Refs

It's time to say that the referees for this World Cup are a scandal. I'll agree with a deserved card even when it goes against my team. I still think the red on Mastroeni - though it could have been a yellow - was within the realm of red cards.

Undeserved yellow cards and penalties, however, are changing entire games and teams' chances for the entire World Cup. A terrible call may have just decided the US-Ghana match. A yellow may have decided France's match tomorrow by eliminating Zidane from the game.

It has gone beyond enforcing strict rules to deciding matches based on poor refereeing, and that is a scandal.

World Cup Update (11:55):

The US is out. Deservedly. They did a nice job against Italy, and made a lovely goal today, but that's it.

The US needs real forwards. McBride is great and tireless. Donovan and Beasley are mediocre soccer players in the world arena. Beasley is too weak and gives up the ball too often and Donovan doesn't have the skill of a finisher. They may be better in MLS, but I've never seen it at the world level. The team is frustrating to watch. They look slow - not as advertised - they lack someone to feed the forwards, and they can't finish (except for McBride). The defense was okay. Onyewu was beaten during the Czech match but stepped up well for Italy and Ghana.

The US also needs a new coach. Arena lacks imagination and, as a result, the team lacks imagination. Something is wrong there. He's too conservative.

On the other hand... congratulations to Ghana! They could very well challenge Brazil.