EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) - 2F-England (2-1-2) could not hold an early lead and wilted in the heat to 1C-Brazil (5-0), 2-1. Rivaldo scored in his fifth straight match at the end of the first half (47'+) and Ronaldinho scored on a perfectly placed free kick (50') as Brazil advanced to the semifinals for the third straight cup. Ronaldinho was also red-carded on a questionable call (57') but it was England (who had just six shots) that seemed demoralized as Brazil continued to control the rest of the match. Brazil will play the Senegal-Turkey winner tomorrow.

2D-USA (2-2-1) dominated most of the match against the formidable 1E-Germans (4-0-1) but it was Michael Ballack's header off a free kick (39') that held up in a 1-0 victory for Germany. The US outshot Germany 11-6 (6-2 on goal) and for the first time controlled most of the play but German GK Oliver Kahn came up with one big save after another. Germany will face the winner of Spain-South Korea.

SHOTS: Landon Donovan (USA) had some terrific opportunities but all three of his shots were saved by Kahn. Tony Sanneh's two shots had Kahn beat but he was off target on both. So close.

STAPLES MANIA: They opened up the arena side seating as over 750 people came at 4 am to watch the USA-GER match at the Staples Center Grand Reserve Club. This was more like I thought it was going to be (unlike the other night where just fruit was served, the arena side was closed, the three dollar coffee, and people more demure) with TV cameras and painted faces and cheering crowds and free coffee. Sanneh's miss in the 89th minute hit so much net the crowd erupted but it was not to be.

THE THREE R'S: Ronaldo (5 goals), Rivaldo (5), and Ronaldinho (2) have 12 of Brazil's tournament-leading 15 goals. They took all of Brazil's four shots on goal today and have 26 of the team's 36 shots on goal.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN: Except for their three goal outburst in the first half vs Denmark, England has played downright ugly and boring soccer. After a good first half vs Sweden, they were defending for the next 45 minutes. Against Argentina, they got a PK goal but nothing else. The Nigeria 0-0 tie was a joke. And against a Brazil team down a man, England couldn't put anything together that scared Brazil in the final 20 minutes. I'm glad they're out.

NEAR TURNING POINTS: Miraslov Klose's (GER) uncontested header went off the right post just before halftime (43') and could've made the score 2-0 and been the death knell for the USA. Besides the accidental handball by Germany that saved a goal (50'), the momentum turner could've been when Claudio Reyna one-timed from midfield a punchout by Kahn and nearly put the ball over him into the net (64').

Just seven people picked Brazil (5 lost on England) and this narrowed the field a little as CLUELESS, MATADOR, and INDY were eliminated. Germany's win was picked by three people but didn't change anything in the pool. Leader BERNISAM UNITED FC (83 pts) had a bad day losing both England and USA while HOOTY MCBOOB (81) and PUNA (79) picked up wins and moved into 2nd and tied for 3rd. THE FLYING ELVI (71) is flying up, moving from 19th to tied for 10th. EEK (65) is 2nd to last but still has a chance for 3rd place. CLUELESS (13th-T, 69) became the fifth person this year to get no final four teams right. There are only 9 people left battling for the four money spots.

Just six matches ago, ROCKY MTN SOCCER (5th, 78) had a 84.4% chance of winning money (31.6% for 1st) but now has a 12.5% of winning 3rd or 4th. At the same time, PUNA has increased her chances from 47.5% to 93.8%, even more than BERNISAM who has slipped slightly to 87.5%. Both have a 31.3% chance of winning the top prize. FLYING ELVI (25%) and LUIS ENRIQUE'S ARMADA (12.5%) are the only other people who can win first place. And the battle for first breaks down like this:

* PUNA wins 1st if BRA wins it all or KOR beats BRA in final...
* BERNISAM UNITED FC wins 1st if KOR beats SEN or TUR in final or if SEN or TUR win it all...
* LUIS ENRIQUE'S ARMADA wins 1st if ESP wins it all...
* FLYING ELVI wins 1st if GER wins it all...

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Valiant effort...
Scott HW