I 6/15 02:30 GERMANY v PARAGUAY
Sogwipo

J 6/15 07:30 DENMARK v ENGLAND
Niigata

K 6/16 02:30 SWEDEN v SENEGAL
Oita

L 6/16 07:30 SPAIN v IRELAND
Suwon

M 6/17 02:30 MEXICO v UNITED STATES
Chonju

N 6/17 07:30 BRAZIL v BELGIUM
Kobe

O 6/18 02:30 JAPAN v TURKEY
Miyaki

P 6/18 07:30 SOUTH KOREA v ITALY
Taejon

All times listed are Eastern

it is the Sweetest 16, and we are down to the single-elimination portion of World Cup 2002.

Here are my power rankings:
1) Brazil: 3-0 first round, shakey defense may or may not become a problem
2) Germany: 2-0-1, looking capable of dismantling anyone
3) Spain: 3-0, very little trouble in not-so-tough group
4) Sweden: 1-0-2, won the group of death... over Argentina... what else to say?
5) Denmark: 1-0-2, ousted France, playing very positive football
6) Mexico: 2-0-1: they seem to be playing with a lot of confidence
7) England: 1-0-2; haven't exactly looked like world beaters, but there here out of group of death
8) Japan: 2-0-1: not the toughest group, but this is a solid side
9) Korea: 2-0-1: I still doubt their skill level, but their energy is tremendous
10) Ireland: 1-0-2: playing with heart and passion
11) Belgium: 1-0-2: Wilmots is a star, playing solid -- but not great...a tough team to beat
12) Italy: 1-1-1: The slow starters a fortunate to get through... seem to be "playing possum."
13) Senegal: 1-0-2: played splendid first 2.5 games, exposed in 2nd half vs. Uruguay and nearly blew it
14) Turkey: 1-1-1: through on a tiebreaker, this is still a dangerous side
15) Paraguay: 1-1-1: in almost by default, or so it seems... can play great attacking ball
16) USA: 1-1-1: BEEP BEEP BEEP... that's the sound of the USA backing in...but they're HERE!

Some notes:
Of all the teams, I expect Italy to climb the most. They could be, and probably should be, near or at the top of this list. Like Argentina and France, they were stymied by lackluster play. Unlike Argentina or France, they managed to squeak through.

My favorite to win it all at this point is definitely Brazil, despite the fact they don't seem to tale playing defense all that seriously. The best way to put it is if you were to find yourself down 2-0 to Germany or England, I would say it is almost impossible to come back. Down 2-0 to Brazil, the door is still open.

On the subject of Brazil, it is funny that so many people counted them and Germany out... particularly Germany. Of course, they had cause to, but it just seems like when the Cup rolls around, they can just step it up.

Before the tournament, I posted a long-winded prediction. It's time to make the changes for the picks I got wrong, my original pick is listed first, followed by changes and comments:

1st E vs. 2nd B
Match I: Germany beats Paraguay
got this one right!



1st A vs. 2nd F
Match J: England beats France (whew� what a game!)
Well, England will face a tough test from Denmark, but I have to see them through


1st F vs. 2nd A
Match K: Argentine beats Denmark
Hmmm, this became Sweden vs Senegal, and Sweden should roll.


1st B vs. 2nd E
Match L: Cameroon beats Spain (don�t underestimate African sides� Spain always chokes)
oops! I understestimated the Irish... but I don't seem them getting by Spain.


1st G vs. 2nd D
Match M: USA beats Mexico (I�d love to see this one� call me a hopeless dreamer)
Well, this one Does happen!!! Woo-Hoo. Should I stick with the USA? Not if they don't step up and start playing much better. Mexico just looked Solid in thier group. Damn, should I go with my heart or with my head?

1st C vs. 2nd H
Match N: Brazil beats Belgium
you bet they do!


1st H vs. 2nd C
Match O: Turkey beats Japan (Turkey is surprise team of tournament)
I'm going to stick with this pick. I don't know why... call me crazy

1st D vs. 2nd G
Match P: Italy beats Portugal (unless Figo gets rejuvanated)
...except its Korea going through. I just think Italy will be too much for the incredibly energetic Koreans

Quarterfinals
same deal, my original pick first, with changes and comments:

J vs N
England beats Brazil (I told you I had a hunch)
HA!!!! Not any more. Brazil all the way.


