>As I predicted, Germany easily beat Brazil! :rolleyes

Stunner. Absolute stunner. Germany 7, Brazil 1, with the Brazilian goal scored in garbage time. Four goals in six minutes. In Brazil. Having to play without Neymar and Silva does not explain it. The outcome would not have been different even if the score had been different. Suddenly it's Germany looking invincible. (Then again, they said that in 1939 too).

You know who I will be cheering for today.

There was a really good article about Lionel Messi in the NY Times Sunday Magazine just before the Cup started. He was on the cover. It basically said he is certainly respected in Argentina but not beloved. It said he is perceived as too emotionally detached and not Argentinian enough. It said he doesn't inspire the passion Maradona did, even though Maradona went to prison for drugs. Maybe leading his country to the WC will thaw them out a little.

UPDATE: One of the great moments in soccer history -- the "hand of God" goal. He was a kid from the slums (as Messi is not, although his family was not wealthy) and he did what he had to do.