Four UEFA Teams In (6/14)

C2-Italy routed C4-Jamaica 5-0 to advance to the Round of 16.  A double VAR sequence saw it first used to reverse a non-call and gave a penalty kick to ITA in the 9'.  On the PK, JAM's young GK saved it in the 11' but was off her line and VAR gave the infraction and on the retake, ITA converted for the first goal in the 12'.  This seemed egregious upon live view but I forget the GK can move as long as he/she has a foot on the line.  Clearly, she didn't but ignoring she was way off center, it was only by 10 inches or less.  Watching another PK from today, the GK was behind the line and timed it run up to the line so she had a foot on it when the PK was taken (not successful BTW).  JAM has allowed back-to-back hat tricks against them and now have a -8 Goal Differential.

AFC is Back (6/13)

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has had a nightmare of a WWC going 0-5-1 and that tie was the biggest upset with D4-Japan tying D3-Argentina.  But today, things have turned around.  After losing a 1-0 lead in a loss to C2-Italy, C1-Australia rallied from a two-goal deficit to stun C3-Brazil, 3-2, giving the AFC its first win.  It was just the second time a team has come back from 2-0 to win in the WWC.  Marta scored in her record 5th straight WWC with her record-extending 16th WWC goal on a penalty (a soft foul) and Cristiane scored her 3rd of the tourney to put BRA up 2-0.  AUS scored three straight times off long crosses into the box.  The first was headed and then put in before halftime, the second was let through freezing the GK for the game-tying goal, and the third was headed in by BRA into their own net.  The last was called offsides but upon VAR review, it was determined BRA's player had a controlled header on the cross was not impeded by AUS's offsides player (Monica) and therefore there was no offsides.  So we've had an own goal in 3 of the last 4 matches.  BRA made two subs at the half including taking out Marta and then used their 3rd sub to take out Cristiane in the 75' while down 3-2.  Very odd.

Own It (6/12)

A3-Norway must be kings of the own goal as they benefited for the second straight match as an opponent scores for NOR, this time hometown A1-France which tied the score at 1 in the 54'.  It was a bizarre play as the cross would've gone harmlessly past the goal but FRA's Renard, who scored 2 goals in the opener, just seemed to tap the ball into her own net with no NOR defender around her.  However, a reckless tackle (really a mis-hit by NOR which made the follow through worse) in the box was looked at by VAR and deemed to be a foul, and FRA converted the penalty and held on to a 2-1 win to take the lead in Group A.

In the other Group A match, another own goal changed the tide of the match as A2-Korea Rep's control of the match was unhinged on a counter and accidentally kicked into their own net to give A4-Nigeria a 1-0 lead in the 29'.  The bizarre part was NGA's player near by put her hand up and appeared to graze the ball as it went past the goalkeeper into the net but VAR said no handball, thus the goal stood.  KOR had chances but it was another counter that did them in and NGA picked up three points in a 2-0 win.

Issue 3.1.2 "Baker's Dozen" (After 1st Matches)

Archive

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

     USA QUIETS DOUBTERS, NOW THE NEW VILLAIN?
Three tied with 11 points as 11 of 12 matches produce a winner

HOME, CA (smt) -- If there was a doubt how ready the F1-USA team would be, they squashed it in record fashion, demolishing F2-Thailand, 13-0, thanks to Alex Morgan's record-tying five goals and three assists.  USA scored 10 goals in the second half on a pair of four-goal stretches in six and eight minutes that ruffled casual fans of the game but don't understand goal differential is the first tiebreaker and F4-Sweden, who beat F3-Chile 2-0, has yet to play THA.  Soccer fans, however, are upset that the USA continued to excitedly celebrate as the match wore on, with the most egregious being Megan Rapinoe's slide and kick celebration after the USA's NINTH goal.   Megan, you had me until that slide.  The U.S. may have turned neutral observers into detractors but if they keep the winning going, holding up the trophy will be its just rewards. 

Favorites struggled with the aforementioned SWE not scoring until the 83' (#39 CHI), E4-Netherlands needing stoppage time to find their goal (#19 E3-NZL), B1-Germany and E1-Canada each scoring just once in their win (#16 B2-CHN and #46 E2-CMR), C1-Australia getting upset in stoppage time (#15 C2-Italy), B3-Spain coming from behind to late to win (#49 B4-RSA) and D4-Japan being held to a scoreless draw (#37 D3-ARG). 

Should They Score or Should They Stay?

The United States walloped Thailand 13-0 and after finally scoring more than a goal (3) in the first half of a group stage match since 2003, to others it seemed it was bad sportsmanship to pile on (I appreciate Rob Stone speaking up passionately after the match on FOX -- I hope he still has a job!), especially after scoring four goals in six minutes to lead 7-0.  Records are made to be broken and the USA broke a boatload of them and it was fun to watch.  While the USA was using the match as target practice (we still don't know how good GK Alyssa Naeher will be), it seemed like THA was also using it as a learning situation as THA never changed to play more defensively, never fought harder for 50/50 balls, and never went more aggressive in defending (e.g., tugging on shirts, knocking a few USA players down).  It was as if THA was going to use the tape on this match to plan for the other two matches as the USA provided a free clinic in how to adjust for the next matches.  They committed just five fouls and only picked up one yellow.  That is begging the USA to have free reign to attack them without the possibility of injury and in a stage where goal differential is the first tiebreaker, your job is to score goals. 

