Lots of goals

The five goals scored today on Germany's 3-2 win means that only three can win the Bonus if NED wins tomorrow and only four are alive if ESP wins.  Soccerbix is now going to need Spain to win in PKs after a scoreless match to win 4th or a 1-0 Spain win to tie for 4th with Former MLS Writer.

Issue # 9.4.1 "First Time Winner Awaits"

It's almost over!  Good luck to the 8 vying for the four money spots (Congrats to Joseph D, who has clinched either 1st or 2nd) and the 10 vying for the $40 Bonus.  Read the latest newsletter now!

10 Still Have Chance for Bonus

Note that I inadvertently reversed the order of the tiebreakers for the Bonus1.  It was never the intention to just award the 5th place person a prize.  There is a reason why total goals should be the first tiebreaker and standings placement is 2nd.  That being said, depending who wins, 10 have a chance to win the $40 Bonus.

Check here to see if you are one of 10 with a chance (Hint: It's not me).  While most are in the upper half of the standings, I Hate Vodka is the lowest entry (57th) but wins only if there are 2 or less goals in the two remaining matches and NED wins (he splits if 3 goals).

Sam's Latest Pando! or Gordo? 7/7

Sammy felt it was an odd semifinal.  Read what he has to say!

Correction on Final Two

Some of you aren't paying attention :-)  I inadvertently left off Dime 23 and the points were mixed up if SPAIN beats NED.  Either way, my Zulupalooza is paloozed out.  Corrected below:

If NETHERLANDS beats SPAIN then…
	LB	127
	Forza Pazza	118
	FC Spermicidals	117
	EEChick1400	110
If SPAIN beats NETHERLANDS then…
	Forza Pazza	132
	Corner Kick Kid	123
	Dime 23	122
	Soccerbix	121	(Tie 5.5)
	Former MLS Writer	121	(Tie 6.5)

We will have a new first-time World Cup winner

Even after the goal Spain had most of the possession.  In the three minutes of stoppage time, Germany only had one ball in the box and no shots.  Boy, Germany missed Mueller.  One soft yellow was all it did to keep him out.  Now, either the Dutch or Espana will host the World Cup trophy for the first time.

Wow

When you can sub Torres for Villa, that its one stacked team.  Also in one of the more selfish plays you'll see, Spain blows a chance to go up 2-0.

Persistence pays off

Spain finally breaks through on a great header.  Can the young German team come back?

No score

Spain had the better of the play but still no score with a half hour left in regulation.  Btw, why is one of threw German players wearing a FIFA logo on his crest?

Sam's Latest Pando! or Gordo? 7/6

What makes a shot a PANDO?  Read Sam's recap of the 1st semifinal.

The Dutch Dream Closer!

Wow, URU made it interesting in the end, scoring in the 90'+2 as the ref rightfully added an additional two minutes beyond the announced three and the Uruguayans had several chances.  It's interesting though, you can tell NED's Robben cause he's the one always trying to go left and you can tell NED's Sneijder because he always has both hands up calling for the ball.

Fourteen picked NED (no one had URU) which allowed Baba and LB (both 2nd-Tied, 104 pts) to charge up the standings with the latter the one having NED as his champ.  FC Spermacidals (4th, 103) also has NED as his champ.  The last NED champ pick that has a chance to win money is Zulupalooza (I don't know how I'm still alive) who moved from 30th-T to 13th-T (95) and the last of 11 still alive to win money. 

Forza Pazza remains in first (109) holding a five-point lead.  He's in every possible outcome but if he loses the tiebreaker if NED beats GER in the final, he will finish 5th and out of the money.  LB will win outright if NED wins the title while Forza Pazza will win outright if ESP beats NED and will battle Number 10 via tiebreaker if GER beats NED.

If NETHERLANDS beats GERMANY then…
	LB	118
	FC Spermicidals	117
	Zulupalooza	109	(Tie: 5.5)
	Forza Pazza	109	(Tie: 6.5)
	Number 10	109	(Tie: 8.0)
If GERMANY beats NETHERLANDS then…
	Forza Pazza	109	(Tie: 6.5)
	Number 10	109	(Tie: 8.0)
	Baba	104	(Tie: 5.5)
	LB	104	(Tie: 8.0)
If NETHERLANDS beats SPAIN then…
	LB	127
	Forza Pazza	118
	FC Spermicidals	117
	EEChick1400	110
If SPAIN beats NETHERLANDS then…
	Forza Pazza	127
	Corner Kick Kid	118
	Former MLS Writer	117
	Soccerbix	110

Falling Apart

NED has just scored again, Arjen Robben this time.  All three NED goals, I think, have glanced off the post, this time the left post.  3-1.  And this will put South America to bed.  After getting five teams in the Round of 16, none remain.  And after an all-time low of six European teams in the Round of 16, two will make the final.

50/50

Wow.  NED just scored off a shot that deflected off a URU defender and did not deflect off the NED player who was questionably in an offside position when the shot was taken.  Tie goes to the runner, I say.

Another rocket

Sign these players up!  Forlan from way outside the box fools the GK to tie the game at 1.  Suarez may be out but Forlan is still there.  Halftime (in my delayed world)!

Holland leads 1-0

OK, I'm not exactly sure how I went the whole day without finding out who won.  Watching (my god, that hour-long pregame was excruciatingly long) on DVR now.  An incredible rocket of a shot (why can't MLSers do that?) 30 or so yards away puts NED ahead 1-0.  We could have two teams who have won the cup before in the final (URU and GER) or two teams who haven't (NED and ESP) or a split.

You may still win money! Probably not...

Details of the Bonus Prize are up.  It's only $40 and it's only for those entries who won't finish in the money.  See if you're still alive.  Note that final standings placement will matter, so if you're Coin Tossed, that's just an allusion you're still alive (it just means you could pick the correct Winningest Group).  After the semifinals, I'll factor in the possible final placements and we'll see who is really alive.  Good luck!

Sam's Latest Pando! or Gordo? 7/3

What did the Brazil papers have to say?  Also, do you agree with Sammy's Pando! All-Star team thus far?  Read all about it!