on June 22 a marked-off event. Ghana will be tough for the Czechs, and I don't think the Czechs can match their performance against the United States, but you never know. I didn't think the Czechs could beat the U.S., and look at me now. An idiot, plain and simple.

Tomorrow's matches will be fun to watch, but more importantly, they feature Brazil.

-- South Korea will look to demolish a tattered Togolese team. Togo's coach bolted from Germany after his salary issues weren't ironed out. Now Togo doesn't have a hired coach, using their assistant as the interim head manager. South Korea is pretty good, and I expect them to play well.

--France and Switzerland play in a key match in Group G. If one of these teams loses, they are in big trouble. South Korea is pretty much guaranteed three points in my opinion, putting pressure on the two favorites in the group to play well. I think this match may end in a draw.

--Brazil's campaign begins with a tough match against Croatia. It will be Brazil's attacking brilliance versus Croatia's stingy defense and organized midfield. I expect Brazil to score at least one or two goals, so the question becomes, can Croatia keep up with Brazil? My answer would be 'no.' But don't hold me to it.

It was a disappointing day for me as a big American National Team fan, but the Cup has been so great that my home country's struggles can't keep me down. I am also an avid England fan, so their being a favorite in the Cup makes the American loss a little more bearable. Anyway, tomorrow should be fun. See ya!

La Copa Mundial: Day 3

A great man once said, "Blame the Dutch." Who was he? That's not important. What's important is the Dutch performance that stole the spotlight of the World Cup this morning.

--The Dutch looked fantastic today, beating Serbia & Montenegro 1-0. Arjen Robben took his first chance to shine on the international stage and ran with it -- literally. Robben diced Serbia & Montenegro's defense several times, scoring the only goal of the match on a breakaway. The 21-year-old attacker tucked a neat finish in the left corner about 20 minutes in to give the Dutch the only goal they needed. Serbia & Montenegro kept within arms length, but really showed limited attacking ability, which was the scouting knock on them coming into the Cup. Oh, and it can't be good for your team if the abbreviation on the TV scoreboard is "S&M." That's never good. But it is funny, if you're 12 like me.

--Mexico played incredibly well at times to trump Iran's upset bid, winning 3-1. The match was pretty sloppy for about 65 minutes, but the Mexicans began their run with a bit of luck in the form of a colossal mistake by the Iranian goalkeeper and central defender. Mexico capitalized on the poor clearance, breaking the defensive line with a through ball and taking the 2-1 lead with a sweet finish. They scored a brilliant goal a few minutes later off a nice header. They looked strong in attack and organized in midfield, but their defense will need to improve if they want to make any kind of run. Plus, today was an emotional win for Oswaldo Sanchez, who unexpectedly lost his dad two days before they were supposed to travel together to Germany. Obviously the two were close, so the win was sweet for Sanchez and his teammates. Now let's see if the story makes them the emotional favorites in Germany for the next three weeks.

--Portugal looked good for a half, then tapered off and won with a minimal 1-0 tally. Angola didn't play well for the first five minutes, giving up the match's only goal. But for the next 85 minutes, Angola was arguably the better team. They didn't capitalize on a few scoring chances, and by the end of the match they were worn out. Portugal has to pick it up in their midfield if they want to achieve great things at this Cup. Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo must play better to complement Pauleta and Simao, who were both fantastic.

--Tomorrow is the big day for the USA. The Americans head into tomorrow's match eager to turn heads and prove the critics wrong. I think they will shock the Czechs with their speed and aggression, possibly scoring early in the match. There's no way of really knowing how healthy the Czechs really are, so we'll have to wait and see. Watch the wingers for Czech Republic pace the Czech attack, and keep your eyes on Donovan and Beasley for the US. This will be the best match tomorrow.

--Japan and Australia will be entertaining, but I expect the more experienced Japanese to win.

--The Italians play Ghana tomorrow in a great clash of styles. Ghana is a team filled with crafty players and a can-do attitude. But Italy is very strong, playing with great technical ability, intelligence and experience. The Italians will have their hands full for about 50 to 60 minutes, but they should wear out the Africans and win.

That's it for today, hope you guys are enjoying the World Cup and whatever insight I can provide for you. Feel free to add comments or questions if you have any. See you tomorrow!

La Copa Mundial: Day 2

Well the second day was just as good, if not better, than the first day at the World Cup in Germany. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. MST to see England and Paraguay kick off.

