Adios bandwagon US soccer fans. I'm talking to you, Bill Clinton.
South Korea v Uruguay
Lee Chung-Yong really had me thinking the Koreans could pull this one out when he tallied the tying goal in the pouring rain in the 68th minutes, but Luis Suarez completed the double to push the South American side forward in the quarterfinals. Lee Dong Gook nearly tied things up to force extra time, but was denied by the Uruguay keeper, and ended the Asian sides dreams.
US v Ghana
A huge bottle of Chimay and 5 bottles of Firestone California Pale Ale between myself and my boss, along with a trip to the new OC Hamburger Habit, wasn't enough to quell the pain inside thanks to the US loss to Ghana this weekend. That Firestone CPA is pretty damn tasty, though. Let me just start by saying I'm a huge Jonathan Bornstein fan. Okay, that being said: What the hell is wrong with our defense? Pathetic. As usual, we played an uninspired first 45, letting the Black Stars stike the net just 5 minutes in. Our defenders were running with our backs to the African striker, which allowed him to waltz in. Challenge the man with the ball, guys. You looked like me trying to play defense in my roller hockey league because I'm not good skating backwards. Awful. We did well to earn a PK that Landon Donovan blasted off the wood work and in to draw even in the second half. It was a proud moment, and a moment when you felt we had this one in the bank. Again, though, we pushed and efforted with little to show for it. Ghana played some solid defense, and we were forced to extra time. Just 3 minutes in, and it was over. Ghana pushed forward, Carlos Bocanegra tried to bump and push the striker, and then stopped running and gave up when he couldn't shake him. That resulted in an easy goal passed Tim Howard, and a lead for Ghana with time left. In reality, the US never really put together very much over the remainder of the extra session. Even when we had a free kick just outside the box, our tired legs showed, and the lackluster effort led to getting the boot from Ghana yet again. The dream is over, US fans. Back to celebrating the MLS.
Germany v England
They say there are two teams Irishmen root for: Ireland and anyone playing England. Thus, my half German wife and my Irish self were pulling for a Rhineland blowout. We got it. England, broken by a horrible call that denied them a goal, got routed 4-1 in the round of 16 match. The Lobsterbacks fell back 2-nil and then had a stike go off the crossbar and down into the goal area by at least a yard, only to have the official say it was a no goal. That opened the flood gates, and Germany was able to capitalize on the turn of events. Goals three and four Germany seemed to be easily scored against a deflated British side, and our fiercest rivals were bounced at the same level as us. Be proud, US.
Argentina v Mexico
We kind of all new the Blue & White would take this one easily, but we pulled for Mexico anyway. It would have been nice if the opening goal for Diego Maridona's side would have gone off without a hitch. Argentina scored their first goal of a 3-1 win with a sequence featuring their forward offside by about 5 feet. It was pathetic, and the Mexican players surrounded the ref after they flashed the replay in the stadium. Argentina scored their second goal easily, after Mexico's defender simply coughed up the ball just outside his own box, basically handing it to the Argentina striker. It was awful, and outside of my boy (and now Andrew's boy) Javier Hernandez Balcazar's stunner, it was a laugher in Soccer City for the North Americans.
Let's check our work:
The winners I picked: US, Germany, Uruguay, and Argentina.
The winners that won: Ghana, Germany, Uruguay, and Argentina. 3 out of 4 ain't bad.
Let the World Cup roll on.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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