World Cup
2 Week Rewind

Its been a crazy past weekend that really shookup the official npocs papes standings and even shook up the future for Italy in this World Cup. The ESPN coverage is getting more intense, the US is still alive, people are jumping on and catching World Cup fever everywhere and some of the best soccer I have ever seen play is occurring in this 2006 Germany World Cup. The drama is unfolding before our eyes, with referree scandals maybe, numerous red cards, photo finish goals and desperation is starting to set in as teams are either clinging on for dear life or have already been eliminated.
Lets take a look at them standings....

6.18.2006
9:16 p.m.
1) Brazil 2.75
2) Argentina 3

3) England 5.50
4) Germany 7

5) Italy 10
5) Spain 10 5 1
7) Netherlands 12

8) Portugal 22 5 2
9) France 32 6 1

10) Sweden 41 5 1
11) Czech 59 6 2
12) Ghana 73 5 8 (highest mover)
13) Mexico 80
14) Ecuador 82
15) Australia 87
16) Switzerland 92
17) Korea 97 5 1

18) Ukraine 118 6 1
19) Croatia 154 6 7 (biggest loser)

20) Tunisia 365 5 2
21) Japan 539
22) Saudi Arabia 623 5 2

23) Angola 759 5 2
24) Togo 1219 5 2
25) Trinidad 1278 5 1

Argentina closes the gap on Brazil, with England looking on. Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain make up the periphery and everyone else finds themselves on the outside lookin in. Ghana jumped an amazing eight spots to put themselves into the discussion while Croatia plummeted all the way to No. 19 after being as high as No. 12 in previous polls.


Azzurri 2006
Lippi Rues Sloppy Azzurri Display
Italy coach Marcello Lippi admitted his team had an off night in their 1-1 World Cup Group E draw with the United States.
"I am happy that today our World Cup starts because this is a wake-up call for us. From now on is simply a case of being in or not," Lippi said.

Lippi Loses Sleep Over Draw With USA
One red card, two yellows, a bunch of bruises and a far from stellar performance against the United States created a rough night for Italy coach Marcello Lippi.
"A lot of things came to mind. This is one of the toughest groups and it's part of our DNA to follow a great game with one that's not so great," Lippi said.

"We're not going to look at what the Czechs did against Ghana. We're going to study the Czech-U.S. game," Lippi said.

Italy had the day off Sunday and Lippi was going to give De Rossi some time to think about his actions before he talks privately with his youngest player. Expect a multi game suspension for De Rossi.
Totti and Zambrotta have yellow cards entering the Czech game and Perrotta and Gilardino are bruised up.
Lippi said changes are definite for obvious reasons (suspensions, own goals perhaps) and then we'll see about some others (lack of hustle, not finish plays, offsides)

Sent-off de Rossi to Face the Words of Lippi

Lippi has so far handled the situation with class, not publicly berating de Rossi in front of the media. He is letting things cool down then he will address the situation. Not because Lippi desperatley needs him this tournament, because he might not get the chance after a multi game suspension but because Lippi seems to be looking out for de Rossi's future.

'I will have a talk with him but I'm not going to discuss my views here with you now. There is no doubt that he is a lad who is considered to be a fantastic kid and an excellent player but he has to change his ways or he is going to carry this (reputation) with him for a long time,' added the Italy coach.

Sitting Back in our DNA - Lippi
Italy are at their best when the pressure is on and not when they are basking in success.

'All the praise that the team received for their performance against Ghana might have caused some kind of easing off from the players,' he told a news conference.

Czechs Short of Men Ahead of Italy Crunch
The Czech will attempt to stay alive in the tournament with a much depleted squad when they face Italy on Thursday. The availability of forwards has entered crisis mode after strike Vrastislave Lokvenc will be suspended for the Thursday showdown. Giant Jan Koller and star Milan Baros are out for the group stage with hamstring and foot injuries. Those injuries are the equivalent of losing Toni, Totti and Del Piero for Italy.
The offensive is not the only trouble spot for the Czechs. Tomas Ujfalusi, one of the top Czech defenders who carries Serie A experience will also miss the game with a red card.

