Day 13- Munich		Match 40	Group D
	AUSTRIA	vs.	NORWAY

Early on, Austria takes possession, but has no way of getting past Norway's rigid defense. It takes several minutes for anyone to even think about shots.

That includes Norway, who does as promised and goes back to a methodical possession-based game. Austria's defense doesn't budge and he doesn't make a dent either.

Austria gets it back, gets into Norway territory and appears to be stalled.

	Austria passes up to the side. He dribbles, looking for an opening, but none arriving.
	Still outside of the box though. Norway starting to bring pressure.
	Two defenders on him, Austria still dribbles, nice move! Evades them briefly, passes hard into the box, shot, SCORE! Austria draws the defense, dodges and fires it past them with a one-two play!
	Great footwork to set that up. Just as Norway got close enough, a quick shuffle throws them off the line and sets up about as easy a goal as you'll get off him.

7' - GOAL (AUT) - Austria 1, Norway 0

Austria gets it back and gets it right back down, drawing a corner kick.

	No time wasted, Austria trying again with a corner kick. It's away, hard cross straight past the goal, headed IN! A rifle of a cross is somehow redirected into the goal!
	Wow! Check him for a concussion! I didn't think anyone would be able to get a head on that, much less control it! Austria getting an early advantage in a big way!

8' - GOAL (AUT) - Austria 2, Norway 0

Russia isn't the only one still lingering around after elimination: Hungary is cheering Austria on from the sideline.

	All right! Keep at it now! Don't let up!
	Certainly. Only two things...
	Yes?
	One, stop screaming. Two...
	He clutches his forehead.
	Be a dear and fetch an aspirin.

Norway gets it back and slows it down once more. He doesn't go anywhere with it, but it at least kills Austria's momentum.

	Time for an update from Frankfurt. Taiwan?
	England's been controlling the game, but it's Korea who seizes the opportunity first. Despite being outshot so far, Korea heads in a cross and takes the early lead!

13' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 1, England 0

Slowly but surely, Norway makes some progress. It takes forever to set up a shot, and Austria still moves down when he can, but he is slowly building the momentum up.

	Over to the side, Norway holding there, no room to cross, so he passes a little closer to the box. Passes back, into the box! Norway moving away, shoots to the near post! Knocked away! Keeper barely gets there in time! Austria lucky to only concede a corner.
	Tricky, tricky shot right there for Norway. His momentum was carrying him away from the goal at an angle where a shot to the far post would have been the obvious way to go. But he saw Austria all over that line and practically kicked it backwards at the near post. So close on that one!
	He does get a corner out of it and goes short, right to a man along the sides. Evades Austria, pushing him toward the goal line, sneaks in a cross! It's up, Norway gets to it! GOAL! Goes to the far post this time and cuts the deficit in half!
	That's the other thing Norway brings to the table. He's sly and disguises his intentions nicely. Great job setting that one up.

19' - GOAL (NOR) - Austria 2, Norway 1

While things open up a bit and both sides are able to get shots off, Australia cuts away.

	Sounds like a lot of action going on over there. What's the latest, Taiwan?
	Korea looked to be in control as he scored a second goal with the most perfect header you will see, right into the upper right-hand corner of the net. No way England could stop it. But England struck two minutes later when a soft header on a corner kick took a bounce and cleared the line before Korea could clear it. It was a close call, but it looked like Cameroon got it right for England.
	You mean the ball crossed the goal-line and they actually counted it for England? That's a first.

19' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 2, England 0

21' - GOAL (ENG) - Korea 2, England 1

Right now everyone in England is wishing they had Cameroon for an official in the 2010 World Cup.

Austria seems to take control for a few good shots, then Norway follows suit. When neither get anything, Austria is able to control the game for a while, followed by Norway slowing things down once more.

With this game stalled, we do get another update, however.

Despite England continuing to dictate the pace, Korea's shots are finding their way in! It took a second striker after England blocked a breakaway shot, but Korea now leads 3-1!

27' - GOAL (KOR) - Korea 3, England 1

Norway begins to show a little more urgency in the final fifteen of the half, but still mostly focuses on retaining possession. In the rare moments that he gets it, Austria still does scary things with the ball.

	Austria gets it back, moves up quickly. Towards the box, cuts around past the defenders. Heading all the way to the goal line, passes back, to the six-yard box, man open! Austria shoots... GOAL! Well executed run and Austria takes a 3-1 lead!
	Nice play. Picked up the intensity at the right time. Norway looked like he was shutting things down for the half, but Austria jumped up, charged ahead and got a huge goal to get his two goal lead back.

