CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- Tomorrow's the day where, for those of us who aren't lucky enough to go to Germany, we spend a month of mornings glued to the television (in high def, no less). Brazil will now try to prove to the world they are a cut above the rest while Spain, England, and the Netherlands try to bury old ghosts. Will Africa demonstrate they do indeed deserve the five WC slots or will FIFA shift a slot to Europe? Can Angola do to their once conquerors (Portugal) what Senegal did to France last time? And can the USA, with arguably their strongest team, survive a horrible draw and an even worse 2nd Round matchup with Brazil?

The Stars & Stripes definitely have their work cut out for them. The key will be to score early. While that may seem simple, most games they have played well (see Germany-USA quarterfinal in 2002) but if they don't knock that first goal through, it's all for naught. Since the USA restored their soccer heritage with the 1990 World Cup, the Americans are just 3-9-2 and have only won 2 of 12 Round Robin matches.

When they have scored a goal in the first half, they are undefeated (3-0-2). When they score their first goal in the second half, they are winless (0-3-0). They haven't played a scoreless draw so they are 0-6-0 when getting shut out. So if they score a goal in the first half: 3-0-2... when they don't: 0-9-0. It's just as bad on the flip side. If the opponent scores in the first half, the U.S. is 0-8-1 (the tie coming against Switzerland in '94). And the first 40 minutes also tell a story. If the Yanks score a goal in the first 40 minutes (regardless if it's first goal of the match), they are 3-0-1; if the opponent scores (regardless if it's the first goal of the match) in the first 40 minutes: 0-8-1. In none of the USA's matches have both teams scored in the first 40 minutes. So watch the first 40 minutes- if one team has scored, there's your winner.

We have tied 2002's entry total with 23 (and parts of 2 others) with 24 hours to go. I will vow to make the Round of 16 bracket easier for 2010, but it's interesting how those who have participated in the NCAA pool don't have as many problems entering online. Oh, well, post your frustrations on the discussion board.

Some quick items of business... a reminder that the Total Goals tiebreaker is the combined number of goals scored in the 3rd Place and Final matches (TWO games) and remember that FIFA does not add a goal for the penalty kick tiebreaker (so if the game ends 1:1 after overtime and goes to PK, the final score is still 1:1). Remember that this year, there is no Golden Goal (boo! those wimpy Europeans), so there could be more than one goal scored in overtime. Also, one possible FIFA wrinkle, is that FIFA could impose a 3-point penalty if the players/coaches exhibit any racist behavior (fans can continue to be idiots). What will happen is that if the 3-point penalty is applied after the match is over, then the winner of that match stands (even if that team does not get the 3 points for winning). If for some reason, a match does not finish, whatever winner FIFA declares wins that match. Advancing to the Round of 16 will be the team that advances. In other words, if Brazil wins all three matches, that's three wins you can win, but if the coach goes crazy and FIFA docks Brazil six points so they don't make the Round of 16, then everyone loses who picked Brazil in the Round of 16. Confused? Well, hopefully everyone behaves and we/I won't have to worry about it.

Good luck!