Issue #3.1.2 "Some Shockers and Lots of Goals" (6/22)

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Sunday, June 22, 2025 

INTER MIAMI, BOTAFOGO, AND FLAMENGO PULL OFF UPSETS
16 entries received from 9 people in first edition of Club World Cup; 3 tied for first

HOME, CA (smt) --  A classic Messi free kick goal put A4-Inter Miami over A2-Porto, 2-1, to put the Major League Soccer team into a virtual tie with A1-Palmeiras, who beat A3-Al Ahly 2-0.  MLS's first win over an UEFA club in real competition wasn't the only shocker.  Brazilian side B3-Botafogo stunned the reigning UEFA champions, B1-PSG, 1-0, to sit atop of Group B with 6 points.  Another Brazilian side B1-Flamengo ran over D3-Chelsea 3-1 to win Group D with a game left. 

However, other top UEFA clubs rolled over their opponents with C4-SL Benfica winning 6-0 as C2-Auckland City became the first team eliminated, G4-Juventus winning 4-1, B2-Atlético Madrid winning 3-1,  and G-Manchester City winning 6-0 (MCI tried hard for a 7th, but alas, JUV will win the goals for tiebreaker if these two teams draw).  F2-Borrusia Dortmand was cruising 4-1 but had to hold on to beat upstart F4-Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3.  Another Brazilian side had an easy win as F1-Fluminense beat F3-Ulsan HD, 4-2.

Issue #8.2.1 "Early Exit Polls" (After Round of 16)

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Tuesday, August 8, 2023 

Dailies: Aug 5-6-7-8 

CHAMPS DOWN; ENGLAND SURVIVES; TOP TEAMS DAZZLE
Kds911-2 maintains 1-point lead but Lavelle Lover has best chance to win pool

HOME, CA (smt) --  Showing that their 4-0 loss to 1C-Japan was just a fluke, 2C-Spain exploded to a 4-1 halftime lead (scoring all 5 goals since 1A-Switzerland's goal was a Spanish own goal) to reach the quarterfinal in a 5-1 rout while JPN methodically broke a 1-1 halftime tie in a comfortable 3-1 win over 2A-Norway in a battle between #11 JPN and #12 NOR.  A potential rematch between JPN and ESP in the semifinals looms but they will have to win their quarterfinal matches first. 1F-France easily beat #72 2H-Morocco 4-0 and host 1B-Australia took care of business winning 2-0 over 2D-Denmark, that saw the brief return of Sam Kerr.  1E-Netherlands took advantage of winning the group beating #54 2G-South Africa, 2-0.

What wasn't a fluke?  2E-USA not being able to score.  Despite more controlling play, a stifling defense that only allowed one shot on goal, and lots of opportunities (21 shots, 12 on goal), USA went a full 120 minutes against 1G-Sweden scoreless (extending the goalless streak to 238 minutes) and then missed (not saved) three penalty kicks to lose 5-4.  A goal line technology "goal" showing the whole ball crossing the line by a hair was emblematic of USA's story this WWC.   That the highly reliable Meagan Rapinoe skied a penalty (years since she missed?) shows this WWC just didn't fit right with the USWNT, with odd substitutions, soft second yellow cards (not in this match though, the ref let them play), and talent on the field that looked more like an all-star team playing for the first time rather than a team.  If you look at it, USA only allowed two shots on goal the whole tournament.  Only allowed one goal (tied for best).  They tied and lost in the PSO to the #3 team in the world (not Nigeria, not Colombia).  #3.  They will finish 9th in this WWC as the best of the R16 losers but it doesn't make it any better (though Germany, Canada, and Brazil will say what about us?).

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

Issue #4.1.3 "Underdogs Roar Back" (After 24 Matches)

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Thursday, July 27, 2023 
Dailies: July 25-26-27 

PHILIPPINES AND NIGERIA STUN CO-HOSTS; USA DRAWS
Eggman 2 takes the lead with 19 points

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) --  After 24 matches, underdogs put on a show with #46 A3-Philippines (two California-born players leading the way) stunning co-host A1-New Zealand 1-0 and #40 B3-Nigeria rallying with three straight goals to beat co-host B1-Australia, 3-2.  B4-Canada had to rally to prevent #22 B2-Rep of Ireland from an upset, winning 2-1.  C4-Japan scored twice in two minutes in the first half but settled for a 2-0 win over C2-Costa Rica which allowed C1-Spain to edge JPN on goal differential when they put up 5 against C3-Zambia.  ESP and JPN both advance to the Round of 16 but ESP holds the GD edge to win the group if they tie in their last match.

