We're still trying to shake off the jet-lag, but we did roam about today and saw a few things worth commenting on:

Getting in to see the Americans in Hamburg won't be easy, fans. Police are a very visible presence at the train station in the middle of the city. And reporters are escorted through metal detectors and a security cordon. It's claimed that this security detail is a bit laxer than the one in South Korea, but I find that a bit hard to believe.

Peter Crouch may be able to dance, but he cannot convert PK's. Doesn't matter at the moment, as England rolled over the Jamaicans with ease this afternoon. Wayne Rooney was repeatedly focused on in the stands by TV, and, well, he looked a lot like Wayne Rooney. If you believe the papers he's also whacking in balls like there's no tomorrow. Why do I think Sir Alex doesn't want to hear this?

A number of articles have been written about inflated prices in Germany; believe them. While those Euros may look like Monopoly money, you're in for a nasty shock if you spend 'em like they are. Prices on the streets of Munich for everyday items are about 1/3 to 2x higher than in the USA at the moment. Go buy a half-kilo of asparagus if you don't believe me.

The media center here in Berlin was evacuated yesterday after a piece of a WWII-era bomb was found on the grounds. Yr correspondent was mercifully asleep at the time, dreaming about Famke Janssen. (Hey, she's an X-Man, OK?)

On the street, the atmosphere is a mix of giddy soccer enthusiasm... and people who are already sick of it. Some bars on my block have signs up which read "Fussball Frei;" though I suspect come June 9, they'll be in the thick of it as well. Nonetheless, there is a small but organized reaction to the Cup being waged, which culminates in an anti-football march in Berlin on the night of the final. Go figure.

Tune in tomorrow for more from Munich...

We got a lot of responses on the Soccer 101 piece, and one letterhack asked why I didn't include an explanation of cards... causing me to smack my forehead. I'm not sure how many casual sports fans will see this, but basically:

Cards are doled out by the ref to enforce discipline. There are two kinds, yellow and red. A "yellow" card means a player committed a pretty nasty foul; or, the ref has seen a pattern of persistent fouling, and the player is being warned.

Yellow cards might seem like a cop-out to some of you, but the reality is that they matter: Get two and you're ejected. Also, In the World Cup, yellow cards are added up; as soon as a player accumulates two, he has to sit out a game on suspension. (In the Cup, cards are wiped clean after the group stage.)

Now, a red card means an ejection from the game AND a suspension in the next game. I think that should be self-explanatory.

I've come to think lately there should be a third card, a white one. Why? Well, so many leagues are using video review to punish player for infractions that refs have missed that this might be a way for the ref to signal that a player MAY have committed an infraction, but that the ref didn't directly see it, and his linesmen had a poor angle on the play. The player could be assigned a yellow or red card later, or, he could have the card revoked.

...is being able to stop and have a Guinness and a full breakfast at Heathrow. So far today, anyway, but it is only 8:10 as I write this.

Oddly enough: Here, the big stories today are cricket (England face Sri Lanka and the devious bowler Muttiah Muralitharan later today); the Peter Crouch "robot dance" (see the Guardian today for more on this...) and the fact that Arsenal has apparently paid Beveren a bit of cash, which has aroused some suspicions. Hmm..

Also fun is the news that Marlon King is off the Jamaican team (who cares?) in a dispute over a curfew.

OK, I promised reader reax, but my eggs are cooling, so tune in around 4pm Munich time and look for another post...

The blog will take a short break as we make our way to Munich today; tune in tomorrow for reactions to Soccer 101 and suggestions from readers on more new fans should know. Such as what those cards all mean. D'oh!

We haven't forgotten about you. It's just that if we don't post something here, it's on the front page. We're still in blog roll-out, so do check there for all the other goodies. For example: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/usa