Saturday July 21, 07
Japan P 1 - 1 P Australia
Iraq 2 - 0 Vietnam
Sunday July 22, 07
Iran P 0 - 0 P Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia 2 - 1 Uzbekistan
Japan ousts Australia on PKs. Iraq continues their surprise run on into the semi-finals. South Korea, the up and comer, takes out Iran, a traditional central Asian power. Saudi Arabia dispatches an out-manned Uzbekistan.
Wednesday July 25, 07
Iraq 12 : 20 Korea Republic
Japan 15 : 20 Saudi Arabia
In tournaments like this, everybody loves the long shot. So I'm sticking with Iraq over South Korea. South Korea is a team on the rise but even rising teams can be overwhelmed by wild circumstances. Japan and Saudi Arabia have probably been the two strongest teams so far. I'll take Japan, I just have a little more faith in their flexibility and goalkeeping.
Monday, July 23, 2007
U-20 World Cup Final
Argentina 2-1 Czech Republic
The first 45 minutes was frustrating to watch. These were two bullish teams trying to impose their style on each other, largely by fouling each non-stop. I thought the ref was a little too tight at first but ultimately did a pretty good job of not letting the game get out of hand. It was pretty amazing considering how many yellow cards that were doled out that there were no ejections and no penalties.
Czech jumped ahead around the 60th goal on a killer goal by Martin Fenin, who I thought was Czech's best up front player. Czech's D was solid on the backline but nobody stood out to me, they weren't terribly adept at moving the ball forward.
Sergio Arguero tied the game two minutes later, finishing a sweet pass from Ever Banega. Mauro Zarate scored off a corner kick (a bit of a soft goal, keeper probably should've kept it out) with about 5 minutes left to take the game for the Argentines. Arguero was the top scorer and overall MVP of the tourney and clearly one of Argentina's future stars. Banega to me was the star of the show for Argentina and will undoubtedly anchor their midfield in the next World Cup. Arguero and Maxi Moralez were good players for Argentina as was Sergio Romero, their goalie. The Argentines disappointed in the Copa America final last week but there was some redemption in this victory and it points to continued Argentine competitiveness well into the next World Cup cycle.
The first 45 minutes was frustrating to watch. These were two bullish teams trying to impose their style on each other, largely by fouling each non-stop. I thought the ref was a little too tight at first but ultimately did a pretty good job of not letting the game get out of hand. It was pretty amazing considering how many yellow cards that were doled out that there were no ejections and no penalties.
Czech jumped ahead around the 60th goal on a killer goal by Martin Fenin, who I thought was Czech's best up front player. Czech's D was solid on the backline but nobody stood out to me, they weren't terribly adept at moving the ball forward.
Sergio Arguero tied the game two minutes later, finishing a sweet pass from Ever Banega. Mauro Zarate scored off a corner kick (a bit of a soft goal, keeper probably should've kept it out) with about 5 minutes left to take the game for the Argentines. Arguero was the top scorer and overall MVP of the tourney and clearly one of Argentina's future stars. Banega to me was the star of the show for Argentina and will undoubtedly anchor their midfield in the next World Cup. Arguero and Maxi Moralez were good players for Argentina as was Sergio Romero, their goalie. The Argentines disappointed in the Copa America final last week but there was some redemption in this victory and it points to continued Argentine competitiveness well into the next World Cup cycle.
FIBA U-19 Championships
Oops, I meant to keep an eye on this but totally spaced it. USA beat Argentina and France on their way to the Finals but could not get past Serbia. 6 for 21 on 3-pointers probably sealed the USA's doom--why is it that in USA girls shoot better than boys now? France takes Brazil in the 3rd place game.
