your daily recap

[rone]

Switzerland 2 - Togo 0: The only game i watched today.  I'm not sure if it's fair to say that Togo deserved better... but they played a lot better than i expected, and probably many other people.  Kader-Touré and Adebayor were both very good and troublesome, and Agassa was strong in goal.  Switzerland played solidly and sought a second goal for a while, but then settled back and let Togo get tired.  The second goal came late, as it seems to me has happened often in this Cup.  I hope Togo pulls themselves together and sticks it to France because, even though i still feel a small amount of favoritism towards them left over from `98, they've been mediocre.

Ukraine 4 - Saudi Arabia 0: I caught the first few minutes on the radio.  I remember thinking that the Saudi keeper didn't look too impressive in the KSA-TUN highlights, and he sounded shaky today (not that the wretched conditions of the Hamburg field helped).  Ukraine evened up their goal differential.  For the Saudis, it's been all downhill since their `94 debut, where they made the second round after beating Morocco and Belgium.  Now that Australia has shifted from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian FC, they are poised to take what has become the Saudi spot away.

Spain 3 - Tunisia 1: Tunisia took advantage of a lone chance early, in the midst of heavy Spanish pressure, to take a lead they would not relinquish until late in the second half.  Spain is taking advantage of their weak draw.  Tunisia has to beat Ukraine to move on.  The Saudis have a minuscule chance (hope Ukraine and Tunisia tie, then they have to beat France by five).

After today, i have managed to miss both US, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia games; i hope to catch their final game somehow, which is going to be a trick for TUN and KSA because they'll be playing at the same time. Half of the 16 spots in the next stage are taken: Germany, Ecuador, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, and Spain.  Portugal and Ecuador are the unexpected names, and Portugal isn't too much of a surprise.  I command all of you to watch Germany-Ecuador tomorrow at 07:00 PDT and root heavily for Ecuador.  That is all.