I haven’t had a chance to watch the match yet. From what I’ve read, it looks like I can just skip to stoppage time. Germany’s defense must have been better in the 1-0 win that effectively knocks Poland out of the competition.

There were apparently hundreds of arrests before the match. No surprise there. That’ll give the American media something to harp on anyway. Finally, something happened in the World Cup that they can all actually understand–thanks to the skinheads.

If this wasn’t a fluke, and Germany actually has some semblence of a defense, they’ll be tough at home. There’s nothing wrong with the attacking side of their game. I’m not sold, yet, but I’ll go give it a butcher’s.

Ok, it was a mildly exciting finish, but the last match of the first round of the group stage was a duel between the two worst teams in the tournament. Tunisia, by pulling the goal back in stoppage time to draw with Saudi Arabia 2-2, effectively knocked both teams out of the World Cup.

Neither team was ever going to advance anyway.

This game had the look of a Division II college match. The Saudis probably deserved the three points, but who cares?

Ukraine, despite their abysmal performance today, has nothing to worry about.

Ukraine wilted in the heat as Spain struck early and often for an easy 4-0 win. Shevchenko, warming up for his role at Chelsea, was non-existant. The entire Ukraine team put in a pathetic effort, and Spain just coasted.

It was only 2-0 when a horrible call gave a penalty to Spain, making it 3 and Ukraine was a man down. They seemed like they were about 4 or 5 men down from the start, though. They were never in it, and the only question was how many Spain wanted to score.

It’s hard to tell if Spain are really clicking or not. They sat Reyes, and Fabregas and Raul only made a run-out to stretch the legs late. Ukraine wouldn’t have beaten anyone today.