Consulting The Crystal (Foot)Ball

Picking up where I left off yesterday:

DAY 6, JUNE 16, 2010

GROUP A:

SOUTH AFRICA VERSUS URUGUAY

South Africa will be looking for points in this game, because France looms in their third group game. South Africa has the home field advantage, but do they have the talent?

I think they have just enough talent to be aided by the crowd to get at least a draw. Uruguay has been known to lose their composure, according to World Soccer. I say Steven Pienaar helps create a goal for South Africa to counter an early goal by Diego Forlan, and South Africa hangs on for a 1-1 draw.

DAY 7, JUNE 17, 2010

GROUP A

FRANCE VERSUS MEXICO

Perhaps the showpiece game of the group, this one poses an emotional dilemma for me. Which team do I root against more? France, with the Hand Of Henry, or Mexico, the rival, the Hordes of the Azteca?

Frankly, that's a toss-up. So I'll just have to go with my instincts on this one. The time is right for Mexico to do quite well at the World Cup, and France is aging and slipping from the peak of the Zidane years.

Mexico wins more easily than you would expect, 2-0.


GROUP B

ARGENTINA VERSUS SOUTH KOREA

South Korea will work hard, with a game spirit, but a game spirit is not enough to win . . . er . . . a game. They will lack the defensive depth and the finishing precision to cope with the sheer talent of Argentina.

Argentina will have to guard against complacency, but as long as they come to play, they walk away with a 3-0 victory.


GREECE VERSUS NIGERIA

Nigeria has the confidence and the striking. Greece has a nicely colored flag and tasty cuisine. However, Nigeria probably has good food too. Nigeria wins 1-0. That's all I have to say about this one.

STANDINGS, CONTINUED

After the first round of games . . .

GROUP C

ENGLAND 1 WIN 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

SLOVENIA 1 WIN 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

ALGERIA 0 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS

UNITED STATES 0 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS


GROUP D

GERMANY 1 WIN 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

GHANA 1 WIN 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

SERBIA 0 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS

AUSTRALIA 0 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS



***** NON-SOCCER POST-SCRIPT

As I wrote this, a marathon ballgame was unfolding in Florida, the Giants starting a road trip with the bullpen blowing a strong performance by Tim Lincecum. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Sergio Romo gave up a three home run to Dan Uggla, and the Marlins took a 6-5 lead. Heartache. Every time the Giants win, I feel like my life is better, richer, like I've accomplished something of immeasurable value. A late-game loss would be brutal. Every Giants loss feels like my life is a deflated balloon, my spirits ebbing away with a whimpering pfffllaaat.

But with two outs in the top of the ninth, Aaron Rowand, he who bounces off of outfield fences and grass in pursuit of outs, drove a solo home run over the wall, sending the game to extra innings.

In the 12th inning, Aubrey Huff hit a bases-loaded double, and the Giants tacked on another run after that when Nate Schierholtz was hit in the head with the bases loaded again. He seemed to be okay, so it was not a Pyrrhic victory, and a victory it was. 9-6!

Also, today the San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings to take a three games to none lead in the NHL playoffs, and the San Francisco 49ers signed Patrick Willis to a five year contract extension. A plethora of sporting happiness. It can almost make one forget the world's problems, at least for a night. Which is, of course, the whole point of being a sports fan.