FFB 6.2 - Foster's Futbol Brew 12.13.22.1

Foster's Futbol Brew 12.13.22.1

Argentines at home and abroad have their stomachs in knots this morning.  It's as if they drank this bad batch of Foster's Football Brew.

Google says Argentina has a 61% chance to win this semifinal game vs. Croatia.  Oddsmakers at various casinos and online sports betting sites are also leaning steadily toward La Albiceleste.  I have to scratch my head as to who should be favored; I think Croatia may have a slight edge.  Let's take look at the Pro's & Con's on why either team should advance to the finals or go home in defeat:

ARG Con's:

-Lost to SAUDI ARABIA.  That still sticks with every player on the pitch that took a shot or didn't clear the ball on defense when scored against by SAUDI ARABIA.

-Starting every game anxiously since losing to Saudi Arabia- they don't hold their nerve as well as CRO, and it's been evident in the first 25-30 minutes of the four games ARG won

-Knowing they lost bad to CRO in 2019

-Without regular starting left wingback Acuna due to two yellow cards.  That hurts on both offense and defense.

-Messi's Last Stand- did I mention the nerves?  Messi has had some uncharacteristically bad shots on free kicks and from open play whenever he tries to aim for the "top shelf"... sailing too many attempts over the bar (and in some cases wide)

-Unable to hold on to leads, giving up late goals vs. Saudi Arabia, Australia, and The Netherlands

CRO Con's:

-Only scored two goals thus far in 5 games against teams not named Canada

-Third oldest squad at the World Cup at 29.5 years of age, and thus far have played the most minutes of any team at the tourney. Although they could have tired legs, their lack of possession reduces the impact of these extra minutes.

-A poor run in 2020-2021 UEFA Nations League and not-so-great run at the 2020 Euro Finals (took place in 2021) reflects lackluster recent major tournament performance where the team "looked old"

FFB 6.1 - Foster's Football Brew 12.3.22.1

Foster's Football Brew 12.3.22.1

So there's some real irony watching Argentina play against Australia at an Outback Steakhouse at the international airport in Buenos Aires (EZE)!  I think Ken Berry (who introduced me to HWCI many years ago) told me it was founded in FLA, not AUS?! 

My half-Argentine heritage is fully rooting for La Albiceleste, along with everyone else here. Nearly every airline & airport worker is wearing an Argentina jersey, sometimes under their blazer!

Let's break down the key issues of this game per Argentine TV pundits earlier in the day:

1) No DiMaria- he's out with a a slight hamstring issue they'll want to preserve him for latter stages of the Tourney

2) Lack of speed and dribble-penetration skills on the right wing to create higher % chances - three choices to take DiMaria's spot, and they're going w Papu Gomez. The pundits all had criticisms of each, so we'll see how Gomez can fill in. The strategy will likely be different, with more emphasis on bringing the ball up the left wing.

3) No team can be taken for granted, as was the case w Saudi. ARG must study the Soceroos tactics and exploit their weaknesses while defending against the counterattack and crosses.

4) The Aussies are a tall team. ARG must limit corner kicks and crosses to minimize AUS goal scoring chances. 

This will be the second of four ARG games I've been forced to watch gojng to and from airports. At least the streets and freeways were empty both times!  Imagine a Super Bowl atmosphere x 10 for your team, every time there's ARG plays in the World Cup (or Copa América, for that matter) 

On a side note, I'm saving this pictured Budweiser, the Messi edition, hopefully as a form of champagne celebration at the conclusion of the World Cup!!

-FFF

Final: FRA v CRO (Live!) (7/15)

REFRESH periodically, as this post will be updated throughout the day and match.

1:00 am:  The tiebreaker total goals is currently at 2.  The goals scored today in regulation and Extra Time will be added.  This is important for those in a tiebreaker situation to win money.  If CRO wins, then there is a tie for 2nd place and 4th place.  BigRedSquare gets 2nd if total goals in 3rd place & Final matches is 5 or less and Blitzkreig813 gets 2nd if the total goals is 6 or more.  Bigblue2 gets 4th if the total goals is 5 or less and FernandoHeirrosArmada gets 4th if the total goals is 6 or more (note the loser ends in 5th which is zero prize money).
For the $40 Bonus, if FRA wins, then Flying Elvi and Bigblue2 will split the $40 prize ($20 each) if the total goals is 6 or less, they will split with Krispy Kremer (3-way tie or $13.33 each) if the total goals is 7, and Krispy Kremer will win the Bonus if the total goals is 8 or more.  If CRO wins, then Flying Elvi wins if total goals is 5 or less (because Bigblue2 will win 4th and be ineligible for Bonus), Flying Elvi and Bigblue2 will split ($20) if total is 6, will split 3-ways ($13.33) with Krispy Kremer if total is 7, and Krispy Kremer will win if total goals is 8 or more.

