REFRESH periodically, as this post will be updated throughout the day and match.
1:00 am: The tiebreaker total goals is currently at 2. The goals scored today in regulation and Extra Time will be added. This is important for those in a tiebreaker situation to win money. If CRO wins, then there is a tie for 2nd place and 4th place. BigRedSquare gets 2nd if total goals in 3rd place & Final matches is 5 or less and Blitzkreig813 gets 2nd if the total goals is 6 or more. Bigblue2 gets 4th if the total goals is 5 or less and FernandoHeirrosArmada gets 4th if the total goals is 6 or more (note the loser ends in 5th which is zero prize money).
For the $40 Bonus, if FRA wins, then Flying Elvi and Bigblue2 will split the $40 prize ($20 each) if the total goals is 6 or less, they will split with Krispy Kremer (3-way tie or $13.33 each) if the total goals is 7, and Krispy Kremer will win the Bonus if the total goals is 8 or more. If CRO wins, then Flying Elvi wins if total goals is 5 or less (because Bigblue2 will win 4th and be ineligible for Bonus), Flying Elvi and Bigblue2 will split ($20) if total is 6, will split 3-ways ($13.33) with Krispy Kremer if total is 7, and Krispy Kremer will win if total goals is 8 or more.
1:25 am: Coincidentally, all four who picked FRA will finish 1-2-3-4 if FRA wins. Sokkerbix, who got a worst 17 of 48 group matches correct (but tied a high getting 14 of 16 Round of 16 teams), would jump to 109 pts, two more than
Blitzkreig813 who has GER as his champ to claim 4th. Mike W, whose Walleye is our pool champ, could also sneak his other entry Bigblue2 into 4th if CRO wins and the total goals today is 3 or less (thus, tiebreaker will be 5) or the Bonus (or parts of if it's tied between entries) if the total goals today is 5 or less (thus, tiebreaker will be 7).
2:00 am: As it stands before the match (tie: 2 goals), 1st-2nd-3rd-4th is Walleye-BigRedSquare-Blitzkreeig813-Bigblue2 with FernandoHierrosArmada losing the tiebreaker to finish 5th.
2:50 am: Just posted Eric Foster's latest Foster's Football Brew and this one covers his travels to Belgium, where he was there with thousands of Belgian fans in watching Belgium take on Japan on July 2nd. Incredible and fun video as well!
8:00 am: Such an early start, things have been busy lately here at home. Little sleep these days.
19': CRO come out strong but FRA scores the 71st set piece goal off the tourney's 12th own goal. This is the 4th straight match CRO has allowed the opponent to score first. As it stands now (tie: 3 goals): Walleye - BigRedSquare - Sacre Les Blues - Sokkerbix.
22': Rain!
27': FRA Kante yellow. Good free kick opportunity. Rocket of a goal!!!! 1-1!!! Not directly off the set piece but the defense was still unsettled during the sequence. For the 4th straight match, CRO have equalized. As it stands now (tie: 4 goals), 1st-2nd-3rd-4th is Walleye-BigRedSquare-Blitzkreeig813-Bigblue2 with FernandoHierrosArmada losing the tiebreaker to finish 5th.
34': VAR!
36': VAR overturns and it is a handball on CRO! It's off Perisic's hand who had just scored for CRO.
38': FRA PK: Griezmann converts! FRA leads 2-1. 72nd set piece goal. 22nd penalty kick goal (29th attempt). As it stands now (tie: 5 goals): Walleye - BigRedSquare - Sacre Les Blues - Sokkerbix.
45': 3 min stoppage. FRA has 2 goals on just one shot. Wow.
8:49 am: Halftime! Only URU in '30 (vARG) have won when trailing at the half. The tiebreaker stands at 5 goals, which means the next goal flips the order if CRO rallies to win and the Bonus will be split in 2 or 3 until the total goals reaches 8. So own goal, 2 set piece goals, PK, VAR, rain. CRO's GWG scorer against ENG, Mandzukic, heads the ball into his own net. CRO's goal scorer today has the ball hit his hand for a FRA PK. 45 min to go!
