World Cup Day 4. Calm Down Everyone

The US got a great point off the England match on Saturday. I'm sure Robert Green cries himself to sleep with embarrassment every night despite his rather blase public statements. England should have done a lot better, no doubt. But I have to admit, I'm not sure exactly what match the US fans were watching, but the volume and quantity of chest thumping from Sam's Army seems a slight overreaction.

England dominated most of the game, had 57% of the possession and had more shots, including some point-blankers that only stayed out due to great goalkeeping and poor shooting. The US had one really good chance with Altidore's shot but other than that they really didn't create much.

Neither team, in my opinion look like they have a hope in hell of winning this thing. Looks like either team will face Germany or Ghana (at least so far). The Tuetons made the Aussies look like a bunch of schoolgirls so I think the team that finishes 1st in C has a chance. Finish 2nd and the Krauts will put you in a railcar to never-never land before you have time to hum the first verse of the "Horst Wesel Song". Despite how good Germany looked my favorite to win is still Argentina. But then again they're just Spanish speaking Germans anyway.

As usual, the "old school" media pundits are bemoaning the World Cup. Tossers like Rush Limbaugh and the unholiest wanker of them all, Glen Beck are having their say. It's funny really because you'd think they'd LOVE soccer... Played in the US mainly by white, middle class suburbanites... Instead they love baseball (yawn) a game played passionately by the US, and others like the Dominican Republic, Cuba (ouch!) and Venezuela to name a few. In my opinion the best US sport by far is basketball... but that's another topic.

Anyhow, things are moving along nicely. Italy is singing "The Great Escape" while the African teams need to start wondering where the goals are. Have to admit though, so far the group stages just aren't as interesting as they could be.