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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.

Brazil barely got through what will surely be their only competitive match of the group stage 1-0 against a more than decent Croatian side.

It was a surprisingly even match just about the whole way through. Croatia’s defense held except for one brief moment before half-time and Kaka took advantage and won the game with a great strike. Both teams go away fairly pleased, and comfortable in the knowledge that they’re both advancing.

As a fan, this would have been the match to go to of the first round so far. The atmosphere seemed amazing. Both sets of supporters brought the game to life.

Hopefully Ronaldo plays himself into match fitness. They don’t really even need him, but he’s clearly been enjoying the fruits of the land more than soccer lately. All the rumors look to be very true. He’s still a good player, but he’s not great anymore–unless you’re speaking of size.

Ronaldinho is though. So is Kaka, Cafu… The list is long and well known. They’ll do enough, often enough to beat anyone. They may not be invincible, but if they lose it’ll still seem like a fluke.

That said, Croatia could have easily beaten them today. I was very impressed with their performance. Prso, Kranjcar, Srna all looked great, and the defense was solid against the best offense in the world. I wouldn’t want to play either one of these teams in the later rounds.

Why do I keep doing it? I should know better by now. Every international competition, I look at teams like Spain, Holland, Portugal, and especially France, and say they are just too talented not to succeed. Surely, they’ll come to play this time. Then they all completely fold every time.

France seems very much at it again. Despite oodles of offense and class all over the pitch, all that firepower once again fizzled out for a 0-0 loss, I mean draw, against Switzerland.

The match started out with a good pace and looked like it was going to be entertaining, but by the end the French looked completely frustrated and dumbfounded. Very familiar.

The Swiss may be happy with this draw, but they should have beaten France here–everyone else does. They had three golden, practically ‘can’t miss’ opportunities, but none of them found the net. The usually erratic (to be kind) Fabian Barthez, managed to avoid any moments of lunacy for once, to give France a share of the points.

None of the stars look to be the same players that regularly light it up for teams like Real, Arsenal, ManU, etc. They put on that French kit and look extremely average. The team may well stand around waiting for the likes of Zidane and Henry to do something. Those are two of the best players in the world, they should be doing something.

Sickening. When does Brazil play?