World Cup Update (Non-BB - du-uh)

[Limey]

As no one is talking baseball (or even politics) this morning...

Group A has now concluded its second round of matches (of three).  Germany handed Poland it's second defeat yesterday in a match that was totally bereft of skill until Poland had a player dismissed and Germany grabbed the Pole by the horns.  They rampaged for about 10 minutes, scoring a late, but nonetheless deserved goal.

Today, surprise team Ecuador put up its second impressive performance, dispatching plucky Costa Rica 3-0.

This puts both Poland and Costa Rica out, with one match to play.  All that's left to decide in this group is the winner and runner-up placings, which will be sorted out when Germany and Ecuador square off next Tuesday.  Currently, Ecuador sit atop the group by virtue of their superior goal difference (scored minus conceeded) over Germany.

The remaining action today sees Group B's second round of games.  Sweden - unimpressive in their scorelessly tied first match against Trinidad & Tobago - play the woeful Paraguay.  This is preceded at 11am by England - unimpressive in their crawfished win over Paraguay - against the surprisingly resilient Trinidad and Tobago.

An England win assures them of progress into the Round of 16 (to face either Germany or Ecuador), but otherwise Group B is wide open.

[Tralfaz]

Will we see Wayne Rooney today?

[No? in Austin]

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Today, surprise team Ecuador put up its second impressive performance, dispatching plucky Costa Rica 3-0.

Valencia, Delgado and Tenerio are very impressive players.  Valencia looks like he's going to be a world-class mid-fielder when all is said and done.

[Guinness]

but will apparently not start... The Link

[Limey]

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Will we see Wayne Rooney today?

Man, I hope not.  T&T are this group's minnows, so England should beat them with or without Rooney.  I'd like to see him sit this one out so that he can continue healing until the Ro16 (no need to play him against Sweden next week if England have wrapped up a place in the next round).

Also, T&T, in addition to having octopus impersonator and wonderfully monickered Shaka Hislop in goal, are a tough tackling side.  It's a big risk to play Rooney as a relapse in his foot injury will rule him out for the rest of the tournament.  England coach Sven-Groan Eriksson seems hell-bent on brain-fucking this thing, so expect to see Rooney at some point.

I'm so wracked with anxiety at this point, that I'm really hoping to see Crouch's ridiculous robot celebration dance.

[Tralfaz]

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Today, surprise team Ecuador put up its second impressive performance, dispatching plucky Costa Rica 3-0.

Valencia, Delgado and Tenerio are very impressive players.  Valencia looks like he's going to be a world-class mid-fielder when all is said and done.

The ECU/GER game will be the South Americans true litmus test.  Germany seemed  to solve their defensive short comings yesterday that were on display against Costa Rica.

[Tralfaz]

I'm hoping for alot of the robot and I'd also like to see what all the hype around Theo Walcot is about, if the situation presents itself.

[Limey]

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The ECU/GER game will be the South Americans true litmus test.  Germany seemed  to solve their defensive short comings yesterday that were on display against Costa Rica.

You give Germany's opponents thus far way to much credit.  Germany are still suspect, and their defense will be found out later in the tournament, IMHO.

[Limey]

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I'm hoping for alot of the robot and I'd also like to see what all the hype around Theo Walcot is about, if the situation presents itself.

Yep, you and Sven too (he's never actually seen him play).  If England get comfortably ahead early, expect to see Foetus Walcott get a decent run out.

[T. J.]

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Ecuador sit atop the group by virtue of their superior goal difference (scored minus conceeded) over Germany.

Question:  Is this a British-English thing or a soccer thing?  I'm referring to referring to a country/team name as a "multiple" rather than an "singular" when adding the verb.  I only notice this in soccer coverage (from yesterday's game commentary, just for examples):

"Poland are pressing and getting the ball more than Germnay at the moment."

"Germany look strangely in disarray on the attack now for a team coached by a former striker."

"Germany send Borowski on for Schweinsteiger, ending discussion of his name for the day. "

Just wondering.  It always looks strange to me.  I mean, I understand it, it's referring to the team, not the place, but it just sounds weird to me.  I'd never say "Houston are playing well today." or "Chicago look like crap out there."

[NeilT]

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As no one is talking baseball (or even politics) this morning...

Group A has now concluded its second round of matches (of three).  Germany handed Poland it's second defeat yesterday in a match that was totally bereft of skill until Poland had a player dismissed and Germany grabbed the Pole by the horns.  They rampaged for about 10 minutes, scoring a late, but nonetheless deserved goal.

Today, surprise team Ecuador put up its second impressive performance, dispatching plucky Costa Rica 3-0.

