Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Deco, Samuel Eto'o ... and Thierry Henry. I know who I'm playing with on FIFA 2008. It's not just that they're all good, but they all play so ... pretty. For the sake of my own television viewing ability, is there any way we can get them into the Premiership?

In other soccer action this weekend, the United States men's national team takes on Mexico tomorrow. On the line are the 2007 Gold Cup, an invitation to the 2009 Confederations Cup, and, I believe, Texas. It's an intense rivalry, the US vs. Mexico ... we sort of don't like them, and they hate us like we raped their sister.

For a seriously in-depth preview, visit That's On Point. They like our chances.

Au revoire, TH14 [That's On Point]
Goodbye Thierry, now let's move on. [Arseblog]
Tri, Tri again [That's On Point]

And making it even better, it came in the 98th minute of the match, in the first overtime period of this World Cup. In case you missed one of JP Dellacamera's 18 explanations of it, there's no more "Golden Goal" in the World Cup—if it's tied after regulation, there will be 30 extra minutes, regardless of whether or not anyone scores in those 30 minutes.

And a lot of credit goes to the Mexican team for their performance. Divey and floppy as it may have been, they competed hard, and gave a whale of a game to the power Argentinians. I didn't think they'd even be in this game, but they made the Argentinians earn it. And had it not been for the incredible strike from Rodriguez, it would likely have been going to penalty kicks.

Argentina vs. Germany in six days. And tomorrow: England vs. Ecuador, and Portugal vs. Netherlands.

Argentina 2-1 Mexico [BBC Sport]

And we're already down to fifteen. The Germans took care of the Swedes this morning with typical German ruthlessness, winning 2-0. Lukas Podolski scored twice within the first twelve minutes for the Germans, and a Swedish missed penalty kick in the 53rd minute buried them for good. My brother watched the game at an airport with a Swedish woman sitting next to him, crying her eyes out. But he bought her a beer, so I think she was OK.

At three o'clock, it's Argentina vs. Mexico, for the right to face Germany. Argentina's been arguably the most impressive team of the tournament thus far. Mexico... well, Mexico advanced because their group included Angola and Iran. If Groups E and C are the Groups of Death, then Mexico's Group D was the Group of Delicious Cupcake Frosting. They accumulated a 1-1-1 record there, while Argentina sports a 2-0-1 record, including a 6-0 thrashing of Serbia & Montenegro.

Germany 2-0 Sweden [BBC Sport]
The New Group of Death [WorldCupBlog]

So, yeah: It's Mexico vs. Portugal, with all kinds of activity going on. Mexico is the U.S.'s big rival, but we're not sure if that means you should root for them now, or not.

Your live-blogger for this one is John Bolster, who has live-blogged with us before. (He's famously the sports editor for Penthouse.) So let us know what you think, play along in the comments and let's try to keep it clean out there.

Thanks a lot, folks. The disrobing has begun here in the Lounge, and I gotta go. See you next week for the quarterfinals!

It's official: Mexico is through as Angola finishes tied with Iran, 1-1. Mexico gets second in the group and will play the winner of the Argentina-Holland group, while Portugal gets the runner-up.

92:00 Beep-beep-beep. That's the sound of Mexico backing into the second round with a loss to a Portugal team resting five starters. On the other hand, it's the fourth straight time El Tri has advanced out of group play in the World Cup. Good for them, and for CONCACAF.

90:00 Camera pans the crowd and settles on a brunette in Mexico red. We'd say she was hot, except for the fact that she looks disturbingly like Brazil midfielder Kaka.

88:00 Boa Morte gets a yellow for a scrappy tackle on Naelson. Eighth yellow of the day, to go with one red.

85:00 Franco controls the ball well in the box, tries to turn, loses it, and then falls in a lame attempt to draw a penalty. Denied.

82:00 Iran presents a gift to Mexico by tying it up against Angola. Mexico can breathe easy for now.

80:00 Boa Morte in for Figo. Mexico brings in Franco and takes off Mendez.

