More World Cup Notes

After another weekend of the World Cup, more thoughts....

-Never has hope risen so much for any team on less production than it did this weekend. With the tie with Italy this weekend (which was still truly stunning), the US still hasn't scored a goal this world cup (3-0 Czechs over US, and 1-1 Italy-US, with the US goal being an own-goal). Despite the poor performance thus far, the US can advance with a win over Ghana and an Italian victory over the Czechs. Theoretically, the US could advance to the second round having been out-scored 4-2, with only one goal scored. THIS is why the World Cup is an adventure...

-Speaking of the US-Italy game, here's hoping the Italians treat players who score own-goals better than Colombia did in 1994. It's still a shame that some fans are so insane that they will kill players for costing their teams a game. Yes, the world cup is fascinating, absorbing, and wonderful, and yes, things can get intense, but at the end of the day, it's still a game.

-Nothing like watching an African team pick apart a European team. In this case, Ghana over the Czechs. Coming into the cup, the Czechs were number two in the world rankings (for whatever those are worth), while Ghana was 48. It was a joy seeing the Czechs get picked apart, and seeing a team in Ghana whose fans rooted for their team with exemplary class and joy. Here's hoping for many more African victories in the World Cup, both this year and in world cups to come.

-While I write this, the Ukraine-Saudi Arabia game is on, and while many non-Ukranian European fans and most American fans would poo-poo the game, it's been a wonderful game to watch through the first half. One of the great things about the world cup is, anybody can make it in. Sure, Brazil's been in every world cup, and England, France, Germany, Italy, and others are regulars, but the divisions of the world by region is brilliant, and gives so many teams opportunities. Indeed, of the four African nations in the world cup this year, three have never even been, and Ecuador, in its second World Cup ever, is going on to the second round already after 2 games. ONe more reason this is a captivating event.

-Finally, suffice to say, Brazilian fans have been less than impressed with their team's performance, and the blame is falling squarely on Ronaldo and on the coach that refuses to bench him. Sure, Ronaldo scored 8 goals in 7 games in 2002, but this is 2006, and it's clear that Ronaldo has begun his "Maradona: the Fat Years" phase before even retiring. Here's hoping the coach either realizes how great the 21-year-old phenom Robinho is, or that Ronaldo gets his act together in a hurry.