One Favorite Proves Its Might (6/18)

While the three odds-on favorites (BRA, GER, ESP) to win the Cup have gone 0-1-2, just on the outside is G1-Belgium, ranked #3 in the world and in the second half they exploded against newbie G2-Panama scoring 3 times in a 3-0 win.  Only top group seeds A1-Russia and C1-France have managed to pick up wins, and Russia was technically the fourth-best team in the group.  H1-Poland plays Tuesday.

Harry Kane scored early and in final stoppage time to give
G4-England a 2-1 win over G3-Tunisia and postpones the press's English lament for another day.  Tunisia's only shot on goal was their penalty kick goal.  The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is winless in four attempts with their only hope H3-Senegal left.  UEFA, on the other hand, is dominating with an 8-1-4 record (with of all teams, Germany losing) with Poland left.

The UEFA sweep meant 51 went 3-0 for the day and 27 went 2-1.  Soccerhorn was the only one to go 1-2 and dropped into a tie for 59th (6 pts).  Ilvecchio remains on top (11) with five others just a point behind.  Argh (24th-T, 8) currently has a 4-match win streak.

Asian Drama
Two Asian teams were rocked by outside distractions on Monday with a plane carrying the A2-Saudi Arabia team catching fire due to a bird strike and a deadly 6.1 magnitude earthquake hitting Osaka where some H4-Japan players had family.  The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is currently 1-3-0 with a -6 goal differential.  B4-Iran, off the benefit of a own goal by B3-Morocco, is the lone win and leads Group B that has superpowers B1-Portugal and B2-Spain.  Japan plays Tuesday.