Issue #2.1.1 "I Believe That We Will Win : TheComeBacker"

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Issue #2.1.1 "I Believe That We Will Win : TheComeBacker"
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OPEN PLAY MEANS NO LEAD IS SAFE; NED, CRC, USA SHOCK WINSOur 5th World Cup pool has a record 75 entries; Americano Pazzo & The Mighty Mobelfakta share lead

LA HABRA, CA (smt) --  This crazy FIFA schedule has A1-Brazil and A3-Mexico finishing their second matches before #H3-Russia and #H4-South Korea started their first.  That, coupled with FIFA caving in and changing some times around due to heat (foreshadowing 2022 if Qatar keeps it), means match #'s are not necessarily in order.  This World Cup has also started off with a bang with 49 goals scored in the first 17 matches (in first 16 in 2010, just 25 goals) and six teams coming back to win their matches (just 3 times in all of 2010).  Also, just 2 ties in the first 16 matches (6 in 2010) before A1-Brazil and A3-Mexico kicked off their second matches with a herculean MEX GK effort in a scoreless draw.  It took 12 matches before the first tie, listless scoreless draw between F3-Iran and F4-Nigeria.  With the varied climates, the humidity, rain, and heat haven't stopped the goals from coming, thanks to some poor GK (how many goals went in after hitting the GK's hands?) and superstars actually performing (last year, the first 25 goals were scored by 25 different players).

Haven't seen most of the World Cup live despite taking two weeks off from work.  Been reduced using my Moto X to tether 4G to my Roku 2 player and using WatchESPN to project that to the

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 8 (June 18 - Day 7)

None.. ..  

Match 20: AUSTRALIA v. NETHERLANDS

Date: Wednesday June 18, 2014  

Venue: Estadio Deira-Rio, PORTO ALEGRE

PANDO! or GORDO? Pando!

Maybe NED came into the match in letdown mode after dismantling ESP, and maybe they underestimated AUS .. .. Understandable on both, so it was not surprising when they were a bit lose with their passes and then overcompensated by over-hitting .. .. AUS hustled from the opening whistle, getting stuck-in and running their arses off .. ..

But, NED overcame all that in the 20th minute when ARJEN ROBBEN made a nice hard steal in the middle of the pitch, shrugged off an arm tackle before racing into the L/Box and smashing his L/Footer > L/Left .. ..

AUS then came right back in the 21st minute, with TIM CAHILL taking a long cross in the L/Box and brilliantly first-timing the volley over the stunned GK, off the bar into the net - WOW, WOW, WOW! It's too bad

Foster's Football Brew # 3: Is Chile the little train that could?

Santiago to Rio, June 18, 2014

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -- Who would have thought Chile stood a chance to win today's Battle at the Maracanã in Rio against the defending World Champs?!??  Well, tens of thousands of Chileans, that's who!

I flew into Rio this morning from Santiago with a plane-full of Chile fans, nearly all of them dressed for the game with tickets in hand.  As the airplane was about to touch down in Rio, the ENTIRE plane broke out in song, starting with "Chi-Chi-Chi, Le-Le-Le, Vi-va Chi-Le!!" With their "fight song" following.  A sea of red jerseys, zany mohawk whigs, and gladiator helmets.

The fans were really confident in their team, and the players didn't let them down!  Holland's revenge blow-out last week really shattered

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 7 (June 17 - Day 6)

Spain MF CESC FABREGAS moves from Barcelona to Chelsea for an estimated ₤30,000,000 .. .. No wonder he had other things to worry about .. ..  

Match 17: BRAZIL v. MEXICO

Date: Tuesday June 17, 2014      

Venue: Estadio Castelao, FORTALEZA

PANDO! or GORDO? Gordo?

LUST -- LUST -- LUST! Little wonder KOBE BRYANT was here!

The putrid, steamy CONCACAF desire to pass the ball to your opponents continued for a second-straight day as BRA & MEX started the first-45 minutes with a charity-fest .. .. Much like the USA/GHA drama served up, both sides were determined to give the ball away and dribble into pressure .. ..

Neither side produced any clear danger until a climbing NEYMAR saw this terrific header pawed off the line by a diving MEMO OCHOA - A terrific save that saw 'eagle-eye' tell the world the ball was exactly above the line when it was saved .. .. OCHOA again came up big when the MEX defence broke down and OCHOA made a point-blank save to keep the match level at the whistle .. ..

He was even busier in the second half when he was called on to stop

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? Extra - Audio Edition # 3

Another audio sniplet blast from the PRESENT this time...

