A Plea for DPR Korea's Men and their Families

I don't know how widely read this blog is in DPR Korea, but if it is read at all, I just want to get on record that the government should not punish the players for the performance at the World Cup. DPR Korea's players have behaved like sportsmen and represented the country to the best of their ability.

DPRK had a nice run at the 1966 World Cup, beating Italy and leading Portugal 3-0 in the quarterfinal. After Portugal rallied to win that game, DPRK players and their loved ones served up to 12 years' hard labour in prison camps. I ask the government there not to repeat this tragedy.

It's up to the world to somehow make sure this year's players don't receive the same fate or worse. DO YOUR PART.

Continental Breakfast

With every team now having played two games, South American entries have collectively played 10 games, winning eight and drawing two. If the undefeated record falls Tuesday when Uruguay plays Mexico, put an asterisk next to that result: Mexico's clubs play in South America's club competitions, and the Mexican national team contests South America's continental championship for countries, the Copa America. Mexico isn't part of South America, but for soccer purposes it usually is.

Training Ground Round-Up

France returned to training Monday after one one-day strike on Sunday. We offer up a great, Gallic shrug of the shoulders.

England and Slovenia will not be allowed to train on the pitch at Port Elizabeth on the day prior to the match. The grass is in poor shape (it's the middle of winter after all) and the schedule does not allow for the pitch to be relaid. (See the Chile—Switzerland write-up below.)

In England training news, Matthew Upson looks set to partner John Terry in central defence against Slovenia. Ledley King is injured, and Jamie Carragher has been poor. England manager Fabio Capello has told Terry and other players blabbing to the media to shut up and play. "You're at the World Cup, not on holiday," Fab fumed.

Mexico's Carlos Vela (hamstring) is out until at least the quarterfinals should El Tri get that far.

Tim Howard has decribed ordinary Americans' outrage over the disallowed third goal against Slovenia as "pretty cool". I agree wholeheartedly.

Arjen Robben will declare himself fit or unfit for Holland's last group game on Thursday. I'm thinking you'll see him play half an hour.

Brazil has yet to decide if they will appeal Sunday's red card for Kaka. Appeal or not, referee Stephane Lannoy needs to be sent home, pronto.

Tuesday Viewing Guide

Let's see if Mexico and Uruguay cook up a convenient draw in the early set of matches. Otherwise, the door is open for France. In the late block, permutations and combinations are wide open and I'll be watching Argentina—Greece.

…and now on to the recaps…

Portugal 7, North Korea 0

Portugal rode six second-half goals to victory, with the goal finished off by Almeida now the best team goal of the tournament in my opinion (supplanting a strike by Brazil yesterday). While the North Koreans defended bravely, Portugal seemed to be on another planet. Cristiano Ronaldo skipped through the last line of defense to score a goal with the ball on his back.

 This virtually assures Portugal passage to the knockouts. Ivory Coast would need to beat North Korea, have Brazil beat Portugal, and make up nine goals' difference in the process to bump Portugal. The Portugal—Brazil match on the last day of group play Friday is now must-see TV.

Chile 1, Switzerland 0

Both teams struggled mightily to deal with the wind and rain in Port Elizabeth, with goal kicks routinely coming up 15 yards short of halfway when the ball was hoofed into the wind. The turf looked like it had just hosted chuck wagon races.  Such conditions should have favoured Chile heavily, as the South Americans are happiest with the ball on the deck, but that's such an open secret that Switzerland concentrated on shutting that down.

The talking point of the first half was the sending off of Switzerland's Valon Behrami for flailing with his arms while shielding the ball on the half-hour mark. It looked like a yellow and not a red to me, but the unqualified Saudi ref was already in Travel Agent Mode (booking EVERYBODY) and a disgrace to the whistle. As such, with four players in the book already, Behrami only has himself to blame for not being more careful.

Chile got the breakthrough on 75 minutes when substitute Mark Gonzalez headed home from close range. "All you kids at home, pay attention! He did it just as he should, just as it's practiced: headed the ball clean into the ground, and let the bounce do the rest."

Switzerland had few ideas, failing to record a shot on goal. It was all-out defence once the Swiss were down to 10 men, but they couldn't hang on.

Chile will miss Carlos Carmona and Matias Fernandez for the group finale vs. Spain: each picked up a second yellow card in two games. Switzerland has no suspensions beyond Behrami's straight red.

Chile need a draw against Spain on Friday to clinch the group. Switzerland makes the knockouts with a two-goal win over Honduras, or a draw coupled with a win by Chile.

Spain 2, Honduras 0

David Villa scored on either side of halftime for Spain. He would have completed a hat-trick, but pushed a penalty shot wide right. The first goal in particular was a thing of beauty as Villa beat three men and scored as he fell to ground. Fernando Torres fluffed a couple chances in the first half. Jesus Navas, Cesc, and Xavi also had opportunities, and the final score could have been a lot more lopsided.

Honduras showed absolutely nothing, failing to register a shot on goal.

Spain will finish ahead of Chile if and only if Spain wins Friday.

Everybody Kung Fu Fighting…so says Maradona, anyway:

Maradona is calling for more fair play at this year's World Cup, saying "This is football, not kung fu fighting. We have not seen the faire play we want to see." Listening to Maradona and his "Hand of God" plead for fair play is like listening to Lady Gaga plead for more understated fashion.