Trouble in the Box (8/5)

UPSTAIRS REVISED ENTERTAINMENT ROOM, HOME, CA - Group A teams 1A-Switzerland and 2A-Norway had lots of trouble clearing balls in the box as 2C-Spain scored all six goals in their 5-1 win over SUI and 1C-Japan scored twice in a controlled 3-1 win over NOR (who also scored twice).  Of course, the goals don't add up as we had two more own goals, giving the tournament a record-tying 8 with 14 more matches to go.  Both SUI and JPN gave up their first goal of the tourney, leaving 2F-Jamaica as the lone team with no allowed goals.  In their last 3 games, SUI has just 11 shots and 4 on goal (zero goals scored).

NOR opened scoring with a great high kick redirect past the GK in the box... unfortunately, it past her own GK for an own goal and give JPN an early 1-0 lead in the 15'.  NOR quickly game back with a great header five minutes later but JPN controlled most of the game and NOR didn't show much life until they went down 3-1 in 81', forcing JPN GK's into a couple of saves.  In a matchup between the closest ranked teams (#11 JPN and #12 NOR) who happen to both be WWC champions (2 of just 4 teams) saw NOR disappoint with both on field and off field issues.

ESP scored 3 times in the first 18 minutes but the second was another own goal (why are defenders so accurate shooting on goal - at their own goal) as SUI didn't have their first shot until the 55' (being outshot 19-0 at the time).  

SUI and NOR had a lot of trouble in their box.  NOR turned it over with an intercepted pass in the box that led to JPN's second goal and of course, NOR's own goal in the box.  SUI could not clear the ball out of their box and when the ball was loose, ESP pounced with a few goals.  It was like watching an indoor soccer game (described as human pinball).   Wore this cool adidas 2023 Japan White Red Special (Player) Jersey Tokyo Edition which is actually great quality (Etsy was also selling these so I was doubtful) finding sushi at H Mart (for some reason, no Japanese markets near me)  Apparently there have been a few of these in the past, even a Dragon Ball version.

33 had ESP in the quarters and 29 had JPN with everyone getting at least 1 of those 2 teams and 15 got both.  Kds911-2 jumped to first place with 72 points with More$ second with 71 pts.  Four are tied with 70 pts.  3am Down Under and Rutin4Putin jumped from a tie for 34th to a tie for 22nd.  Tiny Destroyer still last with 48 pts.

Issue #7.1.6 "Can't Complain" (After Group Stage)

 Archive

Friday, August 4, 2023 

Dailies: Aug 2-3 

GERMANY, BRAZIL OUT; MOROCCO, JAMAICA, SOUTH AFRICA IN
Vlatko Better Win leads with 65 points and 6 lost GER as their champ

H MART, BUENA PARK, CA (smt) --  Living in the Los Angeles area, it is hard to complain about things.  It's been high 80s with 60% humidity which I describe as "pungent hell" (one of the very few times we ever got feedback on our Major League Soccer score sheets in the early days was one time we described the weather at the Rose Bowl as not "sunny" or "humid" or "hot", but our use of "pungent hell" --- the note was quickly followed with "but that's exactly what it felt like" so we had a good laugh), but someone from Boston will say hey, it's 105F and humid here or Orlando will say it's 99% humid here.  LA had like a dozen atmospheric rivers drench the area from December-March but then someone in Tampa will say we had to evacuate due to a hurricane or Vermont is flooded.  We're known for some famous "bad" areas here but them someone from Chicago will talk about constant gun violence.   LA is also famous for smog but can't complain because the Northeast is suffocating under the Canadian wildfire smoke out.  We can only complain about high taxes... anyone top that?  Anyone?  Darn.

African Strong, Asian Disrupters (8/3)

THE SLICE & PINT, EL SEGUNDO, CA - H1-Germany has to stop playing Asian teams in the group stage.  In 2018 WC, Korea Rep beat GER 2-0 to eliminate them from the knockout round in the last match.  In 2022 WC, Japan shocked GER 2-0 in the group stage opener that led to GER missing the knockout stage again.  Now in 2023, H4-KOR sends GER home again, securing a 1-1 draw, that combined with #72 H3-Morocco's 1-0 upset of H1-Colombia, eliminated both teams from the Round of 16.  

