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.

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).

Twenty-Two Shots (6/17)

Each match saw one team take at least 22 shots but only two of the four won today.  B1-Germany got tired of 1-0 wins and came out swinging shooting 23 times and scoring four times in a 4-0 win over B4-South Africa to clinch Group B with 9 points.  In an interesting match where the winner would be the loser, only a loss would keep B3-Spain, holding 2nd place, from likely facing the F1-United States in the Round of 16 and yet they came out shooting 24 times with 9 shots on goal but was held to a scoreless draw by B2-China PR, who had just one shot and none on goal.  By finishing 3rd, CHN will likely play C2-Italy, C3-Brazil, C4-Australia, D1-England, or D4-Japan, all preferable over facing a hot USA team.

Solo Survivor (6/8)

B1-Germany struggled but eventually gained control in a 1-0 win over B2-China PR.  GER had 62% possession and outshot CHN 18-4.  GER also extended a streak to 18 matches without allowing a first half goal in the WWC ('03 Final vs SWE).  CHN committed 19 fouls and had 4 yellow cards.  B3-Spain found themselves down 1-0 to B4-South Africa at the half but used their 72% possession advantage in creating 2nd half chances, including two that led to penalty kicks.  The rally for the 3-1 win puts ESP on top of Group B for now.

Both PK calls are probably what differentiates recreational players from professional players.  I can see myself flying with my hands slightly up and saying it was an incidental handball on the first PK foul and getting to the ball first but having the player run into me and saying it wasn't my fault on the second PK foul (called by VAR).  However, in a professional setting, players know to have their hand near their body or even behind their backs when attacking a cross to avoid the incidental handball and a players know to clear the ball and not completely follow through to avoid unnecessary contact to the onrushing player (that looked painful and would've been doubly so if it was against a male).  VAR was needed to call the foul and penalty (and doubly bad for RSA as the foul was the second yellow on the player) on the second PK which ESP converted for a 2-1 lead.  VAR was earlier used to confirm no foul in the box that would've gave ESP a PK while down 1-0.

A3-Norway scored early