Random Observations - WWC Sweden - Colombia

I think the Swedish team needs to bring back the team-wide braided pigtails they sported to a third-place finish in 2003. They need the mojo.

They're scoreless against Columbia through the first half hour.

30 - Rincon tries a free kick from way outside. Hmm. Colombia is scrappy, but they look exhausted already in the heat. There's sixty minutes to go still.

More breakfast of champions today - puff pastry with sriracha sauce. Almost as much of an eyeopener as coffee, which I can't seem to find this morning.

35 - This match could indeed be the transfer of power game - where South America starts to emerge and the Nordic countries recede in the women's game.

36 - Lotta Schelin needs to work on her first touch - it's as bad as Ibrahimovic's right now.

39 - Columbia with a daring dribble run, but less confident in getting a shot off on goal.

43 - Yikes. Sandra Sepulveda bobbled the ball in the box there - nearly gave it up for a goal.

45 - Colombia trying to hang on as Sweden make a final push.

Halftime - Colombia make it - the frustrated body language of the Swedish players shows they're surprised by the new world order of the women's soccer scene - South America is no longer a chump.

Briana Scurry commenting on Hope Solo on the halftime show? Bob Ley sneaks in a snarky bit about how Solo speaks her mind, but otherwise, the 2007 incident with Scurry isn't mentioned. The blog was all over the scandal back then, though, if you care to search through the archives. Lots of reader feedback. Looking back, do any of you feel differently now that the time has passed?

oh wow. We're getting a history lesson on the firebombing of Dresden. Is this appropriate in a short segment of a halftime show? It wasn't badly done, but it's a rather important subject crammed into a short period, and doesn't even touch on Dresden's main controversy - was the city the victim of an ammunition dump by Allies who already knew the war was won?

55 - Back to the game and it's more of the same. Sweden coming close with chances, Colombia barely escaping, but hanging on to the clean sheet so far.

56 - Landstrom misses from in close. She screams in frustration.

57 - GOAL! Schelin feels Landstrom on a mini-break and Landstrom pokes it home. 1-0 Sweden.

72 - Colombia look more than exhausted - a bit destroyed, as they give up a dangerous freekick, but Sweden hits the wall on the chance.

Fulltime - Colombia didn't embarrass themselves, but Sweden got their win.

The Swedes react

I think they're not happy with the loss, but much more than that, I couldn't tell you. Can anyone offer an assist?

I do guess that they're calling Canadian ref Mauricio Navarro an idiot, though. There's no other reason he's so prominent in the picture with the idiot caption.

Video killed the blog star

I was a little lazy about posting the audio of the rest of my interview with Bob Bradley, and now part of it is on U.S. Soccer's website instead. Yes, that's me in the corner, (that's me in the spotlight) of the picture while Bob talks.

Brush up on your Swedish

Can anyone help here?

As far as I can tell, it's an article speculating on the plans of coach Lars Lagerback. Nothing about the U.S. team, other than that they're the opponent.

The paper even has a reporter covering the team via blog, but I searched that in vain as well for any mention of Americans. Well, American soccer players. Ron Jeremy was mentioned. So was Kobe Bryant, Eli Manning and Brett Favre.