The COL "push" heard around the world gave MAR a PK attempt, and although they didn't score directly (the tourney's first miss after 13 straight converted), they put in the rebound in the 45'+4 for the pivotal only goal of the game.  GER's failure means 2E-USA is the only team to make it to knockout stage in every WWC.  COL still clinched 1st in the group despite the loss.  MAR loses 6-0 to GER and then qualifies over GER in the end?  What a crazy tournament.  MAR is the 3rd African team (and 1st Arab nation) to reach the R16, obviously the most ever.  #54 2G-South Africa and #40 2B-Nigeria are already in (all 3 African teams ranked 40 or worse with #77 3C-Zambia the only African nation to not qualify.

Wore my 2014 home Germany jersey with 2014 final lettering in front of our own Wrigley Field wall of ivy and it cursed them.  Speaking of jerseys, 8 teams have a bright yellow (or "orange" or "gold") jersey, way too many.

Tiocfaidh Ár Lá!!! (15th-Tied, 59 pts) was the only one to pick the KORvGER tie and 4 had MAR winning meaning 5 went 1-1 and 42 went 0-2.  Reggae Vibes (6th-T, 62) was the only to have MAR in the R16 and 14 had COL (all 47 missed GER).  Reggae Vibes got 4 of 8 points to move from 13th-T to 6th-T while 28 got 0 of 8. Vlatko Better Win is alone in 1st with 65 points with Kds911 2nd (64).  Tiny Destroyer is still last with 43 pts.

Four got 12 of 16 R16 teams correct while Tiny Destroyer only got 8 teams in.

Complicated Group H

Thanks, Foxsports, for laying out very complicated paths to advancing to the Round of 16 for each of the four teams.  I used to keep track of this in the pool but now just let others do it for me now.  There could be 3 teams with 6 points or 3 teams with 3 points which causes this chaos.  Of course, it could just be simple with COL and GER winning.  And KOR would need to beat GER 5-0 or better to be in the conversation.  But fun to follow.

GROUP H

Colombia — advances to the Round of 16 if it wins or draws against Morocco, OR if it loses to Morocco and Germany draws or loses to South Korea, OR if it loses to Morocco and Germany defeats South Korea (and Colombia advances on tiebreakers over either Morocco or Germany).
Colombia — wins the group if it wins or draws against Morocco, OR if it loses to Morocco AND Germany defeats South Korea (and it wins tiebreakers over Germany and Morocco), OR if it loses to Morocco AND Germany draws or loses to South Korea (and it wins tiebreakers over Morocco).
Colombia — is eliminated if it loses to Morocco AND Germany defeats South Korea (and it loses tiebreakers to Germany and Morocco).

Germany — advances to the Round of 16 if it defeats South Korea AND Colombia wins or draws against Morocco, OR if it defeats South Korea AND Morocco defeats Colombia (and it wins tiebreakers over either Morocco or Colombia), OR if it loses to South Korea AND Colombia defeats Morocco (and it wins tiebreakers over Morocco and South Korea), OR if it draws South Korea AND Colombia defeats Morocco, OR if it draws South Korea AND Colombia draws Morocco (and it wins tiebreakers over Morocco).
Germany — wins the group if it defeats South Korea AND Morocco defeats Colombia (and it wins tiebreakers over Morocco and Colombia).
Germany — is eliminated if it loses to South Korea AND Colombia defeats Morocco (and it loses tiebreakers to either Morocco or South Korea), OR if it loses to South Korea AND Colombia draws or loses to Morocco, OR if it draws South Korea and Morocco defeats Colombia, OR if it defeats South Korea AND Morocco defeats Colombia (and it loses tiebreakers to Morocco and Colombia).

