Why You Should Watch 64 Games of Soccer in a Month: June 26
The knockout rounds begin!
Match 49: Uruguay vs South Korea
Why You Should Watch: The four teams playing today form the most unusual quadrant of the bracket, as it contains no favorites to win whatsoever. Which means that a cinderella story is going to be showing up in the semi-finals. This match, featuring Uruguay, has the closet thing to a favorite, up against South Korea - a team that did extraordinarily well in 2002, not that well off home soil in 2006, and now seem to be back to winning ways, having had a fabulous group stage. This, in other words, is a corker with no clear favorite. South Korea are overperforming beautifully, and are good. And this marks the start of the knockout round - someone has to win. Someone has to lose. Period.
Player to Watch: South Korea have a surprising depth of good players, but I've kept on with Park Ji-Sung, and I stand by it.
Friendly Bet to Make: Put your money on South Korea. They may break your heart, but they'll do it excitingly.
Match 50: United States vs Ghana
Why You Should Watch: The United States are playing beautiful soccer, and exciting soccer with the seeming philosophy "never put off til the 80th minute what you can put off til stoppage time." Full of heart, full of belief, full of flair, the United States are actually winning me over - they're playing a game worthy of respect. And they're playing a game that is thrilling to watch. This is the first time I've ever been excited to watch the US and to cheer for them. Ghana... I want an African team to do well in the World Cup, but look, Ghana have gotten lucky - they've not scored except on penalty kicks. They're not that great, and I think the US can do them in. And it's nearly impossible not to root for the US.
Player to Watch: Landon Donovan, the US's best player, who is having an outrageously good tournament. He's glorious to watch.
Friendly Bet to Make: Don't bet against your own country. But be sure to put your bet in just before betting is closed.
Match 49: Uruguay vs South Korea
Why You Should Watch: The four teams playing today form the most unusual quadrant of the bracket, as it contains no favorites to win whatsoever. Which means that a cinderella story is going to be showing up in the semi-finals. This match, featuring Uruguay, has the closet thing to a favorite, up against South Korea - a team that did extraordinarily well in 2002, not that well off home soil in 2006, and now seem to be back to winning ways, having had a fabulous group stage. This, in other words, is a corker with no clear favorite. South Korea are overperforming beautifully, and are good. And this marks the start of the knockout round - someone has to win. Someone has to lose. Period.
Player to Watch: South Korea have a surprising depth of good players, but I've kept on with Park Ji-Sung, and I stand by it.
Friendly Bet to Make: Put your money on South Korea. They may break your heart, but they'll do it excitingly.
Match 50: United States vs Ghana
Why You Should Watch: The United States are playing beautiful soccer, and exciting soccer with the seeming philosophy "never put off til the 80th minute what you can put off til stoppage time." Full of heart, full of belief, full of flair, the United States are actually winning me over - they're playing a game worthy of respect. And they're playing a game that is thrilling to watch. This is the first time I've ever been excited to watch the US and to cheer for them. Ghana... I want an African team to do well in the World Cup, but look, Ghana have gotten lucky - they've not scored except on penalty kicks. They're not that great, and I think the US can do them in. And it's nearly impossible not to root for the US.
Player to Watch: Landon Donovan, the US's best player, who is having an outrageously good tournament. He's glorious to watch.
Friendly Bet to Make: Don't bet against your own country. But be sure to put your bet in just before betting is closed.