World Cup 2010 Blog: “Asian Cup Quarterfinals Preview” plus 1 more |  |
| Asian Cup Quarterfinals Preview Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:50 PM PST
It’s something of a shame that there wasn’t some sort of elaborate Asian Cup bracket, because looking at the quarterfinal matches it reads across the board as though it could’ve been drawn up on paper. Japan, Australia and South Korea were arguably the three favorites heading in, with shouts from Iran and Qatar, all three have to be favorites to make the semifinals, along with the Uzbek upstart (Jordan’s miracles may have run dry) and the insane training regime which has spawned a new Asian power. Of course, maybe splitting the final prize 5,000 ways wouldn’t be all that wonderful. Uzbekistan vs. Jordan Saturday, 22 Jan 2011: Australia vs. Iraq 25 Jan 2011: Semifinal 1: Uzbekistan/Jordan winner vs. Japan/Qatar winner The theory that stronger opposition in the early stages reaps stronger performances later is grounds for eternal debate, but if we assume this to be the case, the two strongest Asian showings from the World Cup, South Korea and Japan, may be on a collision course for the final with the two stiffest quarterfinal tests. The Blue Samurai take their continued evolution and sweet nickname into the house that Qatar built, simply because it’s in Doha. Form team/better team versus the home team. Earlier in the day it’s Uzbekistan and Jordan, arguably the two most surprisingly impressive teams of the groups; Jordan, in fact, was most stunningly so, but Uzbekistan seems as though it may have a little bit more. Cinderella looks as though she’ll lose her shoe here. On the other end, South Korea gets Iran, a quietly good football team, but not quite as good as South Korea, while Australia gets the defending champions, Iraq, looking for a second miracle. A brave soul would pick something a great distance from Uzbekistan v Japan and South Korea v Australia; the smart mind wouldn’t.
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| Paul The Octopus Gets His Monument Posted: 20 Jan 2011 08:17 AM PST
The memorial for Paul the Octopus was unveiled today to throngs of press, photogs and grieving Germans. Though it might seamlessly meld into the opulent landscape of ancient Xanadu, the replica World Cup trophy featuring octopus is quite the cheeky little centerpiece. So does Spain get that one as well?
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