General World Cup and in-game discussion

[Greg Bernhardt]

We need a general thread to talk about all the matches. So here it is! Let's keep the discussion rolling during the matches too for those who are watching.

If you are interested in joining the PF World Cup Futbol League go here:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=756611

First match is Brazil vs Croatia!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Brazil 1-1 Croatia at half

Brazil playing lazy in the beginning. I think they will turn it on for the win!

 

[jobyts]

The penalty decision against Croatia was so wrong. Brazil does not deserve the second goal.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Yeah pretty bad dive. The game overall was quite entertaining. Brazil in the end deserved the win. Looking forward to a some good games tomorrow!

 

[JorisL]

Croatia deserved a draw based on the pressure they laid on the Brazilian defense. Unfortunately they got another goal instead.
The keeper could've stopped the first and last goal I believe. A small step to the left/right before the dive would've done it both times.

But hey, congrats to Croatia for the mentality.

 

[cristo]

Terrible ref: that was never a penalty, and there was a foul in the run up to the third goal. Keeper should have saved the pen though. All in all, a shaky start from the hosts, though I expect them to get better.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

First half of the Mex vs Cam game has been good. Mex called offside on two goals. Lots of rain.

 

[Monique]

Most of the Netherlands is colored orange, we're ready!

 

[D H]

First half of the Mex vs Cam game has been good. Mex called offside on two goals.

Mexico deserved that win. It should have been 3-0 rather than 1-0. Both of those goals in the first half should have counted.

Lots of rain.

Lots of rain. Poor cameramen. The areas behind the field in which they were located were lakes.

Siting games in Natal was perhaps a mistake?

Source: http://weatherspark.com/averages/33461/Natal-Rio-Grande-do-Norte-Brazil

Belo Horizonte, OTOH, looks like a nice site for this time of year.

 

[Monique]

wtf penalty?

 

[D H]

That was my thought in live play. In the replay it did look like De Vrij took Costa's feet out from under him.

 

[D H]

Are you happier now, Monique?

 

[Monique]

goosebumps, beautiful goal!l

 

[D H]

Prettiest goal so far. Even prettier than Brazil's first goal. Unlike that nice looking goal by Brazil, van Persie's directed the ball into the opponent's net.

 

[AlephZero]

Siting games in Natal was perhaps a mistake?

Source: http://weatherspark.com/averages/33461/Natal-Rio-Grande-do-Norte-Brazil

Belo Horizonte, OTOH, looks like a nice site for this time of year.

I don't believe their data, based on what they say about where I live. The "snow" and "thunderstorms" data is nonsense. The rain data doesn't make much sense either.

The obvious unanswered question is what land area this is averaged over. Thunderstorms "somewhere in the UK" on 11% of days in July might be correct. Thunderstorms over one particular city is not.

 

[Monique]

That was my thought in live play. In the replay it did look like De Vrij took Costa's feet out from under him.

You must've seen a different replay, there was no faulplay. Costa searched for contact, it should be 0-1

 

[Monique]

whohooo! who's the champion NOW? :D

 

[cristo]

Holy **** - what a performance from holland!

 

[D H]

whohooo! who's the champion NOW? :D

Who knows? The Socceroos? That's an outcome I would have expected against Australia, not against Spain.

 

[Borek]

Why did the Spaniards left their defense at home?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Wow what an incredible game the Dutch had against Spain. Simply amazing

 

[Monique]

*party*

 

[Intrastellar]

That was totally unbelievable!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

*party*

What is the atmosphere like in Holland?

 

[Matterwave]

That...just...what just happened...

 

[Monique]

What is the atmosphere like in Holland?

Exhilarating! It was going to be a difficult game and expectations were low. The plan was to play defensive, unlike the normal offensive game play for Holland and it panned out. For this game over 15000 people gathered on the museumsquare (picture not mine), so you can imagine the atmosphere:

http://www.at5.nl/imgcache/8/8ea160eed44bdddee78e9e98fff9598c.jpg

This is a great victory but it doesn't mean we'll win the next games, so we're looking forward to the next matches.

5PA1N:

 

[D H]

So which of Spain or Chile is the one not to advance?

 

[gfd43tg]

why is their a team for England, and not labeled at UK?

 

[AlephZero]

why is their a team for England, and not labeled at UK?

Because that's what it is.

Wales reached the quarter-finals in 1958, the only time they qualified.
Scotland have qualified 8 times since 1954, but never got past the first round.
Northern Ireland have qualified 3 times, and also reached the quarter finals in 1958. (They also held the record of the least populous country to qualify, until Trinidad and Tobago qualified in 2006).

In 1958 all four "UK" teams qualified. Scotland and England were knocked out in the group stage. In the quarter-finals, Wales lost 1-0 to Brazil, and NI lost 4-0 to France.

 

[Intrastellar]

The world cup of plot twists, this should prove fun.

