Youth and Speed (7/6)

OJAI OLIVE OIL FARM, CA -- Just like that, we only have European teams left.  South American sides 1A-Uruguay and 1E-Brazil both had allowed just one goal in four matches this tournament.  They were also the last of the non-European teams left.  The youth of 1C-France outplayed URU with an early goal in the first half and then a rocket that went through the hands of the URU GK that sealed their fate, 2-0.  FRA has scored on their last six shots on goal and advances to the Quarters for the first time since '06.

1G-Belgium got a gift of an own goal but BEL used their fast and deadly counterattack to
add a second goal before halftime.  BRA turned it up in the second half taking 16 shots and forcing Thibaut Courtois to make 5 saves including a stoppage time free kick by Neymar that was just pushed over the bar sealing the 2-1 win.  BEL heads into the semis having not lost in 24 matches and advances to the Quarters for the first time since '86.

Flying Elvi is in the lead (105 pts) with by 3 points over former leaders and now eliminated EEChick1400 and TheComeBacker.  Sarachan 4 U.S. Coach moved up to 4th (101) and Poolraider to 7th-T (99).  Stillcryin4USA (15th-T, 96) has the best chance to win the pool (25.0%) while ten have at least a 1 in 4 chance to win money.  BigRedSquare (9th-T, 98) and Flying Elvi have a 50-50 shot at money.

With only UEFA teams left, that means that UEFA will end up with 13 wins.  That means only 3 entries are eligible with Flying Elvi and Bigblue2 (12th-T, 97) still alive to finish in the top 4.  That could leave Krispy Kremer (69th-T, 68) as the $40 Bonus winner.  But we'll know for sure after the quarterfinals.

13 went 2-0 today with 20 went 0-2.  51 picked FRA and 21 picked BEL.  23 lost BRA as their champ and 55 had them in the Semis.  The only teams left that people picked to win are BEL (7), FRA (4), ENG (2), and RUS (1).

TroJen can't win the pool (9 can win) and was 1 of 7 eliminated from money (21 can win) with FRA's win.  Six eliminated and three can't win the pool with BEL's win.  Leaving just 15 alive and 6 who can win the pool.

Quarterfinalists (W-L-T Pts - (GD - GF))

BEL 5-0-0 15 (9 - 14)

FRA 4-0-1 13 (5 - 9)

CRO 3-0-1 10 (6 - 8)

SWE 3-1-0 9 (4 - 6)

ENG 2-1-1 7 (5 - 9)

RUS 2-1-1 7 (4 - 9)

Eliminated (W-L-T Pts - (GD - GF))

URU 4-1-0 12 (4 - 7)

BRA 3-1-1 10 (5 - 8)

 9. COL 2-1-1 7 (4 - 7)

10. ESP 1-0-3 6 (1 - 7)

11. DEN 1-0-3 6 (1 - 1)

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)