Stardate 20020622.0201

(Captain's log): The end of two overtimes, and Spain and Korea are about to go to penalty kicks. The Korean team has played a superb game. There were a couple of questionable calls against Spain by the refs, but they have no cause for anger with the Koreans, and no matter who wins the shootout I fully expect the teams to be affable with each other afterwards.

I have to say that I think Korea's goalie looks better, so I think Korea will win this.

Update: And they did. I've changed my mind. I think Korea will beat Germany and will meet Brazil in the final. The Korean team is stunning, and it has amazing defense. Spain is obviously disappointed, but no-one disgraced themselves in this game. Both teams played superbly, and they largely played a clean game, too. In the middle it was starting to get a bit physical, but the ref handed out a couple of well-chosen yellow cards and both teams got a grip. Spain will go home, but Spain has nothing to feel ashamed of. These teams were extremely evenly matched; both teams were good at controlling the ball and both teams created numerous scoring opportunities. Both goalies were kept busy. This was soccer at its finest; this game could have gone either way at any moment.