Morocco — advances to the Round of 16 if it defeats Colombia AND Germany defeats South Korea (and it wins tiebreakers over either Germany or Colombia), OR if it defeats Colombia AND South Korea defeats or draws Germany, OR if it draws Colombia AND South Korea defeats Germany, OR if it loses to Colombia AND South Korea defeats Germany (and it wins tiebreakers over Germany and South Korea).
Morocco — wins the group if it defeats Colombia AND Germany draws or loses to South Korea (and it wins tiebreakers over Colombia), OR if it defeats Colombia AND Germany defeats South Korea (and it wins tiebreakers over Colombia and Germany).
Morocco — is eliminated if it loses to Colombia AND Germany wins or draws against South Korea, OR if it loses to Colombia AND South Korea defeats Germany (and it loses tiebreakers to either Germany or South Korea), OR if it draws Colombia AND Germany defeats South Korea, OR if it draws Colombia AND Germany draws South Korea (and it loses tiebreakers to Germany), or if it defeats Colombia AND Germany defeats South Korea (and it loses tiebreakers to Germany and Colombia).

South Korea — advances to the Round of 16 if it defeats Germany AND Colombia defeats Morocco (and it wins tiebreakers over Germany and Morocco).
South Korea — cannot win the group.
South Korea — is eliminated if it draws or loses to Germany, OR if it defeats Germany AND Colombia draws or loses to Morocco.

37 and Over (8/2)

WAITING FOR SON'S FINAL VAC SHOT (MenB), CERRITOS, CA - Two more teams ranked #37 or worse made the Round of 16 as #54 G2-South Africa (2G) came back to eliminate G3-Italy, 3-2, with a 90'+1 game-winner and #43 F2-Jamaica (2F) held F3-Brazil to a nil-nil draw to advance over the Brazilians.  They join #40 2B-Nigeria in the knockout stage.

RSA blew a lead for the 3rd straight game (led 1:0 SWE and lost 2-1, led 2-0 ARG and tied 2-2), but this time, after coming back from 1-0 to lead 2-1, they again gave up the tying goal 7 minutes later in the 74'.  But this time, they kept at it and was rewarded with a great goal in the 1st minute of stoppage time as the dancing began again.  ITA just needed a tie and fell short (but not as bad as the men's team, which failed to qualify for the last 2 World Cups).  Wore my 2010 home ITA GK jersey in front our expensive sago tree (1 of 2) and it didn't help as ITA scored on itself (for RSA's first goal) in the 32'.  I don't know why defenders are so good shooting on goal at their OWN goal instead of the opponent's (usually sky high).

37 is also the age of the legendary BRA striker, Marta (so glad got to see her many times doing stats for the LA Sol in 2009 - I actually have that jersey and may wear it during one of the off days), who started but couldn't produce in 81 minutes in her 6th, and likely final, WWC.  If you were to say JAM would allow no goals this tournament, with #5 F1-France (1F) and #8 BRA in their group, you'd be crazy.  Asylum-level paranoia.  And JAM qualified scoring just one goal... one.  And had ZERO shots on goal against BRA.  

G1-Sweden (1G) made 9 changes to their usual starting lineup and still took care of business, beating G4-Argentia, 2-0.  In just, let's play for fun, FRA won their set, 6-3, over F4-Panama, who scored their first 3 goals of the tournament, at one point cutting the deficit to 5-3 in the 87'.  The match featured 3 penalty kicks (all made, extending the WWC streak to 13 consecutive makes) and a hat trick for FRA's Kadidiatou Diani.

8 more points up for grabs as Group H concludes starting at 3 am PDT (get used to that).

Group G concluded with 35 getting SWE's win and 4 RSA's win with Of-Course-it's-US (37th-Tied, 52 pts) getting both correct.  Nine got both wrong.  45 had SWE in the Round of 16 while Rutin4Putin (41st-T, 51) and TroJenn (44th-T, 50) each got RSA with the former the only one to have both SWE and RSA in their R16.  Tiny Destroyer was the only one to miss both teams.  Rutin4Putin got 7 of 8 possible points while Tiny Destroyer got 0 of 8.

Group F concluded with 44 getting FRA's win and Merman (27th-T, 55) the only one picking the draw between JAMvBRA.  Merman was the only one to go 2-0 while three went 0-2.  All 47 had FRA in their R16 and 4 had JAM.  Four got both teams while the other 43 got one.  Flying Elvi, Mauihammy (35th-T, 53), Bean (24th-T, 56), and Kung Fu Master Kai each got 7 of 8 possible points while Eggman 2 (13th-T, 58), TroJenn, and TroJenn2 (44th-T) each got just 3 of 8.

