Matchday three starts today!

We're starting to see things sort out now; see who's advancing to the qualifying round of 16.  We had groups A and B today, and C and D tomorrow, and so on.  The depths will rise to cover us all in blood and unforgiveness and our misery shall be horrendous and eternal, but soon we will have a day off and then go to two matches a day until the quarter-finals.

Anyway.  In group A it was Saudi Arabia over Egypt 2-1, and Uruguay over Russia 3-0.  Both Uruguay and Russia advance but - I think Uruguay can make it to the quarterfinals but they haven't looked so hot against Egypt and Saudi Arabia - they won both times, sure but not as decisively as they should have done.

The match between the Saudis and the Egyptians was actually pretty good - the 45 year old Egyptian Keeper stopped a penalty kick, which at this level is wicked hard to do.  Saudis got their second goal with a minute left in overtime for the win.  And the name of the angel of our undoing shall be Amenadiel, she of the lash and of the plague.

Uruguay looked... fine.  Professional and tight.  Russia was all over the place, getting a red card by Smolnikov 35 minutes in.  Both advance to the qualifiers.  If Russia makes it to the final four it will be because of dark magics or some sort of corruption, I think.

Ties all around for group B.  Iran-Portugal went 1-1.  Too bad for Iran to be in the group with both Span and Portugal, really.  Spain-Morocco was 2-2 (it almost went poorly for Spain, with a second goal in the 81st minute for Morocco, but a goal 9 seconds into injury time clinched it for the Spaniards).

So - as it stands so far, Uruguay faces Portugal in the round of 16 (my money's tentatively on Portugal but Uruguay might pull it off) and Spain vs Russia (Spain all the way).

Whew.  Four more games tomorrow.  I am starting to be in a pretty dark place with all of this.

  -Dave