78:00 Shot of Eusebio in the stands! The Black Pearl, star of the 1966 World Cup. Big Phil Scolari says, "We have Eusebio with us. He gave the players the confidence they needed to get to the next round." But can he help them with their chronic underperformance when it matters most?

75:00 Mexico corner headed out...rebound volleyed back in and blocked.

71:00 Mexico's Castro squanders an opportunity from the right flank, mis-hitting his cross into a back-pass to Ricardo.

68:00 Angola's Flavio has just scored his country's first-ever World Cup goal, putting them up 1-0 on Iran. One more from them or from Portugal and Mexico is out of the World Cup.

66:00 Tiago rips one from 25 yards, it bounces wide of the far post.

64:00 Bravo shoots high—way high—from the right flank. That was a chance to make up for the missed PK. Poor Omar. What Would Johnny Do?

62:00 Perez of Mexico is sent off with his second yellow! Apparently for diving in the box, trying to draw a second penalty kick for El Tri. Tough break for Mexico. They'll be down a man from here on out.

60:00 Calhoolio is apoplectic that he is stuck in the office for this one: "I cannot believe I didnt come in for this game. I would have been on my fifth beer already, whipping my shirt around ML-Carr-style over my head."

57:00 BRAVO SKIES IT OVER THE BAR! Choking on a golden opportunity to tie this game up. The Mexico City crowd is non-plussed.

57:00 PENALTY!! Perez cuts back in the box, Miguel slips, lands on the ball, hand-first. Ref points to the spot.

53:00 Shot of the masses in Mexico City watching the game. Maybe they should be watching Angola v Iran. So far the Angolans are cooperating: it's 0-0 over in that one.

50:00 Correction: there were three yellow cards issued in the first half. Pardo skims a free kick wide for Mexico. Calhoolio reports from a remote location: "Good to see Pardo finally in front of the cameras after all of those years doing voiceover work for NBC."

47:00 And we're back: Mexico has made a sub: playmaker Zinha in for defender Rodriguez. Feel free to read this blog in alternating voices: first as an over-excited spanish-accented announcer, then as a bored American-accented announcer. Repeat as often as needed.

46:00 HALFTIME The PH Pets are having coffee, stretching in their robes. Their comments? Fonseca has been man of the match for Mexico so far, and not just for the goal.

Our Man at the Valley: "Excellent first half. Not too much skill, but lots of goals, and lots of violence."

There have been two yellow cards. Surprising for a game in which a draw suits both teams just fine.

Lalas: "Please please please will someone put me in touch with the Portugese girl from "Love Actually"?
.
45:00 Pardo plays a dangerous ball into the box...it pings around dangerously, but no one can corral it. Portugal clears in desperation. Ricardo is hurt. ... Make that "hurt."

44:00 Pardo shoots from distance! Nice diving save by Ricardo, rebound played out for a corner.

41:00 According to an "online survey," two out of three Portugese citizens expect Portugal to win the World Cup this year. According to another online survey, two out of three Portugese citizens are unaware that Portugal will play either Argentina or Holland in the next round.

39:00 Fonseca battles well for a header in the box...just wide.

36:00 Rafa Marquez has been moved up to midfield today. Rob Stone not sure it's working out for El Tri. Greg Lalas surprised Marquez hasn't kicked Figo yet. "It's almost halftime," he says.

33:00 Mexico free kick from the left side...headed over the bar for a corner. Which Mexico wastes.

29:00 GOAL!! Mexico! Fonseca skims the corner off his head just inside the far post! 2-1 Portugal.

29:00 Bravo stopped from point-blank range by Ricardo!

28:00 Portugal forces Sanchez into a great save! Rebound fired over the bar. Simao and Tiago. Hey, when the pressure's off, Portugal can play.

26:00 Our Man at the Valley weighs in from Germany: "Great call! ... I had a fight with a Mexican fan in Dusseldorf last night. He was wearing a Cuahtemoc Blanco shirt. I told him Cobi was better."

23:00 PENALTY!! Mexico called for a handball on a corner kick! Penalty kick to be taken by Simao...HE BURIES IT! 2-0 Portugal!

22:00 Marquez turns it over, Portugal has numbers on the counter...Maniche is fouled at the top of the box.