37' - GOAL (AUT) - Austria 3, Norway 1

Some hard shots, hard tackles and a couple yellow cards make the final minutes interesting, but nobody scores and they go into the half.

	At halftime, Norway seems to be moving the ball the way he did against Korea, but his defense is still a question mark.
	Yeah, second straight game where it hasn't been all that impressive. Although credit Austria for stepping up, playing some good angles and taking charge. He was the lowest-rated nation in the group coming in, but he may find himself winning it if the other result holds up.
	Speaking of which, let's get an update from Taiwan.

Taiwan not only has an update, but England as well.

	With a 3-1 lead, Korea's showing a little more patience out there, and the score holds up at halftime. England, you're starting to look a little impatient out there. Some rushed shots and two bookings. Any consolation that Austria's helping you stay alive?
	I refuse to show any gratitude to that git. I shouldn't need his help surviving and nothing less than winning this group is enough.
	That's very true. Finish behind Austria and you'll be staring down Spain in your next match.
	Indeed. Victory is the only option.
	Surprised at how well Korea's been playing?
	Well? Surely you haven't mistaken his aggressive stands for honest football. I'll find a way around his style yet. I'm far too talented to succumb to the likes of him.
	Good luck in the second half, England.
	Thanks Taiwan. To his defense, he has had a lot of shots bounce off the post. Looks like he's outplaying Korea, it's just that Korea's finally getting some things bouncing his way. Let's see if he can hold that in the second half.
	Again, England probably not in danger. It would take Norway coming back and a horrific loss to Korea to leave him on the outside.
	Any sign of that and England would be better off playing keepball the rest of the way, but we know that ain't happening.
	Right on that. Let's get going with the second half of play.

Things pick up a little bit to start the second half, but both defenses step up to thwart any attacks. It takes several minutes before either side gets a shot worth saving.

It ends up being Austria, who continues to dictate the pace and play up. Norway is unable to make any progress in the first ten minutes.

	Not much going on here. How about you, Taiwan?
	More than enough action here to make up for it, Australia. England not only gets a goal in the 49th with a cross setting up a great streak from inside the six-yard box, but ties it two minutes later! A corner kick is headed off the post, but finished up soon later. England roaring back to tie it 3-3!

49' - GOAL (ENG) - Korea 3, England 2

51' - GOAL (ENG) - Korea 3, England 3

Norway is finally able to stop Austria's attack and possess for a while himself, but as much as he's able to move it into Austrian territory, he can't get into the box. It takes several missed opportunities before something finally appears to break his way.

	Norway in Austria territory, passing around, looking for a way in.
	Austria not only keeping him out of the box, but Norway can't even get close to it.
	Lobs a long pass over the defenders, has a man onside! Got it! Wide open shot! SCORES! Norway's within one!
	That was unexpected. Austria playing zone and Norway just slipped by him and timed one perfectly. Once that gets past the defense, you're asking way too much of your keeper.

59' - GOAL (NOR) - Austria 3, Norway 2

Austria wrests back control as Norway doesn't keep the charge up. He doesn't let Austria anywhere near the box, but Austria is quite content holding onto it around midfield.

He does continue to push up once in a while.

	Austria forward, into the box! Past a defender, takes a shot, knocked away!
	Austria finally starting to threaten again. We were beginning to miss that.
	He does get a corner out of it. Sets it up and lets it go! It's high, towards the middle, header! GOAL! Another corner kick goal and Austria is close to putting this one away!
	Unbelievable! Norway gives up a second goal on a corner. With 25 minutes left, that's a back-breaker right there.

65' - GOAL (AUT) - Austria 4, Norway 2

It's a good time to check in with Taiwan...

England's really starting to dominate with the ball now, a big improvement over their first half. They're putting up a good attack, trying to get back ahead, but Korea's holding him off. We're still even here!

Norway is able to hold the ball longer now, but only because Austria's using a much more defensive strategy that prevents Norway from advancing. Other than a few shots and a corner kick here and there, Norway doesn't get much off in the next several minutes.

Austria holds him off nicely, even moving forward for the token attack to kill time. It earns him a corner kick.

	Kick's away, no dice this time as Norway gets it. Clears it up and moving quickly.
	Quick counter-attack! Haven't seen this from Norway...
	Crosses midfield, dragged down from behind. Whistle blows, definite foul there.
	*holds yellow card* Come on. Not so rough there.
	I regret nothing.

Norway is undeterred.

