Sat Jun 21-Sun Jun 22
An Irregular Series
BEL v RUS.
First look I've gotten at the Russians. They look hard-working and fit. Not sure that BEL will give them much of a chance with the ball over the game, as up to this point at the beginning of the game, BEL has dominated possession and while RUS has gotten one counterattack, they flubbed it horribly.
BEL seems content to rely on their long, largely veritical passing game. Not vertical only going forward, but vertical going in both directions. Counter this to the persistent swing 'round hte back that many teams do in the defensive half.
nice shot leading to a RUS corner... which nearly turns into a valid BEL counter... isntead, the ball goes OB on the RUS tackle.
WEll-developed BEL attack foiled at about 8 yards out by a solid mark iinterrupting the pass to Lukaku.
What a great last name "Lukaku" is.
Some nice combinmation play down the right side for RUS now leads to a RUS corner. This has the feeling of a game which will see its first goal come on a messy corner or cross of some kind and then the tenor will change. If BEL scores first, it might well be over. if RU scores first, it might well make it more interesting.
OH! and a perfect RU cross hits the forward in the head and doesn't get on goal! That coulda been exactly the play!
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The second half has seen RUS using more aggressive overlapping runs on both sides and generating a few good looks at the goal, but no results. The BEL side has been using energy, but it is unclear what the purpose has been. Certainly both these teams will be happy to take the point and walk, but it doesn't seem that either is attempting to simply tamp down the opponent witout attacking.
Now! Ahandball just outside the RUS penalty box! BEL will get a free kick!
I've come to terms with the RUS jersey... but am reasonably certain that they just look way better up close than at distance.
NICE SHOT ON THE FREE KICK... But no! The post!
And BEL attacks again only to be a step or two off!
BEL seem committed to attack for this stretch of game. Not sure that it wil yield any goal, but it is high-pressure attacking right now with about 6 minites left.
Now Hazard is getting a shot off, which results in a BEL corner. Now BEL offsides might end the attacking for a while with RUS in control of the ball.
And Origi... to HAZARD... BACK TO ORIGI FOR THE GOAL!!! 87minutes gone!!
Soccer, everybody! Soccer!
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ALG is playing really very hard against KOR. Attacking hard when KOR has the ball, and going forward without rushing when they possess it.
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Woah. I was obviously up late last night. I woke back up this afternoon still in the first half and it was ALG 3, KOR 0.
Didn't even realize what was happening there.
Caught the majority of the second half, and KOR showed a lot of grit and skill., but ALG plus their insurance goal proved to be too much.
On to USA v POR.
Off to USA v POR.
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So that USA game was crazy crazy crazy. It was awesome, andd it was terrible adn it was awesome all over again. until it was awful all over again. IT was a ton of this that the other and then more of all.
USA looked to control the field for most of the encounter, but did not prevent from one-legged Ronaldo from being a force.
While there are a thousand things so say negatively about that last goal, there isn't much that truly matters. That's soccer, eh?
On to 4 days of 2 games at a time twice per day.
20140623
World Cup Volume 7
20140621
World Cup Volume 6
Fri Jun 20 to Sat Jun 21 (morning)
An Irregular Series
And Benzema scores just after the clock runs out! After missing a PK? French Firepower.
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Of course HON scores on a quick break long strike. Nice backspin on that one.
And ECU scores the revenge goal!
1-1.!
Now we're at the point whre both teams are still attacking into the 40th minute in the frst half. This is a sign of optimism.
And exactly what seems to be the general overall theme in world soccer at this year's World Cup.
Perhaps this only means that the elimination rounds will be more cynical, but then again, if everyone actually feels like they can win, then there will imply be more scoring.
Compare this with soccer in which there is one clearly dominant team and a handful of also-rans.
I appreciate the simplicity of the HON jerseys, but the ECU jerseys are a l(i/o)vely color combination. how could you not love those?
And ECU ahead on a finish of a cross! ECU 2, HON 1.
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Today, Saturday, any WorlCupping will likely be done on the radio or via some other audio source. The thing is that, once again, I will be watching the MLU. This is not a bad thing, per se, but that I enjoy both World Cup Soccer and Major League Ultimate is not wholly surprising, one would imagine. Both are full-size field sports. Soccer even larger than football and frisbee. Each are predicated on the ability of players to quickly and aggressively move into space from a previously defended place. New angle and innovative notions are the calls of the day. They reward both quick creative and slow deliberate players and styles. The field can be a wide open space or it can be constricted either by style or by skill.