This puts both Poland and Costa Rica out, with one match to play.  All that's left to decide in this group is the winner and runner-up placings, which will be sorted out when Germany and Ecuador square off next Tuesday.  Currently, Ecuador sit atop the group by virtue of their superior goal difference (scored minus conceeded) over Germany.

The remaining action today sees Group B's second round of games.  Sweden - unimpressive in their scorelessly tied first match against Trinidad & Tobago - play the woeful Paraguay.  This is preceded at 11am by England - unimpressive in their crawfished win over Paraguay - against the surprisingly resilient Trinidad and Tobago.

An England win assures them of progress into the Round of 16 (to face either Germany or Ecuador), but otherwise Group B is wide open.

I'm rightfully terrified of Spack, and had no idea he played Vassar baseball, but World Cup?  Isn't the US knocked out already?

[Tralfaz]

The coffin is half shut.  The only thing that may save the US is The Chron running a tomb stone issue for them.

[MusicMan]

Limey... what is the tiebreaker after goal differential?

For example, let's say that a Miracle occurs, and the US beats Italy 3-0.  Italy then turns the table and defeats the Czechs 3-0, at which point dogs and cats are sleeping together.

Meanwhile, both the Czechs and US beat Ghana 2-0.  By my reasoning, the three teams would be tied in every conceivable way.

Do they just play rock/paper/scissors?

[MusicMan]

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Do they just play rock/paper/scissors?

Never mind... I was more right than I thought.  Last tiebreaker is "drawn lots".

[T. J.]

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Limey... what is the tiebreaker after goal differential?

For example, let's say that a Miracle occurs, and the US beats Italy 3-0.  Italy then turns the table and defeats the Czechs 3-0, at which point dogs and cats are sleeping together.

Meanwhile, both the Czechs and US beat Ghana 2-0.  By my reasoning, the three teams would be tied in every conceivable way.

Do they just play rock/paper/scissors?

I'm not Limey, and he's probably watching the match, but I can answer.  Rock/paper/scissors is the 4th tiebreaker:

World Cup Standings Tiebreakers
When teams are tied on points in the group standings the following tiebreakers will apply:

1.  Highest goal difference
2.  Most goals for
3.  Result of group match between the teams
4.  Drawing of lots

[das]

I got to use your "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass...And I'm all out of bubble gum." phrase in a big meeting last week.  All the military personnel laughed.  All the civilian contractors went slack-jawed...

[No? in Austin]

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I'm hoping for alot of the robot and I'd also like to see what all the hype around Theo Walcot is about, if the situation presents itself.

Yep, you and Sven too (he's never actually seen him play).  If England get comfortably ahead early, expect to see Foetus Walcott get a decent run out.

England has been the superior team so far (20 minute mark).  Owen and Crouch have found themselves suprisingly unmarked with great goal chances.  T&T have not really made any push forward as of yet, playing most of their midfield back to defend.  Yet, with that, England still has not scored.  I wonder if T&T will ever push forward in this match or just settle to play back and counter-attack when available.

I'm thinking the latter.

[No? in Austin]

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The ECU/GER game will be the South Americans true litmus test.  Germany seemed  to solve their defensive short comings yesterday that were on display against Costa Rica.

You give Germany's opponents thus far way to much credit.  Germany are still suspect, and their defense will be found out later in the tournament, IMHO.

Plus Equador isn't a team that plays in the air.  The ECU players all seem to have tireless legs and energy, constantly on the move.  Passing is crisp and precise.  Rarely do you see an ECU player stay on a ball for very long.  They use the quick one-touch passing method and run you to death.  I see many a defender with the swivel head approach to marking.  In fact, if you don't pay attention to where Tenerio or Delgado is on the pitch, as well as Valencia, then you'll find yourself looking at either of them running on to a quick pass and getting on-goal shots off.

I know the Germans tend to be physical on defense, but when you have a team that runs, runs, runs and has precision in thier passing, you better be in tip-top condition to stay with them.  In short, you better out-hustle ECU right now, because they're prepared to make you run after them like the roadrunner does to Wily E. Coyote.

And to top it off, Delgado and Tenerio are pretty big boys as well, so they can take physical play and dish it out.  You're not going to push those guys off the ball easily, like say... a Landon Donovan.

[BizidyDizidy]

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I got to use your "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass...And I'm all out of bubble gum." phrase in a big meeting last week.  All the military personnel laughed.  All the civilian contractors went slack-jawed...

Unless T.J. looks like  this I don't think its his line.

[rifraft]

Rooney is warming up.

