England-Germany

England-Germany is about to get underway, and England is a slight favorite, on bodog.com, at least. I still say this is due to England $$ more than recent form, but while as a handicapper I like Germany, I'm rooting for England, and not betting. Let the record show that my past soccer handicappping record is crap.

Germany pick(+110) and England pick(-140) I take it include extra time, since there is no draw option. This, as opposed to Germany(+180), England(+155), and Draw(+275). If you don't quite fathom the betting sheet you perhaps ought not bet.

And I haven't: the game is now underway. (I really wanted to bet--can you tell?) England has more star power, but so far what has impressed is their tenacity and physical defense. One side or the other has supporters loud enough to be heard over the buzz of the horns. Along with a chorous of boos that met a non-call just now, this is one of the only instances I can recall. The last time was a bullshit chant from the Americans after a flagrant Ghanan flop yesterday.

Just heard some "God Save the Queen" over the buzz. Those fucking noisemakers are so fucking obnoxious.

Germany has scored. Knew I shoulda bet them. On a counterattack, as I suspected. These teams are solid enough defansively that counterattacking should give the best chances for both sides...

Some nifty passing from Germany just opened up the English defense, and David James made a nice save.

Ugh. Germany just scored again. I knew there was a reason that Germany(+180) seemed like a bargain.

England just scored, 2-1. This is turning into a good game.

Lampard just scored, but the refs didn't count it. Garbage.

.......................

Germany has won, 4-1. Once England got behind, they needed a more aggressive scheme, further opening them up in the back. Things may have been different had Lampard's goal counted, but Germany successfully took advantgage of the counterattacking chances England's aggressive stance presented, and they deserve credit for that. If Argentina advances, Germany could be a good value as a dog there. Something to look forward to.

Round 2 Begins

South Korea lost to Uruguay this morning, 2-1. The South American side will play the winner of US-Ghana this afternoon. Having been stuck there for four and a half years, I was pulling for the Land of the Morning Calm. Land of the Morning Loss rather, at least in Central Time. In Africa it was an Afternoon loss, and in Seoul it was a late-night loss....

Is it me, or did the Dodge Challenger ads where George Washington drives the Redcoats from the battlefield with a few Challengers happen to debut just before the US drew England in the World Cup?

Now that the US has won their group, leading to a tilt with Ghana this afternoon, Dodge can breathe easy. Had the Americans finished second, they'd be facing the Germans next, and Dodge, or perhaps Chrysler, would face embarrasing questions about why they don't have some Challengers winning the Battle of the Bulge.

The Germans would laugh at the Cars and Freedom line. Of course, it sounds better than "A couple of things the Germans got right: Cars and Genocide," right? Unless you're into that sort of thing. Somebody should do a VW parody like that.

Ten minutes to gametime, and the US are favored over Ghana, though I won't bore you with the odds. Meanwhile, we are a 33-1 shot to win the whole thing.

Enough Americans have shown up to audibly sing the Star Spangled Banner. Thankfully those little noisemakers held off until after the anthems, though the buzzing started up for a few seconds before the Ghana anthem interrupted them.

Brazil and Spain are still the favorites, at 3/1 and 4/1, respectively. Had Spain's tilt with Chile gone differently, Spain and Brazil would be playing each other next round.

Argentina is a 9/2 shot, followed by Holland at 13/2. England and Germany, who play each other tomorrow, are both 14/1. England are slight favorites, at least on bodog.com, but I chalk this up to the betting publc, rather than to the teams' recent form.

Ugh. Ghana just scored. On a related note, either the odds have shifted, or I misread them before. I don't really care for soccer odds.