Saturday, 4th of July, 1998                  http://www.HWCI.com/wc98
Issue # 30.3.2 "Upsets twice over..."

		1998 HWCI WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT POOL
		===================================

   DUTCH UPSET ARGENTINA THEN FIRST-TIMER CROATIA UPENDS GERMANY
      The Final Four battle now lies between MLSBOB and LE BIX

	A DAY LATE IN LA MIRADA, CA (smt)-  Bad calls abound tainted
this match which saw the Netherlands (3-0-2) upset Argentina (4-1), 
2-1, on Dennis Bergkamp's Dutch-record 36th goal for the national 
team in the 90th minute of their Quarterfinal match.  Two questionable
red cards (I thought Argentina deserved theirs) put both teams down
a man late in the match.  To complete the day of upsets, tiny
Croatia (4-1) took advantage of a man-down Germany (3-1-1) to 
dismantle the soccer power, 3-0.  Davor Suker scored Croatia's third
goal of the match in the 86th minute, his 4th of the tourney.

	So, this leaves us with the Semifinals to come.  On Tuesday, 
defending champ Brazil (5-0) will take on a hot Holland team while
Wedensday will feature host France (5-0) against upset-minded
Croatia.  You could just tell Argentina and Germany were on their 
last legs, yet they kept on finding ways to win.  That's why they 
were always in the quarterfinals every World Cup- they're winners.  
Well, today, their luck ended.  Argentina was a big disappointment 
and I'm glad they didn't make it.  They're uninspiring and play
dirty- diving and all.  I think the ref did a good job to see the 
dive and the subsequent head-but that sent Ariel Ortega off to even
things up.  Holland is by far the more exciting team and Bergkamp's
goal was a great example of perfect finishing.  

	The pool became clearer when Holland upset Argentina.  Just 
six people picked Holland to reach the Semifinals.  It eliminated 
three more people (CANTONA, JAYBIAN IV, and KING OF THE WORLD) while 
narrowing down the top prize winner to two people.  Croatia's upset
surprised everyone but it made the final outcome a little clearer.
BIG BRI'S GOING DOWN, THE FLYING ELVI, and ERIC THE RED saw their
champ fall and thus, fell themselves out of contention.  Just seven
people are now in the race to win any money and only two, LE BIX 
and never-fallen-from-first MLSBOB, could win the top prize.  The 
complete Final Four scenarios will be posted tomorrow (actually, 
later today).  In one of the sidebets going down, BIG BRI'S GOING
DOWN is indeed true to her word as she will finish ahead of THE 
FLYING ELVI, who will have to eat some crow.  It just proves you
don't need to know soccer to participate in this pool- or, if you
know too much, it could be your doom.

(DISCLAIMER: My elimination claims should now be 100% accurate)

Wanted Argentina to lose, but now I can't finish in first...
Scott HW
                                            
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Scott M Tamashiro, HWCI Engineering       \\||//\\||//  /o-o\\ \ \ `
WC98 Pool Administrator                    \  /  \  /  (o-o-o)) ) > > >
Email:    scott@hwci.com                    ||    ||    \`o'// / / ,  
Updates:  http://www.HWCI.com/wc98          ||    ||  WORLD CUP   
----------------------------------------------------  POOL 1998