World Cup Roundup - Day 9 & 10

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at what we missed over the second weekend of the tournament which included a couple shocking results, our first knockout round qualifiers, African sorrow, and umm, some pleasantries exchanged between the French coach and Le Sulk. If you're curious as to what the L'Equipe cover says, it's not pretty.

1) Biggest Winner - South America

-South American teams are still undefeated at the World Cup through 9 games. The quintet of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay are a combined 7-2-0 in the tournament thus far. Amazingly, each country finds itself in great position to advance to the knockout round - it's akin to Big East dominance of the NCAA tournament. Take a look at the results thus far:

*Brazil - 6 points, 2-0, already qualified for KO round

*Argentina - 6 points, 2-0, qualification a near certainty

*Uruguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, likely in already

*Paraguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, need draw against NZ

*Chile - 3 points, currently 0-0 against Swiss but are a man up

All of these teams are also currently in first place in their groups as well. South America is dominating the African World Cup. Just imagine what can happen in 2014 when the tournament travels to Brazil!

2) Standout Performer - Mark Paston

-The New Zealand goalkeeper was outstanding against Italy in preserving a 1-1 draw against the Azurri. The All Whites pulled off perhaps the most surprising result of the tournament in getting a point against the defending world champs. In truth, all of New Zealand were standout performers as they didn't try to sink in and play too negatively against Italy. Now, they have a real chance of progressing into the knockout round with a result against Paraguay.

3)Biggest Loser - Africa

-As much as everyone is rooting for the African teams to do well, it's not happening. Take a look at how each nation has fared...

*Cameroon - first team officially eliminated with 0-0-2 record

*South Africa - face elimination with 0-1-1 record

*Nigeria - 0 points from 2 games, but still an outside chance of advancing

*Algeria - 1 point from 2 games with 0 goals scored

*Cote D'Ivoire - 1 point from 2 games and .006% chance of advancing due to 7-0 Portugal win this morning

*Ghana - 4 points and Group D leaders, but must tie or beat Germany to secure advancing

Cameroon and Cote D'Ivoire have been the most disappointing of the African nations. Cameroon should have probably won both of their games thus far and lost to both Denmark and Japan. Ivory Coast were uninspiring against Portugal and were ran over by Brazil. Also, there was the embarrassing act of Kader Kaita, which got Kaka sent off. I think Ghana and Nigeria both face an uphill struggle trying to qualify for the next round, hopefully one of them makes it.

4) Best Game - Denmark 2 Cameroon 1

-It was one of the most open and dramatic games of the World Cup. Denmark became one of the few teams to reverse a deficit into a victory, but Cameroon will rue the several blown chances against not just Denmark, but in their first game against Japan as well. Cameroon is out while Denmark will still need to beat Japan to advance.

5) Biggest Douchebags - French National Team

-When you have to defend Raymond Domenech, you know that somebody has screwed up big time. Yes, the coach is an idiot, clueless, inept, or whatever word you want to use to describe the lack of ability from the French manager. But, that gives no excuse for what the French players have done. First, Nicolas Anelka was justly sent home after speaking out against Domenech, and then the entire team refused to practice yesterday! Now, officials from the FFF are resigning and the nation is ashamed of the petulant behavior. It's one thing to play poorly on the field, but this sort of childish behavior makes a mockery of the sport, the World Cup, and embarrasses a nation - yes, even France.

6) Highlight - Rommedahl Match Winner

-Dennis Rommedahl's goal for Denmark was one of the better individual efforts of the World Cup. He takes the ball on the wing, cuts back inside, and slots it perfectly to the far post to give Denmark the win.

7) Extra Time - Group Scenarios

*Group C - Slovenia (4 pts) will advance with a win or draw against England. The USA (2 pts) advance with a win or a draw & England draw as long as they stay ahead on goals scored (currently +2). England (2 pts) must win to advance. Algeria (1 pts) is still alive and must beat the USA and have England draw or lose.

*Group D - Ghana (4 pts) will advance with a win, draw, or even a loss and a narrow Australia victory over Serbia. Germany (3 pts) are assured of advancing with a win, or a draw and Serbia loss or tie. Serbia (3 pts) advances with a win, draw & Ghana win, or a draw and a Germany win by more than 1 goal. Australia (1 pts) must win and have Ghana defeat Germany.

*Group E - Holland (6 pts) is in. Cameroon (o pts) is out. So, it comes down to Denmark and Japan, both on 3 points. Currently, Japan has a +0 goal difference while Denmark is -1. Therefore, Japan advances with a win or draw against the Danes, while Denmark must beat Japan to advance.

*Group F - Paraguay (4 pts) is in the drivers seat and needs a win, draw, or a narrow loss and Italy loss to get in. New Zealand (2 pts) must either beat Paraguay, or hope for a draw & Italian draw while scoring more goals than the Azurri or a draw & Italy defeat. Italy (2 pts) will advance with a win against Slovakia, or a draw and NZ loss/tie with less goals. ***Italy and NZ have the same number of goals scored and allowed, and if that remains the same after the final phase of group matches we could be drawing lots to see who goes on!*** Slovakia (1 pts) must beat Italy and hope for a New Zealand loss or tie.

*Group G - Brazil (6 pts) is in. North Korea (0 pts) is out. Based on their 7-0 victory today, Portugal (4 pts) is almost assured of advancing unless Cote D'Ivoire (1 pts) beats North Korea by 8 or 9 goals.

Tuesday Preview

Group A - 10:00 ET

France (1 PTS) v South Africa (1 PTS)

-One of these teams must win by at least 3 or 4 goals to begin to think about advancing. With all of the turmoil in the French team, I can't see them playing well. South Africa will look to at least give the home fans something positive to remember from the 2010 World Cup.

