World Cup Roundup Yisithupa.

I think I'm finally going to have to give some love to the hated four letter. I found out yesterday that Sprint sturck a deal with ESPN Mobile TV, and I am able to watch every World Cup game from my cell phone. Just today, I enjoyed Mexico/Uruguay and Argentina/Greece from my cellie while I should have been working, and I won't have to miss a second of tomorrow's huge US/Algeria tilt. Thank you ESPN.

France v South Africa

This was a French team in shambles throughout this tournamen, and it showed. After 26 minutes a red card was flashed and the frogs were a man down to the hosts. South Africa took advantage to earn a 2-1 win and send the tri colored country back to West Europe humbled. While the win may not have helped the hosts escape elimination, it gave them a 1-1-1 showing, which isn't that bad.

Mexico v Uruguay

With the draw they are going to get, Mexico is going to wish they would have tried a little harder to earn that group win. They played flat sloppy with the ball, allowing Uruguay to capitalize in a 1-nil win on a header from Luis Suarez after a stellar cross. Mexico never really rallied, and advanced even with the loss. However, going up against Maradona and Argentina in the first game of the round of 16 is not what they were interested in. So much for the rumors that these teams would draw on purpose.

Argentina v Greece

Finally the Greeks are eliminated. The Argentines walk off the pitch with a fun 2-nil win to win their group and move on. Really, it was the Bipolar defense from the Greeks that sealed their fate. Sometimes they were stealing the ball from Messi with the greatest of ease, and other times it seemed as though they were confused as all get out. It was a corner that created a huge mess in front of the Greece goal that allowed Demichelis to put the ball in after 77 minutes. Gorgeous George Samaras, of Celtic fame around this blog, just couldn't carry the Greeks on his back. Man, Argentina is hot heading to the round of 16.

South Korea v Nigeria

I feel like some people thought I was nuts when I picked the Koreans to advance out of this group. A 2-2 draw with Nigeria secured the surprise Asian squad a trip to the round of 16. Jung-Soo and Chu-Young turned the game around after Nigeria started off with the lead, but the African side were able to find the equalizer later on. Another crushing defeat for the host continent, but a stellar move for Asia!

So, let's check our work so far.

Group A

LSF Predictions: France & Mexico
Reality: Uruguay & Mexico

Note that in my prediction I said that if Uruguay can beat Mexico they would advance. So, in all honesty, I can say that I was right. Right? So glad France is gone.

Group B

LSF Predictions: Argentina & S Korea
Reality: Argentina & S Korea

FACE! Bingo on this one. I pointed out that Greece couldn't pull it off because of their nation's overall problems and Nigeria was a team in transition. South Korea proved me right!

Round of 16 Matchups:

Uruguay v South Korea

As much as I want to ride South Korea out here, but after getting 7 points in their three games, I think the South American squad is going to get my nod here.

Argentina v Mexico

Man, this is going to be THE match. I can't see any way I'll miss this game. You have to support Mexico, but Maradona's boys won all of their group stage games, and Mexico couldn't muster much in two of theirs. Argentina marches on, and 3/4 of Orange County has their hearts broken.

Tomorrow, Group C and Group D will be decided. Slovenia meets (and hopefuly beats) England while the US tries to take it to Algeria to get into the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Australia and Serbia throw down while Ghana and Germany close things out. While we've all studied the various Group C scenarios intently, Group D is thrilling too. Currently, Ghana leads with 4 points, Germany and Serbia have 3 a piece, and the Aussies have 1. This just means that the Ghana/Germany game is going to be completely out of control. 

Keep in mind that #1 from Group C plays #2 in Group D and vice versa. So, if we can manage to finish second in our group, we'd be looking at the winner of Group D, which would either be Germany, Ghana, or Serbia at this point. Tomorrow is going to answer a lot of questions.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē