Day 9
Woke up in: Munich
Worked in: Hamburg
Fell asleep: On a train bound for Nuremberg
Postcard: Adrian Romo considers himself a reasonable person, so he understands that while Mexico may be the seeded team in Group D, it might not be the favorite.
"It's a pretty tough group," said the Leon, Mexico native. "We don't know much about Iran and Angola, although I like to play against Portugual because they're a similar team, physically, to Mexico."
That means small, although Mexico -- like Portugal -- are technically superior than most teams they face.
Which is why it's unusual that it, in Ricardo La Volpe, has a coach that tells the Mexican people that how much skill they lack.
"I personally don't like it," said Romo, who doesn't personally mind the Brazilian and the Argentinean La Volpe has "naturalized" into the team so much as he dislikes its potential for limiting opportunities for Mexican-born players.
Of course, he was a player with dreams once . Didn't make it with a third division team near his hometown. Probably like many of the tens of thousands of Mexicans who are everywhere in Germany this month.
Especially in the southeast, where green, red and white was the third most popular color combination at the World Cup opener Friday.
When Romo looks at this tournament, another combination he sees, interestingly enough, is red, white and blue.
"The U.S. is a tough team," he said. "Nobody may be talking about them right now, but look out."
Romo was in Korea when the two teams met in the tournament's second round four years ago. His memories of that day, from a Mexican perspective, is one of overconfidence.
"It was something very weird in that game," said Romo. "There were a lot of Mexicans talking about the (potential) next game against Germany."
It is a mistake Mexico must not make today against an Iranian team which holds the key to Group D.
That dude is craaaazy. Maybe they tie or lose to Portugal. No way they're losing to friggin' Iran or Angola. They have the easiest qualifying group by far. That dude is drinking the kool aid.
By the way, can you interview the Iranian players?
I'd like a piece about why they all have Saddam Hussein mustachios. Is there some weird Iranian men's version of "The Rules" that requires everyone to grow a serious 'stache?
And by the way, what the hell is going on down at the post office?