--England's defense looked really good against Paraguay. They were organized and strong in defense, and that made Paraguay really struggle down the stretch. But their attack was hurting, they didn't really seem together in Paraguay's defensive third, which is something they will have to work on in the next few matches. Joe Cole was brilliant for the English, dribbling through defenders several times and creating a few chances. Stewart Downing also did well off the bench. I liked Peter Crouch in the first 60 minutes or so, he had some good touches and was very aggressive. But he needs to learn to challenge for headers with his arms down, or he will be a lot less effective.

--Trinidad & Tobago shocked the world with a 0-0 draw with Sweden. The Swedish had countless opportunities, but the Trinis just held them off. I still think Sweden will be OK. I think they will beat Paraguay, a team that just doesn't have any spark to it. The Trinis will be run over by England, and their few days in the spotlight will end. But they did play well with 10 men for a half, and it was good game to watch.

--Ivory Coast was kind of disappointing, but Argentina looked great for several key parts of the match. They controlled the pace, tempo and possession of the match, and never seemed in doubt of winning. The Ivory Coast was unorganized and absent in the midfield, and that has to change if they want to even challenge Holland to stay in contention.

--The Ivory Coast-Argentina game was the worst broadcasting of any sport I've heard since Joe Buck and Tim McCarver last October. I don't need some roughneck dude from Brooklyn slurring his words and Americanizing the game for me. American soccer fans aren't stupid. We don't need everything to be compared to Shaq and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL has nothing to do with soccer, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. No more analogies please, and get these guys a pronunciation guide.

Tomorrow is another early day here in the Centennial State (Colorado, people, c'mon). First, we'll see Holland play Serbia & Montenegro. Holland is one of the most fluid attacking teams in the world, and Serbia & Montenegro is one of the best defensive teams around -- heck, they only allowed one goal in their 10-game qualifying stretch. Then Mexico will demolish Iran and Portugal will demolish Angola. It's worth getting up to see the first match, which will kick off at 9 a.m. EST. Great chess match. Enjoy!

La Copa Mundial: Day 1

Paul Gardner once said about soccer, "To asthete it is an art form, an athletic ballet. To the spiritually inclined, it is a religion.

Well, Opening Day at the World Cup in Germany truly is the soccer sabbath day. The first day of a month-long competition that rocks the world with grace, unity and pride. What a day for sports. What a day for the world. What a day for me.

Selfishly speaking, the first day was great. I got to see a high-scoring match and an upset. What could be better? Perhaps a day when England, Argentina, Sweden and the Ivory Coast all play. And yes, I mean tomorrow. Unlike March Madness or the NBA Playoffs when the excitement dies down after the first few rounds, the World Cup gets better with each passing day.

--Germany's attacking style looked good. But, as you heard Marcelo Balboa say 37 times during the course of the match, the offside trap doesn't work against quick strikers. Wanchope is good and quick, and Ecuador has some quick guys up front as well. Trouble might be brewing for the Germans against a solid defense that shuts them down, and a quick offense that gets behind their defenders.

Costa Rica played poorly, despite scoring twice. They are usually a free-flowing, fun team to watch (as is every Latin American team, really). Today, they just didn't have it. Germany was bigger, tougher and really played like a home team behind their fans.

With Ballack, Germany won't be that much better on the attack than they were today (today's performance was as good as it gets attacking), but they will have a bit more of an anchored midfield. The leadership and strength Ballack brings to his team might make them a little stronger on defense. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann will work with his defense on avoiding that offside trap in the next two games, so don't expect the Germans to concede two goals again in the group stage.

--Boy, can that ball knuckle or what? The ball was just flying everywhere. I can't wait to see more long tries like the ones from Lahm and Frings today.

--Anyway, Poland just looked unorganized and a little out of it. They didn't seem to really care about losing. Ecuador played with some pizzazz and theirs resembled the Opening Day performance of Senegal just four years ago.

--Tomorrow, England and Paraguay kick off at 7 a.m. I will be up and ready. The English should win. Watch Frank Lampard work in the midfield and Peter Crouch in his first big game up front. Then we'll see Trinidad & Tobago get handled by Sweden, and then Argentina will play the Ivory Coast. My upset alert is for the Argentina-Ivory Coast game. The Coast looks good, and Argentina doesn't have a great defense.

See you tomorrow.

The NBA: It's Fantastic!