Overall, five got 11 of 16 points and Tiny Destroyer only got 4 of 16.  Flying Elvi moved from a tie for 6th to sole possession of 1st (63 pts).  Hawkeye and Vlatko Better Win dropped to a tie for 2nd (62) and Kds911 and More$ are tied for 4th (61).  Tiny Destroyer returns back to last place with 40 points, 6 points off 46th place Kung Fu Master Kai.

Issue #6.1.5 "Let's Reset" (After 42 Matches)

 Archive

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 
Dailies: Jul 30-31 Aug 1 

START STRONG, LITTLE DRAMA... EXCEPT FOR USA-PORTUGAL
Hawkeye and Vlatko Better Win take over 1st with 5 groups complete

HOME, CA (smt) --  After 42 matches, Groups A, B, C, D, and E are complete, leaving 10 teams fighting for the final 5 Round of 16 spots.  Needing to win and leave no doubt, B1-Australia (1A) scored in the 9' and whipped B4-Canada, 4-0, in a battle of top 10 teams, A2-Norway (2A) scored in the 6' to demolish A3-Philippines, 6-0, C4-Japan (1C) scored in the 12' to embarrass #6 C1-Spain (2C), 4-0, to top Group C, E3-Netherlands (1E) scored in the 8' to wallop my wife's home country of E2-Vietnam, 7-0, and D1-England (1D) found their scoring touch scoring in the 4' to blow out #14 D4-China PR, 6-1.  AUS, NOR, NED, ENG left nothing to chance with their blowouts while JPN took their few opportunities (8 shots/6 on goal) to win Group C.  D3-Denmark (2D) opened scoring "late" in the 21' to beat D2-Haiti, 2-0, to advance.  In the one match that didn't matter, C3-Zambia scored their first-ever WWC goal in the 3' in beating C2-Costa Rica, 3-1.  So very little drama in these games and spots were secured without any nervousness.

Saved by the Post (8/1)

HOME, CA - Geez, didn't think I would need to pull out a USA jersey this early, choosing the 2019 authentic home jersey post-WWC win with FIFA winners badge and 4th gold star as E1-USA still had not clinched a spot in the
Round of 16.  Got a pic with the USA flag waving outside the Boys & Girls Club in Cypress where my son was having a Boy Scouts meeting.  Seems like this jersey just provided the 2-3 inches to make the ball bounce off the post instead of in the goal ;-)

Again, an inspired first few minutes quickly gave way to stagnant play for the rest of the game and it brought back bad memories of Sunday's LA Galaxy Leagues Cup match as passes were intercepted, quick plays forward gave way to wayward passes too long, tiring out our players.  I love Alex Morgan, but every time they show her she just looks tired and exhausted and, gulp, old?  With no chance to catch E3-Netherlands, who led 3-0 within 20 minutes en route to a 7-0 thrashing of E2-Vietnam, USA just needed to see the draw, yet, there was no running into the corner to draw a foul, no quick passing in the back trying to draw E4-Portugal out (who needed to win), just lots of running and bad passing that POR quickly recovered on.

And the final scoresheet will show POR with zero shots on goal but the one breakaway POR had, the shot was rifled past USA's GK and hit off the right post in the 90'+1, saving USA's bacon.  This was the first time USA did not win at least two games in the group stage in surviving the 0-0 draw.  FOX hyped up this would be the greatest upset ever but POR was ranked #21 and only allowed one goal to NED, who is ranked #9.  The biggest upset would be not qualifying at all but luckily, USA did, but as 2nd in Group E.  The criticism came hard and fast (see this post :-) with Carli Lloyd's being the most liked and bantered around.

How lucky is 2C-Spain, who didn't win their group as expected but now avoids #12 1A-Norway in R16 and if they win, avoids USA in Quarterfinals.  Maybe 1C-Japan shouldn't have won.

In Group D, D1-England finally found their mojo in beating D4-China PR, 6-1 to win the group and D3-Denmark took care of business beating D2-Hati, 2-0, to take second.