[T. J.]

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I got to use your "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass...And I'm all out of bubble gum." phrase in a big meeting last week.  All the military personnel laughed.  All the civilian contractors went slack-jawed...

I got to see the movie again the other day (They Live) for the first time in about 15 years.  It hasn't held up well, and wasn't as good as I remembered it.  Still a funny line though.

[Holly]

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I got to use your "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass...And I'm all out of bubble gum." phrase in a big meeting last week.  All the military personnel laughed.  All the civilian contractors went slack-jawed...

I got to see the movie again the other day (They Live) for the first time in about 15 years.  It hasn't held up well, and wasn't as good as I remembered it.  Still a funny line though.

I felt the same way about The Highlander, when I caught it on rerun on A&E or Bravo, a few days ago. First time in years, and it just seemed dated/corny. Then again, that WAS Christopher Lambert...

[BizidyDizidy]

Limey,

This is probably some soccer strategy thing I don't understand, but is (are) England planning to score at some point during the World Cup?

[pravata]

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The coffin is half shut.  The only thing that may save the US is The Chron running a tomb stone issue for them.

I'm skeptical of anyone watching the WC with the belief that the US will have any success.  I've noted that Carl Dukes has affected a "nil" for, as we say in the States, "nuthin".  But only when giving the WC scores.

[edvio]

that one point blank shot from crouch was painful to watch.

[Tralfaz]

Rooney is in, along with Lennon.  It should not have come to this.

[Tralfaz]

1-0 England.  Finally!

[Tralfaz]

Gerrard!  2-0

[edvio]

Trinidad and Tobago were completely overmatched, but for crying out loud, that game should've been atleast 3-0 England.  Even still, England's passing is really a thing of beauty.

[T. J.]

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Gerrard!  2-0

Whew, that was the last thing we needed, to have Limey come back in here all drunk and disorderly, hooliganing things up after a tie or loss.

[NeilT]

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Gerrard!  2-0

Whew, that was the last thing we needed, to have Limey come back in here all drunk and disorderly, hooliganing things up after a tie or loss.

Excellent.

[Limey]

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Question:  Is this a British-English thing or a soccer thing?  I'm referring to referring to a country/team name as a "multiple" rather than an "singular" when adding the verb.  I only notice this in soccer coverage

Definitely a Bristish-Englis vs. US-English thing.  We refer to entities as plural (e.g BP are a big oil company) whereas you colonials treat entities as individuals.  I believe the Constitution has been amended to make this so in law.

[Limey]

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Limey... what is the tiebreaker after goal differential?

For example, let's say that a Miracle occurs, and the US beats Italy 3-0.  Italy then turns the table and defeats the Czechs 3-0, at which point dogs and cats are sleeping together.

Meanwhile, both the Czechs and US beat Ghana 2-0.  By my reasoning, the three teams would be tied in every conceivable way.

Do they just play rock/paper/scissors?

There are four levels of tie-breaker:
(1)  Goal difference;
(2)  Goals scored;
(3)  Head-tohead result; and
(4)  Rock-paper-scissors (or "drawing lots" as they like to call it)

[Limey]

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Limey,

This is probably some soccer strategy thing I don't understand, but is (are) England planning to score at some point during the World Cup?

[Completely in hindsight and in no way preceeded by about 80 mins of hair-pulling and swearing at the TV]

HAH!  Time two!

[Limey]

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that one point blank shot from crouch was painful to watch.

Crouch (goal notwithstanding) is painful to watch in all he does.  He will not start against Sweden as he's back-up to Rooney (says Limey, completely reversing his concerns over Rooney from two hours ago).

[Limey]

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Rooney is in, along with Lennon.  It should not have come to this.

Lennon is going to go past a lot of full-backs before England's tournament is over.  Imagine...

[Limey]

Sweden squeeked past 'em 1-0.  Sweden now need a point from their game vs. England to qualify, or a T&T loss/draw.  England are through, and will win the group with anything other than a loss to Sweden in the last game.  T&T can overhaul Sweden for the runner-up spot by beating Paraguay by a few of goals and getting the necessary draw/loss by Sweden.

[Arky Vaughan]

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Sweden squeeked past 'em 1-0.  Sweden now need a point from their game vs. England to qualify, or a T&T loss/draw.  England are through, and will win the group with anything other than a loss to Sweden in the last game.  T&T can overhaul Sweden for the runner-up spot by beating Paraguay by a few of goals and getting the necessary draw/loss by Sweden.

Damn! I had a lot of money riding on Paraguay.

