The best part of the next round is that France, Argentina, and Portugal get to watch it from the comfort of their own collective living rooms. :p :p Actually, Zidane will be watching from his suite at Le Club Hair pour L'Hommes.

Of course the other funny thing is that the US-Mexico match presents the following two possible outcomes: 1) Should the US win, someone on the Mexican team will probably be shot as they disembark in the D.F. airport since they will have "disgraced" the nation; or 2) should Mexico win, the American players will still disembark in anonymity at whatever airport they land at, and we in SoCal will get to watch all the locals with Mexican ties act like they won the war for Texas or something. At least there are five Spanish-language channels with which to see all of the rioting live.

A country with "no soccer culture" (you guessed it, the good ol' US of A) also doesn't run the risk of economic market failure, pandemic Japanese student beatings in the capital, or even shootings of national players should they lose. This seems to be a plus.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to a nice, subdued and safe sports celebration. The Lakers victory parade starts in about an hour-and-a-half.

CaliBasco [Who wants Spain to win it all, and for the US to beat Mexico just to watch their faces in defeat...]