1:25 am:  Coincidentally, all four who picked FRA will finish 1-2-3-4 if FRA wins.  Sokkerbix, who got a worst 17 of 48 group matches correct (but tied a high getting 14 of 16 Round of 16 teams), would jump to 109 pts, two more than

FFB 18.05 "World Cup Field Report - Belgium Round of 16" (7/14)

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Saturday, July 14, 2018

Click the picture to view the wild video!

Check out some pics & videos from the public screening of the July 2nd Quarterfinal Round of 16 game of Belgium v. Japan in Bruge, Belgium (Flanders).  We timed it to be in Belgium to watch them play a quarterfinal knockout game.  

A fun atmosphere with thousands of people, where the rest of town seemed empty.  The place was full of beer stands, and like what you saw from other public viewings of games, there tended to be

FFB 18.04 "Fallen Stars - What Happened to...???" (7/2)

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Monday, July 2, 2018

[ FRA | POR | GER | ARG | BEL ]

As the knockout phase of the 2018 World Cup unfolds, I think back to the previous Euro and World Cup, when I was tracking some rising stars that were mysteriously (or otherwise) left off their countries’ World Cup Rosters this time around.  Here’s a quick look at some unfortunate circumstances and puzzling moves by international managers: 

Dimitri Payet (France) – One of the key performers for France in the Euro 2016, wizarding midfielder Payet was in tears as he

FFB 18.03 "World Cup Field Report - Russia" (6/30)

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Saturday, June 30, 2018

[ Foster's Football Brew:  Euro 2012 | Euro 2016 | WC 2018 ]

Eric Foster, Erica Mapa, Reza Amidi, Alejandro Aragon

The Argentina match against Nigeria (26-JUNE) was surreal... 64.5K fans, about 80% of which were Argentina supporters.  As if it were a home game with AFC Championship Game-like atmosphere in St Pete.  

Fan Fest

Got to spend one hour walking around World Cup media center and Fan Fest in Moscow's Red Square from 3-4am in morning during

FFB 18.02 "Rising Stars to Watch" (6/16)

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Saturday, June 16, 2018

[ ARG | BRA | COL | EGY | FRA | GER | POR | URU | Rest ]

ARGENTINA doesn't have a stand-out rising star, and certainly no one closely resembling the next Messi. And there's the rub...the sun is setting on La Pulga and his generation, and they'll have to win with the usual suspects.  Two unproven youngsters I should mention would be Giovani Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala.  At age 24, Dybala is a mainstay striker for Juventus, scoring 22 goals in 33 matches.  But with Argentina, he has but 8 caps, and his natural position is occupied by a moored teammate...Leo Messi.  Perhaps he gets at least one substitution opportunity during the World Cup round robin stage...a small window of time to generate an impact.  Lo Celso, on the other hand, may not even make an appearance.  Only 22 years old, the midfielder notched 4 goals in 32 PSG appearances this season...this rising talent may have to wait til 2022 to make an impact on Argentina’s fortunes.

BRAZIL.  Getting a roster spot for this team is tough, given the

FFB 18.01 "Contenders, Pretenders, and Surprises"

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Tuesday, June 12, 2018

PREDICTING HOW FAR 10 SQUADS WILL GO

[ Contenders | Pretenders | Surprises ]

CONTENDERS
Germany	Star Power.  Depth.  Team Chemistry.  Experience.  A history of winning.  Well-coached. Some of the many reasons Germany is a tournament favorite once again.  The only thing missing from the 2014 iteration of the Defending Champs is Philipp Lamm, their maestro midfielder and leader who retired surprisingly young.  And how does Germany’s semi-finals bracket look?  Until the semi-final game, where they are likely to play Spain, there are teams they’ve dominated (Argentina) and another pair of teams Germany will simply outclass (Colombia & England).  Italy, the one team that has historically given Germany fits (and defeats) in the World Cup, didn’t qualify… another reason Germany’s chances of repeating are looking bright.  The winner of Spain vs. Germany may be the eventual champion.
Spain	La Roja Furia cruised thru their qualification, winning all but one game, which was a draw, and meanwhile sent Italy packing.  Spain has its 2010 WC & 2012 Euro Championship team stalwarts at defense (Ramos & Pique) and midfield (Iniesta) complemented by a newer, yet seasoned stars at all positions, including goal keeper De Gea and a healthy poaching striker in Diego Costa.  They’re firing on all cylinders, dominating possession and scoring plenty of goals while keeping clean sheets.  Spain’s depth is also an insurance policy, preventing untimely injuries from derailing their campaign.  A clear Top 4 squad this year.
France	France isn’t a dark horse, but perhaps I’m giving them more credit than they deserve when I say they are a Top 3 favorite to win the whole thing.  Young, energetic, hungry, and talented, France has a roster that has matured, and still on the rise.  Although they narrowly lost in Extra Time to Portugal at the Euro 2016 Championship, they were clearly the better side for the first 90 minutes of that game.  The favorites sometimes