In the competitive matches between teams just ranked 8 spots apart, both matches drew with #20 A4-SUI and #12 A2-Norway producing the third nil-nil draw and #9 E3-Netherlands allowing a second-half goal to tie #1 E1-USA, 1-1 (in the first of 3 matches between top 10 teams (upcoming CANvAUS and F1-France vs F3-Brazil)).

USA came out strong in the first 10 minutes and then listed in the first half as NED struck first in the 17', the first time USA has trailed in a WWC match since 2011 (17 matches).  USA uncharacteristically made just one sub the whole match, but Rose Lavelle's halftime entry seemed to spark the team, even picking up a yellow in the 51' and providing the corner kick assist to Lindsey Horan in the 62'.  Horan was just taken out hard by club teammate (Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)) Danielle van de Donk (no foul as Donk got to the ball first) and a shoving match ensued. But on the next play, she scores off the corner (interestingly, Horan is the only USA player to not play for the NWSL). 

Issue #3.1.2 "Favorites Revving Up" (After 16 Matches)

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Tuesday, July 25, 2023 

Dailies: July 23-24-25 

GERMANY & BRAZIL ROUT BUT FRANCE DRAWS 0-0 TO JAMAICA
Jolly Old England sits alone on top with 14 points

HOME, CA (smt) --  After 16 matches, one for each team, there has only been two clear favorite teams who have lost (A2-Norway) after #26 H3-Colombia scored twice in the first half to beat #17 H4-Korea Rep, 2-0.  D3-Denmark and D4-China PR had about the same ranking (#15 v #13) with DEN winning 1-0 earlier.  Two heavily favorite teams suffered 0-0 draws after #5 F1-France drew with #41 F2-Jamaica (#6 B4-CAN v #42 B3-NGA), and JAM rightly celebrated like it was a win.  E2-Netherlands and G3-Italy squeezed out 1-0 wins while #3 G1-Sweden became the first team to rally beating G2-South Africa, 2-1.  It was also the only match of the 16 where both teams scored (17 teams were shut out).

#2 H1-Germany routed H2-Morocco, 6-0, in a match where MAR were ranked 70 spots behind GER.  F3-Brazil got a hat trick from Ary Borges to beat F4-Panama 4-0.  Outside these two matches, just 24 goals were scored in 14 matches.  After 16 VAR interventions in the first 11 matches, there were none in the last five.  European teams went 8-3-1 this round with Africa still seeking their first win (0-3-1).  The 8 new teams in the tournament lost all 8 and were outscored 23-0.  Only 1 of 16 matches saw a match where both teams scored, resulting in 17 teams who were shut out.

Issue #2.1.1 "USA Sleepwalks to Win" (After USA-VIE)

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Saturday, July 22, 2023 
Dailies: July 20-21-22

NO ROUT THIS TIME, VIETNAM HOLDS USA TO 3
Our 3rd Women's World Cup pool gets record 47 entries

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, WREXHAM TOUR, CARSON, CA (smt) --  #32 E2-Vietnam, 1 of 8 teams making their WWC debut, was determined not to lose by a lot and came out aggressive, frustrating #1 E1-USA as the ref was letting them play.  USA broke through after a great flick by Alex Morgan found a speedy Sophia Smith who struck the ball under the 5'-5" GK's legs in the 14'.  USA benefited from 2 VARs, the first in the 41' resulting in a PK but Morgan's attempt was saved and the second in the 45'+7 where offsides was taken away, keeping the goal.  USA had 26 shots and great chances but other than the first goal, there wasn't much clever attacking as VIE's defense held firm.  VIE had zero shots and rarely put the ball in the final third.  Hard to say if this was good or bad for USA as they face #9 E3-Netherlands next, in a rematch of the 2019 WWC final.  Win and we'll forget about not building up a big goal differential.  But a 3-0 win is a 3-0 win.

Issue #1.0.1 "Can USA Three-Peat?" (Kickoff Issue)

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Thursday, July 13, 2023 

USA TRIES TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Our 3rd Women's World Cup pool down under creates crazy start times for West Coast

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) --  The Women's World Cup has expanded from 24 to 32 teams, matching the Men's World Cup (until 2026 when the men's go to 48 teams) as the women's game has grown exponentially.  This has allowed Europe to send more teams (12), all in the top 22, but also allowed teams like H2-Morocco (#72) and C3-Zambia (#77) to sneak in.  E1-USA is still #1 and will try to become the first team to 3-peat in a very competitive field.  Their first match last time was against #34 Thailand which they scorched 13-0.  Vietnam, their first match opponent, is ranked #32.

