Current standings posted

We will see how often I can update the standings, but as of now, the standings are current after the first four matches.  Also, in conjunction, the results of the first four matches are now available.  Both pages are now linked at the top.  If you wanted to know any of the previous days standings or results, you can check it out at The Archive page, now linked on the right.  You can also find links to the previous 5 pools as well as our two Euro Pools and 2015's Women's World Cup Pool.

Harry O has 2 of his 3 entries perfect (Teuton and Popozao).  He is one of 4 who entered the max of three entries.  Eleven others entered twice (including me).  While four are perfect at 4-0, 10 are 1-3 thus far.  Still lots of games to be played.  Quick Note:  You will only get points for a team advancing after their 3rd match (thus, if RUS beats EGY, they qualify for the Round of 16 after just two matches, but you will not get those 3 points until after Group A is complete).

Classic start and Spain-Portugal an instant classic (6/14-6/15)

For the host nation, A1-Russia got off to a great start in routing poor A2-Saudi Arabia, 5-0 and continued the streak of the host nation not losing in their opening match.  In our LA Galaxy Press Box circles, we refer to this as the "Pando", a rare score just as the rare sight of Pando scoring in the LA Galaxy's 2005 season where Pando Ramirez set a record (that may still exist?) for worst shooting percentage and his only goal was on a penalty kick, that bounced off the post and off the keeper (i.e., really  a miss).  Of course, all was redeemed as he scored the game-winner in overtime of the MLS Cup (where I called it, at the end of regulation, in the bathroom of the restaurant we were watching the game on, to the laughter of those in there... but I knew).  But with the rout, Russia could just hope for one point in the next two matches and pray the goal differential will get them to the next round.

Late goals propelled A4-Uruguay and B4-Iran to 1-0 wins, the latter benefiting on a 90'+5 own goal in a match B3-Morocco should have won.  So in a few days, Morocco loses the 2026 big and their opening match.

In the game everyone was looking forward to, the Iberian Derby, B1-Portugal and B2-Spain played a

Admin's Picks

Here are Scott's two entries as he kisses another $20 away.

Futbol Fabone Devyat'

Back in the U.S.S.R.

We unofficially have 68 entries!  We are close to topping our record of 75 in 2014.  Can we do it?  On our Facebook poll, 7 of 9 people said they were LESS interested in the World Cup because the U.S. isn't in it, but I guess "less interested" is still better than most things right now, except for The Expanse (thanks Amazon for saving the show!).  Still four hours left to enter before the 8 am PDT deadline.

FFB 18.01 "Contenders, Pretenders, and Surprises"

Archive

  

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

PREDICTING HOW FAR 10 SQUADS WILL GO

[ Contenders | Pretenders | Surprises ]

CONTENDERS
Germany	Star Power.  Depth.  Team Chemistry.  Experience.  A history of winning.  Well-coached. Some of the many reasons Germany is a tournament favorite once again.  The only thing missing from the 2014 iteration of the Defending Champs is Philipp Lamm, their maestro midfielder and leader who retired surprisingly young.  And how does Germany’s semi-finals bracket look?  Until the semi-final game, where they are likely to play Spain, there are teams they’ve dominated (Argentina) and another pair of teams Germany will simply outclass (Colombia & England).  Italy, the one team that has historically given Germany fits (and defeats) in the World Cup, didn’t qualify… another reason Germany’s chances of repeating are looking bright.  The winner of Spain vs. Germany may be the eventual champion.
Spain	La Roja Furia cruised thru their qualification, winning all but one game, which was a draw, and meanwhile sent Italy packing.  Spain has its 2010 WC & 2012 Euro Championship team stalwarts at defense (Ramos & Pique) and midfield (Iniesta) complemented by a newer, yet seasoned stars at all positions, including goal keeper De Gea and a healthy poaching striker in Diego Costa.  They’re firing on all cylinders, dominating possession and scoring plenty of goals while keeping clean sheets.  Spain’s depth is also an insurance policy, preventing untimely injuries from derailing their campaign.  A clear Top 4 squad this year.
France	France isn’t a dark horse, but perhaps I’m giving them more credit than they deserve when I say they are a Top 3 favorite to win the whole thing.  Young, energetic, hungry, and talented, France has a roster that has matured, and still on the rise.  Although they narrowly lost in Extra Time to Portugal at the Euro 2016 Championship, they were clearly the better side for the first 90 minutes of that game.  The favorites sometimes

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!