To their credit, THA never gave up but that meant the USA didn't give up.  Why would the USA play the last 35 minutes just passing the ball around the pitch -- that doesn't do the fans who paid money any good, doesn't give any respect to THA, and like I said, GD is key so how many do you think SWE would score?  4?  6?  8?  You don't know.  And to be fair, if THA had a taller and more veteran goalkeeper, probably half a dozen goals would not have gone in, even with that porous defense.  And Alex Morgan's first-class touches (which would put most LA Galaxy players not named Zlatan to shame) created at least a few of her five goals and three assists so she earned those goals.

BUT, there were three instances of cringe-worthiness.  Jill Ellis

When it Rains... (6/11)

After the first two games today, the past four matches saw three 0-0 halftime scores and one that was 0-0 until the 45'.  Well, the third match produced a few goals... more later...  It rained in Rennes that actually stopped the match and it rained goals in Reims that divided the fandom.

First, E3-New Zealand looked like it was going to hold E4-Netherlands to a 0-0 draw but a stoppage time goal in the 90'+2 gave the Dutch a 2-0 win and the full three points and into a first place tie with E1-Canada.

After a sunny start, in the 72', it had been raining hard for about twenty minutes but

Like Winning a Championship (6/10)

After seeing 21 goals in the first 7 matches, today saw just one in two matches.  In the biggest surprise of the tournament, D4-Japan was held to a zero-zero draw by #37 ranked D3-Argentina.  While ARG had no shots in the first half, did not have a shot on goal until the 73', had zero corner kicks, and never got into JPN's box until the 65', ARG's defense formation held firm for the whole 90 minutes.  JPN was too patient and never had many runs at ARG's defense, opting to play the ball around (sort of like men's Spain team did in '18 WC) and had just eight shots.  ARG celebrated like they had not only won but won a championship.  When you're in the shadow of the men's team, a tie is a great result.  It's a shame that the largest crowd since the opening match (1st >20,000 at 25,055) saw this dud.  D1-England leads the Group and D2-Scotland's chances have greatly improved with this result.

E1-Canada had lots of possession but only managed one goal against #46 E2-Cameroon in the lowest attended event at 10,710 fans.  But as always, getting the result of 3 points is the goal in the first match as 89% of WWC teams who won their first match, advanced to the Knockout Stage including all 9 teams in 2015.

The Asian Football Confederation is off to a

Defensive Lapses (6/9)

Should I stay or should I go?  C1-Australia's GK on a long free kick started to come out to the ball but then stopped allowing a header which weakly got past her and into the net for the game-winner in the 90'+5.  AUS's defense also allowed the tying goal as a bad touch out of the back was stolen by C2-Italy who scored to tie the game at 1.  This match I woke for around 5:40 in the morning and watching the last 10 minutes I really liked how AUS was playing (not knowing ITA had 2 goals taken away by offsides, one by a hair) but it was a soft foul in their end that allowed the free kick that led to the game-winner.  For a team that got trounced 3-0 by NED in their last game, I guess this was not unexpected.  First upset of the tourney.

C3-Brazil was riding a 9-game losing streak but

Attendance Drop

After a great sellout opening crowd on Friday (granted it was France playing in Paris), it was disappointing to see small crowds of 15,283 (GERvCHN), 12,044 (ESPvRSA), and 11,058 (NORvNGA) on Saturday, especially since all three had mainland European teams playing and their supporters could more easily get to France.  I mean ESP and GER are right next door to France.  So what is a non-European matchup of BRAvJAM going to draw Sunday?  

Doesn't seem like it'd be an issue moving fans around after the first ticketing fiasco for these matches where groups were bizarrely split up randomly.  But then there is a second ticketing fiasco as "download" tickets apparently meant "print" your tickets.  Yup, definitely a FIFA event.  Allegedly, 950,000 tickets have been sold so hopefully fans will eventually show up and not be paid sponsor ticket no-shows.  Can't wait to see the USA fan support and hopefully sold out matches in Reims, Paris, and Le Havre.  

Solo Survivor (6/8)

B1-Germany struggled but eventually gained control in a 1-0 win over B2-China PR.  GER had 62% possession and outshot CHN 18-4.  GER also extended a streak to 18 matches without allowing a first half goal in the WWC ('03 Final vs SWE).  CHN committed 19 fouls and had 4 yellow cards.  B3-Spain found themselves down 1-0 to B4-South Africa at the half but used their 72% possession advantage in creating 2nd half chances, including two that led to penalty kicks.  The rally for the 3-1 win puts ESP on top of Group B for now.

Both PK calls are probably what differentiates recreational players from professional players.  I can see myself flying with my hands slightly up and saying it was an incidental handball on the first PK foul and getting to the ball first but having the player run into me and saying it wasn't my fault on the second PK foul (called by VAR).  However, in a professional setting, players know to have their hand near their body or even behind their backs when attacking a cross to avoid the incidental handball and a players know to clear the ball and not completely follow through to avoid unnecessary contact to the onrushing player (that looked painful and would've been doubly so if it was against a male).  VAR was needed to call the foul and penalty (and doubly bad for RSA as the foul was the second yellow on the player) on the second PK which ESP converted for a 2-1 lead.  VAR was earlier used to confirm no foul in the box that would've gave ESP a PK while down 1-0.

A3-Norway scored early