Out of 18 red cards handed out in the group stage only one red card was given to a team from Western Europe from which there are 9 teams. That lone red card was the blatant elbow dealt to Brian McBride. Compare that to the 17 others handed out to the rest of the footballing world. 8 of the 17 reds handed out were during matches against Western European teams to their opponents. When an area of the world makes up roughly a third of the teams at the World Cup but only receives one expulsion over the course of 27 group matches and so many other cards are handed out, something needs to be corrected.

Even more speculative is the fact that all nine of the teams in the world cup from Western Europe made it through to the knockout rounds. This is the most amount of teams in World Cup history from Western Europe ever in the round of 16.

Western Europe (France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, England, Spain, Portugal, Sweeden, Italy)
Teams: 9
Reds: 1
Yellows: 60

Rest of the World
Teams: 23
Reds: 17
Yellows: 198

Verdict: Complete Unbalance of Red Cards

The knockout rounds are here. 14 out of 16 of my picks made it through. However my bracket was crushed by the France v. Spain match-up in the first round. The round of 16 is missing the United States and containing a team that shouldn’t even be in the World Cup, Switzerland. But the Swiss-born president of the Swiss based FIFA decided to hand down a light punishment to the Swiss team after their brawl in a World Cup qualifier with Turkey (highlighted by a Swiss player kicking a Turkish coach from behind as he ran off the field).

Regardless, the World Cup is down to 16 teams. Only one African and one CONCACAF team remain and the surprise this year is the first Oceania team to ever make the round of 16, Australia. Sadly, no Asian team made it as South Korea bowed out in a game underlined by a horrible call that benefited *gasp* Switzerland. Similar to this, Ukraine beat an African team, Tunisia, on a very questionable penalty kick. Interesting enough Sepp Blatter today was deflecting focus toward Graham Poll’s 3 yellow cards, which didn’t actually effect the outcome of the game. No World Cup has ever been won by any team outside of South America and Europe. The odds this year heavily favor a repeat of this.

10 of 16 remaining teams are from Europe. The strongest teams remaining outside of Europe: Ghana, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina have been lined-up against each other in the round of 16. This leaves a very high chance that only 2 of the remaining 8 countries will be from outside Europe and the possibility of all-European semi-finals and final. The long and drawn out European World Cup qualifying system weeds out any team that might provide a cup upset such as a Turkey, or an Israel, or a Greece and the way that the World Cup has been officiated makes you wonder if the 2006 World Cup isn’t really just a glorified Euro 2006 plus Brazil & Argentina.

But there’s not much that can be done now. So I'll just sit back and hope for a Ghana vs. Australia final.

Team USA have a lot of garbage laying around. Old veterans who can’t cut it anymore, tired tactics and one player development expert disguising himself as a coach. Here’s my laundry list for the US National team.

Bruce Arena: “Arrivederci”
Notice how all the players giving negative feedback about Arena all play under better coaches in European leagues. Arena has taken the US as far as he can. It’s time to get a tried and tested international coach at the helm. Klinsmann is the perfect fit: He has won the World Cup, he may be coaching a World Cup winning team right now, he lives in the US and my friend Vicky who lives in Stuttgart says his Mom’s bakery makes really good muffins.

4-5-1: Should be Forbidden
Ewww… This creates ugly football and even worse: it didn’t work.

Out: Eddie Pope, Brian McBride, Eddie Pope, Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope, Claudio Reyna and Eddie Pope
These guys are going to be in wheelchairs by 2010. Their age and lack of speed showed through all three games. One person in particular was a yard off the ball every game. I'm not going to pick him out but his name rhymes with 'dope' and 'nope' and 'no hope'. The old guard needs to go. The only player I can see hanging around is Pablo Mastroeni.

In: DeMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu
The European based players showed their worth. They were the one consistent part of the US squad and are the core for future development. Beasley wasn’t great but he was being played on the wrong side of the pitch. You don't play Alex Rodriguez and make him hit from the other side of the plate.

Landon Donovan: ?
This guy doesn’t need to go play in Europe like everybody’s suggesting… he needs to disappear into the mountains for three years, fight off a bear or something and return a man.

Freddy Adu, Zak Whitbread, Jonathan Spector: The Future
The youngins need to become big players over the next few years. These guys are the future for US Soccer and have to become stars. No pressure guys but the future depends on you.

John O’Brien: One More Chance
He’s going to be almost 33 by the next World Cup. He has one more chance to get healthy and be fit by 2010 or we maybe only be able to ask, "what could have been?"

Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, Josh Wolff: More MLS Players Needed
The MLS crew certainly showed its worth in this World Cup and you have to wonder why more attacking MLS players weren’t in the squad. Maybe Twellman should have made the squad. Maybe Eskandarian should have been considered.

The US showing in this World Cup wasn't horrible. We tied the group winners, Italy, in the toughest group of the tournament, down a man. Next time a better group seeding could see the US on a run like 2002. Let's just hope CONCACAF isn't reduced to 2 teams from 3. --- Now for your viewing pleasure based off of current form, age, gradual improvement and me, guessing out of my ####, here are my prediction for the US squad in 2010.


2010 Projected World Cup Line-Up

Fwd: Johnson, Eskandarian

Mid: Dempsey, Adu, Beasley, Convey

Def: Bocanegra, Onyewu, DeMerit, Spector

Goal: Tim Howard

Most people regarding US Soccer are extremely optimistic (claming the US could possibly win the World Cup this year) or are overly pessimistic, trashing every US move as amateur. I, admittedly, am a huge fan of US Soccer but try to keep myself grounded in reality. I assessed their chances of progressing after the defeat to the Czechs as around 14%. Now that figure stands somewhere around 23%. The dreaded draw in soccer deflates all percentages.

Being a fan, I believe they can win. I'm having a tough time sleeping tonight (case-in-point this blog entry at 3:45 AM EST) and when I do finally fall asleep it will be in my Eddie Johnson #9 USA jersey and my Liverpool beanie… Don’t ask, but somehow this ridiculous ritual makes sense to me. Maybe some of the Cardiff/Istanbul magic wears off on us.

But back to reality...
Steven Gerrard is from Merseyside, I am from Seattle, and right now most of you are confused.

Sick of those chippy kids coming out hand-in-hand with players before the game? Think the goal should be bigger? Want games to start with a cannon firing a ball into play? Soccer is a great game but it definitely could use some rule changes. Here are 10 rule changes, 5 that could happen and 5 that probably won’t see the light of day.


Five Rules that Could Be Implemented...

1) Goal-line Sensors (within the next 4 years)
Big games are too important to be decided by bad calls. Get those computer chips in the balls, the two sensors on the goal posts and let’s get it right. There is no reason in 2006 to still have a ref, huffing it down the pitch, standing 30 yards away and guessing if the ball inched across the line or not.

2) Shallow Water, No Diving (possibly within the next few years)
I’m sick of all this “Joga Bonita” BS from a guy who is famous for flying off the pitch and Kung-fu kicking a fan. The problem isn’t players not “playing beautiful”, it’s divas diving left and right. Regardless if it’s caught during the game or in a replay after: if you dive it's a yellow, in the box, a red.

3) Offsides Sensors (likely in about 12 years)
As complicated as this might initially sound, it takes about the same amount of technology as you’ll find in an average department store. Sticking sensors on the heel of each boot (that would weigh ounces and cost cents) as well as two large ones on each side at the half-line to triangulate location, you could have a permanent fix if players are in an offsides position. Using the chips inside the ball you can determine when a ball is passed as well. Result: never have a disputed offsides again.

4) No Sleeves Required (likely whenever Sepp Blatter is dethroned)
After the fiasco in 2002 when the FIFA suits came down on Cameroon for their kits, similar sleeveless shirts have popped up across training pitches everywhere. Players now days are built. Any reservations people have about soccer players being weak could be tossed aside.

5) Fourth Sub in Extra Time (possibly within the next few years)
This rule change is pretty explanatory. Gift teams an extra sub in extra time. This would pick up the pace and new legs could turn in a game-winning goal and avoid PKs.


...and Five Changes That Will Never Happen

1) Reduce the amount of players from 11 to 10
Scores are low and teams are parking men in front of the goal. Less men equals more room, more opportunities on goal and less blocked shots. Also, with only nine men using their feet, teams will most likely adapt to a 3-3-3 formation giving players clear sections of the field to cover as well as setting up juicy man on man match ups across the field.

2) Out-of-Bounds on Contact
This rule would basically change the out-of-bounds rule so that players could curve the ball out and back into play as along as the ball stays airborne. Corners could now banana out and then back into play and passes down the sidelines could curve out over the crowd. This would bring the game closer to the fans and decrease stoppage.

3) Fans Keep the Ball
One of the best things about attending a baseball game is leaving the park with an extra souvenir. Adapting this to soccer, any ball launched into the stands now belongs to the supporter who nabs it.