I imagine this is true for other sports too. Yes certainly for basketball, but in a ver small tight contained space that has very little to do with the wide open spaces that are out there. The space of a basketball court requires you to create space with excellence to come up with something out of nothing. Coaches in basketball constantly talk of spaacing and court balance because there is so little real estate for the five giant men at peak physical condition. In soccer and MLU play, there is so much space that it is a matter of how you choose to use it or whether you choose to use all of it or not. There are advantages to each. By using a small amount of space with all of your players ready to provide some sort of assistance immediately, you both give yourself more option and give the defense more options. If you space out and place players all over the field, the defense is forced to choose one thing or the other as opposed to being able to disguise it or ad hoc it.
So too in Soccer. If you press your forward up, there will be space for a counter. If you don't press anyone up, there will be difficulty scoring unless you have a godlike player a la Ronaldo, Messi, Luis Suarez, Drogba, or a demigod or imp of some kind like Robben, RVP, WRooney, or most of Germany.
There is another style of play as well. The "CONCACAFFY" as the Men in Blazers put it. This is an attacking style. A relentless team spirit that relies on everyone just going all out until they pass out. A surprising number of the them don't pass out. This is the limit of soccer. This is where the US must head.
By the way, we need a fun name for this team. There are teams called all kinds of fun things. Super Eagles? Black Stars? Azzuri? El Tri? The Seleção? What the heck are we? USMNT? Maybe we need to make sure that we have a cheer that takes advantage of the varius rhythms one can say those letters in.
Anyway, that's the last one I'll put up today, methinks. Maybe I'll get some words down here and there in between travel and MLU, but it'll probably be very little World Cup until Sunday. Which should be quite the fun day of spectating and fandom.
20140620
World Cup, Volume 5.
Mon Jun 16-Fri Jun 20
An Irregular Series
Right now POR seems to have the upper hand in attacking while GER is generating some chances, they are mostly on errors... And now a card in the box for a takedown! GER will have the PK chance!
GER 1, POR 0. 11:50 gone.
And a deserved goal from GER on a corner they earned on a break a moment earlier. This is gonna be tough sledding for POR who has been in-fighting (of course led in part by the always churlish supremely gifted Ronaldo.
GER 2, POR 0. 34:26 gone.
POR seems continually unable to make the crucial pass despite creating dangerous offensive situations near the goal. Eder looks a little pphysically overmatched, but that was a nice job getting his head on that cross.
WOAH! RED! Yeah, you can't headbutt a guy when he's down, either faking or for real.
This could get ugly.
I do not at all like these GER jerseys. Sometimes they're okay, but not this version.
Another goal. GER 3, POR 0. First half stoppage time.
Fell asleep there. I missed a goal. It was not for POR.
Happy that Michael Ballack is back as a commentator/analyst. I enjoy his observations and unique phrasing.
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I have no idea at all what to expect from the Iran v Nigeria (IRN v NGA) game. No clue.
This IRN GK is really not inspiring any confidence in this spectator.
IRN generates a great chance, but the NGA GK is doing exactly that. Nice Save. Neither team really seems coherent yet. Maybe nerves, maybe lack of skill... not sure.
IRN jerseys are alright. I think the cheetah needs to be a little bit bolder. Just a little bit. Also, the bands around the sleeves seem inappropriately inelastic. We're not all Lebron or Ronaldo.
Scoreless into half.
Scoreless at the end.
Neither team worked well together on the attack, but were sufficient on defense. Meh. I've seen better. And worse. This was a middling game.
Up next? USA v GHA!
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And no we get to watch the USMNT play in the World Cup!
I expect a very quick pace and much pressing from both teams. I expect that we will see the unveiling of a relentlessly attacking US style. Clearly we're aware that GHA has frequently gotten the USA goat. So to speak.
BANGARANG!! Dempsey!
USA 1, GHA 0 1:11 into the game!
Yes, they are attacking... will they continue to do so???
I hope yes.
I am undecided about the GHA jerseys. Not sure why the band of color and pattern doesn't go all the way around the shorts. I like the band on the socks though. And the low, wide second-color collar.
GHA is looking very solid attacking when they get a little bit of space. I see the danger now. There will be a slicing ball to a fast striker or a mid-range cross to a runner.
Huh. Altidore, I barely knew ya.
Who's Better Who's Next?
Do we see.. Yes. Johannson.
I have no complaints.
Let's hope/bet we get more Mix Diskerud too.
Loss of Size though. Altidore can possess under duress sometimes.
24:00 in.
Yeah, you're right announcer, that was a rough one. But shit happens. Beasly needed to hustle back a bit quicker.
The USA is like a 4-3-2-1 or sometimes a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-2-2 with Michael Bradley doing all of the extra tunning to change the shape so regularly.
GHA is getting more frequent shots. TIm Howard is good, yeah.