With the expansion to 32 teams, 8 teams are making their first WWC appearance and D3-Denmark returns for the first time since 2007.  Being co-hosted by B1-Australia and A1-New Zealand, while some group games like USA-VIE will start at 6 pm PDT, most knockout stage matches will start between midnight and 3 am PDT!  It'll be tough to follow the games and not get spoiled to who won.  H1-Germany is #2 and will try for their 3rd title while other European powers G1-Sweden, D1-England, and F1-France right behind.  Players playing in Europe also dominated with 18 players from Barcelona and 17 from Chelsea.  Nine USA players from 2019 made the cut with five trying to 3-peat.  Japan's 2011 win is so far away, only one player from that team made the roster. 

Issue #11.2.6 "I'm Here to Win and Walk Away" (After Final)

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Monday, December 19, 2022

[Dailies: 17-18 ]

2022 World Cup Champion	2022 Winningest Region
1978   |   1986   |   2022	UEFA - Europe Union of European Football Associations
ARG - La Albiceleste Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)
#3 | C1 | Group C Winners | 4-1-2 | 15 GF-8 GA 6th Final ('30, '78, '86, '90, '14) 3rd Championship C1: Lost #53 Saudi Arabia 1-2 C4: Beat #13 Mexico 2-0 C5: Beat #26 Poland 2-0 R16: Beat #38 2D-Australia 2-1 QF: Beat #8 1A-Netherlands 2-2 (4-3 PSO) SF: Beat #12 2F-Croatia 3-0 F: Beat #4 1D-France 3-3 (4-2 PSO)	UEFA | 8 Teams | 8 Wins |  8-8 Qualified:  1A-NED, 1B-ENG, 2C-POL, 1D-FRA, 2E-ESP, 2F-CRO, 2G-SUI, 1H-POR R16 (5):  49-NED, 53-CRO, 51-ENG, 52-FRA, 56-POR QF (2):  58-CRO, 59-FRA SF (1):  62-FRA F (0): -

INSTANT CLASSIC WITH 5 GOALS BETWEEN 2 SUPERSTARS
Soccerbix is joined by SoccerWife, KevLo, AC in Doha, and Merman in top 5; Free Merman wins Bonus

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA (smt) -- Legendary superstar Lionel Messi scored twice and had a key touch for another goal to help 1C-Argentina win their 3rd World Cup title, outlasting a hat trick from new superstar Kylian Mbappé 3-3 (4-2 in penalty shootout).  Messi was there to win and walk away, playing defense and helping his team in any way.  He wins his first WC after winning his first Copa America last year and says he wants to play a few games as a champion before potentially retiring from the national team.  Messi played in a WC-record 26th match and is the first player to score at least 1 goal in all 4 knockout matches.  But it wasn't easy.

ARG jumped to their sixth straight 2-0 lead (including Messi's 3rd PK) and dominated for 70 minutes (1D-France did not even have a shot until the 67' and made two forward subs in the 41') and it felt like ARG would just cruise to victory since FRA was not putting up any sustained attacks.  But you don't need sustained attacks if you have speed, and when ARG pulled down a FRA player that blew past him in the box, Kylian Mbappé got FRA on the board in the 80' on their first shot on goal.  In the 81', quick one-touch give-and-go passing resulting in their second shot on goal, a Mbappé perfect strike to level the match at 2 apiece. 

In extra time, Messi put in a rebound in the 108' that seemed to finally seal the deal.  But an errant hand blocking a Mbappé shot off a CK gave FRA another PK and Mbappé went the same way to tie it at 3 in the 118'.  In end-to-end action, FRA could've won if not for a kick save (not taken by Mbappé) and ARG could've won if not for an open header mishit (not taken by Messi), both in the 120'+3'.   In the PSO, both Mbappé and Messi scored but ARG GK came up big with a save and ARG hit all 4 PKs to win 4-2.

Issue #10.2.5 "I'm Condemned to Use the Tools of my Enemy to Defeat Them" (Finals Preview & History of Pool)

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Friday, December 16, 2022
2022 FIFA Men's World Cup Final - Lusail Iconic Stadium - Lusail
 

 
 
1978   |   1986
vs.
  
