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.

I Got Your Back (11/21)

EL SEGUNDO, CA - B3-United States players ran into the back of B4-Wales' Gareth Bale twice, one which led to a late match-tying PK and one that prevented a killer mid-field attempt by Bale at an empty goal (a la Patrik Schick's mid-field strike in the Euros) almost 10 minutes into stoppage time.  USA dominated the first half but only got one goal (their only shot on goal) as WAL pushed in the second half and got their opportunity and Bale hit a great PK strike to tie the match at 1 in the 82'.  

Getting a 1-1 tie feels like a loss considering how strong USA came out.  Walker Zimmerman's silly foul going through Bale, whose back was against the goal, in the box was costly even though WAL was playing better.  This likely means USA will need to score a few goals against B2-IR Iran in their last match, much less winning.  

Had a meeting that went over by 45 minutes so I got to watch the worst of USA, with 10 minutes + 10 minutes stoppage left at the lobby of the Toyota Sports Performance Center (zero soccer fans) wearing the 2021 USA away kit.  Eventually just watched the end in my car.

B1-England quieted doubters in routing IRN 6-2 in an indoor soccer type of score line.   A4-Netherlands needed two late goals to pick up 3 points against A3-Senegal and keep pace with A2-Ecuador.  

What is with all these crazy long stoppage times?  10 minutes put in at end of ENG-IRN match (that went nearly 13 minutes) and 9 for USA-WAL.  There was also more than 10 minutes in the first half of ENG-IRN due to a GK injury.  With FIFA trying to keep the ball "in play" longer, the numbers being put up by the refs are unusually high.  In one aspect, fake or real injuries during play will be cumulatively added so that the losing team will get that extra time but that also means players are on the pitch longer and players are already cramping up (in mild temps, not the summer heat).

In the pool, 23 entries got all 3 matches correct while Markofthebeast missing all 3.  He also is the only one with zero points while 13 have four points.  107 of 109 got ENG, 97 NED, and 19 picked the USA-WAL tie.