I assume someone else has made the Michal Bradley as the Silver Surfer jokes already? I find him strangely calming.
That's soccer, folks: Sometimes you get kicked in the face. Prolly just a broken nose or at least bloodied. Are We gonna see #MASKEDEMPSEY?
34:43 gone.
Beasley, quittit. Do better.
Oh. I hope that "Hamstring in the heat" doesn't become the story of the USA. Not a fun one.
That's Beasley not getting back again.
1-0 at half.
This is a very PRO USA crowd.
The GHA team gets the inevitable goal as USA has been looking tired. Damn. Don't know what they did wrong... not enough salt? Put some Pickle Juice on that, son.
That was a fantastic goal by GHA!
And that was Brooks following for USA!!
This is why you always attack.
Get up duuuude, you got more minutes to play yet.
GHA is gonna press now.
2-1 final. USA comes out atop!
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The next day!
Now ALG is ahead of BEL! 1-0 on penatly at half.
That is an incredible goal from BEL's Fellaini.
71min in. 1-1 BEL v ALG.
The Red Devils are starting to push more consistently, but still are not showing full coherence as a squad. Fellaini really seems to be adding to the complexity of the attack and #17 is pushing forward rather aggressively. Here comes another BEL corner. Too deep to head well.
This is the sort of experience I was expecting in this game. A sort of slog-it-out defensive affair... but I was expecting BEL to be up 1-0 or 2-0. That ALG penalty reallt amde a difference. If they escape with a point it would be the sort of thing that could change the whole of the cup by way of a seemingly innocuous tie.
And BEL with another goal on a truly beautiful pass enabled by a strongly angled run in the center... and finished by Mertens. That was awesome.! BEL 2 , ALG 1.
Don't think that ALG has it in them to get another score here. This whole game has been their inability to truly maintain and create on offense. The other part of this game has been the ALG ability to play strong, coherent defense. Individually passable, but no coherence. BEL now, with 82 min gone, can maintain possessions rather easily against what ALG has shown thus far as a pressing offense.
And Fallaini is still creating opportunities.
BEL Wins.
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Now we get to watch BRA and MEX. The first half has been a flood of defense. While BRA has created some very solid scoring chances, MEX has proven up to defending the BRA attack for the majority of the game. While they have been able to push forward against BRA intermittently, they have been unable to do so for any sustained stretches of pressure, both mental and physical.
Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo are still the players who are near-impossible to take your eyes off of. Fellaini, Bradley, Robben, RVP, Pirlo, are on the second level in this list, for varying reasons, as is Alexis Sanchez.
0-0 a bit after half. The ref here is on the verge of losing too much authority. The thing is that there has been a lot of (legal, allowable) contact in this game. Think there is some truth to the notion that there could have been a few cards earlier, but I'm not sure that the game would have been improved in any way shape or form. Restraint in World Cup refereeing is a virtue. Long-term effects can be ruinous.
Unclear who will come away from this game with benefit at this point, but MEX wants this one pretty badly and are working very hard to not allow BRA to move confidently up the field. BRA players are not showing frustration at this point, but they are already looking more aggressively forward than they had in the first half. This is to be expected. If they are to win the World Cup, then they must beat teams like MEX. But right now? MEX is readying the counter.
What the matter at hand will grow to be is whether the BRA last line of defenders will hold up during this. The key being that MEX has shown little to no ability to hold the ball under pressure in the front third or so of the field. There possession in the rest of the field has been solid.
Neymar is stronger than you or the defenders on him think. He is constantly using good-technique hand-fighting to redirect defenders and keep them off of his body. His slender frame and near-weightless aerodynamic design (+headspoiler) combine to guarantee that he doesn't want to be rerouted as he slides between defenders. Instead, he accelerates, pushes off and glides. Else, all could be disastrous for him.
Some of these long range shots from MEX are verging toward danger.
The way that MEX played was based on aggression in their defensive side paired with a cautious look forward on the offensive side. The reason the looks forward were cautious had a ton to do with the outside midfielders being unable to receive the ball while moving. The counter would start, but then as soon as the ball was played wide to an attacking mid, the ball would be mishandled and everything would have to slow up, allowing BRA to catch up just enough. That MEX was consistently firing off 20-25yd shots while attacking was likely their best option, knowing that they had proven unable to string together enough passes to mount a valid attack.
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Man, sometimes I forget how many suits there are in DC. Here I am out at a random bar watching the World Cup and there are not one but two company meetings or parties going on. Split to either side of the bar, there are toasts and folks talking about what they've accomplished, all looking very relatedly dressed in each group. That is, there is a self-similar style within each office group. The one looks like it should be a law firm of some kind, the other seems to be a technology firm or a foreign group of some kind. I don't know how better to describe that, but that is indeed the way it seems.