PICK: RSA 1 France 0

Uruguay (4 PTS) v Mexico (4 PTS)

-Uruguay is in pole position due to their superior goal differential. The draw that both teams seek will see Uruguay get 1st in the group and avoid Argentina in the next round. Will Mexico sacrifice sure qualification to push for a win and avoid Argentina? I doubt it. I would expect both teams to play defensive and we'll see a wink wink 0-0 draw that sends them both through.

PICK: Uruguay 0 Mexico 0

Moving On - 1) Uruguay 2) Mexico

Group B - 2:30 ET

Argentina (6 PTS) v Greece (3 PTS)

-Only a shock defeat here would see Argentina not secure first in the group. Greece was fortunate to get a sending off from Nigeria to get their win - otherwise, they were on their way out. Argentina should continue to roll on comfortably, which means Greece will exit the competition.

PICK: Argentina 2 Greece 0

South Korea (3 PTS) v Nigeria (0 PTS)

-Even on 0 pts, Nigeria still has a chance to go on with an Argentina victory and a win over South Korea. If those necessary results play out, Nigeria will advance on goal difference. They just need a little bit of luck against South Korea that they didn't get in the first 2 games. My head tells me that South Korea will at least get a draw that will likely see them advance, but my heart tells me that one African team has to find a way to advance.

PICK: Nigeria 2 South Korea 1

Moving On - 1) Argentina 2) Nigeria

When Irish Eyes Are Crying

Yesterday, one of the great injustices in sports history happened, and no, this is not another article blasting Colin Cowherd... but something that is perhaps more important. The field of 32 is set for the World Cup, but not without controversy. Of course, you probably know by now that traditional power France defeated Ireland 2-1 on aggregate thanks to a goal by William Gallas in extra time. That goal was directly set up from an obvious handball on French icon Thierry Henry (see pic from Sky Sports above, c'est manifeste). Henry knew it was a handball, he even admitted it afterwards, the other French and Irish players knew it was a handball, the millions watching around the world knew it was a handball... and yet, the goal stood. France are in the World Cup and Ireland are out on not just a missed call, but a blatant disregard for the rules of soccer. Here's the video evidence from a scarred Irishman...

Sure, bad calls are made all the time... but as American sports fans, it might be hard to realize the magnitude of this decision. Imagine if a blown call cost your favorite team a spot in the playoffs... only that it would be 4 years until you could get another chance back in. Oh, and it's not just you and the fans of your favorite team, it's your entire country that feels cheated. Needless to say, this is the blown/missed call of all blown/missed calls. This makes the Tuck Rule and Phil Luckett's coin toss look like child's play.

Many in Ireland are calling for a replay of the game, which if it happens would be the most stunning thing in sports I've ever seen. Have a look at some of the Irish quotes surrounding this incident and tell me if FIFA and world soccer has some fences to mend...

"We got robbed. ... We feel cheated. We were the better team," said Irish defender Sean St. Ledger. ''It's cost a lot of us our dreams - as a boy I used to dream of playing in the World Cup, and now I'm not.''

"Throughout the country today there is an air of bitterness. We were beaten unfairly and there is general disgust in France too," Irish lawmaker Joe McHugh said. "Friends of mine who attended last night's game phoned me this morning from a cafe in Paris to report that the French people are ashamed and do not regard this as an honest victory."

"If the game's going to survive, it's got to be an equal playing field," Irish Ast. Manager Liam Brady said. "If we're going to have integrity and dignity in the world game, the game should be replayed. And we'll go to Paris to play it."

"If that result remains, it reinforces the view that if you cheat you will win," said Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.

But, the best and most damning quote came from Ireland Captain and Tottenham star Robbie Keane, who questioned the ethics of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA head honcho Michel Platini...

"They're all probably clapping hands, Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result, with France (getting through)."

And we thought conspiracy theories only existed in the NBA?! This is on, hello, a WORLD scale. This is the captain of a national team calling out the presidents of the two most important governing bodies in the world's biggest and most popular sport. Can you imagine if Tom Brady accused Roger Goodell of this sort of behavior??

Of course, Ireland felt hard done by the whole seeding process of UEFA and FIFA which was done to protect the bigger countries like France and Portugal (which beat Bosnia to go through). The Henry Hand controversy is only going to reinforce the notion that there is an unfair playing field and that nations like Ireland will never get a fair shake in world soccer. The Football Association of Ireland has now lodged a formal request for a replay of the game.

If life were fair, a replay would happen next week in Paris. (The only similar scenario I can find occurred in 1999 when Arsene Wenger offered an FA Cup Replay to Sheffield United after questionable circumstances surrounded a winning goal by Arsenal). But, we're living in dreamland if we think that Ireland is actually going to get the chance to play France for a spot in the World Cup again. First, FIFA and UEFA have gotten their wish of France going through to South Africa. Secondly, a replay opens up a Pandora's Box that soccer or any other sport can't afford to deal with: every game decided on a missed or disputed goal would need to be replayed. Of course that would be insanity.

So, sadly, injustice reigns again. And, you know, maybe France would have won a penalty shootout, but maybe they wouldn't have won. The nation of Ireland will sit at home and watch France play in South Africa knowing that they were robbed of what could be a once in a generation chance at playing in the world's most prestigious sporting event. So when your team suffers at the hands of questionable officiating, keep the Emerald Isle in mind and know it could be much, much worse. Keep the Guinness on tap come next June...

What are your thoughts on the France/Ireland controversy? Should Ireland get another chance? Is FIFA corrupt? Does soccer need video replay? Should the French do the honorable thing and offer a replay? Are the French capable of such a thing? (Just kidding to all 1-2 of our French readers) Let us know what you think!