5) Timeouts
Now before you complain that it’s a game of stamina realize that timeouts are essentially already a part of the game with players dropping on the pitch and rolling in “pain” to give the other guys a rest. Give each team one time out that can be used after the first 10 minutes and before the last 10 minutes of each half. Coaches can take a minute to regroup, TV stations can take a commercial break, and ESPN commentators can breath, possibly getting some oxygen into their brains.

4) Move Penalty Kicks Back & Let the Goalie Off the Line
The drama during penalty kicks is if the taker's nerves will crack; even I could chip a ball in the corner from 15 yards out. Push the spot back to the top of the box and allow the players to dribble toward the goal if they want. Let goalies off the line and defenders into the box as soon as contact is made with the ball. This would open up the options and drama of penalty kicks. For shoot-outs the ball needs to be cleared from the box.


Have any ideas for rule changes? Think mine are retarded? Shoot me a comment.

Mayhem has broken out in Group E. Each now team has the ability to decide it’s own fate going into the final set of games. The toughest challenge is for the US who are four goals from
guaranteeing themselves a place in the knockout round.

Well it’s proven that anybody can play with anybody in this group. Group E is now officially the 'Group of Death'. S&M decided that by turning over for Argentina yesterday but today’s Ghana win and US tie now put the entire group within 3 points. Italy should take a weakened Czech squad to the cleaners (even though they only have to play for a tie) on Saturday, paving the way for Ghana and USA to decide who goes through. The beauty here is that both games are being played at the same time so don’t expect any team in the group to let up.

Here are the scenarios to Guarantee Group play:

- Ghana (magic number: 2)
Need to win by 2 goals to guarantee group play. A tie could see them through with an Italy win.

- Italy (magic number: 0)
Need to tie to guarantee group play. A loss could eliminate them if the US win and make up the goal difference, or Ghana tie and make up goal difference.

- Czech Republic (magic number: 1)
Need to win to guarantee group play. A tie could see them through if Ghana doesn’t win and the US fail to make up the goal difference.

- United States (magic number: 4)
Need to win by 4 goals to guarantee group play. A Czech republic tie could send them home on goal difference.

Again, a US win may be enough to get them into the next round as an Italian win is a likely result facing a deflated and demoralized Czech squad. Confidence is there for Italy who defeated Ghana by two. Ghana, today, blasted the Czechs by two goals making it a 4 goal relatable comparison in favor of the Azzurri.

If you have been visiting most World Cup websites (like this one) you probably have noticed the Nike & US Soccer “Don’t Tread On Me” campaign. The web banner features a snake curled around a ball that menacingly warns others to “Beware” and has a countdown clock numbering the days/hours/minutes until “US Soccer Attacks”. Problem is the clock is sitting at 00:00:00 and the US still hasn’t attacked.

The consensus is that the clock needs to be reset, the question is should they put 60 minutes up on the clock counting down the remaining time until US v. Italy, or add four more years until South Africa 2010?

Nike clearly wishes they were more influential with Bruce Arena's line-up, seeing their poster boy Eddie Johnson relegated to the bench the first half of the Czech game. Even worse, budding rap-star Dempsey hasn’t seen any minutes yet and golden child Freddy Adu is stuck back home playing for the MLS in the mausoleum known as RFK. In this case a Nike-centric starting line-up couldn’t be worse than what we saw on Monday.

How much does a brand affect play on the field? Obviously not that much. But I did some addition and like the manufactures points in Formula-1, here are the team by team, brand by brand results.



Marathon
G:2 W:2 L:0 D:0 P:6 Average:3.00

Nike
G:11 W:8 L:2 D:1 P:25 Average:2.73

Umbro
G:4 W:3: L:0 D:1 P:10 Average:2.50

Adidas
G:9 W:5 L:2 D:2 P:17 Average:1.89

Puma
G:17 W:2 L:11 D:4 P:10 Average:0.59

Joma
G:2 W:0 L:2 D:0 P:0 Average:0.00

Lotto
G:3 W:0 L:3 D:0 P:0 Average:0.00

updated through today's Portugal v. Iran game



Clearly these stats are warped due to the fact that Ecuador, the only team sporting the Marathon brand, hasn’t faced any real opposition and Puma will make jerseys for any third-world country. Not much to take into account, just some interesting stats I thought I would blog for your enjoyment.