Head to Head

Interesting battles between World Cup teams in friendlies this month as we ramp up to Thursday's start of the 21st World Cup.  Asian countries are struggling with H4-Korea Republic losing to H2-Senegal 2-0, H4-Japan losing to E2-Switzerland 2-0, and A2-Saudi Arabia losing to F1-Germany 2-1 and C3-Peru 3-0.  CONCACAF's E3-Costa Rica were routed by G1-Belgium 4-1 and G4-England 2-0.  F3-Sweden & Peru and Belguim & B1-Portugal both played to scoreless draws while B2-Spain & Switzerland and H3-Colombia & A3-Egypt both drew 1-1.  D3-Croatia beat Senegal 2-1 but lost to E1-Brazil 2-0.  Belgium also crushed Egypt 3-0 and England beat D4-Nigeria 2-0.

Friendlies conclude Tuesday with Group H teams Japan and H1-Poland playing non-World Cup teams as they don't start their World Cup until next Tuesday, June 19th.

We have 14 entries thus far with more than two days left to enter.  Deadline is 8 am PDT Thursday.  Good luck!

Issue #1.0.1 "Six Sigma Not Enough for USA"

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Sunday, June 10, 2018 ***HAPPY BIRTHDAY WIFEY***

IMPROBABLE BUT NOW POSSIBLE, USA AND ITALY ARE OUT
Our 6th World Cup pool arrives late but will still be six-sigma of fun

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, PASADENA, CA (smt) --  There will be no Red, White, and Blue nor Gli Azzurri (snapping a streak of 14 straight World Cups) nor Clockwork Orange (who also missed 2016 EURO) in the World Cup in Russia.  All three teams will watch from the sidelines as 32 teams vie for the 21st World Cup including newcomers D2-Iceland (which beat G4-England at Euro 2016 and is the smallest population nation to qualify) and G2-Panama and long-awaited returns from C3-Peru (1982) and A3-Egypt (1990).   #1 ranked F1-Germany will have to battle favorites E1-Brazil and fan-favorite B2-Spain if they want to repeat as champions.  Host A1-Russia had the lowest rank when the World Cup Draw happened and will try to not become the 2nd host team to fail to qualify for the Knockout Stage (South Africa, 2010). 

For the first time, FIFA ranked all 32 qualifying teams in rank order, including pots 2, 3, and 4, which were usually divided into regional confederations.  As such, it was possible one group could have all been UEFA members or not have any UEFA members.  But there ended up being a good mix in all the groups... except for Group A, which happens to be the host country.  Russia, which was already ranked lowest in Pot 1 by far, got the 2nd worst team in Pot 2 (A4-Uruguay), the 3rd worst team in Pot 3 (A3-Egypt), and the worst team overall in Pot 4 (A4-Saudi Arabia).  C1-France (worst of Pot 1) drew the 2nd best team in Pot 2 (C2-Peru), the best team in Pot 3 (C3-Denmark), and the 3rd best team in Pot 4 (C4-Australia).  The toughest group has the 3rd best in Pot 1 (E1-Brazil), the 3rd best in Pot 2 (E2-Swiss), the 3rd best in Pot 3 (E3-Costa Rica), and the best in Pot 4 (E4-Serbia).

