Round of 16: Games 1-4

Germany 2-0 Sweden

Pretty blah game. The Germans scored early; the Swedes never showed signs of getting back into it. Even when they were handed a goal on a silver platter, Larsson blasted over. Germany, which had been getting railed in their domestic press prior to the World Cup, are clearly peaking at the right time. Scary thought for everyone else, although their next game ought to be their first serious test.

Argentina 2-1 Mexico AET

Exciting, end-to-end contest that, by all rights, should have had more scoring. Mexico managed to raise their game after looking pretty mediocre in a bad group, but they're going home anyway thanks to the goal of the tournament so far, Maxi Rodriguez's jaw-dropping 20-yard volley off his own chest. It's hard to imagine that one being topped. More importantly, Argentina didn't play their best game and they still beat a Mexico side ranked #4 in the world (even if that wasn't entirely deserved). They'll have to play their best to get past the home side in the quarterfinals, but as long as they rest up I think they can. Either way, I'm hoping that's a great game.

England 1-0 Ecuador

There's no way England can keep playing like this and win a World Cup. If Ecuador were pretty much any of the other 14 teams in the second round, I think England could well have lost. Their defense played fairly well, but really it's more that Ecuador's offense was stagnant for most of the game. And they still had the best chance of the game that didn't actually go in, the shot just barely deflected by Ashley Cole enough to hit the crossbar. Beckham's free kick was insanely well-placed and should shut up the English press who thought he should have been pulled, but I think Marcelo Balboa had a point when he noted that, as good as Beckham is on the set-pieces and that's why you have him out there, he really wasn't that great in any other area of play. At any rate, if England play any more games like this, I think they're done, although they might still have a chance against a weakened Portugal.

Portugal 1-0 Netherlands

And I thought U.S.-Italy was a bloodbath. Criminy. Dellacamera and Harkes were raking Valentin Ivanov over the coals for the 16 yellow and 4 red cards, saying that he'd lost control of the game - but really, I think it was the way things were going. For whatever reason, this was a very contentious affair right from the start, and when you have players pushing each other down all over the place, what else is a referee supposed to do? Sure, he should warn them first and then bring out the cards, but can we say he didn't? Even the parade of yellow cards didn't seem to deter the players - say what you will, but I thought most of the cards were more or less deserved - so how can you say that Ivanov should have been able to get the game under control without going to the book so often? I don't know, maybe it's just me. But it was a tough game for both teams; Van Basten will be questioned - and, I'm going to guess, possibly fired as well - for not putting Van Nistelrooy out there at any point; the ball that Kuyt just missed late in the second might have been a goal at the feet of RVN. Maybe he was injured and we just haven't heard yet? Either way, rough game. Tough for Portugal to go into the England game now without a suspended Deco, and possibly without a potentially injured Ronaldo.

Portugal took out Holland in the semis of Euro 2004; now they face England, the team they beat in the quarters that year. That game went to penalty kicks; I can't say I'd be shocked to see this one do the same.