The Final 16

I just want to give everyone a little treat and a little recap today. The above photo is of our boy Andy Irons. He is currently competing in an ASP event in Mexico where they are battling the Final 16 today. If anyone is fascinated by those crazy surf videos, feel free to watch a little live all day today on your computer. Speaking of surfing, all should go to Ditch Plains in West Village. Excellent place.

Now onto the other Final 16. As predicted to everyone by The Schwizz, the USA met their demise yesterday to a fierce and fast Ghana team that was playing without two of its best players. Also, as predicted by The Schwizz, Ghana was the first of my two sleepers to move through to the second round. My other sleeper, Ukraine is playing right now and will move through with a tie.

Briefly on the USA. For one to think that the USA should even sniff the World #5 ranking, it is ludicrous. When your best player and lone striker only plays for Fulham (albeit a Premiership team), you just can't expect to have a good tourney. I mean, Ghana's best player plays for Chelsea, South Korea has a guy on Man U, Ivory Coast has players on Top Teams, and Brazil has bench players that start for La Liga squads.

The Czechs are great, but a disappointment, Italy played lazy against us, and Ghana is legitimately good. If not for a second round match up with Brazil, they had a shot to sniff the QF's. Bottom line, the US is a nice squad, but they don't have the foot skills, nor the speed to match up with these full squad clubs in the World Cup. A fresh legged Eddie Johnson (the supposed fastest player for the US, couldn't even beat out a tired out Ghanian (sic) player in the 75th minute yesterday.

So therefore, it brings us to some amazing matchups in the second round. Because there are only 8, my Top 3 Round of 16 games.

3. Argentina v. Mexico - this will be hard fought, but the boys in powder blue will take it
2. Germany v. Sweden - Sweden has the squad to upset the hosts, should be a phenomenal game
1. Portugal v. Netherlands - could be the match of the tournament if not for a Brazil v. Spain potential QF matchup

Lastly, I want to giuve a shout out to the New York Mets. Toasty Joe is doing a meticulous job of his analysis of this year. Bottom line, these guys are fantastic, and they are fun to watch. So for all those Mets fans, don't get too greedy and have a lot of fun and drink a lot of beers while riding these guys to the playoffs. And to all the Yankees fans, see you in the Subway Series in October. Now that will be fun.

Schwizz

posted by The Schwizz @ 9:17 AM