9:04 am: Start of 2nd half. FRA finally gets another shot, saved by GK.
50': CRO back with the pressure and a few good scoring opportunities already.
52': Fans onto the field as CRO was starting their counter after a great save off FRA's Mbappe.
9:17 am: Next goal will eliminate Bigblue2.
59': Just like that, Bigblue2 is eliminated. FRA's Pogba gets two chances and makes the most of the second one on a strike that caught the GK going the other direction. FRA 3-1. As it stands now (tie: 6 goals): Walleye - BigRedSquare - Sacre Les Blues - Sokkerbix; Bonus split by Flying Elvi and Bigblue2.
65': FRA in cruise control! Now Mbappe scores on a great strike. The 19-year old is 2nd teenager after 17-year old Pele to score in a final. As it stands now (tie: 7 goals): Walleye - BigRedSquare - Sacre Les Blues - Sokkerbix; Bonus split by Flying Elvi, Bigblue2, and Krispy Kremer.
69': What happened? FRA's GK Hugo Lloris just had a bad first touch that was pounced on by Mandzukic and it's now 4-2. The six goals is the most in final since '66. Just like that, Krispy Kremer wins the Bonus!
90': 5 min stoppage. So ENG's Harry Kane will win the Golden Boot with 6 goals.
9:54 am: Game over! Vive le France! 2nd World Cup for this second youngest team in the tourney. CRO never gave up but the last ten minutes or so they were out of gas, having played 3 full extra time matches. I can't wait to get my 2-star FRA jersey.
11:00 am: I love how FIFA gives the champs their new jerseys with new star on them.
Final:
1st - Mike W - Walleye $355
2nd - Eric F - BigRedSquare $190
3rd - Ford R - Sacre Les Blues $125
4th - Fernando B - Sokkerbix $80
Bonus - Roy W - Krispy Kremer $40
Final Standings (W-L-T Pts (GD - GF) [FP])
1. FRA 6-0-1 19 (8 - 14)
2. CRO 4-1-2 14 (5 - 14)
3. BEL 6-1-0 18 (10 - 16)
4. ENG 3-3-1 10 (4 - 12)
5. URU 4-1-0 12 (4 - 7)
6. BRA 3-1-1 10 (5 - 8)
7. SWE 3-2-0 9 (2 - 6)
8. RUS 2-1-2 8 (4 - 11)
9. COL 2-1-1 7 (4 - 7)
10. ESP 1-0-3 6 (1 - 7)
11. DEN 1-0-3 6 (1 - 3)
12. MEX 2-2-0 6 (-3 - 3)
13. POR 1-1-2 5 (0 - 6)
14. SUI 1-1-2 5 (0 - 5)
15. JPN 1-2-1 4 (-1 - 6)
16. ARG 1-2-1 4 (-3 - 6)
17. SEN 1-1-1 4 (0 - 4)
18. IRN 1-1-1 4 (0 - 2)
19. KOR 1-2-0 3 (0 - 3)
20. PER 1-2-0 3 (0 - 2)
21. NGA 1-2-0 3 (-1 - 3)
22. GER 1-2-0 3 (-2 - 2) [-4]
23. SRB 1-2-0 3 (-2 - 2) [-9]
24. TUN 1-2-0 3 (-3 - 5)
25. POL 1-2-0 3 (-3 - 2)
26. KSA 1-2-0 3 (-5 - 2)
27. MAR 0-2-1 1 (-2 - 2)
28. ISL 0-2-1 1 (-3 - 2) [-3]
29. CRC 0-2-1 1 (-3 - 2) [-6]
30. AUS 0-2-1 1 (-3 - 2) [-7]
31. EGY 0-3-0 0 (-4 - 2)
32. PAN 0-3-0 0 (-9 - 2)
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