your daily recap

[rone]

For all the talk about the vaunted Serb/Montenegrin defense, they looked a bit iffy throughout the game.  Van Nistelrooy (or Nistelrooij) was a zero, and the Dutch could've scored another goal or two if he'd been his usual self.

Iran's defense made a brutal mistake which led to a goal, and it demoralized them so bad they let another one in soon after that.  They otherwise played a solid game, but Mexico's substitutions really sparked the team.

It looked at first like Portugal was going to bury Angola, but the Africans got off the mat and came out playing.  If they hadn't insisted on going up the middle so often, they might have gotten a goal.

All good games, overall.  Only one tie and no penalty kicks so far in the Cup.