 

[DennisN]

Costa Rica managed to beat Uruguay! None of us who guessed in the PF World Cup thread predicted this, that's fun!

 

[D H]

I really should have gone for Italy when I read how England was training for the game in Manaus. They were setting themselves up for a loss. That English training technique is the same technique many MLS teams use to train themselves into losing when they come to Houston.

You have to love but respect the heat to deal with it properly. A coworker comes to mind. For a while he telecommuted from San Antonio with occasional trips to Houston to put in a physical presence. He confided to me "You mind find this weird, but I love the heat. On my drive home, I turn off the air conditioner and open the windows. I like the feel of sweat running down my back." Note: The *average* high in August is 34.7 C (94.5 F) in Houston, 35.6 (96 F) in San Antonio.

And yes, we do play soccer (football) outdoors in that heat. Opposing teams hate coming to Houston from mid May to mid October. They treat the heat as a brutal enemy, and they lose. The teams that will do well in Manaus won't view the heat as an enemy. They will view it is something to be respected. I mowed my lawn between games today. I went through three T-shirts and lots of water. But there is something to be said for the feel of sweat running down your back.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The first few days of WC have been a blast. Really good games and some nice upsets.

 

[cristo]

Still no draws! A great start to the world cup

 

[JorisL]

Yep, Switzerland was cutting it close. Although there was another error regarding an offside goal.

It really is becoming a trend to disallow goals for standing offside.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

First boring game so far with France vs Honduras

 

[cristo]

It's nice to see France showing some creativity though. Not sure how many Hondurans will be left on the field by the end!

 

[DennisN]

I can't say I was very impressed by Argentina in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they got somewhat better in the second half. I've voted for Argentina as a cup winner in the PF League thread, but now I'm getting second thoughts... Personally, I would like to see Italy or Netherlands winning the cup.

 

[D H]

Personally, I would like to see Italy or Netherlands winning the cup.

That's a bit premature since (a) neither of those teams is in the top eight per FIFA's perhaps dubious ranking and (b) we've only seen six of the top eight teams play in even one game. We'll see the remaining two (Germany and Portugal) tomorrow.

Of the supposed top eight teams, Spain, Uruguay, and Switzerland have been shown to be dubious placements. Spain and Uruguay were *hammered*, and the Switzerland v Ecuador game could easily have been 1-2 rather than 2-1. Argentina kinda/sorta dominated over Bosnia-Herzogavina, but it wasn't the strongest showing. Perhaps Argentina was playing complacently given that Group F is a very weak group? All they needed was a win over Bosnia to more or less ensure a lock on first in that group.

We'll see tomorrow whether Portugal needs to be added to the list of dubious top eight teams, with perhaps thanks to the Ghanian witch doctor. I predicted a tie between Germany and Portugal, but that was more wishful thinking than anything else. A tie between Germany and Portugal would bode well for the US.

Apparently the witch doctor ignored the US when he focused on jinxing Portugal. He should have set one of those four dogs aside to jinx the US as well. He didn't, so we're going to win!

 

[DennisN]

Apparently the witch doctor ignored the US when he focused on jinxing Portugal. He should have set one of those four dogs aside to jinx the US as well. He didn't, so we're going to win!

Witch doctor? Which doctor?

EDIT:

I predicted a tie between Germany and Portugal, but that was more wishful thinking than anything else. A tie between Germany and Portugal would bode well for the US.

I personally like and hope for the Portuguese Team, but I think they will have a hard time against Germany.

 

[D H]

Assuming Germany wins group G, they have a tough game in front of them in the round of 16: They have to play the second place team from group H. The games should progressively get ever more difficult. A cakewalk between group play and the quarterfinals is not a good recipe for progressing beyond the quarterfinals.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Looking forward to Germany vs Portugal. Will be a very interesting game!

 

[D H]

I agree. Today's Germany v Portugal game is the second best matchup in the group play, with Spain v Netherlands being #1.

 

[cristo]

Looking forward to Germany vs Portugal. Will be a very interesting game!

Get your predictions in, Greg!

I agree. Today's Germany v Portugal game is the second best matchup in the group play, with Spain v Netherlands being #1.

Let's hope it's as good as Spain - Holland! I genuinely think it'll be a draw, though, the first of the tournament. And sorry, I can't see the US beating Ghana, but I hope I'm wrong!

 

[D H]

I'm hoping for a draw (and of course for a US win over Ghana). That's probably wishful thinking.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Looked like a Germany dive for a PK

 

[DennisN]

Germany plays really well at the moment. Portugal too, it will be an interesting match, I think :thumbs:.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

oh my, Pepe red card for head butt lol

 

[DennisN]

Now Portugal will need a Cristiano Ronaldo (etc) playing at maximum ability... otherwise they will be crushed, I think...

 

[D H]

So much for my prediction of a tie. OTOH, the US won't be seeing Pepe when they play Portugal.