Does anyone remember when Shaq was on "Quite Frankly"? Did anyone ever think I would start an entry with a reference to "Quite Frankly"?

I hope not. I know I didn't. Terrible show. Anyway, Shaq dissed Erick Dampier, saying something along the lines of Dampier playing in the WNBA. It was funny. But also ironic, because apparently this will be the all-telling, end-all-be-all WNBA vs. NBA World Championship: The Final Battle.

Now that the sports media has finally been forced to end their love affair with Detroit, we can start talking about the NBA Playoffs. Let's face it: If the Heat win the Finals, Dwayne Wade wins the MVP; if the Mavs win, Dirk Nowitzki gets it. Simple as that.

I like the matchup problems both teams will have to deal with in the Finals: Dirk vs. Antoine Walker, Udonis Haslem and James Posey. Shaq vs. Dampier and Desagna Diop. Wade vs. Jason Terry, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse. Who will guard the agile small forwards Howard and Stackhouse if Walker is in?

Look, Dwayne Wade isn't going to shoot 62% against the Mavs. He will take the same amount of shots, maybe even more per game, but still score around 27 points a game. There's nothing wrong with that, but he will be taking shots away from his supporting cast. And if Walker, Posey, Payton and Williams aren't hitting from outside, the lane will close up pretty quickly on Wade, especially with Shaq and Haslem camping out on the blocks. But then again, Wade has just made the impossible possible during these playoffs.

The key to this series is shutting down the opponent's supporting cast. Whether it's Dallas cutting off Williams, Walker, Haslem, Payton and Posey, or Miami shutting down Harris, Howard and Stackhouse; either way, whoever does it, wins.

I think Miami wins the series in seven games. They will cut off the inside game, forcing Dirk to shoot more jumpers while preventing Howard and company from getting in the lane. I don't think Dallas can create in the paint against a solid inside team like Miami -- a team with more than one interior defender, unlike the Spurs or the Suns.

But don't get me wrong, Dallas will make this a great Finals. They switched tempos between Memphis and San Antonio, and then again between San Antonio and Phoenix. They can play any style of ball.

So can the Heat. They beat the Bulls mixing up power with precision, the Nets with a slower paced game and the Pistons with a smart game. They will probably try to maximize possessions against a great offensive team like Dallas. They can slow it down when they want.

Now remember, I picked Seattle in the Super Bowl, Houston in the World Series last year and "Grounded for Life" to be the next great American sitcom, so don't take this for some accurate predictor of winners. I just like Miami in seven.

Match-by-Match Predictions: Oh Yeah!

As the Kool Aid Man once said, "Oh yeah!"

Every single match, winners, losers and everything in between. Goals, too. Go!

June 9
Germany 2, Costa Rica 1
Poland 2, Ecuador 0

June 10
England 1, Paraguay 0
Sweden 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Argentina 3, Ivory Coast 0

June 11
Holland 1, Serbia & Montenegro 1
Mexico 2, Iran 0
Portugal 4, Angola 1

June 12
United States 1, Czech Republic 1
Italy 2, Ghana 0
Japan 2, Australia 1

June 13
Brazil 3, Croatia 1
South Korea 2, Togo 0
France 0, Switzerland 0

June 14
Germany 1, Poland 0
Spain 1, Ukraine 1
Tunisia 2, Saudi Arabia 1

June 15
Costa Rica 2, Ecuador 1
England 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Sweden 1, Paraguay 1

June 16
Argentina 2, Serbia & Montenegro 0
Holland 2, Ivory Coast 1
Mexico 2, Angola 0

June 17
Portugal 3, Iran 0
Ghana 1, Czech Republic 0
Italy 0, United States 0

June 18
Japan 1, Croatia 1
Brazil 3, Australia 1
France 1, South Korea 1

June 19
Switzerland 1, Togo 1 (Oh no!)
Ukraine 3, Saudi Arabia 0
Spain 4, Tunisia 0

June 20
Poland 0, Costa Rica 0
Germany 3, Ecuador 0
Paraguay 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0
England 1, Sweden 1

June 21
Serbia & Montenegro 1, Ivory Coast 0
Argentina 1, Holland 0
Angola 2, Iran 2
Portugal 1, Mexico 1

June 22
Italy 0, Czech Republic 0
United States 2, Ghana 1
Croatia 1, Australia 1
Brazil 3, Japan 1

June 23
Switzerland 1, South Korea 1
France 3, Togo 0
Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0
Ukraine 3, Tunisia 1

