Go Blue

Sometimes in a World Cup you are forced to root for another team and that was the case today as a Japanese win over France certainly favored the U.S. chances for advancement. The Japanese came through in spectacular fashion with the 7-1 victory and the U.S. players, watching in their hotel rooms, cheered loudly for the Japanese as goal after goal flew in the French net. Amazingly, it was also Japan which helped the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team out in a big way in China, defeating Norway in the final group game by a 5-1 score to allow the USA, which defeated New Zealand, 4-0 in its final group game, to finish atop its Olympic group. Still, the USA's work is far from done as it meets a France team on Nov. 5 that surely will be looking to take out some frustration as well as earn its place in the quarterfinals.