Issue #2.1.1 "Favorites Exposed in Russia" (After 16 Matches)

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Tuesday, June 19, 2018 

GERMANY STUNNED AND GROUP H UPSIDE DOWNA record 79 entries vie for 6th pool title; Ilvecchio is in 1st

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX), CA (smt) --  The host nation A1-Russia opened the World Cup in grand fashion thrashing A2-Saudi Arabia 5-0but it was F2-Mexico who provided the biggest shockwave of the tournament, literally according to seismologists, with a 1-0 win over the defending champions.  F1-Germany is ranked #1 in the world and won all 10 UEFA qualifying matches with a +39 goal differential.  The biggest upset, however, was the smallest-ever qualifying nation of D2-Iceland scoring a game-tying goal against powerhouse D1-Argentina.  Just a few years ago Iceland was ranked in the triple-digits and then the shocking win over England in EUROs two years ago gave them a Gonzaga-like vibe and who wouldn't want to do the Skol Viking Chant?  Lionel Messi also missed a penalty kick that kept the game tied at 1.  The odds-on favorite to win the World Cup, E1-Brazil, struggled against a foul-against-Neymar E2-Swiss team and ended up with a disappointing tie, even though SUI is ranked 6th in the world.  It's much better than their previous two WC matches, a 3-0 loss to Netherlands and a 7-1 thrashing by Germany.  Only G1-Belgium came away with a victory, a convincing one as well 3-0, amongst the top 6 ranked teams in the world. 

In the most anticipated match of the Group Stage, Match # 3 saw the two Iberian peninsula powers, B1-Portugal and B2-Spain, go at it for what seemed like the millionth time and the match didn't disappoint.  From

United vs Morocco... And the winner is...

USA (and Canada), USA!, USA (and Mexico)!  Politics took a back seat to cash as for the first time, all FIFA eligible members voted on the next host of the World Cup, this one an expanded 48-team event in 2026 (not in the winter!).  134 of the 199 (of 211) nations cast their ballot for "United 2026" with Morocco still managing to get an impressive 65 votes.  USA (and Canada and Mexico) had gotten the vote fast-tracked but Morocco still was able to sneak in on the eve of the deadline. 

The good news is Canada will automatically qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 (assuming they don't get in 2022) and the USA won't have to recycle Sampson/Bradley/Arena/Klinsmann as coach to save qualifying in 2025.  Mexico will continue to qualify and continue to not make it past the Round of 16 which it has done since 1990.

With 44 entries, we may actually get close to our record 75 set last time in 2014.  Hmmmm...  Remember, the deadline is 8 am PDT Thursday!  I may not get to check for errors so I will be emaing some of you if you accidentally filled out the Round of 16 bracket incorrectly.  No worries!