World Cup, 6/15

Hey everyone. Still in bed, still watching a lot of soccer.

*Ecuador def. Costa Rica, 3-0: The last goal came in the 90th minute by Kaviedes. Dude scores on a redirect, then celebrates by pulling out a friggin' MASK ... like Spider Man. How cool was that? Ecuador will play in round of 16. Believe me, people do NOT want to play this team right now.

*England def. Trinidad & Tobago, 2-0: A Crouch header from Beckham in the 83rd minute moves ENG ahead. A 20-yard blast from Steven Gerrard gives ENG two goals. So the Brits move into the round of 16.

Crouch, who stands 6-foot-7, heads it in.
(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)


Wayne Rooney entered the game for Michael Owen around the 58' mark. England played with more enthusiasm and creativity with Roo on the pitch. He won't start against Sweden next week. They'll stick with Crouch and Owen for now.

Rooney returned after a two-month absence.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

ESPN analysts Julie Foudy and Eric Wynalda ignored Roo's (subtle) contributions, adding more reason for me to mute the TV between matches.

*Sweden def. Paraguay, 1-0: Freddie Ljungberg, he of Arsenal fame, scored late on a header to push the Swedes into second place among Group B teams. Sweden plays England next week. A draw or win ensures a jump into the field of 16. This team doesn't impress me much. I like the yellow boots, though.

Bcck to ESPN ... can Wynalda shut up occasionally? He drowns out Foudy constantly, and it's quite irritating. You know she hates getting interrupted on live television. These two do NOT get along. Listening to him trash Claudio Reyna, then hearing her totally defend the guy cracks me up.
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Some interesting fixtures tomorrow.
Serbia/Montenegro v. Argentina, 7:55 a.m. -- Should be a blowout.
Holland v. Ivory Coast, 10:55 a.m. -- Look for Didier Drogba (CDI) to go off.
Mexico v. Angola, 1:55 p.m. -- Is Mexico as good as it looked against Iran?