Craziness at the Top (12/1)

LA MIRADA, CA --  So we all had F3-Morocco and E4-Japan winning Group E and F, right?  All goals in Group F were scored before halftime as MAR scored 3 (ok, one was an own goal to F2-Canada) in winning 2-1 while F1-Belgium and F4-Croatia would play to the WC's 6th scoreless draw.  With MAR handling CAN (started with mistake by CAN GK), #2 in the world BEL just needed one goal and they had many chances in the end (most by halftime sub Romelu Lukaku who was just unlucky and should've easily scored on at least 2 of his 5 shots) and the Golden Generation bows out of group stage for first time since 1998.  By holding on, CRO takes 2nd in Group F.

At halftime, Group E was reverting back to normal from chaos as 2-time champ E1-Spain and 4-time champ E3-Germany were sitting 1-2 in the standings.  But chaos returned as subs helped JPN net two goals in 4 minutes to lead ESP, 2-1.  The latter goal was initially called out of bounds before the great cross but VAR's super tech determined a sliver of the ball was still in play and the goal stood.  Sliver.  That sliver put JPN on top of the group with GER chasing.  GER ran into trouble giving up two goals to E2-Costa Rica in 6 minutes (the latter a GER own goal) and CRC took 2nd over ESP.  But GER scored 3 minutes later and though added two more goals to win 4-2, ESP had a massive GD advantage to keep 2nd.  In stoppage time after JPN made two key saves, ESP seemed content with 2nd place (while JPN fans were nervous of giving up tying goal which would have eliminated them) which I'm sure annoyed GER fans.

For the 2nd straight WC, GER fails to make the R16 while JPN has rallied twice to beat two WC champs in the same stadium (sandwiching a perplexing 1-0 loss to CRC).  Talk about the hardest path.  GER had 32 shots and would have needed to win by 8 to guarantee a spot but all they needed was ESP to tie. JPN had just 17.7% possession (14% if you include "in contest" possession) and that's the lowest for a winner of a WC match.  

JPN made the R16 in 2002 for the first time so wore my authentic 2002 JPN Home jersey while taking care of Dad.  My jersey is #7 Hidetoshi Nakata with JPNvTUR imprint for their R16 match (which JPN lost).  Was lucky today though and just as nerve-wrecking as USAvIRN match, but glad ESP took the pedal off the gas in the last two minutes of stoppage time.

As it happened:

• Group F - CROvBEL and CANvMAR
• CRO and MAR can guarantee a R16 spot with a Win or Draw while BEL is in with a Win.  CAN is already eliminated.  CRO GD+1/MAR/BEL.
• 7 seconds - Off kickoff, CRO shot just wide right.
• 4' - CAN GK misplay as MAR loops ball over GK for goal 1-0. MAR/CRO/BEL.
• 15' - CRO ready to take PK but VAR rules offsides (by millimeters) before foul.  MAR/CRO/BEL.
• 23' - MAR goal 2-0.  MAR/CRO/BEL.
• 40' - 1st own goal of WC as MAR re-direct cuts lead to 2-1.  MAR still gets in if tied so they have one more goal to give.  MAR/CRO/BEL.
• 45'+3 - MAR scores!  But auto-bot says offsides. MAR/CRO/BEL.
• 48' - Coming off long injury, Romelu Lukaku enters at halftime and immediately contributes as his tough close header is saved.
• 54' - Another BEL save, keeping BEL alive.
• 60' - Lukaku open rebound hits right post.  BEL just needs one goal.
• 62' - Lukaku header high thanks to slight touch by CRO defender. 
• 72' - Maybe first goal-line tech as CAN shot off crossbar did not clear the line.  CAN trying to give BEL/CRO a chance to top the group if they can equalize. 
• 90' - Lukaku at goal line, wide open, ball hits chest and he misses again!  If CRO finds a goal, CRO would win group over MAR by GD+1.
• 93:55 - Just +4' of stoppage, MAR wins group beating CAN 2-1. 
• 93:56 - Just +4' of stoppage, BEL doesn't get the goal.  CRO holds onto 2nd.
• Group E - JPNvESP and CRCvGER
• ESP can guarantee a R16 spot with a Win or Draw and JPN and CRC guarantee their spot with a Win.  GER actually can auto secure a spot winning by eight (8) goals.  8.  ESP/JPN GD+4/CRC/GER.
• 10' - GER strikes early 1-0.  GER need to win by 8 to not rely on JPNvESP but take 2nd on GD for now.  ESP/GER GD+1/JPN/CRC.
• 11' - ESP scores quickly 1-0 putting 2 soccer powers 1-2 in the clear.  ESP/GER/JPN/CRC.
• 48' - JPN two subs create havoc and ties it at 1 to take 2nd on head-to-head with GER.  ESP/JPN H2H/GER/CRC.
• 51' - JPN scores but flagged for out of bounds.
• 53' - VAR tech shows sliver of ball not out of bounds, it's a goal 2-1 JPN and leads group. JPN/ESP/GER/CRC.
• 58' - CRC puts in rebound, tied 1-1 but trails massively on GD.  JPN/ESP GD+12/CRC/GER.
• 61' - GER hits the right post.
• 70' - JPN nearly puts in a 3rd for safety margin.
• 70' - CRC leads 2-1 as GER GK knocks ball off CRC into his own net and moves into 2nd.  JPN GD+6/CRC/ESP/GER.
• 73' - GER ties it 2-2 knocking CRC out.  JPN/ESP+12/CRC/GER.
• 85' - GER scores again 3-2 inching closer to 2nd and would beat JPN on GF.  JPN/ESP+6/GER/CRC.
• 89' - GER adds another but is rules offsides.
• 89' & 90' - Two JPN saves keeps JPN alive as a tie would give GER GF tiebreaker.
• 90'+1 - VAR reverses offsides and GER gets their 4th goal but unless they score 5 more (even with +10' added), they need ESP to score to give GER the edge on GD.
• 96:59 - Final. JPN 2, ESP 1.  JPN wins group, ESP 2nd. GER eliminated though they are still playing.

Kona Coast Uno (62nd-Tied, 43 pts) got 10 of 16 points and only one to get 3 of 4 R16 teams while Sebass (109th) only got 2 and only one to miss all 4 R16 teams.  Nine got 3 of 4 matches correct while Clingons (81st-T, 41) went 0-4.  Kankleiscious is alone in 1st with 53 points and Krob1 2nd (52) while Sebass is alone in last with 36 pts.  Overall, 15 have 9 of 12 R16 teams while two just have 5 (Union FC (97th-T, 39) and Sebass).

104 picked GER to win, 74 CRO, 29 MAR, 23 the CRO-BEL tie, and 11 JPN.  BEL broke 106 entries who had them in the R16 and 105 got burned by GER.  But 101 got ESP, 81 CRO, 8 MAR, and 7 JPN in their bracket.