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To: George Papadopoulos who wrote (1364)	6/10/2002 5:08:25 PM
From: George Papadopoulos	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5130

>The next four days look set to bring ecstasy and agony. This FIFA World Cup™ has only just begun. >If anyone doubted it, then the first Asian finals perfectly demonstrates that any nation can beat any other. Korea and all teams fighting by FIFAworldcup.com THE DAY REPLAYED - There are no more football minnows – so much for the cliché. If anyone doubted it, then the first Asian finals perfectly demonstrates that any nation can beat any other. There were no big surprises on day 11, but there was plenty of fight from so-called smaller nations. With the second set of opening round fixtures over, only two teams – Spain and Brazil – have made it through to the Round of 16, compared with six in France 98. And nobody fights more than Korea. The red devils fought like tigers and never gave up despite going behind early on to the USA. Clint Mathis, back in the side and sporting a Mohican, wielded his left foot and struck in deadly fashion to announce his presence on the world scene. Backed by an equally faithful sea of red support in Daegu, Korea swarmed forward in search of the equaliser but for almost an hour it proved elusive. Enter Jong Hwan Ahn. The Perugia midfielder, used by coach Guus Hiddink as his supersub, pounced to head home a free kick and send a scarlet-clad nation, into delirium. The middle game was not the prettiest of a nicely shaping finals, but was marked by two goals of contrasting beauty. First Belgium struck with a classic team goal converted by who else but Marc Wilmots. The “fighting boar” was in the right place, just as he was against Japan, to slide in a Gert Verheyen knock down. Tunisia could have crumbled but they chose to battle. Four minutes later Raouf Bouzaiene struck arguably the best free kick of the finals so far. He stepped up from 30 yards and bent the ball majestically around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his nation’s first goal in the tournament. After two draws in the day, if anybody needed a win it was Portugal. They did and how. As the water fell in Jeonju, Korea, Portugal rained goals. And perhaps the player who had been most criticised following the 3-2 loss to the USA, reigned supreme. Much had been expected of Pauleta in the finals after finishing France’s top goalscorer this season, and today he delivered in style, scoring a hat-trick and a real hat-trick at that. Poland fought but ultimately in vain as Rui Costa notched a fourth. Thanks to the spirit of the teams, all those predictions of Round of 16 match-ups have been thrown out the window. The next four days look set to bring ecstasy and agony. This FIFA World Cup™ has only just begun.

To: George Papadopoulos who wrote (1364)	6/11/2002 5:25:44 AM
From: X Y Zebra	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5130

Uruguay 3 x 1 Senegal; plus 2 goals courtesy of Jan Wegereef (Dutch Referee) = tie 3 x 3 I am disgusted for two reasons: First, the PK against Uruguay was NOT a penalty but an Oscar performance by Fadiga; next the 3rd goal by Diop was another gift by (ultimately) the same referee --although the linesman's eye seeing dog should have been watching, instead the dog must have been flirting with some female dog at the bleachers so, no hope for them to call an offside as clear as a full moon in a cloudless night, as the third "goal" from Senegal. Second, I was amazed at Uruguay's sudden conversion to a good soccer playing team, like the "Celestes" know how to do, from a bunch of sleepy and lazy gauchos (the cowboy from Uruguay -claimed by Argentina), in the second half... I mean, did any body told these guys they were playing in the world cup at all ? or just during the intermission of this game they announced to the team: "tscht, tscht, guess what ? if you do not win by more than two goals you are out of the tournament. Pathetic... I mean, yes, I enjoyed the game and all that (actually great goals and an exciting finish) but why, why, why... Uruguay plays this cr**p of a game during the entire tournament until all of a sudden in the last 45 minutes they decide to turn the heat on Senegal (who played a great and masterful first half). On the PK marked against Uruguay... not as clear as it appears, as Morales had began to fall, but then BAM! the leg from the Senegalese defender with ill intent earns him the PK (and a yellow card)... Whereas in the Oscar performance by Fadiga... you can see Carini (the goalie) actually trying to avoid contact with Fadiga... This referee together with the one between Italy v Croatia, are the nominees (and so far winning couple) for the Moron award of this WC. Oh yes, and the French are out oh hum.... 0 x 2 against Denmark. Who told the French they knew how to play fútbol anyway -ggg Lastly, I think that the spread of fútbol around the world is going to force many teams (and more specifically, teams like Argentina, Brasil, Uruguay and Mexico to improve a lot otherwise risk disqualification by the African and Asian teams in the future... a BIG positive for the sport. And while I am at it... I think fútbol will do a lot more for many of the poor nations of the third world, particularly in Africa to improve the lot of their respective people.... more than the leaches/politicians of the past (not to mention the tyrant-generals as well). Good night. p.s. I think Germany will beat Cameroon, and the Irish should massacre the Saudis, or else risk not to qualify... [The luck of the Irish ?? -ggg] p.s. (2) After listening to ESPN's broadcasting of the Uruguay - Senegal game, I think I should follow your advice and apply for the job... Switched to Univision... those guys are loud but they do know a lot more fútbol than the ESPN crew.