 

 
1998   |   2018

ARG - La Albiceleste
Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA)
Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)
 

FRA - Les Bleus
Fédération Française de Football (FFF)
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

#3 | C1 | Group C Winners | 4-1-1
6th Final ('30, '78, '86, '90, '14)
C1: Lost #53 Saudi Arabia 1-2
C4: Beat #13 Mexico 2-0
C5: Beat #26 Poland 2-0
R16: Beat #38 2D-Australia 2-1
QF: Beat #8 1A-Netherlands 2-2 (4-3 PSO)
SF: Beat #12 2F-Croatia 3-0
 

#4 | D1 | Group D Winners | 5-1-0
4th Finals ('98, '06, '18)
D1: Beat #38 Australia 4-1
D4: Beat #10 Denmark 2-1
D6: Lost #30 Tunisia 0-1
R16: Beat #26 2C-Poland 3-1
QF: Beat #5 1B-England 2-1
SF: Beat #22 1F-Morocco 2-0

 

FAVORITES OUTSMART UNDERDOGS

Which three will join Soccerbix, KevLo and/or SoccerWife in money

CYPRESS, CA (smt) -- Underdogs and Cinderellas were creating havoc in the tournament but then the favorites wised up and played their game, using the tools of their enemy to ultimately defeat them.  1F-Morocco had not had more than 37% possession in any of their five matches but 1D-France allowed MAR to have the ball (55% possession) and while MAR had excelled on counter-attacks in previous matches, this time it was FRA who  picked their spots to apply pressure in the box as deflected shots led to both goals in their 2-0 semifinal win.  1C-Argentina who had jumped to a 2-0 lead in their 5th straight match, did not want to give up goals like they did in the past two matches, and conceded possession to 2G-Croatia (54%), playing CRO's game, and eventually found a back-breaking 3rd goal to win 3-0.  Both MAR (who had defensive injuries which hampered them) and CRO should have been content to play for a 0-0 draw or an opportunistic goal here and there, but FRA and ARG turned the tables and baited them into taking the possession which FRA and ARG capitalized on.

Issue #9.2.4 "Power Doesn't Panic" (After Semifinals)

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Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Dailies: 13-14 ]

SOCCER POWERS REMOVE DOUBT
Soccerbix wins the pool! 8 entries still alive for final 4 money spots; 32 can win Bonus

HOME (smt) -- The soccer powers have been threatened all tournament long, with E1-Germany and F1-Belgium exiting in the group stage and knockout round upsets of 1G-Brazil and 2E-Spain.  But power doesn't panic.  1C-Argentina built up their 5th straight 2-0 lead but this time they not only held on to it, but added the back-breaking 3rd goal to squash upstart 2F-Croatia, 3-0.  Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi were involved in all 3 goals (Alvarez drew PK & Messi converted PK; Messi touch (no official assist) & Alvarez long run for goal; Messi magic dribbling and pass to Alvarez for goal). 

1D-France quickly broke 1F-Morocco's impressive play of never trailing nor allowing an opponent to score in the 5th minute and did something they haven't done yet in the WC, pitch a shutout, winning 2-0.  The two soccer powers will face each other in the Final and will feature two superstars of Paris Saint-Germain - ARG's Messi and FRA's Kylian Mbappé.  Maybe a repeat of the wild 2018 Round of 16 match won by FRA 4-3 on 19-year old Mbappé's brace.

The crowd was very pro-MAR and they have gotten support from a lot of neutrals around the world including Israel, which had a great newspaper cover showing their support.  Interestingly, MAR played more attacking and fun soccer after giving up the goal but could not get the tying goal before FRA added a 2nd in the 79'.  For a team that never had more than 37% possession in any match (and less than 23% in the past two), MAR had 56% possession and took 15 shots (though just 1 on goal - the bicycle kick was tipped by GK but would've hit the left post anyway so not a shot on goal).

With FRA's win, this secured the pool for Soccerbix who leads with 123 points.  It's Soccerbix's 2nd title after winning the inaugural one in 1998 as Le Bix.  12 got both FRA and ARG and 8 of those are the top 8 in the standings (and all 8 have picked ARG as their champion).  Soccerbix has a 16-point cushion over those who have FRA as their champion (2 Goals 1 World Cup, Kona Coast Uno, and Redhat Dave (17th-Tied, 107)) so if FRA wins, the 14 points will not dethrone him.  Those 3, if FRA wins, will knock AC in Doha, Merman, and Unlucky (4th-T, 119) from the money spots.  KevLo and SoccerWife are tied for 2nd (120) but will fall for a tie for 5th if FRA wins (and 1 of those 2 will leave empty-handed).  For the final, 31 have ARG and 9 FRA as their champ (I wonder how many more would pick FRA if they did not have all those injuries prior to the start of the WC).

