Elite Eight

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There are eight teams left in the World Cup. Boringly, 6 are European and 2 are South American. All but two are former champions.

For those who neep help:
England plays Portugal, whose winner plays the winner of Brazil versus France.
Germany plays Argentina, in the same bracket as Italy and Ukraine.

So, it seems, normal service is resumed. We didn't have normality in 2002, until the final, at which point many felt that the 2002 cup was sub-par.

But enough of that--it's 2006 and I'm in Berlin. The host nation has taken its responsibility convincingly. I spoke to a Parisian last night after France's riveting victory over Spain, and he said that there was nowhere near as much activity and revelry back in 1998. It may seem strange to Americans (well, it is a bit strange), but patriotism is generally frowned upon in Germany...but this world cup has proved an exception. Folks stand up for their anthem. They wave flags and have stickers on their cars. And when Germany isn't playing, more than a few locals wear England or Brazil jerseys. But never Holland!

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Photos

Germany 3 - 0 Ecuador
No we didn't get tickets.

Germany 3 - 0 Ecuador
Still no tickets...

England 2 - 2 Sweden
Pedro +10

England 2 - 2 Sweden
Adidas Arena holds about 10,000, according to my guess.

There's only one Tony Adams.
I saw the England 1 - 0 Ecuador match at the Fan Mile...great songs. "You've still got a disco" and "We're sh#t but we're winning" were my favorites.