Now that we're through the first set of games we (the right and left sides of my brain) have come to a consensus on the best team made up from the best performers on the pitch so far. “But Andy,” you say, “The first set of games aren’t over yet, Saudi Arabia is still playing Tunisia.” Yeah I know and I don’t really care being that I am sleeping right now. Well, while I’m getting my ‘Z’s, here it is in all its glory:


Forwards:
Klose – Germany
Cahill – Australia

Midfield:
Rosicky – Czech Republic
Delgado – Ecuador
Kaka – Brazil
Zinha – Mexico
Xavi - Spain

Defense:
van Bronkhorst - Holland
Marquez – Mexico
Sancho – Trinidad & Tobago

Goalie:
Hislop – Trinidad & Tobago


Spain now look like one of the most cohesive teams in the tournament. They’re the only team with a mid-day game that battled off the heat and weren’t walking the pitch by minute 30. In fact the only time I saw them walking, was when they were four nil up and in extra-time. They also are the only team that has really infiltrated a defense that, like many others, parked the team bus in front of their goal. Rather than rely on outside shooting (Brazil), Spain was able to penetrate numerous times until Ukraine finally cracked. Spain is looking like one of the best teams in the tournament after carving up a Ukrainian team that topped their group in qualifying. Now Spain is looking like a solid contender to win.

This is one of the most well-oiled and unified Spanish squads in a long while. Many people are probably kicking themselves for not choosing them to go further in the tournament --- well not this guy at least. Spain is my choice to win it all. After the first game, it’s not looking like as bad of a decision as many of you would've first assumed.

The US will pretty much have no chance ahead of their game with Italy if Ghana fails to beat the Czechs three hours earlier. A win for the Czechs would practically put them through to the knockout stages and give them no motivation to defeat Italy in their third game. Giving the Azzurri an un-motivated Czech side to face would spell doom and would likely send the US home early. Even with two US victories, they would most likely lose on goal difference to Italy and the Czech Republic (who would also have two victories). That being said, here’s why the Czechs could still lose to Ghana:

- No Koller or Baros: With a minimal strike force the Czechs attack will be hindered.

- Yellow Cards: The Czechs racked up four yellow cards against the US. Grygera, Rosicky, Lokvenc and Rozehnal are all going to be avoiding aggressive play or face having to watch their match against Italy from the sidelines.

- Eissen: The US midfield parted like the Red Sea for the Czechs and coughed up 2 goals. With “the Bison” in the center of the park, I doubt the Czechs will get much time or space to create long shots versus Ghana.

- Kuffour is not Eddie Pope: The Czechs were given a commanding lead four minutes into the game thanks to Eddie Pope (Who played defense more like the late Pope John Paul II). Samuel Kuffour and the Ghana defense were able to hold Italy off for 40 minutes. Case-in-point is that the Czech Republic will be forced to actually play.

Now all that’s left if Ghana wins is for the US to defeat three time World Cup champions, Italy. An unlikely best-case scenario? Yes, but the situation is not as bad as we’ve been given the impression of from the press. The drastic loss is a good motivator for the US and will also shake things up in the locker-room (for the better). Arena, now, can play his in-form players rather than the most seasoned ones. Dempsey, Johnson, O’Brian and Bocanegra hopefully will get some action. Arena will most likely end the sad zonal coverage that failed versus Czech Republic and go for man on man. Added up, here is where the US stands:

14% chance of the US advancing to the knockout round

3% chance the US still wins the group

I have resorted to Univision. I don’t have to listen to the absurd blatherings of the ESPN crew and I have this sneaking su####ion that the Mexican announcers actually know what they’re talking about. I really don’t know for sure, but it’s nice assumption thinking that what you’re hearing makes sense (even if it is in another language).

Plus that “GOAAAAAAALLL!” thing is pretty cool.

Finally the introduction of Cahill just killed the tight coverage on Kewell and Viduka eliminating any double team the Japanese were playing earlier. I don't know if Hiddink was just being stupid not bringing Cahill on earlier (see: all the first half's missed opportunities) or if he was just setting the Japanese team up until they got too comfortable.

This wasn’t fatigue because the Japanese were easily getting up and down the field and finding opportunities till the end. They just got out played in the last third of the game (and the last third of the field).

No, not the Miami Heat, the German summer heat. European players have been slogging all over the pitch in the hot summer weather, especially those from the Premiership. The England team on Saturday is probably the clearest example, although Australia’s Premier League players today were walking it up the pitch late in the game as well. I think this might play into the advantage of the US and specifically MLS players conditioned to play through hot summers.

Today will be a good test of this with the exclusively European based Czechs taking on the State’s mix of MLS and European players. If Nedved and Baros are still sporting their shaggy haircuts it may even take even more of a toll on them.

