Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Match 33
Rustenburg
Mexico 0 – 1 Uruguay
Place watched: KC Live – Power & Light District in Kansas City, MO
There weren’t as many people watching this match down in the P&L as I thought there would be. Then again, the owners of the Power & Light aren’t exactly known for their racial diversity. If I had been thinking clearly, I would have gone down Southwest Boulevard and found a better atmosphere, but I was also doing some scouting for the ultimate location during tomorrows US / Algeria match.
The Uruguayans scored late in the first half gutting the pro-Mexican crowd. There was still hope that their team would prevail, however.
Unfortunately for those gathered, that didn’t happen. Mexico will still go through but they didn’t do themselves any favours. Instead of playing the 2nd place team in Group B, they will almost certainly play Argentina. That will test the Mexican resolve to the fullest!
Match 34
Mangaung / Bloemfontein
France 1 – 2 South Africa
Place watched: Tape delay, living room, Olathe, KS
Bafana Bafana won! Bafana Bafana won!!! On the other hand, France scored their first goal of the Cup. I doubt it is any consolation, but they finished a little bit ahead of where they finished their disastrous 2002 World Cup.
It would have been so great if the South Africans had won their second match against Uruguay, but they saved their best match for last. If you had asked the standard South African a month ago if they would accept a 3rd place finish but beat France, I think that would have been acceptable, then. It is sad that they are the first host country to not advance, but they played well and made their country proud!
I am watching this match after the fact (alarmingly, the P&L only has one TV—this will be a disaster tomorrow when we have to pay as much attention to the England / Slavenia match as we do to the US / Algeria game) and it looks like Bafana Bafana are much more relaxed this match. With the weight of the country no longer on their shoulders, they really look better than they have earlier in the tournament.
Match 35
Durban
Nigeria 2 – 2 Korea Republic
Place watched: Charlie Hoopers, Kansas City, MO
So my 2nd favourite soccer bar & grill was not packed like I half-way expected it would be. I did not get there in time to see if the Mexico match drew more people, but there were only a handful of tables interested in the matches on the TVs spread throughout the establishment. When I am at work later in the tournament and recording the matches for later viewing, this lack of interest we have in the US will be helpful. At this moment, however, I am really kind of embarrassed.
[This is a side-bar, but hearing the ignorance of the talking heads on American sports television is also embarrassing. The same guys complaining about the soccer players rolling around on the ground after getting kicked, sympathize with baseball players who are hit by a pitch. I have had both happen to me (yes, I realize I was not in the major leagues, but I also was not in a World Cup) and I can tell you that a boot to the shin hurts far more than a baseball to the upper arm. The “magic spray” that they claim is fake is a topical pain killer. It deadens the nerves in the area affected. Like I said… embarrassing…]
With a 2 – 2 draw, South Korea advances to the next round, knocking out Nigeria. The anguish on the Nigerian faces says it all.
Match 36
Polokwane
Greece 0 – 2 Argentina
Place watched: Charlie Hoopers, Kansas City, MO
Unlike the P&L, Hoopers does have multiple TVs so I can keep an eye on both matches. In fact, this was the one I was more interested in of the two. Lionel Messi has impressed and I really thought Argentina’s coach, Diego Maradona would keep Messi out of the line-up to protect his star.
I was wrong.
Maradona did, however, give long-time midfielder Juan Veron a start, and brought in ancient striker Martin Palermo before the match was completely in hand. His loyalty to his two aging stars paid off with Veron playing 90 solid minutes and Palermo scoring late.
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