WELCOME!!
Today the big fun begins, the round of 16. Soon we will have just 8 teams left..then 4..then 2..and then another Bush administration official resigns.
Perhaps Sweden will repeat this:
Or perhaps..
Soon we will see!
These games are very simple, the winner takes it all!
Pre-game stuff and free TNR subscriptions after the flip!
The round of 16 starts with two exciting games:
And here is the big picture:
Todays winners will meet each other in the quarter finals, but that is another story.
Here are the top scorers:
Argentina has lot of guys that have scored!
Germany - Sweden
This is how the both teams have played so far:
Impressive list for Germany, not so much for Sweden. Of course Sweden was in a tough group (?) but still, only one victory.
Germany has score 8 times and allowed 2 goals. Sweden has scored 3 and allowed 2. Sweden has won only one game in 2006 ( 8 played).
Players
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still a mystery, i can perhaps play for one half(?) but he clearly is not ok. And Sweden does need him, he is a great player ( except when he has temper tantrums).
I fhe doesn't play, Marcus allback will take his place.
German defender Christoph Metzelder has recovered and could play. Both teams are healthy and ready to go.
Players to watch:
11 Miroslav Klose, GER
11 Henrik Larsson, SWE
Argentina - Mexico
In the second game we will leave Europe and travel to the other side of the ocean. Argentina will meet Mexico and they have the advantage. This is how both teams have played:
Argentina has scored 8 goals while allowing only 1. Mexico has scored 5 times and allowed 2. Argentina has two players that have scored twice, Mexico has one such player.
Argentina is the favorite in this game, but we should remember that a year ago, Argentina beat Mexico 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. That was a close one.
Players
According to the BBC Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez are back on the bench. Argentina has a good pool of healthy players and they can use their best players.
Mexico has some problems. Striker Jared Borgetti may play but no official info is available. Mexico could use his talent but we will see what will happen. Midfielder Luis Perez has two yellow cards and he will miss this game.
Players to watch:
9 Hernan Crespo, ARG
17 Jose Fonseca, MEX
And then.. the official god-machine:
GER-SWE 2-0
ARG-MEX 2-1
THIS IS THE DREAM!
note: player info and such from the BBC, chart form Wikipedia, played matches, 'todays games' and the scorers- table are form fifaworldcup.yahoo.com