Wednesday, December 7, 2022 ***NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY***
IT'S THE USUAL SUSPECTS BUT MOROCCO CUTS IN LINE
Five tied for 1st; 57 entries still alive and 21 can win the pool
HILTON AT THE BALLPARK, SAINT LOUIS, MO (smt) -- After a fun and crazy group stage that saw teams like 1E-Japan and 1F-Morocco win their groups and four-time champion E3-Germany, two-time champion (4 if you include pre-WC Olympic titles) H3-Uruguay, and #2 F1-Belgium eliminated, the Round of 16 was shaping up to be a Europe/South America vs North America/Africa/Asia competition. But the soccer powers rose in stature but there would be one team that defied the odds to make the Quarterfinals. That would be MAR.
While favorites 1A-Netherlands (3-1 over 2B-USA - where USA had more possession and shots, but couldn't finish while NED were precision strikes), 1G-Brazil (4-1 over 2H-Korea Rep - Neymar returning for a PK goal), 1B-England (3-0 over 2A-Senegal), 1D-France (3-1 over 2C-Poland - Kylian Mbappe getting his 2nd brace), and 1H-Portugal (6-1 over 2G-Swiss - Goncalo Ramos netting the tourney's 1st hat trick) all rode multi-goal easy victories and 1C-Argentina controlling a 2-1 win over 2D-Australia (where ARG scored for AUS, the tourney's 3rd own goal), you would expect 2E-Spain to have an easy time over MAR. Even 2018 runner-up 2F-Croatia was able to keep European power in play easily winning in the penalty shootout 3-1 (1-1 draw) over JPN thanks to GK Dominik Lilakovic's three (3!) PK saves.
ESP nearly had 1,000 completed passes and yet just had one shot on goal as MAR battled them to a 0-0 tie after extra time, the tourney's 7th nil-nil draw. In penalties, MAR GK Yassine Bounou saved 2 PKs and went the right way on another (where ESP hit the right post) to help his team seal a 3-0 PSO win, the last goal by Achraf Hakimi, born in Spain, with a hard panenka down the middle.
So it will be 5 European teams, not 6, in the QFs, joining two South American teams and MAR. 7 of 8 group winners won (JPN) while except for MARvESP scoreless match, only SEN failed to score.
The Gambler 1 got 7 of 8 quarterfinalists (missed ESP) to move into a 5-way tie for first with 91 points while 10 got just 3 of 8. Markofthebeast is last with 57 pts. Overall, 21 entries still have a chance to win the pool while 57 can still in finish in the top 5 money spots (52.2% entries are still alive, a pretty high percentage at this time thanks to so many soccer powers still in it). Both the money spots and Bonus ($40) will be revealed later this week when I get back from St. Louis as there is a $1,090 pot to be split.
For the possibilities, I managed to get it to work halfway through the Round of 16 (2,048 possible outcomes) and will retroactively figure it out for the earlier stages (which you don't care about now). Now, there are just 128 possible outcomes. Five entries have at least a 1 in 10 chance to win the pool, led by The Gambler 1 (14.1%) so it's not a runaway for anyone yet. Six have a better than 1 in 4 chance to win money , led by Soccerbix (1st-T) (34.4%), who was our inaugural HWCI World Cup Pool champion (1998).
The best way to keep up with the pool is to follow @HWCI_Pools on Twitter or visit the #hwciWC hashtag (you don't need Twitter account to view) often for daily updates. Less often will be our Facebook group page (post comments or organize viewing parties) and then these newsletters every 4 days or so.