20:00 Figo with a nice run down the right wing, wins a corner for Portugal. Figo sends it in, poorly, but it comes righ back to him. He beats a defender and sends in a cross...claimed by Sanchez.

16:00 Rob Stone and Robin Fraser are our announcers today, by the way. They are approximately 35 times better than Dave O'brien and Marcelo Balboa, though Fraser's voice may not be ready for prime-time.

11:00 Portugal playing with the house's money right now. Knocking it around effortlessly. Totally relaxed.

9:00 Mexico's Omar Bravo takes down Petit. Greg Lalas weighs in from the road: "Is Omar Bravo Johnny Bravo's long-lost Libyan cousin? And does he want to be a rock star too?"

6:00 GOAL!! Maniche of Portugal— against the run of play. A great counter by Portugal, Simao squares it for Maniche, who finishes from 12 yards!

2:00 Fonseca of Mexico with a nice solo run into the box, he shoots! ... Saved by Ricardo.

Good Morning Folks, and welcome to the final game of Group D for Portugal and Mexico, kicking off at the AufSchalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen (Geusundheit.)

The Penthouse Lounge is a little subdued today (disco ball: off, music: low, Penthouse Pets: robed) because Portugal, already through to the next round, will be fielding mostly reserves for this one.

Mexico needs just a point or an Angola tie or loss v Iran to join them. The only scenario in which Mexico doesnt go through is if they lose and Angola wins big.

So, it's Mexico vs. Angola, with the Final 16 awaiting the Mexicans if they can pull this off.

Your live blogger, the last of a very busy week, is Eamonn Brennan, also from We Are The Postmen, and he is all ready to rock. Email us with thoughts, follow along in the comments and, hey ... go Angola! Why not?

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FULL TIME: That's it! Angola holds on, with a gutty performance rivaling that of Trinidad and Tobago's from earlier this week. Mexico has to deal with shame, even though they're still likely to advance into the Round of 16. Portugal's up next for them.

OK - they're showing the Argentina highlights again, and I would like to watch that. Thosee of you that read this, even a few lines passing through, before you realized I'm not a good writer, I thank you. It was a lot of fun, despite my inferior computer-jockey skills.

93: With about 30 seconds left, Mexico throws one into the box and Ricardo handles it.

91: Angola pushes forward now, winning a throw in near Mexico's corner...come on Antelopes. Just a few more minutes, men.

90: Mexico loses the ball again. Mexico continues to push forward, but nothin' doing. Three minutes stoppage.

87: Marquez hits a cracker from distance and nearly gets one; cross gets over Ricardo's head and Bravo hits the net. This is getting serious.

86: ESPN's Jared Borgetti update: "Will not play in today's game." Maybe the program director at ESPN is getting his updates from ESPN mobile.

85: Mexico pressuring a lot here, and Angola's defense is holding strong. Mexico corner...foul on Mexico. Out it goes.

82: Angola's dude with crazy front braid-mullet throws it in after a good Angola possession, but Mexico counters immediately. A neat chip to the back post by Pardo puts it on a platter for Fonseca, but he makes a mess of the volley.

79: Marquez rapes our friend No. 9 in the middle of the field as Stone and his buddy indict the Angolan defense for opening up too man gaps. Ze Kalanga wins a free kick for Angola in the counterattack, and Mexico subs in Morales. Mexico clears the corner pretty easily. Uh-oh...an Angolan midfielder (name, Stone!) gets his second yellow of the day, and he's off. Can the Black Antelopes hold on a man down?

75: Mendez works off a great 1-2 to get into the box, but Ricardo and his backs collapse on it before to long. By the way, Ricardo and His Backs has the potential to be a great band name.

73: Angola dinks it around in back, and a corner kick results. Ricardo does well to catch this one (with two hands this time) and boots it away.

72: The subs are coming in. Mexico brings in Fransisco Fonseca for Franco up top.

69: After a series of corner kicks, Ricardo comes off his line to pull Angola out of it again. Hopefully this blog updates before this Angolan defense collapses.

