World Cup, 6/23

Hey everyone. This is the last day of pool play, so it's not a completely happy day. That means the tournament is beginning to slow down. I love the early-tournament optimism that helps dreadful teams like Togo and the US think they are relevant on the world stage.

I'm looking forward to the Korea-Switzerland match this afternoon. We have a new Hyundai plant here, a really big one, and we've made some new Korean friends during thr past few months. They're really stoked about the match. So am I.
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EARLY MATCHES
*Spain def. Saudia Arabia, 1-0: Spain played its reserves today. Second-worst match I've seen at the World Cup -- behind that ARG-NED quagmire from a few days back. I hope these ambivalent American viewers didn't tune into this match for a glimpse at the soccer hubbub. They won't be back if that's the case.

*Ukraine def. Tunisia, 1-0: Shevchenko, hated Chelsea striker, wins the match with a penalty kick. It was a joke. He was fighting for the ball in the box, trips on his own feet and the ref awards a PK. What was that? Pathetic. This WC is starting to look like those Lipton tea commercials from the 1980s ... takin' the plunge. More diving than I've ever seen. This wouldn't fly in the EPL. That's why I stick with British football.

This earned Shevchenko a PK. Notice how the defender's legs aren't obstructing anyone.
(AP Photo/Jasper Juinen)

And now Shevchenko can talk smack, though his goal was a freebie.
(AP Photo/Roberto Pfeil)

UP NEXT FOR THESE TEAMS
Spain (3-0-0) vs. France (1-0-2), Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Saudi Arabia (0-2-1) is eliminated.
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LATE MATCHES
Switzerland def. Korea, 2-0: Cool SUI goal on a header around the 35' mark. Guy heads it on on a free kick, then slams his nose into the head of a Korean defender. Breaks skin, blood comes poring out. SUI scored a second goal late in the match on a disputed offside call, though replays showed a Korean defender deflected the ball that put SUI offside in the first place. So then it's no offside. Goal. Sorry, Korea. Maybe next time.

France def. Togo, 2-0: Eh. A couple of easy goals close to the ol' onion bag. France squirms its way into the knock-out round. Worst team in the knock-out round, too. Enjoy that match against Spain. That'll be fun.

UP NEXT FOR THESE TEAMS
Switzerland (2-0-1) plays Ukraine (2-1-0), 2 p.m. Monday
France (1-0-2) plays Spain (3-0-0), 2 p.m. Tuesday
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CHEESECAKE AREA

Too bad her team won't be around much longer.
AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

I like Swiss football, too.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)