VAR Syndrome

"Var Syndrome.  It suddenly destabilizes people's minds and reduces them to a violent mob.  People grew to fear these tragic events, which could happen anywhere and anytime.  However, amongst the fear, some rose up valiantly to fight back." -- Macross Delta, Episode 1, Prologue.

Who would have thought that one of the coolest Japanese anime (with great transforming mecha action and awesome songs by Walküre (listen!)) would have a reference so appropriate for what the Women's World Cup (WWC) is experiencing.  In the show, Vár Syndrome is a fold bacteria that affects the host at a cellular level usually causing the host to be uncontrollable and becoming super powerful, overriding common sense.  In the WWC, VAR Syndrome is a video assistant review process that affects matches at a minute level usually causing the matches to be uncontrollable and becoming super powerful, overriding common sense.  In both of these interpretations, VAR has taken a life of its own once allowed to germinate.  And in both of these interpretations, people start to fight back and take away the power of the VAR, starting with all the critics of VAR or the English Premier League neutering VAR by modifying when it will get used.

In 44 matches thus far, depending on how you count a "VAR review", I list 38 stoppages of play have happened because either VAR has contacted the referee or the referee has asked VAR to review a play.  I've heard on FOX 33 VAR reviews after ESPvUSA (I had 36) and 17 from FIFA press release after group stage (I had 23).  The FIFA app lists 30 specifically called out via VAR icon (18 after group stage).  Today's presser talked about 29 (25 being reversed).  Most of these last 1-3 minutes with some taking more than 8 minutes from infraction to the finish (e.g., PK scored).  This has resulted in 5-8 minutes of stoppage time in some matches.  By my count, at least 21 of the 44 matches had no real VAR review (maybe a VAR "check" but not a long stoppage of play) but boy, the ones that did...

Issue 6.2.1 "Black and Blue" (After Round of 16)

Archive

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

TOP TEAMS BRUISED AND BATTERED, BUT ALL FAVORITES ADVANCE
Kds911 is first while 13 can still win Pool

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA (smt) -- All 6 group winners plus 2F-Sweden and 2A-Norway won giving the Quarterfinals a near unanimous European feel.  1B-Germany and 1D-England each won 3-0 in physical matches while 1A-France (after extra time), 1F-United States, and 1E-Netherlands held on to 2-1 wins.  NOR routed 2C-Australia in the penalty shootout 4-1 after a 1-1 tie after extra time and 1C-Italy survived a suddenly offensive-minded 3B-China PR team 2-0 and SWE got lucky as 2E-Canada missed a game-tying PK to prevail 1-0.  Cup favorites were woman-handled as GER was fouled 15 times, ENG 11, FRA 23, and the Americans 17 times.  GER was the only one to fight back fouling 3A-Nigeria 16 times.  GER will have two extra days rest on opponent SWE though.

3E-Cameroon displayed an all new look of unsportswomanlike conduct delaying kickoffs in protest, pushing referees, spitting and elbowing players, and having a coach that tolerated the behavior.  2B-Spain were lucky not to get more yellow cards including a blatant chokehold on Megan Rapinoe.  But the fact these top teams survived proves their resiliency that hopefully will take them far.  GER and NOR seem to be on the upswing while ENG, FRA, and the USA (their last 2 matches) are still trying to find their footing.  ITA, who finished last in their group in the 2017 UEFA Women's EUROs, has been the biggest surprise and gets to play a NED team, although the 2017 UEFA Women's EURO champs, struggled in the second half against 2D-Japan and needed a 90' PK to prevail. 

Europe Takes Out Asia (6/25)

This is turning about to be the pseudo-2019 edition of the quadrennial UEFA Women's EURO.  Seven of the 8 Quarter-finalists (QF) hail from UEFA with the 1F-USA the lone invader.  Maybe we should do a HWCI pool on that, as the 2021 year is barren (2020 Men's EURO, 2022 Men's WC, 2023 Women's WC).  And in looking at the UEFA Women's EURO 2017 which featured 16 teams, only one match was a complete blowout (Scotland lost 6-0 but they made this year's WWC) so UEFA could lobby for 12 teams in the 2023 WWC and still be competitive (unlike AFC's 5th team (THA), Concacaf's 3rd team (JAM), and Oceania (NZL)).

