+9 (11/29)

WORK, EL SEGUNDO, CA -- While A4-Netherlands and B1-England had easy victories over A1-Qatar (2-0) and B4-Wales (3-0), respectively, to win their groups and qualify for the Round of 16, the second-place slots were nerve-wrecking.  Each game had a high 9 minutes of stoppage time as A3-Senegal and B3-USA had to protect one-goal leads to advance.  A2-Ecuador had tied it before SEN went back up three minutes later in the 70'.  With ECU needing only a draw, SEN's defense held up for those long 9-10 minutes.  

USA's only option was to win (no dependency on ENGvWAL) and although they didn't get an early goal they did get a late first half goal thanks to future star finally showing up and putting his body and soul into the play giving USA a 1-0 lead in the 38'.  But Christian Pulisic suffered a bad injury (either he getting kneed in the stomach/groin area by GK while he braced himself on the GK's groin) and left the match at halftime.  

All of USA's effort was marred by poor touches and bad decisions, especially in the last 15 +9 (actually ten) minutes, and while you can blame fatigue considering how hard USA played, a good number of these misfires were coming from subs Shaq Moore and Haji Wright.  Luckily, like E2-Costa Rica did against E4-Japan, they constantly challenged IRN players just inside midfield (not letting them get too deep in USA's end) forcing IRN to play backwards at times. But going into a defensive shell does mean lots of IRN possession and when IRN did break through, strong shots not on frame hurt them (USA GK Matt Turner was only credited with one save (FIFA updated: 2) though several shots got past him).  

There were two instances in the +9 stoppage time where IRN wanted a handball and a foul, but luckily both plays weren't 50/50 calls so no call was the obvious correct call.  Add to that this ref let a lot of physical play happen (there were 4 yellow cards ( with 1 to a IRN bench player and 1 to IRN for shirt pulling not a tackle) but could have easily been 8 or more), no way he would call those fouls.  Boy the stress though!  

Issue #4.1.3 "One Way Out" (After 2 of 3 Matches)

 Archive

Monday, November 28, 2022  

TWENTY-ONE TEAMS KNOW WHAT TO DO TO MAKE R16
Four are tied for 1st with 20 points but next four days can earn 16 points each day

MISTLETOE WRAPPING IN CYPRESS, CA (smt) -- Of the 21 teams who know what they need to do to guarantee themselves in the Round of 16, only the B3-USA has one way out - win or be eliminated.  No backing their way in like in 2002 or 2014.  No slim chance if they didn't win vs Algeria in 2010.  26 of 27 eligible teams can make the Round of 16 (joining D1-France, G1-Brazil, and H1-Portugal) with some help if necessary.  USA gets no help.  No need to watch the D1-England-D4-Wales score.  Doesn't matter.  Win and in.

Only 2 teams have been eliminated (host A1-Qatar and F2-Canada) and just three have qualified leaving an unusually high 27 teams still alive fighting for 13 spots.  E3-Germany has the most difficult guarantee to make the Round of 16, and that is beating E2-Costa Rica by 8 or more goals... considering E1-Spain beat CRC 7-0, maybe possible (though CRC shocked E4-Japan 1-0)?  Otherwise it's win and hope for a good result from JPNvsESP.  WAL and C3-Mexico are in if they win their matches by 4 or more goals.  ENG can lose by 3 goals and still qualify.  All 6 teams that do not control their destiny still need to win for any chance of making the R16. 

High Kick (11/25)

NERVOUS @ HOME - It seemed like D3-USA was using E4-Japan's strategy of absorbing pressure and saving energy for the second half but midway through the first half, the D1-England dominant possession gave way and USA had the better of chances.  Unlike against D4-Wales, USA kept the possession and pressure in the second half but could not finish, settling for a 0-0 draw, USA's first-ever 0-0 WC draw (35 matches).  With D2-IR Iran's two stoppage time goals against 10-men WAL, USA controls their destiny and need a win against IRN.  If you can't beat IRN, you don't deserve to be in the Knockout round.  

WAL had the first red card of the tourney as their GK came out and his high kick knocked the IRN player down way outside the box in the 86'.  IRN's second of two stoppage-time goals was in the 90'+11', the latest goal in regulation... of course, this WC, refs are putting all missing time back in resulting in unusually high added minutes (this match had +9 officially).  With the free-flowing injury-free ENG-USA second half, just +4 was put up, one of the lowest this WC (for 2nd half).  The first half was just +1.

