World Cup, 6/27

Hey everyone. I'm extremely stoked about today's matchups. Let's get to it.

NOTE TO CHEESECAKE HOUNDS: No more. Got the ixnay on the pictures of female fans, so you're on your own.

I usually list events in chronological order, but today's late match was so excellent that it demands to go on top.
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LATE MATCH
*France def. Spain, 3-1: My favorite match of the entire tournament, and one of the best I've ever seen. Spain scored early on a PK, then France equalized on a long run by Ribery.

Patrick Vieira scored in the 84th minute on a header, consummating a free kick from about 40 yards out. Zinedine Zidane, playing in his final World Cup, scored around the 91' mark to add emphasis to France's win.

I watched a lot of average or boring games in this WC. This is the payoff -- to see matches like this. Major star power. Major fan interest (outside America, of course) and now major crying in Spain. This sport is so much fun.

There was a back story to this one, too, in that Spain coach Luis Aragones referred to France striker Thierry Henry as "a black sh*t" on television a few years back. I gotta say it was pretty cool watching France, a side that includes a mix of white and black players, end Aragones' World Cup hopes.

France is far from a haven of racial harmony, of course, but Spain is worse.

Great shot of Vieira's goal from behind the net. Hard times for Spain.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

I'm surprised Vieira didn't get hurt on this one.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Brasil def. Ghana, 3-0: We have a new World Cup scoring king. Ronaldo, known as "Fatty" to many, scored in the 6th minute to give him 15 career WC goals. Quite an accomplishment. The goal came on a really neat through ball from Kaka. Emerson dilly-dallied in the back for a while, setting up a prepared thrust: Pass to Kaka, through ball to Ronaldo. He was all by himself. Juked the GHA goalkeeper with ease and put the ball in the ol' onion bag.

The second goal was the result of a deft counterattack. Kaka rolls down the right sideline, lays it over for Cafu who fires toward the goal. Adriano knocks it in from the other side of the goalmouth. Wonderful football. Third goal went to Ze Roberto on a long pass -- much like Ronaldo's goal.

ESPN analyst Marcelo Balboa was complaining that Brasil isn't playing championship-caliber football right now, but I don't know what he's talking about. The Samba Boys look excellent to me.

NEXT UP FOR THESE TEAMS
Brasil (4-0-0) plays FRA/ESP on Saturday, 2:55 p.m. (ESPN)

Ronaldo is good.
(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

Ronaldinho smiles more than anyone I've ever seen.
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)