67: Angola subs in a forward for a midfielder. All I can tell you about the sub is that he is No. 9, which usually indicates goal-scoring ability. Come on No. 9!

65: Angola fails to clear it, and Omar Bravo has a wide open chance from 12. He muffs it right to Ricardo, and again the Mexicans fail.

64: Mexico lofts one to Angola's back post, but Ricardo controls it, again, with one hand. Very nice.

62: Mexico does a little of their own offensive stuff here, but the 1-2 at the top is left wanting when Marquez abandons it.

59: Angola puts a little offensive possession together here, and they're doing well to control the pace. A cross goes in, but no luck. Mexico throw-in.

55: Tremendous exchange here. An Angola forward has a great chance, but the Mexicans counterrack immediately, and the clearance comes from an Angolan defender after the goalie was already beaten. Alas, the Black Antelopes still have life, but Mexico is certainly the agressor here.

50: A good service from Mexico leads to a minute of short breath, but again, nothing. Mexico's manager looks a bit muffed here; maybe he should just say Eff It and light one up, arleady.

48: So we're back, and Torrado, who looks like an hispanic Sideshow Bob, commits a foul in midfield. Mexico has a chance but the cross is muffed,, but here we've got Mexico's first corner kick of the game. Angola does well with it. Still nothing earth-shattering to report.

HALFTIME: So, as I sit in the bliss of those Argentina highlights from earlier today, let's take a look at what we know. Angola is pretty technically raw, but they've done just enough to keep Mexico off its pace. Mexico could probably do well to add Borgetti, but since that's not going to happen, they'll need a bit more creativity. As much as I hate them, I hope someone finds something here, because there are only so many Rob Stone references to be had in this one. Well, without further ado, on to Partido Dos! (Rob's got nothing on me.)

46: That's the first half. Good stuff by Angola, but not a particularly exciting half of soccer. Could be a worse time to be at work, if that's your scene.

44: Not much more going on here. Angola is doing well to keep Mexico on their heels a bit, and haven't faced much pressure for their trouble.

40: Another corner for Angola. Alas, offsides on the short corner. Shoot, I really wanted to work in a lame a "No Mas" joke there.

39: One Angolan player was quoted by Stone as saying "We have shown that Angola is about more than oil, war, and poverty." You know what? That's damn right. Go Angola.

37: Speaking of Rob, he just busted out the Spanish. That sly devil. Communications major, I presume?

35: The Black Antelopes are pressuring the Mexicans a bit here, and Rob Stone (and this other guy, whose name I've yet to capture) are doing a pretty damn good job with this broadcast. We could have two upsets today.

34: Angola corner kick, but again, no real threat. Come on! Give me something here!

32: A good cross from Mexico, and the Angolan goalie leaves the rebound in front of the net, but it's cleared away just in time.

31: Angolan striker takes a wild chance but earns a free kick just a few yards outside of the box. Could have a go here...ah, a cross, and a good header from distance, but no real threat.

28: A little more midfield play, with nary a chance on goal. The Mexicans have most of the ball, but can't make anything of it.

24: Free kick for Angola, which, as Rob Stone points out, have the nickname "Black Antelopes." "Great nickname" says Rob. Can't disagree. Oh, and the Angola free kick goes pretty wide.

22: Figuerido launches a shot over the net. Nothing fantastic, but Angola is getting some chances, at least.

20: ESPN just flashed a graphic with the breakdown of money some Angolan bank is offering the National Team's players. $5,000 for any Man of the Match. Is that Angolan, or U.S.? Not to rip on Angola's economy or anything...

16: Yet another Mexican free kick. Pardo lines it up, and...a great play by the keeper to, well, keep it from landing on a Mexican striker's head. Not bad.

14: Rob Stone just offered the Angolan guy with the "reverse mullet" his vote for "worst haircut." Rob, you don't get a vote. In fact, why are you broadcasting this game? Where's JP Dellcamera? What's going on?

12: Mexico gets into a middle gap, and Angola's Delgado brings the dude down. Oops, that's a yello. Another free kick for Pardo? No...Marquez hits it off the post! Wow. Almost lost Angola, just like that.