ENG had one last chance in stoppage time thanks to another errant pass by Walker Zimmerman (the same one who dumbly committed the foul in the box to allow WAL to tie USA) but Harry Kane's clear header went wide left.  You could have a drinking game whenever there is a missed pass towards midfield, and if it was Zimmerman, take a shot.  You may get drunk quickly.  Luckily, Zimmerman plays well when defending to stay a starter.

A2-Ecuador got a second-half equalizer to tie A4-Netherlands 1-1 as both sit atop Group A with 4 points while host A1-Qatar got their first goal but A3-Senegal scored 3 and eliminated QAT for the Round of 16.  QAT is the second host to not make the Round of 16 (South Africa in 2010) and will try to not become the first host to finish the group stage with zero points.

I guess my 2010 home USA jersey worked as this jersey was the same type worn in USA 1-1 tie with ENG in 2010.  Since USA needs a win in their last match like 2010 (they somehow fell into 1st in 2014), I guess it'll be the 2010 away USA jersey on Tuesday.

In the pool, only SEN's win was picked by more than 19 entries (73).  19 picked IRN, 17 had ENG-USA draw, and only 6 had NED-ECU draw.  Eggman (30th-T, 10 pts) was the only one to go 3-1 while 23 went 0-4.  This left three at the top with 13 points (Cicero, Kankleiscious, and Walloon) with Markofthebeast and Meli tied for last with 6 pts.

African & Asian Teams Shine (6/25)

DAHLGREN, VA -- B4-Iran nearly scored a stoppage time goal that would have eliminated B1-Portugal but had to settle for a hard-fought 1-1 tie that featured three VAR reviews.  Ronaldo missed an early PK after getting the benefit of a PK via VAR but had to settle for 2nd in Group B after Iran scored a PK in stoppage time.  B2-Spain had to rally twice against B3-Morocco (who had scored zero goals), the latter on a smart quick corner kick late in stoppage time that VAR review looked at and overruled the lineman's offside flag.  The 2-2 tie gave Spain the Group on goals scored over Portugal and still hasn't lost in 23 matches.  Due to goals scored, ESP still would've advanced with a 2-1 loss.

In the battle for first, A4-Uruguay scored

Foster's Football Brew # 4: Ever Gone Sky Diving?

June 27, 2014

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BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL -- My final "Reporting From Brazil" edition of the FIFA 2014 World Cup FFB comes over a week tardy...it seems the frequent travel and constant distractions make it impossible to be a soccer blogger at the World Cup! I don't know how all those travel writers do it!

Eric & Reza at a World Cup Match!

The highlight of my trip was to see the only match for which I could purchase tickets...Argentina vs. Iran. I went with my Iranian-American buddy, Reza. He had been talking smack for months before the trip, which I thought was just fine because I would have the rest of my life to brag about a "certain" Argentine victory. Little did I know, Iran would have one of the stingiest defenses in the tournament! On the flight to Belo Horizonte, an Argentine couple taught me the most popular two songs sung by the Argentines...the longer one bagging on Brazil for having beat them the last time they met in the World Cup (ARG eliminated BRA in the 1990 Italy World Cup...quite a long time ago!)...proclaiming Maradona as better than Pele. In the name of fairness and full disclosure, the Brazilians' answer is

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 11 (June 21 - Day 10)

IRAN did not look at ARGENTINA in awe during the match, but LIONEL MESSI was asked for his jersey by the IRANIAN Captain before the match!!.. ..  

Match 27: ARGENTINA v. IRAN

Date: Saturday June 21, 2014      

Venue: Estadio Mineirao, BELO HORIZONTE

PANDO! or GORDO? Gordo?

Heroic first-45 minutes for IRAN as they 'won' the first half! Putting 10 men behind the ball, denying ARG any rhythm, and pressuring LIONEL MESSI with ANDRANIK TEYMOURIAN kept the damage from the ARG attack, to a minimum .. ..

ARG was again, loose with their passing, turning the ball over six times while under no pressure .. .. They did attack with numbers and had six shots in the box in the 1H off 15 crosses in the first stanza .. .. ARG is extremely left-handed with 11 of those early crosses coming from the L/Flank -- Of their seven crosses v. BIH in the first match, five came in from the left .. .. GK ALIREZA HAGHIGHI was heroic in the