Now that I've regained consciousness, here are the BBC 5LIVE RADIO calls of both goals .. ..

Sammy

Direct Link (CLINT!)

Direct Link (BROOKS!)

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 6 (June 16 - Day 5)

GERMANY could not find a hotel the liked so they purchased their own land and built a luxury resort instead .. .. WOW .. ..  

Match 13: GERMANY v. PORTUGAL

Date: Monday June 16, 2014       

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, SALVADOR

PANDO! or GORDO? Gordo?

I - I - I . .. ... ME - ME - ME . .. ... I - I - I . .. ... ME - ME - ME

When you have a player who only goes forward, and after your most undisciplined player gets sent off after 36 minutes, I think I would like playing 11 v. 9 .. .. Wouldn't you? And .. .. You have to cheer against any team that has their names painted in gold in their hotel rooms .. ..

MARIO GOTZE punished the POR defence for their lack of discipline at the back when he was hauled down in the box by JOAO PEREIRA and THOMAS MULLER easily R/Footed > U/Left .. .. MAT HUMMELS climbed above the POR defence in the 32nd minute off a CK and crushed his header > U/Left and MULLER again penalized an indifferent POR back-four on a box scramble in the 46th minute in M/Box and R/Footed his brace > U/Left .. ..   

POR didn't force an attacking set-piece until the 36th minute after GER already had 5+ and RONALDO only had 15 total touches in the first-45 .. .. Reckon he saw the writing on the wall in the tunnel @ HT when he already

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? Extra - Audio Edition # 2

Another audio sniplet blast from the past...

You never know how desperate the BBC got before the 2010 opener v. ENG .. .. How about GRAHAME JONES? 

Here's that clip, about 7 minutes long .. ..

Direct Link

GO USA,

Sammy

Foster's Football Brew # 2: What's the Record Number of Flops in a World Cup Game?

June 15, 2014

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SANTIAGO, CHILE -- I went to Mr. Jack's, a sports bar/burger joint in the poche "Sanhattan" neighborhood of Santiago, Chile to watch the World Cup opener.  A Brazilian couple were sitting at the table next to me, chatting with some Chilean businessman enjoying the game.  The restaurant was heavily "pro-Brazil".  In fact, unless a South American country is playing against their own, any of the 6 qualifying countries' fans will root for the other  South American team (with my dear Argentina, sadly, being the unpopular exception).

The Opening game was quite exciting, and most can agree Brazil got away with a win when perhaps a tie should've been the just result.  Neymar and Oscar were sharp and quick.  I'm scratching my head as to why Willian wasn't in the starting roster in place of the lesser "Hulk" (an apt name, indeed, but not the best choice for Brazil's starting 11).  Some of the other Brazilian players seemed mortal, if not beatable, especially on defense.  Croatia showed how a strong and powerful set of forwards and midfielders can expose the Brazilian defense with hard crosses from the wings.  Although Marcelo gave up an "own goal" by accident, it could've happened to any player.  The real liability in the back is David Luiz, a heavily overrated player.  What he possesses in offensive-minded talents, he lacks

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 5 (June 15 - Day 4)

BRA striker HULK limped out of practice today .. ...  

Match 9: SWITZERLAND V. ECUADOR

Date: Sunday June 15, 2014

Venue: Estadio Nacional, BRASILIA

PANDO! or GORDO? mas Gordo?

U know how it goes > U meet someone for the first time, hate them from the very start, yet you're still across from them at breakfast the following morning, and hate them even more .. .. Well, that's what this morning was like > Last night's nightcap bollocks (IVC/JPN) was the first bad match of the Festival, and now followed up by this garbage .. .. terrible .. ..

I reckon the first half was the difference in outlooks > SUI peppered the ECU box with 7 crosses and 7 CKs while ECU attacked down the center and didn't even attempt their first cross until the 30th minute .. ..

By then they had the lead 1-0 when ENNER VALENCIA headed in a CK in the 22nd minute in the middle of the box when he climbed above the SUI defense and saw GK DIEGO BENAGLIO leaning in the wrong direction .. .. Considering the SUI are a bit slow to find their stride, and they had some unforced TOs, I would imagine

Updates Galore

What an incredible 8 matches so far.  There have been 28 goals and just two of the 16 teams have been shut out.  There also have been no ties (typically 30% of the round robin matches end in a tie).  Also, 4 teams have rallied to win (just 3 in 2010) so far.  Two former World Cup champs have been shocked as Spain and Uruguay now face an uphill battle.