Group E concluded with only Rutin4Putin getting the USAvPOR draw.  43 picked NED's win as 43 went 1-1 and 4 went 0-2.  All 46 who had USA in the Round of 16 had them as 1E, not 2E, but it doesn't matter as it is 3 points regardless and the downside is your bracket is now upside down.  42 had NED in R16 as 41 got both R16 teams and 6 got 1 of 2.  39 got 7 of 8 possible points while Of-Course-it's-US only got 3 of 8.

Group D concluded with 35 getting both ENG (picked by 36) and DEN (44) wins while TroJenn and TroJenn2 missed both.  46 had ENG in the R16 and 31 DEN with 31 getting both and 16 getting 1 of 2.  25 got all 8 points in Group D while TroJenn and TroJenn2 only got 3 of 8.

Combined, 23 got 15 of 16 possible points while Rutin4Putin and Kung Fu Master Kai each got 8 of 16.  Hawkeye and Vlatko Better Win are still tied for first with 54 points with Kds911, Kona Coast Sliders, and More$ tied for 3rd with 53.  Kung Fu Master Kai takes over last with 35 points.

Just Win Not Draw (7/31)

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, BOY SCOUTS, CYPRESS, CA - Co-Host B1-Australia needed to win to guarantee a spot in the Round of 16 while B4-Canada needed just a draw so it was AUS coming on hot getting a VAR assisted goal in the 9' en route to a 4-0 win, eliminating the defending Olympic Champions as B3-Nigeria just needed to lose not as badly as CAN, and drew B2-Rep of Ireland, 0-0 to clinch 2nd.  

Earlier, C2-Japan needed to win to win Group C while C1-Spain just needed a draw or win.  JPN let ESP have all the passing (925 to 625) and possession (68%-21%) and on their first three attacks/counterattacks into the final third, great finishing put JPN up 3-0 before the half.  A great 4th goal after wresting the ball from the sideline made the final score 4-0 as JPN finished the group with 11 goals with no goals allowed.  C3-Zambia, ranked #77, broke through with 3 goals in beating C2-Costa Rica, 3-1.  ZAM's second goal off a PK was the WWC's 1000th goal scored.  

I really needed to get the stink of watching the LA Galaxy blow a late 1-0 and lose 2-1 off an own goal and deflected blocked shot to Vancouver as LAG blew chance after chance.  JPN, had just 8 shots, 6 on goal, and scored 4.  Each one was just a breakaway where you saw the play build up (like most times) but with precision finishing.  Think of JPN's slash line of 8/6/4 compared to ESP's first match of 46/14/2 (one was an own goal).  Efficient.  Wore my 2012 JPN home jersey, the women's one with the pink line ("All Support for Japan"), 2011 WWC winners patch, and gold star while admiring the beautiful dusk after that crappy game in Carson.

E1-USA only needs to draw to advance... not a good omen (see CAN and ESP above) and if they do win but lose on goal differential to E3-Netherlands (let's hope E2-Vietnam's 5'-5" GK keeps playing like a superstar), a #1 v #3 R16 matchup with G1-Sweden is a high possibility.

Group C concluded with Kds911 (3rd-Tied, 38 pts) the only one to pick both JPN and ZAM to win and with 46 having ESP in R16 and 45 JPN, the only one to pick up all 8 points in Group C.  31 went 0-2 and three just got ESP or JPN, but not both.  44 got both.  Leader Eggman 2 (3rd-T) and last place Tiny Destroyer (47th, 24) each only got 3 of 8 points.

Group B concluded with BigRedMessiUSA (19th-T, 35) and More$ (3rd-T) the only two to get both AUS's win (picked by 20) and CRC-NGR draw (6).  23 went 0-2.  All 47 had AUS (barely) in their R16 but no one had NGR (45 lost CAN), meaning BigRedMesssiUSA and More$ got 5 of 8 points in Group B while 23 got 3 of 8.  

Combined, Hawkeye and Vlatko Better Win are tied for first with 39 points with six tied for 3rd with 38.  