Ins & Outs - [56 Matches/12 Ties] - Goals: 148 (2.64/match) [Own: 3 (42-CRO>CAN 40', 44-GER>CRC 70' | 50-ARG>AUS 77'), Subs: 23 (2-NED 90'+9, 3-ENG 71', 3-ENG 90', 11-JPN 75', 11-JPN 83', 15-POR 80', 15-GHA 89', 17-IRN 90'+8, 18-QAT 78', 18-SEN 84', 24-ARG 87', 26-MAR 90'+2, 27-CRO 90'+4, 28-ESP 62', 28-GER 83', 29-CMR 63'43-JPN 48', 44-GER 73', 44-GER 85', 44-GER 89', 46-KOR 90'+1 | 54-KOR 76', 56-POR 90'+2), 90+/120+: 11 (2-NED +9, 3-SEN +13, 17-IRN +8 {gw}, 17-IRN +11, 26-MAR +2, 27-CRO +4, 32-POR +3, 40-KSA +5, 46-KOR +1 {gw} | 52-POL +9, 56-POR +2), Extra Time: 0 (-)]... Scoring First: 38-6-5 [7 Nil-Nil ties (8-ARGvKSA, 5-AUSvFRA, 11-GERvJPN, 27-CANvCRO, 43-ESPvJPN, 46-PORvKOR)]... Leading at Half: 22-3-4 [27 ties (25 scoreless); 8-ARGvKSA, 11-GERvJPN, 43-ESPvJPN]... Shutout: 37 [1-QAT, 2-SEN, 6-DEN, 6-TUN, 7-MEX, 7-POL, 12-MAR, 12-CRO, 10-CRC, 9-CAN, 13-CMR, 14-URU, 14-KOR, 16-SRB, 17-WAL, 20-ENG, 20-USA, 21-TUN {2}, 22-KSA, 24-MEX {2}, 25-JPN, 26-BEL, 30-SUI, 32-URU {2}, 36-QAT {2}, 33-WAL {2}, 34-IRN, 38-FRA, 37-DEN {2}, 39-POL {2}, 41-CRO {2}, 41-BEL {2}, 45-GHA, 48-BRA | 51-SEN {2}, 55-MAR {2}, 55-ESP]... PK: 11/16 [1-ECU 16', 3-SEN 90'+9, 4-WAL 82', 8-ARG 10', 7-pol (s) 58', 11-GER 33', 10-ESP 31', 9-can (s) 11', 15-POR 65', 22-ksa (s) 45'+1, 32-POR 90'+3, 35-SEN {2} 44', 39-arg {2} (s) 39', 45-gha (s) 21' | 52-POL 90'+9, 54-BRA 13']... Extra Time: 0 [-]... PSO: 2 (7/15) [53-JPN:CRO 4.0 (1:3 {ssGs:GGlG}), 55-MAR:ESP 3.5 (3:0 {GGsG:rss}]... Red Card (GF/GA): 2 (17-WAL R 86' (0/2), 48-CMR 2Y 90'+3 (0/0); 30-KOR Coach R 90'+11)... Multiple Goals: 16 [ [Valencia 2 (1-ECU), Saka 2 (3-ENG), Taremi 2 (3-SEN), Giroud 2 (5-FRA), Torres 2 (10-ESP), Richarlison 2 (16-BRA), Mbappe 2 (23-FRA), Kramaric 2 (27-CRO), Cho 2 (30-KOR), Mohammed 2 (30-GHA), Fernandes 2 (32-POR), Rashford 2 (33-ENG), Havertz 2 (44-GER), Arrascaeta 2 (45-URU) | Mbappe 2 {2} (52-FRA), Ramos 3 (56-POR)]... Goal Line Tech: 1 (42-CAN xG 72').. VAR (-Reversal(Taken Away), +Reversal(Added), =Confirmed, xNo Call): 36 [1-ECU xOff+{g-} 3', 4-ENG xFoul+{pk+IRN} 90'+10, 8-KSA xFoul+{pk+ARG} 6', 8-ARG xOff+{g-} 27', 6-TUN xHB= 90'+4, 7-MEX xFoul+{pk+POL} 54', 11-GER xHB{xPK}= 22', 11-JPN Foul{pk}= 31', 11-GER xOff+{g-} 45'+4, 9-BEL xHB+{pk+CAN} 8', 9-BEL xFoul{xPK}= 13', 9-BEL xFoul{xPK}= 38', 15-GHA Foul{pk}= 62', 17-IRN xOff+{g-} 15', 17-WAL Y-{+R} 84', 18-SEN xFoul{xPK}= 34', 19-ECU Off{xg}= 45'+4, 22-POL xFoul+{pk+KSA} 43', 26-MAR xOff+{g-} 45'+2, 28-GER xOff+{g-} 39', 29-CMR Off-{g+} 63', 30-GHA xHB{g}= 24', 31-BRA xOff+{g-} 64', 32-URU xHB+{pk+POR} 89', 36-NED xHB+{g-} 68', 34-USA xOff+{g-} 45'+7, 38-FRA xOff+{g-} 90'+8, 37-DEN Off{xFoulxPK}= 71', 39-POL xFoul+{pk+ARG} 36', 41-CRO xOff+{pk-} 15', 43-JPN xOOB{g}= 48', 44-GER Off-{g+} 89', 45-GHA Off-{URU Foul+pk+GHA} 16', 45-GHA xFoulxPK= 58' | 52-FRA xHB+{pk+POL} 90'+6, 52-FRA GKOffLine{RetakePK}= 90'+7]... 58%+ (w/in contest): 10 [3-ENGvIRN (72) W, 8-ARGvKSA (64) L, 11-GERvJPN (65) L, 10-ESPvCRC (74) W, 33-ENGvWAL (58) {2} W, 37-DENvAUS (60) L, 39-ARGvPOL {2} (67) W, 43-ESPvJPN (78) {2} L, 44-GERvCRC (61) W | 55-ESPvMAR (68) {3}]... Zero SOG (Shots): 8 [1-QAT (5), 10-CRC (0), 14-URU (10), 14-KOR (6), 16-SRB (4), 30-SUI (4), 39-POL (4), 42-CAN (5)]... 20+ Shots (S/SOG/G): 10 [5-FRA (22/7/4) W, 11-GER (25/9/1) L, 9-CAN (21/4/0) L, 16-BRA (24/10/2), 17-IRN (21/6/2), 23-FRA (21/6/2) {2} W, 30-KOR (21/6/2) L, 39-ARG (25/13/2) W, 40-MEX (25/10/2) W, 44-GER (32/11/4)]... Breaks (>30 min): 0 [-]... Regions (Teams/R16/QF/SF/F/C): UEFA (13/8/5) 19-16-12, AFC (6/3/0) 7-12-2, CAF (5/2/1) 7-6-4, CONMEBOL (4/2/2) 8-4-2, CONCACAF (4/1/0) 3-7-3, OCEANIA (-)... Match Order of Play: RR: 1 | 3-2-4 | 8-6-7-5 | 12-11-10-9 | 13-14-15-16 | 17-18-19-20 | 21-22-23-24 | 25-26-27-28 | 29-30-31-32 | 35-36A-33-34B | 37-38D-39-40C | 41-42F-43-44E | 45-46H-47-48G | R16: 49-50 | 52-51 | 53-54 | 55-56 | QF: 58-57 | 60-59 | SF: 61 | 62 | 3rd: 63 | F: 64 ]...