While Italy and the Netherlands failed to qualify in the harsh UEFA qualifying rounds, the USA somehow managed to not qualify in the easiest region in the world for the first time since 1986.  Before the ill-fated October 10, 2017 day, ESPN's Soccer Power Index (SPI) had the USA with a 97% chance of finishing in the top 4 of the CONCACAF table (top 3 advance, 4th to make playoff).  And despite playing like an amateur team against another third-rate team in front of just 1,500 people, with 43 minutes left,

2018 World Cup Pool online entry is up!

Thanks for everyone's patience.  A lot of traveling this year and when I thought I had a couple of months to get the pool started, suddenly it's down to the last week.  But you get just 3 1/2 days to get your NCAA picks in and now you get 5 full days to get your picks in before the 8 am PDT Thursday deadline.  Same rules as always.  Just make sure that your Round of 16 has 16 different teams (and remember, it doesn't matter how you pick your Group stage matches though you can maximize points if you do).  I'll be at the Galaxy match Saturday night if you are in the press box.  You can enter up to 3 times ($10 per entry) and maybe, without the USA or Italy or the Dutch in the way, you may end up in the winner's circle!

So enter now!

Issue 7.4.1 "Peak Performance!"

Archive

Wow... time flies, and in the wake of the USA's stunning loss to Jamaica, here's the final update!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 [Posted 7/23] 

     USA STRIKES QUICK AND EARLY FOR RECORD 3RD TITLE
Futbol Fabone 7 and Sepp Luvs the Ladies join champ Thecomebacker and D.R. in money circle

LĪHUʻE, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I (smt) -- 1D-USA have always started strong and aggressive in their matches but either bad luck or poor finishing kept the match scoreless and their opponents usually gained strength and the halftime score is 0-0 (4 matches 0-0 @ half, another 0-0 up to the 45').  This time, less than 3 minutes in, Carli Lloyd scored in her 4th straight match and put USA ahead.  She then scored again two minutes later.  And then added an incredible- opportunistic-great half-field bomb which completed her hat trick in the 16th minute.  With Lauren Holiday's goal two minutes earlier, it was 4-0 before 1C-Japan could take a shot.  Shell-shocked, but to their credit, they fought back cutting the lead in half early in the 2nd half.  But the steady Tobin Heath sealed it two minutes later and the USA coasted to its 3rd WWC title, winning 5-2.   And yes, I wore my red shirt.  You can thank me when you see me.

So is this the first time the Twitterverse/Blogverse influenced a coach in how he/she manages?  I don't completely buy the fact this was all planned out and it is not a coincidence that the USA started "peaking" as soon as Jill Ellis, after weeks of prodding by commentators everywhere, switched the formation from the drab 4-4-2 vs Germany.  But like Steve Sampson,

Fit to be tied

Since D.R. and Spermicidal WFC have the same pick for the tiebreaker (total goals in 3rd and Final matches), the tiebreaker won't come into play for any money spot.  But the total is 1 as England beat Germany in extra time.  Remember penalty kick shootout goals don't count if the USA and Japan go to PKs.

Issue 6.3.1 "Gobsmacked!"

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Saturday, July 4, 2015  *** HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ***

     QUESTIONABLE PK CALLS PROPEL USA AND JAPAN INTO FINALS
Thecomebacker claims 1st HWCI WWC title and D.R. joins money circle; 4 vying for final 2 spots

KAPA'A, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I (smt) -- Four penalty kick calls dominated the semifinals with at least 3 of them questionable.  Although I've seen many worse plays than 1D-USA's Julie Johnston's strong-arming foul in the box, I do agree that if you're going to call a PK, it has to be a red card.  Incredible it wasn't but 1B-Germany didn't take advantage as Celia Sasic shot wide left, the first miss ever for GER (was 18-0 including all 5 in PSO).  Alex Morgan was then blocked going into the box but the ref called it a PK anyway and Carli Lloyd took advantage, her third straight match with a goal, and momentum swung USA's way.  Lloyd sealed the #1 team's fate with a perfect cross for sub Kelley O'Hara to tap it in.  The 2-0 victory meant the USA picked up it's fifth straight shutout and the USA's backline and GK Hope Solo have not allowed a goal in 513 minutes.  I guess the USA finally peaked thanks to a new 4-3-3 formation and bad refereeing.  Finally.