With all the negativity surrounding this year's WWC (salary disputes, insensitive celebrations, lack of interest by FIFA and national federations, VAR, low attendance, unsportswomanlike conduct, political takes), it's great to see that after a match, great traditions of exchanging jerseys (like a few of the ESP and USA women did -- thank goodness for sports bras) and consoling an opponent after a tough loss are still in great supply.

Save! (6/24)

For the second time this tourney, there was heartache on a missed PK (CHIvTHA for spot in R16).  With 2F-Sweden scoring first in the second half, thanks to... wait for it... VAR, 2E-Canada had a chance to tie with a penalty kick.  Instead of 2nd all-time scorer Christine Sinclair, it was Janine Beckie and her shot in the lower left was saved in the 69'.  VAR kept CAN in the game as a potential PK opportunity was negated by a SWE offside in the 81'.  Both teams only managed two shots on goal each and SWE held on to win 1-0 to advance to their 4th QF.  CAN, ranked #5, had high hopes of doing better than last time when as hosts, they made the QF.  SWE, which rested players to finish 2nd in Group F, had just enough to prevail. 

Unsportswomanlike Conduct (6/23)

For the third time 1D-England scored within the first 15 minutes in a very uncomfortable 3-0 win over 3E-Cameroon.  A rare GK mistake as the CMR GK picked up the ball off a backpass resulting in an indirect free kick on the goalkeeper box line with ALL 11 CMR players on the goal line!  Such an odd sight and unfortunately the GK slightly deflected the shot past her line of defense behind her for the first goal.  Interestingly, had ENG decided to do a direct kick at goal and it deflected off a CMR player going in, it would be a goal since it touched two players.  However, had ENG tried the direct kick and went straight in, it would have been an illegal kick.

Kerr-fuffle (6/22)

1B-Germany scored early and recorded their 4th straight shutout, beating 3A-Nigeria, 3-0.  GER has now reached the Quarters in all 8 WWCs.  VAR reviewed the first two goals where the first it was ruled GER wasn't offsides in that the offside player was not interfering with the GK (though it was a busy box) and the second was another defender whiffing and kicking a player hard on the follow-through and VAR ruling a foul had occurred and PK was awarded. 

Issue 5.1.4 "3rd Place Scramble" (End of Group Stage)

Archive

Thursday, June 20, 2019

USA WINS GROUP, 7 TEAMS BATTLED FOR LAST 2 R16 SPOTS
Fotografo il Miglore and Kds911 are Tied for 1st; 40 Still Alive and 36 Can Win Pool

ATLANTA, GA (smt) -- F1-United States comfortably beat F4-Sweden 2-0 to win Group F.  E1-Netherlands, B1-Germany, and D1-England also won handily to win their Groups.  A1-France needed a couple of VAR reviews to beat A4-Nigeria.  All five teams picked up the max 9 points.  C3-Brazil beat C2-Italy to tie them along with C1-Australia with 6 points got beat by goal differential to only get 3rd while ITA took 1st and AUS 2nd.  B2-China PR and B3-Spain advanced by tying teach other (ESP taking 2nd) while A3-Norway helped themselves finish 2nd with a win.  Despite losing, E1-Canada and SWE took 2nd in their groups. 

But the biggest battle was for 3rd.  After CHN and BRA claimed spots, there were just two spots left.  Seven teams were trying to get in.  NGA lost their chance to clinch (turned out they would have) then and there with FRA getting the late PK retake and having to wait.  D2-Scotland was in having built up a 3-0 lead with 16 minutes to go but D3-Argentina stormed back to tie, keeping ARG's slim hopes alive and killing SCO's.  But with a tie doing neither E2-Cameroon or E3-New Zealand any good, CMR broke out in the 90'+5 to seal a spot in the R16 and knocking ARG out of contention and essentially eliminating F4-Thailand (they would need a 15-goal win).  F3-Chile needed a 3-goal win over THA and led 2-0 before getting PK opportunity in the 83' but the PK blast went off the crossbar crushing CHI's hopes and putting NGA into the R16.   

Qualification

Here's a quick summary of how the 16 teams qualified and how teams #17 to #24 ranked.

