Group C

The USA and England each scored ugly 1-0 wins to progress. Landon Donovan scrambled home a stoppage-time winner for the Americans. Jermain Defoe justified his inclusion in the England XI by volleying James Milner's cross into the onion bag on 23 minutes. The goalkeepers should have done better in both instances (the Slovenian getting two gloves and a face on Defoe's ball) but that's a theme in this tournament by now.

I spent most of my time watching England—Slovenia, a dreary affair in which England were clearly the better team but not all that impressive. Wayne Rooney continues to be much below his best but managed to knock a ball off the goalpost. The Slovenians had little, and one wonders if they were halfways content to lose 1-0 and hope for a draw in the other game or an Algerian win.

That wasn't coming. The Algerians entered stoppage time just as the England match ended, and I clicked over just in time to see Donovan mop up a spilled ball to send the Americans top of the group and condemn Slovenia to an early exit. The Americans had a goal which looked perfectly legit to me disallowed for offside in the first half, but prevailed regardless.

Group D

Germany edged Ghana 1-0 to top the group. A surprise 2-1 for Australia over Serbia gifted the Ghanaians second place. This sets up USA—Ghana in one knockout game and dear friends England—Germany in the other.

I was focused on watching the Germany match. What struck me above all else was the young Germans' patience. They laid siege to Ghana's goal almost immediately but were unable to break through in the first half. When the second half started, neither side could find its footing for the first few minutes. That all suited Ghana, who only needed a draw to progress, and as the hour mark approached I fully expected the Germans to start to panic. Not so: Mezut Oezil calmly blasted a swerving ball into to inside side-netting from 23 yards out to give the Germans the goal they needed.

Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson, unfancied coming into the tournament and at fault on the goal in the Australia game, had no chance on this one—more importantly for Ghana, he and the rest of the Black Stars will still have a stab at the USA. Australia conceded free kick after free kick and defended perilously high but Serbia repeatedly found themselves offside and unable to capitalize.   

Ghana bounced the USA 2-1 on the last day of group play in 2006; plenty of players on both sides return for the rematch. 

Presidential Audience

Thierry Henry has asked for and been granted an audience with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday, after Henry and his teammates return home. I've no idea why Henry wants to get cozy with Sarkozy; Laurent Blanc has already been signed as France's next manager. Henry has nothing to personally apologize for, and isn't the team captain. Perhaps Henry wants a glimpse of the little fellow's lovely wife, heiress and former supermodel and singer Carla Bruni.

Florent Malouda, in the meantime, has asked for the French public's forgiveness. While it would be unkind of me to doubt Malouda's sincerity, anyone who though Malouda was being self serving could be excused for doing so: Malouda only started one game, and got France's only goal of the tournament as a substitute against South Africa. None too happy about his lack of playing time, Malouda is savvy when dealing with the press.