Well... more from the Copa.

I feel a bit negligent in not posting my comments about the somewhat dreary USA-Korea affair early yesterday morning. To say the least, I expected more out of our lads, but a point is a point is a point, and you get it any way you can at World Cup, and four after two games is better, or at least as good as, anyone could have reasonably expected.

Korea is ateam that comes at you with astounding energy. They are quick, aggressives, indefatigable. Fortunately, they aren't all that skilled, as was displayed by their gross negligence at finishing chances, otherwise the USA is reeling from a decisive defeat. But they earned that point, as Friedel stepped up to stop a penalty kick, and we all remembered why we like Mathis in our starting 11.

But, honestly, my ranting has no steam, as I have found an article online that says what I want to say, better than I could say it: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/davies/020610.html.

Then there is France, defending Cup champs, defending European champs, being summarily dismissed by the well-organized Danes (and isn't it funny how National teams follow regional sterotypes: The Scandanavians are well-organized, the Africans are athletic but undisciplined, the Japans/Koreans are tirelless workers -- this deserves its own column). Thats 0-3 for Les Bleus, 3 against, and 0, zero, NIL for. The most shocking aspect of their entire "run" through group A was their total goal tally: nothing. This from what was considered a potent attack. Perhaps this is in indication of just how good a player Zidane is, and how the evil bitch of bad luck can turn on you in a moment. Zidane was injured in the last pre-tournament "friendly" against Korea, a mere week before they were to start play He was unable to go against Senegal and Uruguay (in a strange bit of appropriate-ness, the only 0-0 game so far, pitting the punchless French against the dreary thuggery of Uruguay. Uruguay did redeem themselves, to a degree, with a scintillating second half comeback to draw Senegal 3-3 after a 3-0 haltime defecit, but I am still more than happy to see them packing for home), then a clearly hobbled effort against Denmark. As well as that, The French found new ways to not score, with a shot off the UNDERSIDE of the crossbar, but not in, against Denmark only adding to their numerous other woodwork shots in all three games.

This World Cup is a tough thing to win. The whole World plays this silly game, and most of it is quite good