Round of 16 Results: Day 2

No goal? Thanks, FIFA!

Germany 4-1 England
While the scoreline may be a bit more flattering than they deserve, Germany plays a dynamic youthful counter-attacking match against the Three Lions of England. Yet another epic chapter is added to the storied WC rivalry of England v. Germany, this time with the Germans handing the English their worst-ever WC defeat.

However, the controversy that will be discussed for decades to come was the outrageous refereeing failure to allow the Lampard goal where the entire ball was a yard and a half beyond the line. The goal would have tied the game at 2-2 -- no doubt changing the complexion of the match. It seems everyone at the stadium besides the officials could see it was a good goal. When will Sepp Blatter and FIFA remove their heads from the sand and understand that the simple technology being used in sports leagues around the world could easily correct these egregious errors? Their lack of judgment is corrupting the integrity of the competition and exposing FIFA as stubborn ponderous dinosaurs desperately clinging to the olden ways of yesteryear. I call bullshit.

Argentina 3-1 Mexico
Once again poor refereeing affects the outcome of a WC match as they fail to call Carlos Tevez offside on the first goal of the match. Replays show he was clearly offside. Yet somehow, even after the referee conferred with his linesman, the goals stands. Terrible.

Still, the Argentines prove to have more firepower than El Tri can handle. Of particular note was Tevez's powerful strike from distance. Argentina move on to a tantalizing quarterfinal match against Germany.


Sadly, with England and Mexico's exit, Cantona and half of Eastern Influence's home countries are eliminated from the tournament. Of the pool teams only Canarinhos and Spanish Fingerboarder still have a national rooting interest. As for us, after the USA loss, Real Marin spent a couple of hours aimlessly wondering the streets of Fairfax trying to make sense of it all. Today we're in a much better mindset, watching again as enthusiastic neutrals.