11: So I didn't notice them last game, but Angola's jerseys are pretty wild. Even the shinguards are high art. I like.

9: Mexico has a free kick outside the 18. Pardo hits a shot over the wall, but no trouble for the Angolan keeper. Away it goes.

7: Angola's Kalanga goes down for the second time, which means he might actually be hurt. Never can tell, those footballers. Well, here's the stretcher.

5 min: Again, technical difficulties are running amok, but I'm hoping (cross fingers) that this little update reaches you. Each side has had a couple looks at the goal already, but nothing major happening.

Pre-Game:

Angola: Use a little imagination for me on this one. Imagine that this was World Cup 1830, and in the first match of the first World Cup the U.S. had ever been to, they played the UK. Things would probably not have proceeded amicably. That was basically the situation that faced Angola in their first match against Portugal Sunday, and even though they lost 1-0, it was a major improvement over the 6-0 and 5-1 debacles they yielded to their former colonial power. Plus, no one got in trouble, a far cry from the last game between the two, when four Angolan players were sent off. That's fight, right there. It's hard not to root for the African side for that reason, and of course, because they're playing. ..

Mexico: Could El Tricolor be the third team to guarantee a placement in the Group of 16 today? It looks likely, unless our friends from Angola can put things together and challenge them. The Mexicans are missing their star, Jared Boghetti, so the attack that Iran held off for over an hour could be even more challenged today. Realistically, though, Mexico should win this, and if they do, they should thank their lucky stars that they got the group draw that they did, and not the U.S.' Grupo de Muerto, those lucky bas- ... Sorry. Just a little bitter over here.

Ok, so with that, we're off over on ESPN. Please send all sorts of e-mails to eabrenna@wearethepostmen.com, especially when I get things wrong, because, honestly, I know zilch about the intracacies of either of these squads. Which puts me a little ahead of JRob Stone's curve.

In honor of MJ's return to the NBA (kinda), indulge me this honor. All together now: What time is it? GAMETIME, HOO!

Contrary to what FIFA thinks, we believe that more coaches should be smoking during games. Pat Riley might try it in Game 3 (pulls out pack, offers one to Shaq as Heat are down by 20). You know that Jim Leyland does it. And we'd love to hear Bobby Knight yell "Where's my %$&#! ashtray!"

FIFA Urges Mexico Coach To Try Nicotine Patch [World Cup Blog]

• 1. They Will Conquer You With Style. Mexican coach Ricardo Lavolpe is known to sport blue jeans on the sidelines of high stakes matches. Yeah Mexico, thats your coach! But who could ever forget former goalie Jorge Campos's fashion sense. Ow! My retinas!

• 2. "The Referee Says There Is No More Time." Although he broadacsts from the U.S. and graduated from USC, Andres Cantor is most associated with Mexico, having popularized the signiature call of "¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!" while working at Univisión. The call became popular during the 1994 World Cup. Cantor made guest appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman during the '94 and '98 tournaments, and the call is being sold as a ringtone on Telemundo's website.

• 3. A Mexico vs. U.S. Matchup Should Be, Um, Interesting. From the USA Today: "After the USA's first two games of Olympic qualifying (in 2004), the U.S. players left the field to chants of 'Osama! Osama!' In past years, American flags have been burned in the stands, bags of urine and feces have been tossed on the field and the likeness of U.S. players have been hung in effigy from the stadium rafters. There is no bigger target than Landon Donovan, who is fluent in Spanish and has been highly critical of Mexico's fans and highly criticized by them. In the Olympic qualifying tournament, Donovan was caught on camera relieving himself near the field which, enraged fans."

• 4. Hugo Sanchez Drills Daily. Mexico's all-time greatest footballer is probably the world's finest soccer-playing dentist. Yes, Sanchez is a dentist, but somehow found time to star on Spain's Real Madrid for seven seasons, which was only topped by a stint with the Dallas Burn of the MLS. Pele even named him to his Top 125 Living Players' List.

(Let's have a big round of applause for Mike Cardillo, who helped enormously. Tomorrow: Ghana.)