Saturday games
- Scotland vs. Costa Rica 5 p.m. (CBC) in Burnaby
British announcer Steve Banyard, calling the pulsating action Friday on Country Canada TV in the United States' shocking upset of Brazil, stated: "At this rate, football could become more popular than ice hockey in Canada."
Then Banyard caught himself and quickly added "maybe."
Just to make such an observation - yes, it was a stretch and quickly qualified - shows how riveting the FIFA 2007 Under-20 World Cup has been so far. Other than the host team's shockingly sad performance, it's been a show to behold.
One of the many interesting scenarios in play is today's match between Japan and Nigeria (5 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park).
Both 2-0 heading into the battle that will decide supremacy in Group F. Each team knows it will be playing in a capital next week in the Round of 16, but neither knows whether it will be the B.C. capital or the nation's capital?
Both camps say they have felt right at home in Victoria - even that the city has been lucky for them - but the welcome mat is about to be rolled up for one of them. The winner between Japan and Nigeria will face Group E runner-up Czech Republic at Royal Athletic Park on Wednesday in the Sweet 16. Today's loser must fly across three time zones to play the Group B runner-up at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa on Thursday.
Not only that, but the losing team will have caused much aggravation and considerable added cost for its camp followers - the Japanese team is being followed by a large media contingent and the Nigerians are getting support from hundreds of ex-pats from all over North America and even from Nigeria itself.
The advantage, in the form of the tiebreaker, is with Japan because a win or tie today gives it the Group F title. The teams are tied on the first tiebreaker, goal differential, at plus three. Japan leads on the next tiebreaker, goals scored, by a 4-3 count. So Nigeria must win today to capture Group F.
Fans here have come to know both these national sides, and either can expect the support of the crowd against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Nigeria head coach Ladan Bosso cited the familiarity factor as to why it's a big plus to stay here for the Round of 16 playoffs.
"It would be good for us to win the group and stay in Victoria because we've already adapted to everything here, so we definitely want to win," Bosso told reporters during the press conference following his side's 2-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday.
When you're hosting anything, it's always nice when people say they will be sad to leave. But an entire camp will be packing up tomorrow on short notice and heading to the nation's capital. The only question is which one.
