CERRITOS, CA (smt) - Turkey (1-1-1, 4 pts), like Paraguay before them, had to make up at least a three-goal differential with Costa Rica (1-1-1, 4). Quickly, they had made up 4 goals as Turkey scored twice in the first nine minutes against China (0-3, 0) while Brazil (3-0, 9) scored twice in the first 13 minutes against Costa Rica. It would grow as Brazil added a third goal in the 38th minute seemingly putting Turkey at ease. However, the Costa Ricans scored a minute later and then added a goal in the 56th minute to pull within one of Brazil. With the two goals, Costa Rica would win the "goals for" tiebreaker with Turkey. But Brazil put the lights out for Costa Rica with two goals two minutes apart to win 5-2. Turkey, not taking any chances, added the clinching third goal to beat China, 3-0 and take 2nd over Costa Rica in Group C.

Both Croatia (1-2, 3) and Italy (1-1-1, 4) needed a win to guarantee a spot in the Round of 16. Mexico (2-0-1, 7) needed just a tie to win Group G. With less than five minutes remaining, Mexico was beating Italy 1-0 and Ecuador (1-2, 3) was surprising Croatia 1-0. With just two teams now fighting (Mexico advancing with no less than a tie; Ecuador not going after the much needed goals to help their cause) it would be in their hands. Italy scores, they're in. If Croatia scores (forcing a tie), they make it. It was Alessandro Del Piero of Italy whose goal in the 85th minute sealed the fate of Croatia.

With Tunisia (0-2-1, 1) coach all but conceding the game against Japan (2-0-1, 7) before the match was even played, Japan almost took it too easy. Even with a one-goal loss, Japan would advance but it took a while for them to realize that win now and they'll avoid a Round of 16 matchup with Brazil. Sub Hiroaki Morishima quickly put Japan on top 3 minutes into the 2nd half and a second goal would seal first place in Group H. Tunisia finally put some pressure on but it was too late (they had just one shot on goal). Meanwhile, the winner of Belgium-Russia would take 2nd place. With Russia (1-2, 3) advancing on a tie, the frowned upon defensive mode was afoot. Belgium (1-0-2, 5) made them pay in the 7th minute forcing Russia to change strategies. They managed to tie it in the 52nd minute and forced Belgium back into finding the goal ahead goal. In the 78th minute, Belgium found that goal and added an insurance goal 4 minutes later. But Russia found net in the 88th setting up a dramatic finish. Belgium held on to win 3-2 and advances to play Brazil, not exactly a great reward for victory.

In Group D, the USA (1-1-1, 4) somehow got very lucky. It didn't start off that way after giving up two Jeff Agoos-related goals to a down-and-out Poland (1-2, 3) in the first five minutes. Then needing Portugal (1-2, 3) to win big (or so they thought) for their best opportunity to advance, Portugal's Joao Pinto was red-carded for a vicious tackle in the 27th minute forcing them into a defensive posture cause a tie would advance Portugal. The US then fell behind 3-0 and now having Korea to upset Portugal would be their best chance as it was still 0-0. The US luck began to change in the 66th minute when Beto of Portugal was whistled for his second yellow card, forcing Portugal to play two men down. South Korea then finally scored in the 70th minute. Despite playing with just nine men, Portugal made a valiant effort to tie the score. But first their GK made three huge saves to keep the margin to one. Portugal then bounced a shot off the post and the Korean GK made one last great save to stun Portugal, 1-0, and send the US into the second round against the Group G winner... Mexico? Korea wins the group and gets tossed in with Italy while the US gets to play a tough but familar foe. How lucky is that?

GROUP LEADERS: Of the six group leaders who weren't host countries, only three won their group. Italy came in second and France and Argentina failed to qualify. In the two groups hosted by Japan and Korea, they were clearly not the favorites to win the group but they did, overtaking the spot from Belgium (2nd) and Portugal (failed to qualify).

