World Cup Weekend

I saw 3 of the 4 games played over this weekend, which constituted half the matches in the Sweet 16.

Germany 2 Sweden 0: This is the game I didn't see but I know you don't want to have to play Germany in this tournament. The home team I think has always advanced to the knockout round. And with the officiating being so poor, I can't imagine that Germany doesn't get at least a few favorable breaks in every game. I think favorable officiating helped Korea reach the quarters (or even the semis) in 2002.

Argentina 2 Mexico 1: This game was very exciting. Both teams scored very early then spent the rest of the time really getting after it. It was decided in overtime, but they don't use sudden death, they just play 30 extra minutes. Argentina scored in the 10th minute of OT so Mexico was frantically trying to catch up for the last 20 minutes. The Mexicans have an reputation internationally as floppers, but I didn't notice them doing it more than any of the other teams I've seen. The most shocking thing I heard was that Mexican fans don't like that fact that 2 (maybe more) players on the team were not born in Mexico and are naturalized citizens. One is Brazilian born and married a Mexican woman. Ironic.

England 1 Ecuador 0: The announcers spent the whole game trashing David Beckham. Even though he scored the only goal of the game on a free kick by bending it like Beckham. Then he threw up on the field. His free kick was awesome though, right over the wall, snuck in right between the goalie's hands and the post. The announcers' point was that he is diminished as a player right now and the only thing he really contributes is free kicks and corner kicks. Ecuador almost tied the game but Ashley Cole (the black guy married to the hot white pop singer) slid in front of the shot, it ticked off his knee and hit the crossbar. Without that it almost certainly would have been a goal.

Portugal 1 Netherlands 0: This game was nuts. It set a record for most yellow cards and had 4 ejections. There were actually a couple incidents of pushing and shoving between the teams. The referee was constantly blowing his whistle and handing out cards, it was quite crazy. The quality of play was pretty good and there were a lot of good chances by both teams that were thwarted by goalie saves or the post. Definitely the most entertaining game of the World Cup that I've seen so far, even if some did consider it marred by the referee.