Since the Beijing Games start next week, we at Goal.com USA already have our wake-up calls planned, the DVR set and our American flags out.
1. The post-game finger-pointing if Italy lose to South Korea ... again.
2. Brazil-Argentina.
3. Honduras-Cameroon on August 10 in Qinhuangdao. You know it's going to be a sell-out.
4. Because this time when a live game is interrupted it might be for women's beach volleyball.
5. The moment one billion Chinese start singing "Freddy Adu" after he hits a freekick goal to beat Japan in their Group B opener.
6. Instead of waking up early, those 5:00 a.m. kick offs are an excuse to stay up drinking all night. Plus, no flipping between channels -- Olympic soccer channel, baby!
7. Giuseppe Rossi. A little man among boys. Or, better yet, watching Brian McBride jump over a Japanese defender - literally - to score his second goal of the match.
8. Belgium. Wait...Belgium? How did Belgium qualify?
9. Trying to figure out why Nowak thinks Maurice Edu is a centerback.
10. Rooting for the team to lose so your MLS team can get one of its key players back for the stretch run.
11. Messi will be playing for Argentina. Wait, no he won't. What's that? He will be? Ok, yes, because of Messi.