  Qualification (x-Advance, a-Group Winner, b-Group Runner Up, c-3rd place, z-Elim):  

x-FRA (16-CHN W), x-GER (16-CHN W)... 

x-ITA (18-W), x-ENG (19-W)... 

x-NED (22-W), x-CAN (21-W)...  

x-SWE (24-W), x-USA (23-W), x-JPN (23-SWE W & 24-USA W)... 

a-GER (25-W), b-ESP (26-D), c-CHN (26-D), z-RSA (25-L)... 

a-FRA (23-W), b-NOR (24-W), z-KOR (24-L)... 

a-ITA (GD), b-AUS (29-W & GD), c-BRA (30-W), z-JAM (29-L)... 

a-ENG (31-W), b-JPN (32-ARG D), z-SCO (32-D)... 

a-NED (33-W), b-CAN (33-L), c-CMR (34-W), z-NZL (34-L), z-ARG (34-CMR W)... 

a-USA (35-W), b-SWE (35-L), c-NGA (36-CHI GD), z-CHI (GD), z-THA (36-L) ...

   Standings (17-24) W-L-D PTS (GD GF) [Fair Play]: 

17 CHI 1-2-0  3 ( -3  2) [ -5]
18 ARG 0-1-2  2 ( -1  3) [ -3]
19 SCO 0-2-1  1 ( -2  5) [ -6]
20 NZL 0-3-0  0 ( -4  1) [ -1]
21 KOR 0-3-0  0 ( -7  1) [ -7]
22 RSA 0-3-0  0 ( -7  1) [ -9]
23 JAM 0-3-0  0 (-11  1) [ -4]
24 THA 0-3-0  0 (-19  1) [ -5]

Off the Crossbar! (6/20)

Such 3rd place drama.  With both top 2 teams in Groups E and F already qualified, the bottom two teams faced each other to try to qualify with a win.  A4-Nigeria (3 pts, -2 GD) and D3-Argentina (2 pts) were waiting to see if they could sneak in.  First of all, E4-Netherlands beat E1-Canada 2-1 to win Group E and F1-USA comfortably beat F4-Sweden 2-0 to win Group F.  Boring. 

Needing a win, both E2-Cameroon and E3-New Zealand were pushing players forward to try to break a 1-1 tie and in the end, 5 minutes into stoppage time, Ajara Nchout single-handedly worked herself through and her strike went into the right corner for the final play of the match and sent CMR into the Round of 16 and eliminated ARG.  Then E3-Chile needed a 3-goal win to advance (E4-Thailand now needed a 15-goal win margin after CMR won) and were leading 2-0 when VAR awarded them a PK in the 83'.  But Francisca Lara's PK hit the crossbar hard and match ended 2-0 sending NGA into the Round of 16.  Two African teams claimed the last two R16 spots.  In retrospect, SCO blowing a 3-goal lead against ARG cost them a R16 spot and would've sent CMR home.  So the 3rd place teams are 3E-Cameroon (BEF), 3C-Brazil (CDE), 3A-Nigeria (ACD), and 3B-China PR (ABF).

Comeback of the Ages (6/19)

D2-Scotland were well on their way for a great chance to reach the Round of 16 with a 69' goal giving them a 3-0 lead over D1-Argentina.  Then a breakaway in the 74' gave ARG their first goal of the tourney.  The a long strike apparently hit the crossbar and hit the goalie's hand and barely bounced into the net for an own goal for ARG's second goal in the 79'.  Then we had the 7 minute, 27 second "play".  At 85:49 a SCO player tackled an ARG in the box but no penalty was called.  VAR was then called in and the ref determined it was a foul and ARG now has a chance to tie.  The PK was taken and saved and a rebound attempt was also saved.  SCO survives!  But now, another VAR review and for the 3rd time, the GK was off her line and the PK was retaken.  And like the other two, it was buried at 93:16 and ARG had tied it up at 3.  SCO's dream had come to an end and ARG's was kept alive, despite sitting at two points.  ARG was the first team to come back from 3-0 to tie.  If both bottom two teams in Group E and F tie, ARG is in (as would NGR). 

Topsy Turvy (6/18)

C1-Australia's Sam Kerr pounced on a C4-Jamaica GK mistake in the 83' and her 4th goal of the match proved to be the difference in securing 2nd place in Group C and facing 2A-Norway with a 4-1 win.  While C2-Italy and C3-Brazil were tied, AUS was comfortably in 2nd but a BRA PK by Marta (now the all-time WC, men's or women's, goal scorer with 17 passing GER's Miraslav Klose) in the 74' had put BRA into 2nd.  So despite BRA beating ITA 1-0 and both having 6 points (along with AUS), ITA takes 1st on goal differential and AUS takes 2nd on goals scored, leaving BRA to face either 1A-France or 1B-Germany.  Yikes.  Of course, had BRA scored again and won 2-0, they would have taken 1st (GD and GF with ITA would have been equal (both beat AUS on GD), so head-to-head comes into play).