Second Round and Beyond
Germany 2, Sweden 1
Argentina 2, Mexico 0
England 2, Poland 0
Holland 1, Portugal 1 (in penalties)
Italy 1, Japan 0
Ukraine 1, France 0 (Upset City!)
Brazil 3, United States 2 (in extra time)
Spain 2, South Korea 1

Quarterfinals
Argentina 1, Germany 1 (in penalties)
England 2, Holland 1
Italy 2, Ukraine 0
Brazil 3, Spain 1

Semifinals
Italy 0, Argentina 0 (in penalties)
Brazil 1, England 0

Consolation
Argentina 2, England 1

Finals
Brazil 2, Italy 1

There you go. Enjoy!

World Cup Waffling

As is the case before every major tournament or competition, I will desperately try to pin the tail on the donkey. Or, as some might say, make predictions about the World Cup.

Group A
Host nation Germany, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Poland
-No way is Germany going to lose to any of these teams. Not with their fans in 90 percent of the seats and their fast cars parked outside. But forget all the talk about precision, beer and techno, let me explain some things. First of all, this group is kind of a joke. The Germans are clearly the best team in this group, with Michael Ballack and Miroslav "Come-A-Little-Bit" Klose(r) leading the way. The Germans take the top spot in the group, with the Polish fighting their way into second.

Group B
England, Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago
-The English will win this group, but not easily. I still think they are pretty darn good, with or without Wayne Rooney. They have great defenders, midfielders and goalkeeping, and with Michael Owen edging toward full fitness, they might be in better shape than people think. I like Sweden taking second, if only because they barely edge out Paraguay for "Hottest Women." England wins with seven points and Sweden gets in with five.

Group C
Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast
-Argentina wins this group simply because they are the most likely challenger to Brazil for the whole thing. Oh, and they don't play Holland until the 21st, meaning they'll have beaten Ivory Coast and squeaked by Serbia & Montenegro already. Holland shouldn't have trouble getting at least four points out of their games against Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro. If they don't, they are in major trouble. Argentina beats Holland to win all three matches and the group. And Holland sneaks in with four points.

Group D
Portugal, Mexico, Iran and Angola
-Easily the worst group in the Cup, Portugal will win their first two matches against Iran and Angola, and then casually draw Mexico. That's how the Portuguese do it. Relaxed and kind of easily. Mexico should beat the other two teams as well. Iran and Angola should duke it out for that coveted third place spot. Portugal wins on goal differential, but Mexico gets through as well.

Group E
Here's the Jeff Greer Group of Holy Crap, These Teams Are All Good
Italy, United States, Czech Republic and Ghana
-Remember the '96 Summer Olympics? Thought you might. Remember who won the Under-21 gold medal in men's soccer? Didn't think you would. It was Ghana. Ten years later, they are ready to go on a new international stage. I think they will shock the Czechs. The USA beats Ghana and draws the other two. Italy beats Ghana and draws the other two. Ghana wins one, loses two. And the Czechs draw two and lose one. Ho hum. The business of predictions is ruthless. Italy wins the group on goal differential, and the USA hustles into second.

Group F
Here's the Jeff Greer Group of Could It Get Any Easier for Brazil?
Brazil, Japan, Croatia and Australia
-Remember the '98 Cup, when Brazil was in a group with Scotland, Morocco and Norway? It was so easy for them. They will win all three matches in this group. The other three teams will actually make a decent battle for second. I think Japan has the edge -- heck, they made it to the semifinals four years ago. The experience is there. Brazil wins the group easily, and Japan squeaks into second.

Group G
France, South Korea, Togo and Switzerland
-I don't know what to expect out of France. If Zidane returns to form and Thierry Henry actually scores in this World Cup, the glass of French Haterade I have on my desk might spill. Otherwise, I think they are overrated. They got an easy group, so they should go through with two lackluster draws and a win over Togo. France wins the group and South Korea edges out the Swiss, who chose to remain neutral and tie every game.

Group H
The Jeff Greer Group of Excuse Me, I Have to Go Lie Down until This is Over
Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia
-There is no truth to the rumor that this group will have nap-time for 20 minutes of each game. Spain will coast through this group, and the Ukraine should get second.

OK, we have all the winners and runners-up. Tune in to my next post, where I will pick winners in every single Cup match, and then the elimination rounds and beyond. Huzzah!