CERRITOS, CA (smt) - Germany (1-0-1, 4 pts) started off the match two stage with a chance to clinch a spot in the Round of 16. However, the comeback kids of Ireland (0-0-2, 2) prevented this when Robbie (not Roy) Keane scored in the 92nd minute to earn a tie Germany, 1-1. Cameroon (1-0-1, 4) met up with a determined Saudi Arabia (0-2, 0) team and only managed a 1-0 win and is 2nd behind Germany in Group E via goal differential. Saudi Arabia became the first team to be eliminated from the Round of 16. The winner between Cameroon and Germany will advance with a win. A tie between Germany and Cameroon will depend if Ireland beats the Saudis but Germany is likely to advance on their huge goal differential. Germany, just seconds from clinching a spot, could miss the Round of 16 if they lose to Cameroon and Ireland wins.

Senegal (1-0-1, 4) continued to surprise everyone by outplaying Denmark (1-0-1, 4) and rallying to a 1-1 tie, putting pressure on France. Already playing without star Zinedine Zidane again, Thierry Henry was red-carded in the 26th minute leaving the French (0-1-1, 1) with 10 men in a must tie situation. France GK Fabien Barthez made several kick saves, the last with seconds left in the match to preserve a 0-0 tie with Uruguay (0-1-1, 1), the first scoreless draw in the tournament (20 matches). With the earlier tie between Group A leaders, France had a great opportunity to position themselves to win the group. Both Uruguay and France in Group A still control their own destiny if they each win by 2 goals or more. A one-goal victory would come down to "goals for" tiebreaker at least. France could be without Zidane again, as well as without Henry and Emmanuel Petit (2nd yellow card) vs Denmark. Senegal will be without Salif Diao who picked up a red-card in the 80th minute.

Nigeria (0-2, 0) scored first but became the first team to be eliminated after Henrik Larsson's two goals (last on a PK) gave Sweden (1-0-1, 4) a 2-1 win to lead Group F. The much anticipated matchup between Argentina (1-1, 3) and England (1-0-1, 4) was plagued with 41 fouls but saw David Beckham redeem his early red-card ejection in a loss in the quarterfinals to Argentina in 1998 with the lone goal off a penalty kick. All three teams can advance with a win in their next game and England and Sweden can advance with a tie.

Spain (2-0, 6), who have been known to disappoint with the worst outing being in 1998 when the failed to make the Round of 16, became the first team to qualify for the Round of 16 scoring three straight goals (4 if you include the own goal to give Paraguay (0-1-1, 1) the early lead) for the victory. South Africa (1-0-1, 4) took advantage of a razzled Slovenia (0-2, 0) team without Zlatko Zahovic and the last 37 minutes without coach Srecko Katanec, to win 1-0 on a "thigh"-er that was supposed to be a header in the fourth minute. Slovenia is eliminated and South Africa would qualify with at least a tie vs Spain. Paraguay needs to win and have South Africa lose and make up a 3-goal differential deficit. Spain wins the Group B with a tie or win.

SOMERSAULTS: Germany's Miroslav Klose celebrated his cup-leading 4th goal with a backflip but was matched 73 minutes later with Keane somersaulting after tying it up. However, Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o bested them all with seven somersaults after his goal vs Saudi Arabia.

TURNAROUNDS: Saudi Arabia had just 3 shots (1 on goal) vs Germany but had 14 shots vs Cameroon. On the other hand, Slovenia had 11 shots vs Spain but only 4 against South Africa.

OWN GOALS: As a professional soccer statistician, an own goal (by FIFA) is defined as a goal off a defender. But if the initial shot was "on goal", then despite any deflection, no own goal is awarded. The two goals in the USA-POR match were obviously own goals as well as the one in the ESP-PAR match. However, the "first" own goal that was given was to South Africa's first goal. Replays showed that the ball was heading toward one corner of the goal but was deflected to the other corner. Apparently, this has been corrected and credited back to South Africa's Teboho Mokoena which is good to hear.

FIRST GOAL: Sweden and Spain's wins after traling 1-0 was only the second and third time a team has not scored first and won (teams are 3-14-6 after trailing 1-0). Brazil was the first team (2-1 over Turkey).

COMMERICALS: The Adidas "Footballitis" commericals are a hoot. It's the perfect commercial in the wee hours in the morning- the bizarre concept, the 70's background music. Just classic. Hope they come up with more during the World Cup. The MLS one is cool with the Mission Impossible theme. I'm still trying to figure out the Nike steel ball matches commercial but I like it. I also saw these commericals (not the MLS one) during the Laker-Net game last night.

Everyone got Spain and Cameroon's win correctly while 15 picked Sweden. Only seven people picked England's tough win and this produced a 4-way tie for first. But South Africa's first-ever World Cup win was picked by just eight peole and gave ROCKY MTN SOCCER (15 pts) sole possession of first (out of 17 possible pts). Five people are tied for second with 14 pts. EEK remains is last with 9 pts, 6 off the leader.

No one had Nigeria or Saudi Arabia in the Round of 16 but 3 people (BERN'S DA BOMB '02 (2nd-T, 14), CRESTFIELD WAX PAPER (15th-T, 11), and DIMPLES (10th-T, 12)) had Slovenia and will lose out. Everyone had Spain reaching the Round of 16. Fifteen more spots to go!

I will probably email updates every three days for this round-robin stage and update the web page every afternoon/night with standings. Check the discussion board for what is new on the homepage.

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Hopefully France breaks out and not breaks down...
Scott HW