I vs M
Germany beats USA (what I�ve give for the opposite result)
either it's Our Boys or Mexico... whatever the case, Germany wins


L vs P
Italy beats Cameroon (good run for the Lions)
But it'll be Spain vs. Italy. Wow, what a matchup this could be. I think Spain's time has come.

K vs O
Argentina beats Turkey
Oh boy!. Sweden takes to spot, and beats Turkey.

Semifinals


Argentina beats England (this would be a titanic showdown!)
NOPE! it's Brazil over Sweden (the two met in the semi's in '94)


Italy beats Germany
Germany will beat Spain in a great showdown


Final
Argentina (don�t cry for me!)
BRAZIL!!!!

Well, much to Greg's chagrin (due to my yelling at the TV and waking him up this morning) the USA gt blasted by Poland. Rather than carry on about how annoying and frustrating the game was, you can read about it here and here.

There is very little the US can take away from this game. Their defense was exposed, again, despite the best efforts of Eddie Pope, who has manned the middle effectively all three games, and outside backs Tony Sanneh and Frankie Hedjuk. Hedjuk is an all-energy guy, who has stood in and made solid plays, and Sanneh has been very effective at starting and contributing to the attack. Unfortunately, Jeff Agoos has been made to look silly, which is too bad for the "former" American defensive stalwart, who has contributed so much to the US cause before this trounament. I say "former" because I will be shocked if he is in the lineup for the next game, as he was pulled out of this one in the first half in favor of midfielder Damarcus Beasely as the US switched to a 3-5-2 attacking formation to make up the 20goal deficeit.

And yes, I do say "next game" for the US. As I have said before in my Copa ramblings, it is often better to be lucky than good, as Korea defeated Portugal 1-0. And to see how close a short-handed Portugal squad came to the equalizer in the final minutes, I can't shake the feeling the US doesn't "deserve" the chance to continue.

That is folly, of course. This is the World Cup, and you take what you can get. France and Argentina would gladly take our position, and even mighty Italy needed some fortune to advance. Even though they earned a draw against Mexico yesterday -- thanks to a late goal by a substitute -- they still needed Ecudor to beat Croatia, which they did.

You can look at the positives, and see that the US is advancing because they did what Poland and Portugal Couldn't, and that is get a point out of host Korea, in their 1-1 draw Monday morning. On the othe hand, after a miraculous, splendid first 38 minutes against Portugal, wherein they marched to a 3-0 lead, they have been largely outplayed. The first half against Korea wasn't so bad, as even though they weren't in control of the play most of the time, they still generated chances and even got the go-ahead goal from Mathis -- but the second half of both games were brutal.

After Poland jumped out 2-0 five minutes in, the USA largely controlled play, as the Poland defense packed it in -- which by circumstance effecivley eliminated the US speed advantage -- and played counterattack. The USA still couldn't really generate solid chances; Poland controlled the air with their large defenders -- I don't think the US won a header in the Poland penalty area all game -- and the US attack seemed to press it with too many long shots, most of which sailed harmlessly over the cross-bar.

But, whether we "deserve" it or not, we live to play another day. Next up is Mexico, as the "Sweetest 16" single elimination starts. This could be/should be a great game against our regional rivals, and is emminently winnable, provided we find our form and play to our capabilities. Sunday night at 11:25, on ESPN. Hopefully it will be a classic.

I'm going to post my "sweetest 16" comments a little later.

Sweden ousts Argentina!!!!

I'm not sure what happenned to Argentina, but they just seemed... lackluster. Upsets happen, but Argentina AND France both being knocked out is quite shocking. Add to that the distinct possibility that Ital may also be knocked out as well, and this could be the most topsy-turvy, wide open tournament ever.

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

I'm back home and I haven't climbed Mt Shasta. Tyler and I called it on account of bad weather -- high winds, no one was summitting, and their tents were getting blown to shreds. We made the sound decision that we could fly back home for free, and fly down next weekend, or the weekend after, for free, so why wait around a hope the weather clears.

The only problem is, I had to spend the whole trip back feeling like a dumbass...

The good news is, I get to watch the football match tonight, USA vs. Korea, at 11:30.