Issue #8.2.3 "There Will Be Times When the Struggle Seems Impossible" (Semifinal Preview & Bonus Details)

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Monday, December 12, 2022

First Semifinal - Lusail			Second Semifinal - Al Khor
ARG - La Albiceleste Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA)	CRO - Vatreni (Blazers) Hrvatski Nogometni Savez (HNS)		FRA - Les Blues Fédération Française de Football (FFF)	MAR - Ousud Al-atlas (The Atlas Lions) Fédérarion Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)
#3 | C1 | Group C Winners | 3-1-1 6th Semifinals ('30, '78, '86, '90, '14) C1: Lost #53 Saudi Arabia 1-2 C4: Beat #13 Mexico 2-0 C5: Beat #26 Poland 2-0 R16: Beat #38 2D-Australia 2-1 QF: Beat #8 1A-Netherlands 2-2 (4-3 PSO)	#12 | F4 | Group F Runners-Up | 1-0-4 3rd Semifinals ('98, '18) F1: Tied #22 Morocco 0-0 F4: Beat #41 Canada 4-1 F5: Tied #2 Belgium 0-0 R16: Beat #24 1E-Japan 1-1 (3-1 PSO) QF: Beat #1 1G-Brazil 1-1 (4-2 PSO)		#4 | D1 | Group D Winners | 4-1-0 7th Semifinals ('58, '82, '86, '98, '06, '18) D1: Beat #38 Australia 4-1 D4: Beat #10 Denmark 2-1 D6: Lost #30 Tunisia 0-1 R16: Beat #26 2C-Poland 3-1 QF: Beat #5 1B-England 2-1	#22 | F3 | Group F Winners | 3-0-2 1st Semifinals F1: Tied #12 Croatia 0-0 F3: Beat #1 Belgium 2-0 F6: Beat #41 Canada 2-1 R16: Beat #7 2E-Spain 0-0 (3-0 PSO) QF: Beat #9 1H-Portugal 1-0

CROATIA IS RANKED #12 IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW
16 entries fighting for remaining 4 money spots; Bonus keeps another 69 entries with hope

FISHBAR IN MANHATTAN BEACH, CA (smt) -- 2F-Croatia has less wins in this WC than teams like 1E-Japan and 2D-Australia and yet, thanks to four draws, are a step away from their second straight final.  They are the #12 team in the world and yet are lumped with 1F-Morocco as impossible party crashers.  Ironically, CRO and MAR are the only 2 semifinalists who have not lost a match yet (1A-Netherlands is the only other team without an official loss (lost in PSO)).  CRO have beaten the #1  (1G-Brazil) and #2 (F1-Belgium) teams in the world, and in order to win their first WC, they will have to beat #3 1C-Argentina and then potentially #4 1D-France.  Their struggle is real though, as they have played 2 scoreless draws and 4 of their 6 goals were against F2-Canada.

MAR is ranked decently at #22 (not #53 like C2-Saudi Arabia who beat ARG), are on a 10-match unbeaten streak (last loss to 2B-USA), and have only conceded one goal (an own goal) but are still huge underdogs (9:1 to win the WC).  FRA (~1:1 to win WC) could have underestimated MAR but close relations (several players born in France play for Morocco as well as their coach; several MAR players play in FRA's Ligue 1; as well as MAR was once a colony of FRA) should make FRA more cautious than #1 BEL (lost 2-0), #7 Spain (lost 3-0 in penalty shootout), and #9 Portugal (lost 1-0) who were all ousted by this team.  Morocco has also bid many times to host the WC (losing in '94, '98, '06, '10, and '26) and maybe winning the WC could give them a boost (I mean, if tiny Qatar can host one...). 

As an aside, Morocco used to have the abbreviation MOR (used for the 1998 World Cup) but around 2000, it changed to its French name (Maroc) and the abbreviation became MAR.  Same for Spain, which is ESP but not for its Spanish name España, but for its French (Espagne).  English and French are traditional languages for FIFA (whose acronym is based on French title) but its official language list just included Arabic, Portuguese, and Russian (in addition to German and Spanish) in June 2022.