After being delinquent for a day, I return to you live from the Stadium Media Center in Nuremberg (say that in a Brent Musberger voice for added effect), where the United States and Ghana will play tomorrow afternoon.
We just finished one of the great pleasures of the World Cup, following two simultaneous matches that both had implications on how a group would finish. When Portugal led Mexico 2-1 and Angola took a 1-0 led on Iran, it looked like the Angolans might have a chance to move past the Mexicans into second place, thus earning a spot in the round of 16. Even sportswriters love an underdog, so we were pulling for Angola (especially after the Mexicans tried to draw another penalty with some pathetic play-acting).
Alas, Iran tied it up, and Angola couldn't pull ahead or get the two additional goals they would have needed to pass Mexico in terms of goal differential. So the Mexicans advance, thus ensuring that the CONCACAF region (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) won't be totally shut out of the second round. That would have been extremely embarrassing for the region that the U.S. calls home.
As for Nuremberg, we're staying in a rather ... eclectic place called the Hotel Smile, whose predominant motif is, you guessed it, a smily face. There's even one on the toilet seat. The decor's a little funky, but it'll do. Meanwhile, we're right next to the Colosseum-like stadium that Hitler used for massive Nazi rallies in the '30s. Sort of looks like Harvard Stadium, if Harvard Stadium had a really creepy vibe to it.
Finally, I'll note that the media center is right smack in the middle of a hockey rink, a practice rink located inside the large arena adjacent to the Frankenstadion. There are puck marks on the boards right behind the T-Mobile help desk, in fact. So in the spirit of my surroundings, I offer up a congratulatory chorus of "Brass Bonanza" to any Whalers fans out there. The Cup is yours. Sort of.
More tomorrow from the stadium as the journey (perhaps) comes to an end.
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