Twenty-Two Shots (6/17)

Each match saw one team take at least 22 shots but only two of the four won today.  B1-Germany got tired of 1-0 wins and came out swinging shooting 23 times and scoring four times in a 4-0 win over B4-South Africa to clinch Group B with 9 points.  In an interesting match where the winner would be the loser, only a loss would keep B3-Spain, holding 2nd place, from likely facing the F1-United States in the Round of 16 and yet they came out shooting 24 times with 9 shots on goal but was held to a scoreless draw by B2-China PR, who had just one shot and none on goal.  By finishing 3rd, CHN will likely play C2-Italy, C3-Brazil, C4-Australia, D1-England, or D4-Japan, all preferable over facing a hot USA team.

Issue 4.1.3 "Nine Teams In" (After 2nd Matches)

Archive

Sunday, June 16, 2019

USA CRUISES AND JOIN 8 OTHER TEAMS IN ROUND OF 16
Fotografo il Migliore and Pazzo Americano Tied for 1st

ALHAMBRA, CA (smt) -- The top teams are starting to warm up as 5 of the 6 top Group seeds have already advanced to the Round of 16.  Only C1-Australia, which had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to beat C3-Brazil, has yet to clinch.  C2-Italy (routing C4-Jamaica 5-0), D4-Japan, E4-Netherlands, and F4-Sweden also advanced with victories.  B1-Germany and D1-England squeaked by with 1-0 wins (Germany's second) while A1-France broke a 1-1 tie to win.  CONCACAF teams E1-Canada and F1-USA (who changed 7 starters) pitched shutouts and also did not allow a shot on goal by the opponent, the first two such events of the tourney.  A4-Nigeria surprised A2-Korea Republic 2-0 and B2-China PR's win stopped a six-match winless streak for the Asia Football Confederation (AFC).  F2-Thailand were bombarded with 74 shots over two matches but finally managed to score in stoppage time against SWE setting off an emotional celebration from the team, staff, and fans.

There were no ties in this second round of 12 matches and only one tie overall.  There have also just been one red card (2 cautions) and no direct red cards.  D2-Scotland's loss to JPN was UEFA's first loss against a non-UEFA team.  Six of the 9 UEFA teams have already advanced with A3-Norway and B3-Spain in good shape with three points but SCO will need some help at zero points and a -2 goal differential.  With four 3rd place teams advancing, even THA with zero points and a -17 GD still has a minuscule chance.

Three Teams Advance (6/16)

F2-Thailand changed goalkeepers and Waraporn Boonsing, the veteran and first-choice GK that didn't start against F1-USA, made 10 saves but unfortunately, F4-Sweden had 15 shots on goal in another tough match.  However, THA in stoppage time scored their first goal and the fans (albeit a tourney-low of 9,354) cheered the achievement.  It was great to see after allowing the first 17 goals in their two matches and seeing the team and the staff celebrate was emotional to see.  SWE's 5-1 win sent them to the Round of 16 for the 6th time. 

With SWE winning by just four, the USA knew they clinched the goal differential if they ended up tied with SWE in the final match, so the USA made 7 changes to their starting lineup.  And it didn't stop the USA as they dominated F3-Chile and scored three goals in the first half again.  CHI only had one shot and no shots goal.  However, they ran into a buzzsaw named Christiane Endler who seemed to make more than the six saves she was credited with and kept USA off the scoreboard for the last 55 minutes.  USA's 3-0 win sent them to the Round of 16 for the 7th time and also sent D4-Japan in the Knockout Stage who are guaranteed at least a top 4 third-place finish. 

Sea of Orange (6/15)

E2-Netherlands scored twice in the second half to secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a 3-1 win over E4-Cameroon in front of a large orange-clad partisan crowd.  Valenciennes is less than 200 miles from Amersterdam with multiple ways to travel (being it's Europe).  E1-Canada also scored twice in the second half to advanced to the Knockout Stage with a 2-0 win over E3-New Zealand.  NZL became the first team to not record a shot on goal and the CAN GK has only faced 1 shot on goal in the two matches (making the save).  That should change as CAN and NED battle it out for first.