[Russ99]

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For example, let's say that a Miracle occurs, and the US beats Italy 3-0.  Italy then turns the table and defeats the Czechs 3-0, at which point dogs and cats are sleeping together.

USA team's only chance is if they win out with help. Unless a storm of goals comes out of the US team, they'll lose any tiebreakers against Czech and Italy.

If the Czechs win or tie in any of their last 2, the US can't go ahead of the Czechs unless the US scores 6+ more goals that the Czechs do in the last 2 games.

A tie against Italy (or a win against Italy, Czech beating or tying Ghana and Italy beating Czech) would essentially put the US out - we'd have to score 5+ more goals than Italy in the last two games to win the tiebreaker.

Oh, and Ghana is in the same boat as us with a +2 better differential. So the US vs. Ghana game won't be easy to win if they somehow upset the Czechs.

Our best chance is: US wins out, Ghana loses out, Czech beat or tie Italy. Czech and U.S. qualify. US plays Brazil in the round of 16. (eep!)

[Limey]

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USA team's only chance is if they win out with help. Unless a storm of goals comes out of the US team, they'll lose any tiebreakers against Czech and Italy.

Team USA's job to secure second round play, as it is for every competing nation, is to secure 6 points.  They needed two wins from three, now they need two wins from two.  I'm not (yet) convinced that italy are the real deal, but I am convinced that Czech Republic will scare everyone (see also Tina, Argen).

[MusicMan]

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USA team's only chance is if they win out with help. Unless a storm of goals comes out of the US team, they'll lose any tiebreakers against Czech and Italy.

Team USA's job to secure second round play, as it is for every competing nation, is to secure 6 points.  They needed two wins from three, now they need two wins from two.  I'm not (yet) convinced that italy are the real deal, but I am convinced that Czech Republic will scare everyone (see also Tina, Argen).

"Argentina" is actually Serbian for "Who's your daddy?"

[Russ99]

Due to their (and Ghana's ) strong play in their last game, the only way we beat Italy is a "pressure's off" mindset by the players, a solid defensive-minded game plan by our coaches, and a little dismissive overconfidence by Italy.

[Limey]

Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro knocked out today.  Holland and the potent Argies are through, and will decide in which order that is next Wednesday.

Recap:
Group A:  Germany and Ecuador through / Coast Rica and Poland eliminated
Group B:  England through, to be joined by Sweden or Trinidad & Tobago / Paraguay eliminated.
Group C:  Argentina and Holland through / Ivory Coast and Serbia & montenegro eliminated.

Team USA now in "win or go home" mode two games early.  However, if Czech Rep. and Ghana tie, then the group gets thrown wide open and USA could still progress with a tie vs. Italy.  Better to win, of course.  Permutations will be a little clearer by 4pm tomorrow.

Group E Fixtures tomorrow (both on ABC and ABC HD):
11am (CST)  CR vs. Ghana
2pm (CST)  Italy vs. USA

[Limey]

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Due to their (and Ghana's ) strong play in their last game, the only way we beat Italy is a "pressure's off" mindset by the players, a solid defensive-minded game plan by our coaches, and a little dismissive overconfidence by Italy.

You shouldn't judge either side on one game.  USA played a very, very strong Czech side while Italy played the group "minnows" Ghana.  Now, Ghana are no push-overs, but Italy's result was flattering due to the gift of a second goal.

[Limey]

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"Argentina" is actually Serbian for "Who's your daddy?"

From the Guardian's minute-by-minute match coverage:

29 mins - GOAL! Argentina 2 - 0 Serbia and Montenegro
Sweet mother of Jesus, how the fuck am I supposed to describe that? The goal of the tournament so far by Cambiasso, and quite possibly the greatest goal that's ever been scored.

Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Cambiano. Crespo. Cambiasso ... goal!

Starting deep inside their own half, with 24 short, high speed passes, the blurry shapes that are assorted Argentina players carve open Serbia and Montengro. Sorin does brilliantly to pick out Cambiasso, who dinkls the ball to Crespo on the edge of the box and continues his run. With his first touch, Crespo back-heels the ball across the edge of the penalty area and into the path of Cambiasso, who pulls the trigger and lashes it home. So mesmerised were the S&M players, they were left standing like statues. Make it your business to see that goal tonight - a mere hack like me doesn't have the literary skills to do it justice. In the stands, Diego Maradona is beside himself with excitement - they'll be setting that one to music for years to come. It'll certainly give England's defenders plenty to think about while they're hoofing long balls up to Peter Crouch. An astonishing goal ...

[T. J.]

