General World Cup and in-game discussion

[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.

 

[DennisN]

IMO it's not so much Portugal that plays bad, it's Germany that plays very, very well.

 

[Borek]

So far both Iberian Peninsula teams below expectations.

 

[cristo]

Well pepe really effed that game up! US to win tonight and then beat a deflated Portugal? Probably not likely, but wouldn't be surprised by much in this World Cup!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

US in good shape with two good Portugal defenders out and Ronaldo going 90 on a sore knee! Must win tonight!

 

[DennisN]

US to win tonight and then beat a deflated Portugal?

That could very well happen...

 

[D H]

IMO it's not so much Portugal that plays bad, it's Germany that plays very, very well.

I would say that Portugal played very poorly more than Germany played well.

The stupid head bump didn't help. Were it not for that head bump, the German player might well have been shown a yellow card for embellishment. The stupid head bump negated the embellishment.

It's stupid male behavior that begets red cards. I coached (and refereed, and administered) for a while. The dumbest red card of all went to one of my players who in a few short words expressed doubt about the quality of an opposing player's intelligence, the quality of his facial complexion, the opposing player's sexual preferences, and where that opposing player would spend his afterlife. RED CARD!

 

[Borek]

one of my players who in a few short words expressed doubt about the quality of an opposing player's intelligence, the quality of his facial complexion, the opposing player's sexual preferences, and where that opposing player would spend his afterlife.

There is no doubt Pepe was talking during the head bump. I watched closely.

IMHO this match could very well go other way. CR7 was close to scoring early in the game, I am not sure about the penalty (I am not saying referee was wrong, but I am not convinced he was right either). That would mean different start and who knows what would happen then. Definitely after Pepe saw the red card Portugal team lost the steam.

 

[D H]

There is no doubt Pepe was talking during the head bump. I watched closely.

"That hurt?? Let me show you *real* pain, you stupid git!"

The referee was only a few yards away. Even if he didn't hear the conversation, he certainly saw the physical conversation. That was a well deserved card.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Go USA! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

 

[Borg]

Go USA! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin!

Wow! Goal already!