In the second semifinal, 1C-Japan got a gift PK for a foul outside the box and converted but then turnabout is fair

When in Delay

One good thing about a two-hour flight delay is that I get to watch the complete USA-Germany match in the Delta Sky Club.  Two questionable PK calls but USA takes advantage of theirs to the delight of the club.  Still lots of time left though.

Karablast! Seeing Red

So it looks like I'll miss most of the USA-Germany match.  But I'll still be wearing red.  Why?  So I didn't want any type of lucky anything so I randomly picked out USA shirts.  Unfortunately, after the round robin, I realized that I wore all red polo shirts (two different) for the two USA wins and a blue shirt for the tie with Sweden.  Karablast!  SO.... red shirt vs Colombia.  Win.  Red shirt vs China.  Win.  I'm wearing a red polo today.  Crossing fingers...

Issue 5.2.1 "Les Misérables Canucks!" + Prize Money + Final Four

Archive

Monday, June 29, 2015

     FRENCH BLOW OPPORTUNITY, HOSTS' COMBACK FALLS SHORT
Spermicidal WFC remains in first but loses champ Canada; Thecomebacker guaranteed money

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- Wide Left.  That will be what 1F-France remembers as they bookended the match vs 1B-Germany with wide open misses wide left from the lovely and humbled Louisa Necib in the first minute and a Wondo! (a shot that is ten times harder to miss than make) by Gaetane Thiney three minutes from the end of extra time (117').  Necib's slightly deflected shot gave FRA the lead in the 64' and they tried to hold on but a GER cross in the box inadvertently touched the arm of Amel Majri in the 83' (really, tough but correct call, while in the 29' FRA did not get the benefit of a two-breasted handball like CHN got vs NZL).  Celia Sasic converted GER's 13th consecutive PK (spoiler: it won't be broken today) to send the match into extra time.  In the first PK shootout this year, both teams converted on their first four PKs.  Sasic then converted GER's 5th PK (and the team's 18th straight, incredible) but sub Claire Lavogez, who when you saw her take a really deep breath was never a good sign, weak shot was saved by GER's captain Nadine Angerer and GER wins the first battle of the titans with a match vs titan 1D-USA next.

The rematch of the '99 Final (2A-China) was supposed to be no contest, but

Issue 4.0.4 "Fala Sério!"

Archive

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

     BRAZIL THE FIRST TITAN TO FALL; USA STILL CLAIMS IT HASN'T PEAKED YET
Spermicidal WFC is 1 of 4 to get 7 of 8 teams correct to move into first

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- The Round of 16 provided lots of drama with one huge upset and one huge comeback but surprisingly, no extra time.  While four matches were scoreless at halftime, 13 of the 19 goals scored in the eight matches were in the last 45 minutes.  In an odd splitting of the eight matches over four days (2-3-2-1), the last R16 match didn't end until just before 9 pm PDT Tuesday and now we get our second two-day break of the tournament which is good since 2A-China, who in the battle of the underdogs bested 2C-Cameroon 1-0, played on Saturday and the 1D-United States, who only could score when 3F-Colombia used their 2nd backup goalkeeper, played on Monday and will face each other Friday. 

For the fourth straight match, the USA players and coach had to once again suggest the team hasn't peaked yet which is frustrating for us fans to watch.  Not only did COL hold USA scoreless at the half, they did it with their backup GK (since their starter dumbly picked up a second yellow late in a match that didn't matter for COL qualifying for the R16).  But then their backup GK, Catalina Perez, forgetting the USA has trouble scoring, took out