Michael Davies of ESPN offers World Cup Power Rankings for the final eight squads. In related news, Italian club Perugia cuts Ahn Jung-hwan (the Korean player who scored the Golden Goal that knocked out Italia) in a fit of self-destructive nationalism. At the rate Ahn’s going, I’m sure he’ll find a job.
Category: World at Large
There’s no snow in Mordor…
PJ and the WETA crew hose down the land of shadow for Two Towers reshoots.
Crazy Eights.
The US defeats Mexico 2-0 in a North American grudge match, and a new era begins for American futbol. Well, at least a lot of us hope so. At any rate, I’m glad we got the second goal to nip the “Hand of God” conspiracy theories in the bud. Alas, Ireland, Belgium, and Sweden – the three other teams (along with England) I’ve been rooting for — weren’t so lucky.
Carolina Tie.
The GOP primary produces a runoff between Sanford and Peeler in SC. (More race coverage.)
Don’t cry for me, Argentina.
You’ve got your own problems. Another Cup favorite falls as Sweden and England take 1 and 2 in the Group of Death. Meanwhile, over in Group B, Paraguay joins Spain in the winner’s circle.
Truckin’.
Republican candidates for the South Carolina governorship try to outredneck each other. Only in Carolina would a candidate brag that he “stood up against the NAACP when no one else would.” Unbelievable.
So far, so good.
Ireland’s in, France’s out, and that’s just the beginning of this week’s qualifying madness.
Home cooking.
The US get lucky and pull out a 1-1 tie against host nation South Korea. Bascially, the American keep played off the hook, including stopping a penalty kick in the first half. The US team now controls their fate going into their final first round match against (already knocked-out) Poland…a win or a tie will send ’em through. Said match would have been much more enjoyable if everyone in the bar wasn’t forced to listen to the two wankers at the pool table complain about American ball the whole night. Guess what, mates? Nobody cares what you think.
Beck’s Revenge.
England defeats Argentina on a Beckham pk. It’s too bad about Nigeria falling, but if I had to pick two teams I’d like to see get through the Group of Death, it’d be England and Sweden.
America’s finest news source.
The Beijing Evening News, China’s most popular newspaper, slips on the Onion.