Issue #5.1.4 "First Points" (After 32 Matches)

 Archive

Sunday, July 30, 2023 

Dailies: July 28-29-30 

JAMAICA, SOUTH AFRICA, MOROCCO PICK UP FIRST-EVER POINTS; GERMANY FALTERS
Eggman 2 remains in the lead with 23 points of 32 possible

CARSON, CA (smt) --  After 32 matches, each team has played two matches each (even though Group A got a head start, finishing their 3rd matches a half hour before H1-Germany vs H3-Colombia started).  H2-Morocco, F2-Jamaica, and G2-South Africa picked up their first ever WWC points joining E4-Portugal and A3-Philippines earlier this week.  MAR got an early 6' goal to beat H4-Korea Rep, 1-0, to stay alive in Group H.  In a rare battle between two CONCACAF teams in the group stage, #43 JAM edged out #52 F4-Panama to stay alive and eliminate the Panamanians. #54 RSA led 2-0 in the 66' but G4-Argentina scored twice in 5 minutes to end it on a 2-2 draw, RSA's first-ever point. 

While D1-England struggles to score, they still are winning, and with D4-China PR's VAR-infected 1-0 win over D2-Haiti, all four Group D matches ended in a 1-0 score line.  #5 F1-France, which opened with a lackluster 0-0 draw with JAM, finally showed up outlasting #8 F3-Brazil, 2-1 and G3-Sweden, who had to come from behind to beat RSA in their opener, showed they are the #3 team in the world in destroying #16 G3-Italy, 5-0 with three goals off corner kicks (4 for SWE in tournament).  #2 GER had a chance to assert themselves further after their earlier 6-0 win over MAR, but fell behind to #25 COL and then lost on a 90'+7 stoppage time goal (you guessed it, off a corner kick), which kept KOR alive.  The rockin' stadium full of Colombian fans has seen COL upset the two teams above them and now face #72 MAR to try to clinch Group H.

Stoppage Time Game Winner (7/30)

HOME, CA - Let's start of with Group H, which were the buns to the meat of Group A for some reason.  The day started with H2-Morocco scoring on a diving header in the 6' that stood up for their first-ever win, beating H4-Korea Rep, 1-0.  The #73 ranked team nearly held KOR with zero shots on goal (FIFA after the match had KOR with 14 shots, none on goal; ESPN had 17 shots, 3 on goal; FIFA corrected itself to 17-1) to stay alive in Group H. 

The day ended with a shocking H3-Colombian 2-1 upset of #2 H1-Germany on a wicked header off a corner kick in the 7th minute of stoppage time (only +6 was revealed).  GER had tied in on a PK in the 89' but the Colombian fans were passionate and loud in the stadium to help put COL on top of the group.  COL, who upset KOR earlier, actually kept KOR alive with the win, as a GER win/draw would have eliminated the South Koreans.  All four teams are still alive.

In between the Group H matches, Group A had their final stage and A2-Norway, scoreless through two matches, needed a big win and they got it, routing A3-Philippines, 6-0, to take second.  Co-host A1-New Zealand, needing to win after NOR went up 3-0 at halftime, could not push through despite their GK helping (and getting a shot) in the 7 minutes of stoppage time.  A4-Switzerland, needing just a draw, got it with the tourney's 4th nil-nil draw to win Group A.  NZL becomes the first WWC host (maybe B1-Australia is next?) to not make the knockout stage and did it in the most improbable way - beating #12 NOR, tying #20 SUI, and losing to #49 PHI.  What could've been, and hopefully the Kiwis will still support the rest of the WWC.

With four GER players and one NOR player playing for FC Bayen München, wore my 2021 home FC Bayen München jersey, complete with 5th star (30th title), UCL 6 starball, and 2020 FIFA World Champion patch.  Those palm leaves are getting HUGE!

Looking at just Group H matches, Firewire (38th-Tied, 17 pts) and last place Tiny Destroyer (13) were the only two to pick both upsets COL (picked by 2) and MAR (picked by 7).  Eggman 2 was one of 38 to go 0-2 in Group H but keeps first (23). 

With Groups concluding, you now get the 3 points per R16 team.  Group A saw 23 get both SUI and NOR into the R16 while the other 14 got just 1 of 2.  All 47 got NOR's win and 9 got the SUIvNZL draw correct.  Five entries got the full 8 points in Group A while 19 got just 4 points. 

For the whole day (Groups A and H), five entries got 8 points and 13 got 4 points.  Eggman 2 is still in first (31) with Hawkeye second (29).