PSW's Daily World Cup Update: Friday, June 25, 2010

See below for Day 15 results and recaps (including video highlights), a preview of the beginning of elimination games, news from around the tournament, group standings, and a TV schedule for the upcoming week.

Also, be sure to check out PSW guest blogger Ben Mahler\'s South African Scenes posts - thoughts and first-hand observations on the World Cup, the atmosphere, and South African culture.
Post 1: AYOBA! - vuvuzelas are everywhere and it\'s hard not to get caught up in the “Ayoba!” – a phrase translating into joy and happiness
Post 2: USA...A-O-K? - other nations\' reactions to the disallowed U.S. goal vs Slovenia

[+ Day 1]  [+ Day 2]  [+ Day 3] [+ Day 4] [+ Day 5] [+ Day 6] [+ Day 7] [+ Day 8]
[+ Day 9] [+ Day 10] [+ Day 11] [+ Day 12] [+ Day 13] [+ Day 14]

Day 15 Results and Recaps:

Portugal  0:0  Brazil
North Korea  0:2  Ivory Coast

Brazil and Portugal advance in the first and second place respectively. Ivory Coast\'s exit leaves only Ghana representing the African continent in this first ever World Cup there. This could make the match Saturday between the Black Stars and the United States a little tougher for the US, as the South African community has pledged to support their fellow African countries now that the hosts were out of the tournament.


Chile 1:2 Spain
Switzerland 0:0 Honduras

Spain and Chile both advance out of the group to complete the round of 16 field at the World Cup. This match had one of the most spectacular goals of the tournament, and 45 yard angled shot into an open net by Spain\'s David Villa. As spectacular as that was, the matched ended in ugly fashion as both teams knew the 2:1 scoreline would see them through, and with ten minutes left, resorted by standing and passing. Switzerland could have advanced with a multiple-goal win over Honduras, but could not break down the Central American\'s. Honduras join Algeria as the only teams not to score in the tournament.

Looking Ahead to Day 16:
Let the elimination rounds begin! Group A winners Uruguay and South Korea begin the day, and the winner of that game will take on the winner of the USA vs Ghana match. The U.S. will be looking for revenge, as Ghana sent the US home in the last World Cup. Ghana is without Michael Essien this World Cup, but their unpredictability could prove troublesome for our back four (who have been less than spectacular). They are also the only African team left in the tournament, and the crowd will surely be on their side.
* Look for a full tournament bracket in tomorrow\'s PSW update!

News From Around The Cup:
* Landon Donovan’s dramatic goal on Wednesday didn’t just keep the United States in the World Cup. It also may have paved the way for a reconciliation with his estranged actress wife.

* President Barack Obama called the U.S. World Cup soccer team Thursday to congratulate it on an "extraordinary victory" this week and to wish the team luck in the next round of the tournament.

* The United States soccer team\'s dramatic victory over Algeria was followed by a record number of people online and on mobile devices (no doubt helped by the fact that the game took place during work hours). ESPN said 1.1 million people watched at least some of the USA\'s 1-0 win as it was streamed on ESPN3.com Wednesday. The match, which was also watched on ESPN by 6.2 million people

* Brazil is likely to make two changes for its final Group G match against Portugal on Friday, with Julio Baptista replacing the suspended Kaka and Dani Alves coming in for the injured Elano.

* South African Police Service spokeswoman Brigadier Sally de Beer says extra security measures will be in place for the World Cup match between England and Germany.

* France\'s World Cup squad arrived home to a cold welcome after a humiliating early exit condemned by domestic media as "A State Scandal."

* Jose-Marcia Garcia-Aranda, head of refereeing for FIFA, is "very, very satisfied with the performance of the referees." Um, that makes one of you, Jose-Marcia.

World Cup Group Standings (as of 6/25/10):
Group A
Uruguay (2-1-0; 7pts) - Advance to Second Round
Mexico (1-1-0; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
South Africa (1-1-1; 4pts)
France (0-1-2; 1pt)

Group B
Argentina (3-0-0; 9pts) - Advance to Second Round
South Korea (1-1-1; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
Greece (1-0-2; 3pts)
Nigeria (0-1-2; 1pt)

Group C
United States (1-2-0; 5pts) - Advance to Second Round
England (1-2-0; 5pts) - Advance to Second Round
Slovenia (1-1-1; 4pts)
Algeria (0-1-2; 1pt)

Group D
Germany (2-0-1; 6pts) - Advance to Second Round
Ghana (1-1-1; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
Australia (1-1-1; 4pts)
Serbia (1-0-2; 3pts)

Group E
Netherlands (3-0-0; 9pts) - Advance to Second Round
Japan (2-0-1; 6pts) - Advance to Second Round
Denmark (1-0-2; 3pts)
Cameroon (0-0-3; 0pts)

Group F
Paraguay (1-2-0; 5pts) - Advance to Second Round
Slovakia (1-1-1; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
New Zealand (0-3-0; 3pts)
Italy (0-2-1; 2pts)

Group G
Brazil (2-0-0; 6pts)
Portugal (1-1-0; 4pts)
Ivory Coast (0-1-1; 1pt)
North Korea (0-0-2; 0pts)

Group H
Chile (2-0-0; 6pts)
Spain (1-0-1; 3pts)
Switzerland (1-0-1; 3pts)
Honduras (0-0-2; 0pts)

TV Schedule for upcoming week (all times are EST):
Friday, June 25, 2010
Portugal v Brazil - 10:00am - ESPN (Group G)
North Korea v Ivory Coast - 10:00am - ESPN2 (Group G)
Chile v Spain - 2:30pm - ESPN (Group H)
Switzerland v Honduras - 2:30pm - ESPN2 (Group H)

Saturday, June 26, 2010
Uruguay v South Korea -10:00am  - ESPN
USA v Ghana - 2:30pm - ABC

Sunday, June 27, 2010
Germany v England - 10:00am - ESPN
Argentina v Mexico - 2:30pm - ABC

Monday, June 28, 2010
Netherlands v Slovakia - 10:00am - ESPN
1G v 2H - 2:30pm - ESPN

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Paraguay v Japan - 10:00am - ESPN
1H v 2G - 2:30pm - ESPN