16 down...

So we're down to the round of 16 - 48 matches played, 16 games to go... starting with the two games today...including the big one on this side of the pond, the US v Ghana. However exciting that will be, and we will be watching it and cheering on the US on Saturday afternoon, the big day in this household is Sunday, when my Argentine wife and German Shepherd dog will be ganging up against me and the England boys...

Saturday

Uruguay (16) v South Korea (47)

United States (14) v Ghana (32)

Sunday 

Germany (6) v England (8)

Argentina (7) v Mexico (17)

Monday

Netherlands (4) v Slovakia (34)

Brazil (1) v Chile (18)

Tuesday

Paraguay (31) v Japan (45)

Spain (2) v Portugal (3)

I picked only 11 of these 16 teams to make it this far, and I only got 5 of the 8 group winners right, so I'm not going to put my neck out and pick winners here!

If you were wondering what the goals per game ratio has climbed to - see my earlier post - well this is still on course to be the lowest scoring World Cup ever. After 48 games, we've had 101 goals - that's 2.10 goals per game. That's lower than Italia 90 - the previous lowest scoring tournament.  Portugal and Argentina are the leading scorers with 7 each (although Portugal got their 7 in 1 game against North Korea so I'm not sure if that counts)

In preparation for the US game later; here's ESPN's preview of the US v Ghana.

Job done...but now we take the hard path...

Phew...it's never easy to be an England football supporter is it?  My wife is Argentine, and every Argentina game seems to be a breeze for her compared to the emotional turmoil, the pain and suffering that comes with EVERY England game, even when we win!

I'll leave breaking down the game and the performance to other more qualified writers, but the main thing to know is that while England have got through, that late Landon Donovan goal that sent the US through too might just be the second most important goal in England's World Cup campaign.  The late late show by the USA means that they top the group and England qualify second.  That means trouble!  Why?

Because now England fall into a different part of the World Cup bracket.  Depending on the results of the matches later today, England are now likely to face Germany in the second round on Sunday. It gets worse; should they vastly improve on performances to date and beat the old enemy, then they will probably have to face Argentina in the Quarter Finals.

Meanwhile the US, by virtue of topping the group, will probably face Serbia in the second round, before a Quarter Final match up against Uruguay or South Korea; now tell me which is the easier route to a Semi Final?  The US now have an unbelievable chance of making it to the Semi-Finals - one thing is for sure, either the US, Uruguay, South Korea, or Ghana/Serbia will make it to the semi final...not the biggest or best teams in the world.

So now we sit back and watch the next games unfold - Germany against Ghana and Australia v Serbia; I'll be cheering on Ghana, as a win or draw for them could send Germany home and out of England's way!   Unbelievably if Australia and Ghana win, then the US would face Australia in the next round, while England take on Ghana!!   It's all too complicated; the important thing is both England and the US are moving forward, but let there be no doubt that the US are in far better shape to make a run deep into this tournament. 

But then, when has the England football team ever done anything the easy way?