But, more info on the pool have been revealed.  8 matches is a nice cutoff point so the first Pool Standings are now up.  Earlier, the Team Distribution (how many entries picked which team to win each match plus how many entries picked a team to reach what round) and Everyone's Picks were posted.  And I'm using Excely's World Cup spreadsheet to update the Results.

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 4 (June 14 - Day 3)

None .. ..  

Match 5: COLOMBIA v. GREECE

Date: Saturday June 14, 2014      

Venue: Estadio Mineiroa, BELO HORIZONTE

PANDO! or GORDO? PANDO!

Didn't really think about this match too much, but oh did JAMES RODRIGUEZ show he may be the best player in the group .. .. And, USAs MARK GEIGER did a great job marshalling the match .. ..

COL struck early in the 5th minute when PABLO ARMERO rolled a stoppable shot in the L/Box but the GRE marker whiffed on his clearance and that was the match really .. .. GRE was careless with the pill the whole match and had 5+ unforced turnovers .. .. GRE had nothing in the middle of the pitch and attacked mainly on the flanks, pumping in 16 crosses, 11 from the R/Flank .. .. Their last gasp came in the 63rd minute when GEKAS had a clear header that he put off the bar .. ..

JAMES RODRIGUEZ' CK (58th minute) started the second goal when a flick-on from the CK got through to TEOFILO GUTIERREZ who stayed with play after making his M/Box run and volleyed home .. .. RODRIGUEZ topped the match in extra-time when

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 3 (June 13 - Day 2)

SKY SPORTS is reporting that five Premiership sides may bid for towering USA Defender JOHN ANTHONY BROOKS as well Bundesliga & French sides .. ..  

Match 2: MEXICO v. CAMEROON                                                       

Date: Friday June 13, 2014 

Venue: Estadio das Dunas, NATAL

PANDO! or GORDO? GORDO?

AFTER A VERY HO-HUM AFRICAN PERFORMANCE FOUR YEARS AGO, IT'S WARMING TO KNOW NOTHING HAS CHANGED!

Good players don't make it a good team, but we already know that .. .. Huh, Landon?

From out whistle CMR didn't link up and were just looking to get ETO'O the ball directly .. .. CMR didn't pump a cross from the flank until the 21st minute while MEX dominated play in the opening half with 11 crosses .. .. MEX had goals waved off (12th & 29th minute) and on another night, both would have counted .. .. ANDRES GUARDADO' FK could have easily made it 3-0 if MARQUEZ, or one of his buddies, nodded it in .. ..

The second half was much of the same and CMR was just poor really .. .. The tried to ramp it up in the second half but

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? Extra - Audio Edition # 1

Sammy's dug up a real gem.  Post-game commentary from Waddle & Taylor....

Here's a better version of the 2010 ENG meltdown .. ..

And, all the points they bring up, the USA has adopted .. .. We'll see if ENG does .. ..

Direct Link to Audio (6:10)

Sam's PANDO! or GORDO? # 2 (June 12 - Day 1)

 > FIFA tells USSF to prepare for a 2022 re-vote and would look at it hard!  

Match 1: BRA v. CRO                                                

Date: Thursday June 12, 2014     

Venue: Arena Corinthians Sao Paulo

PANDO! or GORDO? Pando! & Gordo?

PANDO because it certainly wasn't boring, but GORDO because BRA certainly looked beatable and would have no chance if the WC was played away from BRA .. .. 

A completely deceiving 3-1 final score > A match that a thoroughly-vulnerable BRAZIL was very lucky to win .. .. And, another strong lesson in that GOALKEEPER is the most important position on the pitch .. ..

A shocked Arena Corinthians saw CROATIA go up 1-0 in the 11th minute when ole vet IVICA OLIC sent in a hard cross from L/Flank that bounced in off MARCELO who whiffed initially .. .. Shortly after, the lights went off in half the stadium - an omen?

NEYMAR equalized in the 27th minute when he was at the top of the 'D' and hit a L/Footed grounder that was able to get under STIPE PLETIKOSA into the L/Right .. ..

The nimble, agile OSCAR continued his fine match when he

Admin's Entries

Go ahead and mock if you want... two entries, $20 down the drain:

Futbol Fabone Five (5 for our 5th World Cup pool)
Let It Goal! (since my kids love singing "Let It Go!", even the 2-year old)

I have about 30+ entries to organize and then I will send out a link to everyone's picks.  Thanks!