Spain Eliminated In Brazil, Netherlands Advance

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

Group B is all figured out, but not the way everyone thought...

First, the Socceroos gave the Netherlands all they could handle including a Tim Cahill volley that could be the goal of the tournament. But, the Dutch came through in their dress blues for the wild 3-2 win to advance.


van Persie is out for the next match, but it won't matter in the grand scheme.

Interesting set-up for the second match of the day. Chilean fans stormed the stadium saying that they were having to pay $1,100 dollars for a ticket that didn't have an entry point to the stadium.

Here's Yahoo!Sports Graham Watson's viewpoint of the storming of the Media Center
((HT: Graham Watson's Instagram))


But, the questions now will come from all over the place on Spain- THE DEFENDING CHAMP!!!

The Champ Is Here, The Champ Is Gone...

Chile got a 2-0 lead and sat on it for the win and the knockout...

Rio 2014: And Diego Costa Deserves A Straight Red

((HT: Transfer Related's Vine))

Spain's Diego Costa is being booed every time he touches the ball- since he's spent most of his life as a South American person now playing for the World Champs.

But this move won't endear him to a lot of folks for the near future...
Yes, it was sold. But it's still a head butt during play


FIFA, soccer's "governing bardy," may opt for some kind of retroactive punishment here.
It should be interesting to see what goes down after this game

When van Persie Is Healthy, This Happens...

((HT: gifdsports Vine))

Okay, the HQ looked at the Diego Costa foul that resulted in a Xavi Alonso PK- and we thought it was a weak call...

Not surprising in keeping up with the theme of the games i Brazil over the last 24 hours...

But the Dutch came back and THIS is what you get with a healthy Robin van Persie- a thing of beauty


Spain and the Netherlands are 1-1 at the break

Batum with the groin punch and no sympathy

And it was all over a flop...or two.

Wednesday during, France and Spain's Olympic Quarterfinal game a "Punch Heard Round the World" was thrown.

The flailing punch from French forward Nicholas Batum to Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro strangely didn't result in an automatic ejection...from the game that is.

After the game, Batum told Yahoo Sports he did it to give Navarro a good reason to flop. Something the French accused the entire Spain team of doing in the game before today's Bronze Medal game. In that game on Monday, the French say Spain threw the game to keep themselves from playing the U.S in the finals.

Read more from Yahoo Sports RIGHT HERE

Not sure we believe that and it will be interesting to see what happens as a result of it.

Here's an animated GIF of the play in question.

Spain wins on PK's, Ronaldo controversy begins

Yes, we are doing a soccer story.

Because if you are a fan of Sports, you should be watching the European Soccer Championships. It's some of the most entertaining, dramatic moments that you'll see.

And before some of you say it....it's more exciting to watch then most baseball games if you know what you are watching.

The 1st of the Euro League semi-finals was played Wednesday afterooon (our time) and featured defending champion Spain vs. Portugal, featuring all-world star Christian Ronaldo.

The game ended regulation time in a draw. So much like hockey (appealing to American fans), the two teams chose sides and went to a Penalty Kick shootout.

And Spain won the shootout 4-2 after their goaltender Iker Casillas stopped the 1st shot and another Portugeses shot hit the crossbar.

However, it did not end without some controversy as Portugal did not have Ronaldo, their supposed best player, take any of their attempts.

Spain will face the winner of Thursday's Germany vs.Italy game. The finals will be on Sunday.

Ronaldo's omission would be roughly the equivalent of the Heat taking LeBron or Dwyane Wade out of the game in the final 2 minutes. Or Tom Brady on the bench during the Patriots last possession.

(Yes, I know we are dumbing this down. But it's shocking how many people don't get "Big-Time" Professional Soccer.)

We are efforting highlights. We'll post 'em when we find 'em...

Found 'em...hope they don't get pulled.