CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- A1-Germany (3-0-0), led by Miroslav KLOSE's two goals, are hitting their stride as they easily put away A4-Ecuador (2-1-0), 3-0, to win Group A. A3-Poland (1-2-0) finally scored and rallied to beat A2-Costa Rica (0-3-0), 2-1. B1-England (2-0-1) lost Michael OWEN in the 2nd minute and then blew two 1-goal leads but held on to tie a spunky B4-Sweden team, 2-2. ENG's Joe COLE had an amazing long-range volley goal but England was kept from snapping a 11-match winless streak against the Swedes and are now 0-4-8 since 1968. The tie sent Sweden as the 2nd place team in Group B and will face GER while ENG will take on surprising ECU. B2-Poland (1-2-0) scored their first goals of the WC as they outmatched tiny B3-Trindad & Tobago (0-2-1), 2-0. Both CONCACAF teams lost today putting its four teams with a collective 1-6-3 record scoring just 7 goals while allowing 18.

D1-Mexico (2-1-0) continued the CONCACAF drought missing a PK and losing to D4-Portugal (3-0-0), 2-1. MEX did play well while playing with just ten men for a good part of the 2nd half as POR knew just a tie would win Group D. D3-Angola (0-1-2) made things interesting when they took a 1-0 lead over D4-Iran (0-2-1) but while they tried to get more goals (a 3rd goal would've sent them to the R16 over MEX), IRN tied it in the 75th minute. While C1-Argentina (2-0-1) and the C4-Netherlands (2-0-1) played to a scoreless draw (giving Group C to ARG), C2-Ivory Coast rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat C3-Serbia & Montenegro, 3-2, with the assist of 2 PKs. While the nation of Ivory Coast goes back to their war, the SCG team will now compete as a separate Serbia national team and a Montenegro national team. SCG's last ever event saw them go winless and give up 10 goals.

With 6 of the 8 teams already securing a Round of 16 berth, all but ENG got through scot-free with most resting key starters with yellow cards. PAR's lead and IRN's tying goal gave the other two teams, SWE and MEX, comfort for a safe passage to the R16 (don't tell me they don't know what the other game's score is during the match). This can lead to some boring soccer as teams are content with their placement. That's why the CRC-POL, PAR-TRI, CIV-SCG, and IRN-ANG's matches were fun to watch - pride was on the line (though TRI and ANG had slight chances to advance). POL, PAR, ANG, and SCG scored their first goals of this WC. POL, SWE (twice!), CIV (by 2 goals), and IRN all came back to tie or win their last RR match with only SWE moving on. With just BRA and ESP securing R16 berths, hopefully the next two days will produce lots of drama.

Just like that, pool leader PAOLO ROSSI falls into a tie for 1st after one day and into a tie for 2nd after two days. SOURCE is the new leader with 58 points, three more than ROSSI and MIKE ON THE MIKE. HOFBRAU FOOTBALL (54 pts) has made a move from a tie for 8th to 4th while 5 others are tied for 5th with 53 pts, including THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA, who is apathetic towards soccer.

Exactly half (22) picked CIV while 29 picked POR, 33 picked POL, and 37 picked PAR. With just two R16 spots open, 37 correctly picked MEX and 31 picked SWE. Seven went 5-0 (including PELE, BEN THE GREATEST, SALSAKING, and DIVINE PONYTAIL) the past two days. SOURCE and MR. WONDERFUL FC are the only two entries with all 10 R16 teams correct. The HWCI record is 14 of 16 picked by three entries in 1998. They differ in 2 of the final 6 picks (KOR/SUI and USA/CZE) but if one actually manages to get all 16 correct, I'll pay their $10 entry in the 2010 pool.

Just two more days before we find out who is officially eliminated from winning money. Hope it's not me. I really hope it's not me twice.

As a reminder, the $440 will be split as follows:

1st Place: $220.00
2nd Place: $110.00
3rd Place: $ 70.00
4th Place: $ 40.00

SCORELESS: ANG went through a record 236 minutes before either their opponent or themselves scored a goal... ANG's goal in the 60th minute of their 3rd match was the first goal scored in their game since the 4th minute of their first match (scored by POR)

USA WC 1990-2006: All-time Round Robin (2-9-3); overall (3-10-3)... U.S. record when opponent scores in 1st half (0-9-2)... when U.S. doesn't score in the 1st half (0-10-0)... team who has scored in the first 40 minutes (11-0-1) - USA-ITA first game where both teams scored in first 40 minutes and thus does not count... vs. European teams in Europe (0-6-1) (0-8-1 all-time v UEFA teams in WC)... vs. any team in Europe (0-7-1)

WC STATS: 40 matches (10 ties)... 97 goals (2.43 per game)... 13 Red Cards (4-TRI, 14-TOG, 15-UKR, 17-POL, 21-SCG, 22-ANG, 25-ITA, 25-USA(2), 26-CZE, 39-MEX, 38-SCG, 38-CIV); team with advantage (11 goals, 0 against)... 9 PKs (6/9) (15-ESP (G), 24-POR (G), 26-GHA (LP), 28-CRO (S), 31-ESP (G), 39-POR (G), 39-MEX(H), 38-CIV(G), 38-CIV(G))... Scoring first: 25-5-5 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 34-CRC, 38-SCG)... Shutouts: 30 (5 0:0 ties)... Leading at the half: 19-4-3 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 38-SCG)... Both teams scoring in the first half: 7 (1-GER-CRC 2:1, 7-MEX-IRN 1:1, 25-ITA-USA 1:1, 22-NED-CIV 2:1, 34-CRC-POL 1:1, 39-POR-MEX 2:1, 38-CIV-SCG 1:2)... Own goals: 3 (3-PAR, 25-ITA, 36-TRI)