I agree completely. The ref let this one get out of control, and in the end Brazil pays, which likely wasn't part of the plan. Missing Silva and Neymar, and they should be missing Cesar as well.

A bat would have to be involved, too.

Yup. Aside from the goal, his biggest contribution today was his speed. Holy crap he's a speed demon.

Belgium really played below expectations over their 4 games, frankly. You can dominate all you want, but if you can't finish against the teams you're expected to beat, you're going to have some serious issues when you face the big guys. So no, this Canadian doesn't think the better team won; instead, the team that…

That's pretty rough. I think Bradley has been much better this game.

It's not so much that Messi got the ball as it was handed over. The Swiss were doing that all bloody game, trying to thread narrow passes through blue and white bodies and discovering to their dismay that sometimes (often) these other guys would gratefully receive the ball instead of doing the gentlemanly thing and…

So pleased they've decided to not park the bus, but my goodness, they keep running into trouble at the back. And "trouble at the back" with Cameron and Gonzalez is an uncomfortable thought.

Well, that bites.

Let me take this moment to recommend the book Hops and Glory by Pete Brown, in which he makes his own IPA and then travels with it by boat to India (with a couple of hiccups on the way). Marvelous book.

I missed that. What did Klinsmann do? (Family over, pushing it watching as much as I am.)

Because he's mesmerizing. I didn't say "watch him closely," I said don't let them get him the ball, because he's the one most likely to shit on you. Which he did.

I knew someone would correct my poor Google-fu. Thanks (no, really, I mean it). And yeah, it's a hell of a thing to have to play in those conditions for that period of time. But sticking close to a guy when you're busy watching the other guy with the ball is a tough thing. It's not all on Bradley, but he has to own a…

True. Although the game plan was likely "Don't let Ronaldo get the ball and fuck us over, especially with only seconds left in the game," while the Portugal plan was "If there are seconds left in the game and we have the ball, get it to Cristiano so he can try to caralho the Americans." Slipping up and giving it away…

I know Bradley was tired there, but so was everyone else. He doesn't lose that ball deep in the Portugal end, you guys punch your ticket to the next round. Still, that was one helluva game.

I take that back. It was an atrocious start, but it hasn't been bad since. They seem to have found their sea legs.

Seems the Americans took their game plan from Korea's 1st half today.

Something nice and peaty to suit the play and the day?

Why not? You have a bit to go to catch up with the players.

You? Me? Us?

Keep in mind this was back in the day. Yeah, the Brazilians weren't then what they were before, but that joy and skill came out of Brazil (and South America) like a shock wave, once upon a time. And so they figure it's their god-given right, just like us and hockey. Remember, schadenfreude is also a Brazilian and…