Czech are now left with excellent scorer Tomas Rosicky and the aging Pavel Nedved who are the fourth and fifth choice strikers for the team.

Italian Press Slam Lippi's Azzurri
Italys sports press hit out at the national team and Lippi on Sunday after the U.S. game.
"An Italy of madmen" ran the headline on the front page of the Corriere dellop Sport, which went on to describe its players as confused and nervous.

The press criticised Lippi for his tactics and subs against nine men. It also blasted de Rossi.
"de Rossi has enormous responsibilities and Lippi would do well to shut the door on his World Cup."

Quote
Gianluigi Buffon
For us, the knockout stages of the tournament start with the next game against the Czech Republic. You can blame my old friend Pavel Nedved and the rest of his team for losing to Ghana.

The Most Exciting Game So Far
TSG Analysis
Alvin Corneal
That was the most exciting and intense game of the FIFA World Cup so far.

FIFA: Red and Yellow Cards Warranted
Fifa is pleased players and spectators ahve noticed World Cup referees producing plenty of yellow cards for sliding tackles and reds for elbowing.
It means the message is getting through.
Angola, Australia, Ivory Coast, Japan and the U.S. have had gripes with officials decisions in Germany but FIFA said the general standard of refereeing has been solid.


Succos Update
I have been able to avoid the Road to 100 losses thanks to the World Cup. However things along the road have only been getting better. Despite a popular notion that the Pirates were improving after their horrendous start, they are actually breaking season highs in games out of first place, elimination number, games under .500 and more. Lets take a look at this pathetic bunch.

First a word from our Sponsor.

Don't Let Bay Play
log on to mlb.com and vote for every outfielder possible just to keep that sorry Canadian piece of shit out of Our All Star game. I want it to be as devoid as possible of any Pirates. No one pays all that money to go see an all-star game just to see a bum like Bay you can see any day of the week. And stop writing in Sanchez you jackasses allthough it would be a sight if he made the all-star team but still was not good enough to start for the hapless Succos.

Speaking of vote stuffing the latest Pirate.com poll asking if the Pirates can reach .500 has 61% saying yes. Coincedentally 61% of users found to be logging on to the sight also have a history of being mentally incapable of reasoning.

After the fourth Pirates loss in a row and fifth out of six and being swept by the Minnesota twins at home, the Pirates find themselves in probably the worst position of the season.

Pirates 26-43 .377
Worst losing percentage in the National League
16 Games Behind
Most in the National League
8-25 on the road
Worst road record in the National League
7-20 in one run games
Worst in the National League
6-19 vs lefties
Worst in the National League
Elimination Number 79
Worst in the National Leauge

You see a theme here

Battlin Bucco Bats
Pirate hitters batting worse than pitcher Zach Duke .241
Jeremy Burnitz .237
Nate McLouth .221
Joe Randa .221
Ryan No Mit .214
Humberto Cota .213
Edwards .200
Duffy .194
Hernandez .183

Pittsburgh KKK
It has turned into a two horse race
Craig Wilson 64 K's
and only 191 at bats, one of the worst rations in baseball history
Jason Bay 60 K's
But he's our all star, waaa waaaa

Worst Pitching Staff in Baseball
Pitcher______Losses_____Projected Losses
Olly Perez 8 losses______19
Victory Santos 7 losses___17
Zach Duke 6 losses______14
Mahallam 5 losses_______12
Marte 5 losses__________12

I never said 100 losses was easy
The Pirates are teetering on the 100 loss border
After 69 games:
Pirates on pace to lose 101 games
61-101
Odds of Pirates losing 100 games: 57%

The Series of the Century
June 20-22
Pirates at Kansas City
The worst the National League has to offer vs. the worst the American League has to offer
Finally getting to pick on someone their own size
3 reasons to abolish interleauge play

Power Rankings
CBSsportsline.com No. 25
(they have crack in their water cooler)
ESPN.com No. 26
(as do they)
Post-Gazette No. 29

-n