Depth (12/5)

CYPRESS, CA - One thing that separates the European and South American teams from the rest of the world is their depth.  2F-Croatia rallied to tie 1E-Japan early 1-1 in the second half and then subbed judiciously, even replacing their scorer, to wear down the JPN pressure in extra time.  JPN seemed to settle for the penalty kick shootout and that is not what should have happened, because the PSO is not a 50/50 chance, experience plays a big role.  Two of the 3 PSO scorers for CRO were substitutes and CRO's towering GK made not 1, not 2, but 3 saves to help CRO win another PSO, 3-1, to advance to the quarterfinals.

1G-Brazil which had the luxury of resting all their starters in their 3rd match (even their GK who had faced zero shots on goal in 2 matches) ran all over 2H-Korea Republic in the first half, scoring four goals, three of the pretty kind and one PK by Neymar, who returned from injury.  After each goal, BRA were dancing in choreographed moves, which after a bit, seemed like they were stomping on the dead, who hadn't died yet.  KOR did manage to get a goal in the 76' to prevent the shutout.

But just as you are ready to brand BRA the villains of this WC, they bring out a touching tribute and banner for Pele, who was hospitalized.  Great gesture.

Both JPN and BRA did not score a first half goal in their first 3 matches but did so today.  JPN is 0-4 in the R16 and also lost a PSO to Paraguay in 2010.  As runners-up in 2018, CRO played 3 extra time matches, winning two PSOs and one in extra time.

I had my fingers crossed in the PSO for JPN, but it wasn't to be.  So I wore my 2012 JPN home jersey that the women wore so it had a cool pink stripe down the middle, the championship star above the crest, and 2011 WWC winners patch.  Boy, several people stopped to comment they were rooting for JPN including one nice convo at the drive-thru window at Alberto's Mexican Food in Cypress (it may have just 2 stars, but one of the best fries, cheese quesadilla, and taquitos - they just don't have any prices listed!

107 got BRA and 12 got CRO.  11 got both CRO and BRA while Ugh, as If! (102nd-Tied, 65 pts) got none.  Kankleiscious maintains the 3-point lead (89) over five who have 86 pts while Markofthebeast is last with 57 pts.  Meli (107th, 60) with a MEX-GER-USA-CAN final four cannot pick up any more points.  Overall, three have gotten all 6 R16 teams (What Would Pep Do (21st-T, 82), Indy Ari (7th-T, 85), The Gambler 1 (2nd-T, 86)) while 16 have just 3 of 6.  

The Gambler has the best chance at winning the pool (14.7%) and money (30.3%).  Danish Dynamite (7th-T), Fabio (2nd-T), and Bwakewey 3 (7th-T) also all have a better than 1 in 4 chance at money.  40 can still win the pool and 72 can still finish in the top 5 money spots.

I'm traveling to St. Louis tomorrow and will be back past midnight on Friday, just in time for the Quarterfinals at 7 am.