Bracket Update: Elena wins the Boots

Our Euro 2008 Bracket Predictor contest is heading into the knockout rounds, and we have our first prize winner. Russia won on more than just the pitch yesterday, as Elena Shirokova from Russia has won the group stage portion of the contest. We will be sending Elena the limited edition Euro 2008 football boots from Nike, the same shoe that Cristiano Ronaldo is wearing in the tournament (for at least another day).

Congratulations to Elena on strongly representing our Russian and female readers here on The Offside and World Cup Blog. She has the lead in the overall standings, but Furio, Majid and Omar are just four points behind and ready to overtake her for the big prize, and with 76 of the 120 points still to be awarded, there are plenty of others knocking on the door with a good shout to win it as well.