I could see this leading to an uncharacteristically late US victory or equalizer.

Update: I didn't realize that the US vs. Czech game was in Gelsenkirchen in the cooled, and basicially domed stadium. America's loss (literally).

The first thing that I wondered when I saw that the Cup was on ABC, ESPN and the Deuce was what the lead-ins would be from the programming before the games. How the announcers of the Good Morning America or whatever cheering-leading or miniature golf show ESPN 2 was airring would verbally attempt to keep their viewers around for soccer. Before the game this morning on ESPN 2 I was treated to the remaining 5 minutes of “World of Saltwater Fishing” which was pre-recorded, so no lead-in, but the promo for next week's show where they fish for sharks (yes sharks) was pretty entertaining. ABC’s Believer’s Voice of Victory Bible show before Mexico vs. Iran later should provide a laugh as well. However the actual coverage provided by our historically two largest sports networks, and ESPN 2, is abysmal to say the least.

--- Sweet, Robben just scored, more fantasy points for me ---

Bad camera work, ####-poor announcing and giant graphics that take over the screen and state the obvious (holy #### Netherlands is really wearing orange!) are staples of the coverage we have seen. Living in Tucson, I haven’t been able to see any games in HD. We don’t get ABC in HD and I’m not one of the 5 Americans who get ESPN 2 HD, so I have to wait till match 20, Sweden vs. Paraguay, on ESPN HD before the empty sides of my screen get filled.

My ####ing aside, the camera work has sucked. Yesterday’s England match looked like it was shot from about a mile away. Use the #### zoom. When I can’t decipher between Peter Crouch and Ashley Cole and can see both sides of the pitch we have a problem. Also, it looks like they have figured it out for the game today, but ND filters really help kill the contrast between shadows: use them.

I know the announcing, especially on ABC, is intended to cater to first-time soccer viewers, but please shut up. If someone happens to be watching a game at 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning, I’m sure they’ll know what a corner kick is or have enough interest to figure it out or look it up. I also have to agree with my friends that Marcelo Balboa’s hair is creepy. I think the network has figured some of this out because the matches have recently been immediately jumping straight into the game and not showing any shots of Celo’s doo.

Oh, and more crowd shots please. I had the pleasure of accidentally pausing my Tivo on a Dutch girl in a tank-top while I fixed breakfast. The World Cup girls are hot, just give in. Seeing the Brazilian girls crowd the streets of Palo Alto during World Cup ’94 when I was 11 was a site to remember. I think I went through puberty overnight. FIFA’s & Yahoo’s website has been masking their girls of the world cup photo galleries as "fan shots" and splicing the beautiful scantly clad female fans with old guys in make-up. Kudos to Fox for just giving in and calling their gallery “Babes of the World Cup”.

So who is going to win? Good question. I wish I knew but alas all I can do is stand idly by and make potentially aimless predictions (because they are never aimless if I’m right). Favorites of course include Brazil, Argentina, England, Holland, Spain, France, Italy and host Germany. Outside shots of having a run are Mexico, US, Czech Republic, Ivory Coast, Portugal and Sweden. Mexico and Czech Republic having the most likely chance of winning the final game if they get there.

Brazil of course is almost everybody’s popular pick to win, so the first question is not who is second best, but who can dethrone them. Only three teams, Argentina, Ecuador and Mexico, have any recent experience competitively beating Brazil. If you really want to dig deep: Norway and France in ’98, or deeper Honduras in Copa América 2001. Basically there’s not much to find in the history of un-doing Brazil other than loses are few and far between and most of the teams speak Spanish… which incidentally leads to my choice to win it all: Spain, and no, it’s not for that reason.

Spain’s prospective route to the trophy would go through South Korea, Brazil, England, and then a final versus France, Holland, Argentina or Germany. Although this is all very speculative, the one sure outcome is that opposition will be tough past the group stage. The reason I chose Spain is that they have a strong technical style, depth and the fact that Spain is hot right now; Spanish clubs won the double in European competitions this year not to mention Liverpool’s very Spaniard influenced title in 2005. The two victories give Spain’s fans and team a very ripe winning attitude, and also gives the country a unity which has been lacking in the past.

Sans Xavi, Spain’s biggest asset however may not be in their starting line-up. With scoring down, and Adidas’s new oblong ball in play, shoot-outs are going to be a likely outcome for teams in the knock-out round. Enter: Pepe Reina. Conserving a late sub and subplanting Reina for Casillas in extra time could be the key to an important win in a close game. Renia is the best penalty stopper in the world, and after being sent out in 2002 by PKs, Spain could use Pepe to vanquish any fear of a repeat.

