World Cup, 6/19

Hello again, everyone. I'm still delirious after watching the KOR-FRA match on Sunday afternoon. That was the most enjoyable match of the WC for me. Korea's enthusiasm was outstanding. I love em.

On to today's business.

*Switzerland def. Togo, 2-0: Togo fell behind early in the first half, then spent the rest of the period seizing control of the match. They blew a great chance at the 40' mark, with a striker missing short-side on a 25-yard shot. It was a bad decision. At the 88' mark, a Swiss striker was presented with the same scenario. He went long side. Goal. Togo didn't fight in the second half. Just didn't seem into the match anymore.


You don't think that's a foul, do you?
(AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

*Ukraine def. Saudi Arabia, 4-0: Ukraine seemed to quit in the 4-0 opening-game loss to Spain, but that's clearly old news now. Shevchenko, recently transferred to hated Chelsea, scored a goal and set up a second with a brilliant pass late in the game. The guy is a stud. UKR's goal differential is back to even. Amazing. Truly amazing.

Serhiy Rebrov, center, is ready to party after that 50-yard yakker.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

*Spain def. Tunisia, 3-1: Tunisia led 1-0 and could have moved ahead by two ... but a poorly taken PK was blocked by ESP keeper Casillas. Spain scored three goals in the second half, though I missed all three because I was at the doctor's office. Spain still has the appearance of a real contender in Germany.
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MEDICAL UPDATE
Traveled for my semi-usual meeting with Dr. Mattox. I ditched the splint and was fitted for a short-leg cast. I had a choice of several colors. I settled on blue. I was tempted to choose crimson.

Only teasing, folks.

Dr. Mattox says I'm still looking at four friggin' weeks in a hard cast before I have a chance at the boot. I can't really exercise until the boot goes on because a sweaty cast is a bad cast. I have to live with this thing. I don't want to be offended by the stench.

The cast is significantly heavier and hotter. I'll be staying inside with this thing on. The cool part of today was that I saw the surgical site for the first time, and it was cool. It was probably three inches long. It began parallel to the ground, then bent around my lateral malleolus and headed up toward my knee. The sutures were taken out.

My splint had my foot aimed at a 30-degree angle. To get in the cast, Dr. Mattox bent my ankle to 90 degrees. That was a moderately unpleasant experience. That was the first time I felt the deep pain from the surgical area. That tendon did NOT want to be stretched. I still feel it right now -- and it's been three hours.

Four weeks in this darn thing. Seriously?
(Courtney Tate)