Saturnalia at the WC

Well, Angola did not quite fulfill my "upset special" but they made a game try of it. La Raza weeps. As for the Serbs, they were the best team I've ever seen shellacked at the WC. A team that allowed precisely 1 goal through all the WC qualification matches suddenly surrenders 6, and a very good 6. When they are on form I am much more a fan of the Brazilian style than that of Argentina...but there was pure beauty in the game of El Gauchos today. The match between them and the Dutch, although almost pure practice, should be a fun ride. OK, now for Saturday.
Portugal vs. Iran. Or, as CAIR would style it, The Shia Heresy against West Andalusia. Iran is playing for Allah, Ayatollah, and Ahmenedinejad. Portugal is playing for Wine, Cheese, and Olives. Viva Portugal, e Morte [futbolisticamente, pois pois] para o Irao! Prediction; Portugal 2--Iran 1.
Czech Republic vs. Ghana. I am hoping for Ghana to defeat or tie CR. But expect the Czechs to win 1-0.
USA vs Italy. Italians like to break legs, and the Yanks have legs....hence it could be quite a bone-crunching affair tomorrow afternoon. [By the way, this match is on ABC not ESPN. At 2:30 EST. Just in case ya wanna watch]. It is exremely simple for the Yanks, win or start preparing your bags. Sounds easy, eh? But note that not only have the Yanks never defeated Italy, no one has defeated Italy over 24 straight matches. The Italian defense is incredibly good, and the whole team in fact plays as an extended defense. The goalkeeper, Buffon, is rivalled only by Cech for the mantle of best in the world right now. And, as the leg-breaking hints at, the Italians are seriously tough men. I hope for, but do not expect, a Yank victory. But I do expect a far far better performance than against CR, the sort of performance they put out against Germany and Mexico in the last WC, and against Mexico, Japan, and Norway this last year. If they don't, if they repeat the spiritless meandering of the last match, Arena should fall on his sword in the post-game conference. And if he doesn't, there will be no lack of candidates to play Brutus to his Caesar. Prediction: Italy 1-USA 1
By the way, have you noticed the quality of the commercials for this WC, on ESPN? I'm thinking in particular of the "He Who Would Fly" and "The Boxer", although the latter is more cruel than justly ironic. Anyway, I found them very funny. The little touch of Monty Python in the Guiness commercials is also amusing, if not "Brilliant".