	Norway passing much faster now, passes up and dribbles into the box. Austria there to stop him, but he gets a shot off... GOAL! What a shot past the defender and keeper to the far post!
	Great shot! Norway running out of time, but he's starting to pull it together now. Let's see if Austria can preserve this lead!

79' - GOAL (NOR) - Austria 4, Norway 3

For ten minutes, he can, playing for possession with only the slightest charge to keep Norway honest. Norway is stymied by Austria holding onto the ball extensively, with few turnovers to speak of.

Norway, however, is able to get a late push in the final minute.

	Norway down the side, rushing for one last chance. Down the side, nobody there for a cross so he charges in. Has an opening, fires! Blocked by the keeper. It's loose, but Austria's there to clean it up. He clears it and that could do it.
	Not the best angle, but nobody else was home so he had to try that one himself. Austria was more in control than it looked.
	And there's the whistle from Thailand. The opus continues as Austria is through to the knockouts!

Austria smiles at the cheering crowd, Hungary glomps him. We may have a dark horse here.

Day 13- Munich		Match 40	Group C
	AUSTRIA	4:3 FT	NORWAY
7' 8' 32' 65'	Haas Kirchler Vastic Vastic	Referee THA	Iversen Rushfeldt Rushfeldt	19' 59' 79'

Back in the studio, Australia gets ready to toss.

	So Austria secures a spot in the knockouts with another solid victory. But who's his opponent? Taiwan has an answer for that in Frankfurt.
	Yes I do. England kept up the momentum for most of the game, but Korea continued to frustrate him, keeping him out of the goal. England got a final opportunity in the closing minutes, but it rattled off the woodwork. Korea takes home a consolation point, denying England the group with a 3-3 draw.

Day 13- Frankfurt		Match 39	Group C
	KOREA	3:3 FT	ENGLAND
13' 19' 27'	D. Lee D. Lee E. Lee	Referee CMR	Rooney Rooney Rooney	29' 49' 51'

Taiwan is with Korea for a final send-off.

	It's not the victory you had hoped for, but a draw with England is something to pick your spirits up after a disappointing tournament.
	You bet! I really put everything I had into every match and the first two were so frustrating. But I got the momentum early in this one and held on until the end. It's not a win, but I can go home with my head held high!
	Not only did you have the early momentum, but you also weathered the storm nicely when England was pushing to go ahead late.
	Yeah. Those two goals to start the second half were tough. But I wasn't going to let this one get away from me. It means a lot to get a point against somebody with as much history as England. Did you know he invented football?
	Um... yes. And he reminds us constantly.
	He does? That's gotta be annoying.
	Little bit. Good game and we'll see you at the next real one.
	Yep!
	So farewell to Korea, and also to Norway, who started out strong and faded down the stretch.
	Yeah, I thought Norway was a side to watch, but it's become clear that Austria means serious business in this tournament.
	He's not flashy, but he doesn't make mistakes. Good counterpoint to his next opponent.
	Yep. England settled for a draw, so Austria wins Group C and will face Turkey in the Round of 16. England's penance is a match against none other than Spain.
	Austria-Turkey and Spain-England... now that's old school. Let's check the tables.

Hey, it's a table!

That's enough for today.

	So we have two more matches set for the next round. Tomorrow we'll have two more as Group E and F settle things.
	Group E's pretty much in line. Denmark's last-second goal against Finland makes his spot pretty safe, but he can still win the group if he takes down France tomorrow. France is already good to go.
	Meanwhile Finland will face Hong Kong and needs a miracle to survive.
	Denmark stole that miracle in their last match. Silly Nordics.
	Group F is really interesting as Switzerland and Egypt meet in what could be an elimination match. Both have four points apiece and one will be eliminated unless Italy fails to beat the tar out of Estonia.
	And after two draws, Italy really needs to beat the tar out of Estonia. That's it for us today. Adios!

To Be Continued!

The Baltic Cup is a tournament held every two years or so between the three Baltic countries. Whichever country isn't playing the match normally officiates. Lithuania won and hosted the 2010 tournament during the World Cup with a 2-0 win against Estonia after Latvia played both to scoreless draws. And it really was canceled one year due to a really intense basketball game between Latvia and Lithuania. Remember, basketball is serious business in Lithuania.

If points, goal differential and goals scored are all even, and the two teams drew when when they played each other, the final tie-breaker is a coin flip. This would have happened if Latvia had gotten just one more goal on Lithuania. As stated on the index page, while I would have used a coin flip in the canon, I would have put up a poll for you to decide whether Latvia and Turkey would advance to play Austria.

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