FIBA U-19 World Championship -- Serbia 74-69 USA
FIBA U-19 World Championship -- Serbia 74-69 USA
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tour de France update
RASMUSSEN Michael 57h 37' 10"
VALVERDE Alejandro 57h 39' 45" + 02' 35"
MAYO Iban 57h 39' 49" + 02' 39"
EVANS Cadel 57h 39' 51" + 02' 41"
CONTADOR Alberto 57h 40' 18" + 03' 08"
SASTRE Carlos 57h 40' 49" + 03' 39"
KLÖDEN Andréas 57h 41' 00" + 03' 50"
LEIPHEIMER Levi 57h 41' 03" + 03' 53"
KIRCHEN Kim 57h 42' 16" + 05' 06"
ASTARLOZA Mikel 57h 42' 30" + 05' 20"
VALVERDE Alejandro 57h 39' 45" + 02' 35"
MAYO Iban 57h 39' 49" + 02' 39"
EVANS Cadel 57h 39' 51" + 02' 41"
CONTADOR Alberto 57h 40' 18" + 03' 08"
SASTRE Carlos 57h 40' 49" + 03' 39"
KLÖDEN Andréas 57h 41' 00" + 03' 50"
LEIPHEIMER Levi 57h 41' 03" + 03' 53"
KIRCHEN Kim 57h 42' 16" + 05' 06"
ASTARLOZA Mikel 57h 42' 30" + 05' 20"
U-20 World Cup update
Sunday July 22, 07
Austria v. Chile (3rd place)
Argentina v. Czech
I'll take Austria in the 3rd place match. I'll stick with Argentina in the final.
Austria v. Chile (3rd place)
Argentina v. Czech
I'll take Austria in the 3rd place match. I'll stick with Argentina in the final.
British Open update
After 2 rounds it would appear to be all about Sergio's belly putter. If he can pull off the belly putter (can anyone truly pull off the belly putter?), then this looks like his best shot to actually win something. Everybody still thinks Tiger is coming back but I think he's a little too mellow at the moment (I'm already pencilling him into next year's green jacket). Phil Mickelson's out; dude, he needs an intervention or something. Keep an eye on Mike Weir, he's got discipline and a steady game that works on the tough courses like Carnoustie. Should be fun to watch Angel Cabrera; when America was on its course to rid the world of shame and logic, somehow or other cigarette smoking became the penultimate taboo, which makes Cabrera like Brando in The Wild One. My money's on KJ Choi, that guy is ice water and I think he'll stare down Sergio on Sunday.
GARCIA, Sergio 136
CHOI, KJ 138
JIMÉNEZ, Miguel Angel 139
WEIR, Mike 139
FURYK, Jim 140
WEEKLEY, Boo 140
ROMERO, Andres 141
CABRERA, Angel 141
WESTWOOD, Lee 141
FORSYTH, Alastair 141
GOOSEN, Retief 141
HENRY, J J 141
GARCIA, Sergio 136
CHOI, KJ 138
JIMÉNEZ, Miguel Angel 139
WEIR, Mike 139
FURYK, Jim 140
WEEKLEY, Boo 140
ROMERO, Andres 141
CABRERA, Angel 141
WESTWOOD, Lee 141
FORSYTH, Alastair 141
GOOSEN, Retief 141
HENRY, J J 141
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Asian Cup update
Saturday July 21, 07
Japan 12 : 20 Australia
Iraq 15 : 20 Vietnam
Sunday July 22, 07
Iran 12 : 20 Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia 15 : 20 Uzbekistan
I had a masterful Asian Cup update yesterday and with the errant stroke of a single button wiped it all out. So I lost my interest in going over the finalities of group play. And here we are with the quarters ready to blow this weekend. All right, prediction time!
I'll take surging Japan over slumping Australia, underachieving Vietnam over overachieving Iraq, South Korea over Iran and Saudi Arabia over Uzbekistan (the easiest call of the 4). We'll know by Monday.
Japan 12 : 20 Australia
Iraq 15 : 20 Vietnam
Sunday July 22, 07
Iran 12 : 20 Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia 15 : 20 Uzbekistan
I had a masterful Asian Cup update yesterday and with the errant stroke of a single button wiped it all out. So I lost my interest in going over the finalities of group play. And here we are with the quarters ready to blow this weekend. All right, prediction time!
I'll take surging Japan over slumping Australia, underachieving Vietnam over overachieving Iraq, South Korea over Iran and Saudi Arabia over Uzbekistan (the easiest call of the 4). We'll know by Monday.
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