MINNEAPOLIS, MN/CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- 1A-Germany (4-0-0) scored a pair of goals early and had an easy time dispatching 2B-Sweden (1-1-2), 2-0. Meanwhile 2D-Mexico (1-2-1) and 1C-Argentina (4-0-0) traded early goals before Maxi RODRIGUEZ hit the goal of the tourney in overtime, chesting the ball and hitting it on the way down on a wicked trajectory into the upper left corner of the net. Unfortunately, there is no Golden Goal this year, so we had to endure another 22 minutes of bland soccer as MEX wore down.

The elite teams, no matter how poorly or lackluster they play, always seem to manage to find a way to win as 1B-England (3-0-1) got a weak Bend It Like BECKHAM free kick goal (really, the GK was just slow to respond) to put an end to 2A-Ecuador's (2-2-0) dream season, 1-0. In a highly anticipated match (both entering the match on 15-match unbeaten streaks), 1D-Portugal (4-0-0) and 2C-Netherlands (2-1-1) literally battled each other as MANICHE's early goal (before all hell broke loose) held up sending POR into the quarterfinals for the first time in 40 years. The match featured pushing, shoving, a head butt, 16 yellow cards (at least two questionable bookings for time wasting), a record 4 red cards, vicious tackles, injuries, and two skirmishes.. but surprisingly, despite all the aforementioned, no penalty kicks. Between the stoppages in play (a low 52 minutes of actual playing time), both POR and NED played some entertaining soccer with NED having its share of chances to tie, out-shooting POR 20-10. But POR's DECO will have to miss the match v ENG because of picking up his 2nd yellow card, holding the ball from a NED player for two seconds.

SELL THOSE IN BULK?: Overall, 33 yellow cards were given out along with 5 red cards (all for a second booking) in just the four R16 matches... a record 291 yellow cards (not including referee Graham POLL mistakenly showing CRO's Josip SIMUNIC a 3rd yellow card v AUS) and a record 23 red cards have been given up in the WC

CONCACRAP PART III: MEX's loss put CONCACAF out of its misery with a confederation-worst 1-9-3 record and a -15 goal differential... will CONCACAF lose a 1/2 team (they got an increase to 3.5 teams this WC) for 2010?

ENG was picked by 35 in the pool while 11 had POR making the Quarters. ELASTIGIRL (3rd-Tied, 88 pts) and SWEET LOU (6th-T, 87) went 4-for-4 to move up from a tie for 10th and 14th, respectively. SOURCE regains the lead with 90 pts with THE MIGHTY MOBELFAKTA a point behind. Group stage leader PAOLO ROSSI (86) only got 2 of 4 correct to fall to 8th place. Eight more entries bit the dust leaving just 27 vying for prize money and only 15 with a chance for first place. Ben S and Arturo R have lost both of their entries, joining Lisa M. SOURCE has the best chance for 1st (23.1%) while the THE MM is halfway to money (52.9%). Just four have a greater than 10% chance for 1st while four have a greater than 40% chance for any money.

WC STATS: 52 matches (11 ties)... 124 goals (2.38 per game)... 23 Red Cards (4-TRI, 14-TOG, 15-UKR, 17-POL, 21-SCG, 22-ANG, 25-ITA, 25-USA(2), 26-CZE, 39-MEX, 38-SCG, 38-CIV, 41-CZE, 44-CRO(2), 44-AUS, 48-TUN, 49-SWE, 52-POR(2), 52-NED(2)); team with advantage (13 goals, 0 against)... 13 PKs (9/13) (15-ESP (G), 24-POR (G), 26-GHA (LP), 28-CRO (S), 31-ESP (G), 39-POR (G), 39-MEX(H), 38-CIV(G), 38-CIV(G), 42-GHA(G), 44-AUS(G), 48-UKR(G), 49-SWE(H))... Scoring first: 34-7-6 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 34-CRC, 38-SCG, 43-JPN, 50-MEX)... Shutouts: 37 (5 0:0 ties)... Leading at the half: 25-4-3 (12-JPN, 14-TOG, 31-TUN, 38-SCG)... Both teams scoring in the first half: 11 (1-GER-CRC 2:1, 7-MEX-IRN 1:1, 25-ITA-USA 1:1, 22-NED-CIV 2:1, 34-CRC-POL 1:1, 39-POR-MEX 2:1, 38-CIV-SCG 1:2, 42-GHA-USA 2:1, 43-JPN-BRA 1:1, 44-CRO-AUS 1:1, 50-ARG-MEX 1:1)... Own goals: 3 (3-PAR, 25-ITA, 36-TRI)