Above: A hot Brazilian in LA celebrates Kaka's
goal against Croatia

Imagine you are right here, right now,
drinking Deutsches Bier with USA supporters
Red White and Brew party Kaiserslautern

Last night I watched the 6-0 Argentina
whipping of Serbia Montenegro at both
the Pig & Whistle and at Murphys. Damian
was the only familiar face and I was
grateful for his company and sympathetic
words, both for the US and for this very
blog. I biked home and fell asleep in
front of the TV (missing all of Netherlands
Ivory Coast). This morning started badly
as I accidently read the result of Angola-
Mexico, thurs ruining the 11 am rebroadcast.

Then, in the IHT was this damning article
on the state of US soccer, which put to
words some of my worst suspicions about the
U.S. team; unimaginative, banal, boring,
uninspiring. Read it all here:
Vibrant America's Drab Soccer by John Vinocur

So it's a few hours before the first kickoff
tonight. No one has called or confirmed they
will be at Murphys and even Mike last night
was trying to wind me up by saying they would
close and we couldn't watch the game. Alone, then
if necessary, but alone we'll fight.

I predict 1-0 Italy because that is what they do.
Gods, prove me wrong.