Sides 'N Kicks - Kevin L (KevLo) was inquiring about watch parties (Redondo Beach area) among us so we'll see - it's a great idea... yes, this issue's title is the title from Star Wars: Andor Episode 2, we'll see how long I can stick with the critically-acclaimed Andor titles (also have great quotes from the show I could use as well)... there are now 7 scoreless draws - there was just one all of 2018... just 1 of 8 R16 matches had a halftime draw (MARvESP 0:0), upping the total to 27.. NED extended their unbeaten WC streak to 11 (8-3-0)... NED are 14-0-5 in their last 19 matches... ESP has had 74, 56, 78, and 68% possession (with in contest)... According to Opta, since detailed World Cup records began in 1966, there have only been two instances of a team losing a game despite attempting more than 700 passes and both have happened in Qatar: the first when GER were beaten 2-1 by JPN after recording 820 passes during their Group E opener, the second when ESP, who recorded 1,070 passes, lost 2-1 at the same venue against Moriyasu's team ... ESP had 13 shots but just one on goal in 120 min... POR had just 14 shots to get 6 goals (9 on goal)... BRA scored all 4 goals in the 1st half... Cristiano Ronaldo did not start for POR but the TV cameras loved him in his yellow sub jersey... USA had 54-33% possession and 18-11 shot advantages...
On Saturday, 98 had ARG and 88 had NED in their QF; two (Cicero (who was tied for 1st on Nov 29) and Ugh, as If!) lost USA as their champ. 81 got both ARG & NED while 4 got none; Kankleiscious still in 1st with 74 points while Markofthebeast is last with 42 pts. ... on Sunday, Kankleiscious now has a 3-point lead with 84 points with DDubs and Swerveman tied for 2nd; Markofthebeast is last with 52 pts; 91 had ENG and 83 had FRA; 72 got both FRA and ENG while 7 missed both; overall, 49 are 4-0 in the R16 while 16 are 2-2; in the possibilities run, I had to adjust from Euro (36 group matches) to WC (48); that meant 3 extra entries can win the pool and one more can win money; so 77 can win money and 46 can still win the pool; The Gambler has the best chance for both (18.7% and 36.4%). ... on Monday, 107 got BRA and 12 got CRO. 11 got both CRO and BRA while Ugh, as If! got none; Kankleiscious maintains the 3-point lead (89) over five who have 86 pts while Markofthebeast is last with 57 pts; Meli 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, Indy Ari, The Gambler 1) 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, Fabio, and Bwakewey 3 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.... on Tuesday, 58 got POR and two actually picked MAR (FTRxBigJim (22nd-Tied, 86 pts) and Inconceivable! (42nd-T, 80)) into the Quarters; FTRxBigJim was the only one to get both MAR and POR while 50 got none; five are now tied for first with 91 points with 5 more tied with 90; Markofthebeast is still last with 57 pts; The Gambler 1 (1st-T) has the best chance to win the pool (14.1%) with Soccerbix (1st-T) the best chance to win money (34.4%); 21 can still win the pool and 57 can still finish in the top 5 money spots; FTRxBigJim is tied for 22nd but can't win money while Kicking it Old School is tied for 88th (72) but can still win the pool; Tiny Destroyer is tied for 6th but can't win the pool....
----
Wow, the St. Louis CITY SC doesn't start play until 2023 but already has a 2-story merchandise store...
Scott
HWCI circa 1990
Posts