Now Spain does have weaknesses that Aragones needs to avoid (along with opening his mouth). The first is playing Reyes. Plain and simple, he doesn’t fit. Reyes is more of a crapshoot when it comes to scoring. One minute he could make a miraculous breakthrough and slot in a beauty, the next he could sky it over the net from a yard out. With Raul and Torres to choose from, hopefully Reyes wont see the light of day (unless they needlessly drop him back in the midfield again).

If they win their respective groups and their round of 16s, Spain and Brazil will meet in the semis. Torres and Raul may not be Adriano and Ronaldo, but Spain’s midfield has the tools to beat any team. The wild card subs Fabregas and Garcia could bust open scoreless matches. Add that on top of that fact that Cafu, Carlos and the aging Brazilian defenders are going to be sucking air in the second half of matches and later into the tournament. Look for Cincinho to start getting more and more time as the tournament progresses or when one of mainstays finally collapses on the pitch.

England also have the tools to win, but a lack of confidence and Sven sucking the life out of the team will probably lead to a loss against tough opposition. Italy also have a chance, but seeing how most of the players don’t know where they will be playing in August, their mindset is also skewed. Argentina and Holland, the other favorites, seem to be lacking a definitive playmaker. Realistically, Spain only has a fraction of a chance to win, but other than maybe France in the finals, they are the only team I can see nicking Brazil.

I compiled this list of the top 10 matches of the group stages are reference for friends and family that aren’t so familiar with football.

10 World Cup Matches to Watch (Times are PST)

Germany vs. Costa Rica
6/9 9:00 AM on ESPN 2
The opening game of the World Cup featuring the host, Germany, from Munich.

Argentina vs. Ivory Coast
6/10 12:00 PM on ESPN 2
Chelsea teammates Didier Drogba and Hernán Crespo face-off in Hamburg.

United States vs. Czech Republic
6/12 9:00 AM on ESPN 2
The 2nd (Czechs) and 5th (USA) ranked teams in the world attempt to prove themselves in Gelsenkirchen.

Spain vs. Ukraine
6/14 6:00 AM on ESPN 2
The best striker in the World, Andriy Shevchenko, attempts to lead Ukraine against World Cup favorites and one of the best teams never to win the final, Spain in Leipzig.

England vs. Trinidad & Tobago
6/15 9:00 AM on ESPN 2
The smallest nation ever to make the world cup finals (T&T) face off against favorites and former occupiers, England. Former Manchester United star, Dwight Yorke has come out of international retirement to lead Trinidad in Nuremburg.

Italy vs. United States
6/17 11:30 AM on ABC
Former World Cup champions Italy battle the States. The Azzuri are perennial favorites but recently the Italian football league has been rocked by a match-fixing scandal and many of the players have no clue where they will be playing come August (game in Kaiserslautern).

France vs. South Korea
Sunday, June 18th 11:30 AM on ABC
Thierry Henry and Les Blues battle new soccer power South Korea in Leipzig.

Sweden vs. England
9/20 12:00 PM on ESPN
England, who havent beaten Sweden in 38 years, attempt to break the hex in Cologne with the leadership of their Swedish coach, Sven Goran Eriksson.

Portugal vs. Mexico
9/21 7:00 AM on ESPN
The other Ronaldo and flashy Portugal attempt to makeup for a 2002 disaster against power-house Mexico, who were one of the last teams to defeat Brazil. Both teams were upset in 2002 by the US (game takes place in Gelsenkirchen).

Netherlands vs. Argentina
9/21 12:00 PM on ESPN
Both favorites, Holland and Argentina, will battle, possibly to see who progresses to the knockout rounds.


Other Interesting Matches

Australia vs. Japan - Future Asian Football Confederation rivals face off in one of the most competitive games of the group stages in Kaiserslautern.

Sweden vs. Paraguay - This battle has already begun after Paraguay allegedly sent women over to the Swedish training camp to unsettle the players.

Czech Republic vs. Italy - These two favorites collide possibly to decide the fate of the US.

Japan vs. Brazil - Brazil will probably destroy Japan, however the Japanese are lead by Brazilian legend, Zico.

Togo vs. France - Called French Togoland until 1960, this is one of many matches featuring a former colony facing a former occupier. That in mind, expect France to win by at least a touchdown.