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Team USA now in "win or go home mode" two games early.  However, if Czech Rep. and Ghana tie, then the group gets thrown wide open and USA could still progress with a tie vs. Italy.  Better to won, of course.  Permutations will be a little clearer by 4pm tomorrow.

Group E Fixtures tomorrow (both on ABC and ABC HD):
11am (CST)  CR vs. Ghana
2pm (CST)  Italy vs. USA

The USA should have some good fan support tomorrow at Kaiserslautern.  There are about 50,000 Americans stationed in and around there, from what I've read.

Unrelated (well, USA related), it's been funny reading about the Germans being upset with Budweiser being the only beer served at World Cup stadia.  I don't blame 'em for being upset, but it's funny to me.  Probably the first (and only) time many of them have ever had to drink a Bud.

[HudsonHawk]

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Unrelated (well, USA related), it's been funny reading about the Germans being upset with Budweiser being the only beer served at World Cup stadia.  I don't blame 'em for being upset, but it's funny to me.  Probably the first (and only) time many of them have ever had to drink a Bud.

I don't blame them for being upset.  That's like holding the world chili cookoff championships in Texas, but then requiring that every bowl contain a can of Hormel.

[MusicMan]

From the same halftime analysis:

 

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"I reckon S&M could get a good whipping," honks Wrighty

Well, yes... that usually happens that way.

[T. J.]

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Unrelated (well, USA related), it's been funny reading about the Germans being upset with Budweiser being the only beer served at World Cup stadia.  I don't blame 'em for being upset, but it's funny to me.  Probably the first (and only) time many of them have ever had to drink a Bud.

I don't blame them for being upset.  That's like holding the world chili cookoff championships in Texas, but then requiring that every bowl contain a can of Hormel.

From a German website, asking Czechs for their opinion:

"This may sound strange," I said, "but, I want to buy you a beer. And then I want to watch you drink it."

An odd come-on, perhaps, but it was a difficult one for Novak and Jirounek to turn down. The two agreed, and waited until I worked my way to the front of the line. Behind the counter, acne-splashed teens poured Anheuser-Busch Bud -- as it's called here so as not to trample on Czech Bud's brand -- out of the familiar brown plastic bottles and into cups. The server was wearing gloves -- like I said, they don't touch the stuff here.

A first sip:

"It's cold," Novak ventured, helpfully. "But it is missing, um. I don't know how to say. It is missing ... um, yes. I miss the, uh, typical taste of beer.

You know?"

He took another swallow. "Yes! Yes! I miss the typical taste of beer!"

Jirounek, the silent, surly man of the two, nods his agreement. A clear verdict.

Edited to add:   The Link

[T. J.]

From one of the many live blogs of the Mexico/Angola game:  "Joao Ricardo takes a goal kick, accompanied by the sound of thousands of fans shouting the customary vulgar cry used against visiting keepers taking goal kicks at Mexican league games."

Can somebody fill me in on what this "customary vulgar cry" is?  Sounds like something I need to know.

[AstroFrog]

 

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I don't blame them for being upset. That's like holding the world chili cookoff championships in Texas, but then requiring that every bowl contain a can of Hormel.  

.

Good lord, don't even speak of it.  I've lived away from TX for 4 years now, and I have to have Wolf Brand Chili imported.

[Limey]

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From one of the many live blogs of the Mexico/Angola game:  "Joao Ricardo takes a goal kick, accompanied by the sound of thousands of fans shouting the customary vulgar cry used against visiting keepers taking goal kicks at Mexican league games."

Can somebody fill me in on what this "customary vulgar cry" is?  Sounds like something I need to know.

Dunno what they do i Mexico, but in Limeyland, we make a low noise that builds to a crescendo as the 'keeper runs up to the ball.

As he kicks it, we scream "You're Shit!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Very mature.

[Limey]

Justifying being seeded over the USA (and handing the US the worst draw in the competition), Mexico just got booed off the pitch by their own fans after their no-score bore against Angola.

Portugal and Iran - the other two members of Group D - are up first thing tomorrow.  Until they play, all four teams remain alive.  Iran will be eliminated if they lose, but Angola will remain very much alive regardless of what happens.

Assuming Portugal beat Iran, Mexico will need at least a point against Portual in their last group game in order to move on.  Lose to Portugal, and Mexico may make yet another quick exit from the World Cup.

[EasTexAstro]

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I don't blame them for being upset. That's like holding the world chili cookoff championships in Texas, but then requiring that every bowl contain a can of Hormel.  

.

Good lord, don't even speak of it.  I've lived away from TX for 4 years now, and I have to have Wolf Brand Chili imported.

This makes me cry.