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

 Archive

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)

 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.

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.

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.

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

 Archive

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)

 Archive

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)

 Archive

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)

 Archive

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.