ONLY IN THE USA: The United States again finished last, but this time among the 16 countries who qualified for the Round of 16 instead of the 16 who failed to qualify. The United States was also the only team who qualified to have a negative goal differential (Portugal was the only non-qualifier with a positive GD). The US also was the only team to qualify while losing.

US, PART II: The scores seemed reverse. I think I had the US losing 3-1 to Portugal, beating South Korea 3-2, and tying Poland 1-1. Oh, wait, without Agoos, I had the US tying Portugal 1-1, beating South Korea 3-0, and beating Poland 1-0.

ROUND OF 16: While every team scored in World Cup '98, three teams (France, China, Saudi Arabia) failed to do so this year. Four unlucky teams failed to make it despite having four points (Cameroon, South Africa, Argentina, Costa Rica). Germany and Brazil scored the most goals (11 each) with Germany having an insane +10 goal differential. Spain and Brazil were the only teams to fly through 3-0. There were just two scoreless draws and 14 ties, 2 less than in '98.

EXCITING: The two matches played simultaneously is excellent. Just about every group there was tension at the end as the results became more clear. The best switching back-and-forth between matches were in Groups B (Paraguay's comeback), C (Costa Rica vs Turkey), D (USA's fate), and G (Italy's goal). One great match in Groups A (SEN-URU), F (ARG-sWE), and H (BEL-RUS). Only Group E (Germany and Ireland's wins) lacked any climatic finish after Germany went up 2-0.

ANNOYING: In a perfect world, each team would not know the score of the other match. But since it's imperfect, we get stalling and boring tactics between ENG-NIG (England playing for a tie), four minutes of actual "stop"-page time at the end of ITA-MEX (knowing both would qualify), running out the 1st half between POR-KOR (finding out US was losing and both teams would advance on a tie), and USA holding the ball the last couple of minutes vs Poland (finding out POR lost). At least the USA match was out of reach (down 3-1) so that was okay. But if England, Portugal, or Italy won, they would've won their group. So there was something to play for but they didn't. Russia and Denmark also employed defensive styles to play for a tie.

In the pool, ROCKY MTN SOCCER got 27 of 34 matches (14 ties) correct and tied for the high with 12 of 16 Round of 16 teams picked correctly to lead the pool with 63 points. Five people went 5-2 the past two days. DIMPLES (17th-T, 49) was the only person to somehow correctly pick South Korea's win while five communists picked Poland over the USA. Six picked Ecuador's first-ever World Cup win. Twenty picked Japan, 16 Belgium, 15 Turkey, and all 23 picked Brazil.

In hot pursuit of ROCKY is HOOTY MCBOOB and LUIS ENRIQUE'S ARMADA, who was tied for 18th four days ago, with 59 pts. BERNISAM UNITED FC is fourth with 58 pts with PUNA fifth with 57 pts. Of the top 7, only ARMADA (Spain) and PUNA (Brazil) have their championship team left. FLYING ELVI, though bragging about not picking France or Argentina, sits tied for 17th place, 14 points behind ROCKY. SOURCE (22nd, 45), though picking 24 correct first round matches (3rd best), was last in picking just 7 of 16 Round of 16 teams. But EEK (43) still remains in last, 20 pts behind the leader.

Everyone had Italy and Brazil in the Round of 16 but just nine had Turkey and 12 had Mexico. In Group D, which turned out to be the Group of Death of sorts, 15 picked the USA but just two (CLUELESS (9th-T, 54) and DIMPLES) had co-host South Korea. In Group H, arguably the toughest group to figure out, 19 had Belgium and 14 had co-host Japan.

Now we move into a Sweet 16 format. With all the upsets it's entirely possible you have two of your quarterfinalists playing against each other in the Round of 16. That's the luck of the picks. I was hoping to have who has been eliminated today but it might not be until later this weekend, so all of you still have hope (even if it technically doesn't exist).

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Mexico vs USA- Wow...
Scott HW