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Wish I could continue watching the Cup... I'm gonna go play some league ultimate instead. Maybe eventually I'll see Russia??
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We won the league game, I think.
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Don't you see? Robben is going left!! That was a nice play-through of the foul by Robben as that guy kicked at him.
NED is pressing AUS, but up until this point, there was no real attack.
AND CAHILL! Volleys are so damn dangerous! What a strike.
NED 1 AUD 1. 21:00 gone.
The classic NED defense against players turning into the box:
"Oh, I shall mark that guy?"
(Then raise hands in depression communicated to teammates as goal goes in.)
Seems like AUS is working very deep in their own side on purpose, in an attempt to force NED to work harder. And NED is knowingly taking the bait. A lot of Robben and Sneijder pressing and switching. Shaping up for the sort of ugly game which RVP is built for. At some point he'll sneak open for a 1 v 4 goal, right?
Nice first half from NED v AUS. AUS seems stronger on the whole, but that is their ability to possess deep in their own territory. NED seems more adept at pushing forward when they have the ball, though this seems mainly a function of getting the ball deep in AUS territory rather than the result of developing an attack over it the length of the field.
That is some truly bad luck for NED. Now the AUS PK.
Buries it.
AUS 2 NED 1 53 min gone.
And Van Persie responds! Just like that! The counter counter-counter goal!
Terrible play by the fullback-- you gotta keep a line with your central defenders or that kind of goal happens.
Now NED is turning the ball over deep in their own territory. A near-goal from AUS... now NED #21 with the wonderful strike from distance. NED 3 AUS 2. 68 gone.
Cahill subs out for AUS... Now NED generating multiple chances just after the other goal.
NED does look dominant, eh?
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And the way that soccer players walk out, both teams at once... this i love. This is a chance for the fans to just scream for everyone at once. Not sure what I think about the kids walking too. As long as they like it?
ESP v CHI...
There is a chance that ESP lost the Cup with those shiny white warmup jackets.
Sure, announcer-guy Ian Darke... it was a free header for CHI, but that ball a sheer tonne of spin on it. No way to clearly direct it.
CHI is attacking consistently. This could be a GREAT game. Contrast btw contain to attack (ESP) and attack to contain (CHI).
Awesome pro-Chile crowd here today. I like ESP under duress. More fun to watch. This might be more like beseiged all evening. Or day. Or whatever.
Hey other announcer guy: Everybody can look distressingly slow against Alexis Sanchez.
This is gonna be a good well-paced game.
CHI scores on a STRONG finish from VARGAS #11. Beating keeper and defender who were both sure. Now ESP will be stretched out in attack all game. They are technically capable... but mentally? Physically? We shall see.
ESP #11 is fixin' for a fight or a card if he continues at this rate.
"Chile are working manically hard."
Fo sho sho, Mr. Announcer.
Yes, Mr. Announcer, that was in fact perfect refereeing. Attempting to use advantage to let CHI play through and waiting... until it was clear there was no advantage.
Nice rip onto goal on the direct kick, followed by the outside of the foot to catch the GK wrongfooted after a difficult direct kick.
The rebound. Follow the ball liekyou follow a disc on a huck.
CHI 2 ESP 0
44 min gone.
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And CRO scores first on CMR!
11 min gone.
And CRO would not stop scoring on CMR.
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Now COL opens up a 2-0 lead over CIV! COL had just scored and survived a siege on the part of CIV, who shows no sign of doubt now that Drogba has returned, no matter the score.
COL seems an odd mix of quick tempo passing and effectively disorganized play.
Most dangerous lead in the game emphasized by Gervinho. COL 2, CIV 1. 73 min gone.
Andbutso it ends.
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Wow Wayne Rooney. That was almost a pass-through-the-generations set piece goal. Now just another of your not-goals.
10:33 gone in ENG v URU.
I wanted that URU goal to go in. I'm just a spectator here, a USA fan. A feller who played soccer for a long time as a kid. I wasn't very good. But I still like watching it. I see what they're doing... I know how it works. And when I see a shot like that? I can't help but hope it goes in no matter which team has shot the ball (non-USA-opponent, of course).
I'm waiting for USA to make a run in this World Cup. THAT is the only thing which will spark a USA revolution in soccer. A run on the grand stage in a World Cup which everyone is watching. They are on their way...
Sterling is strong.
Suarez is so Suarez. Nice header on a nice cross. Terrible defense though... neither the defender nor the keeper applied any real pressure there and certainly they did not apply team-level pressure.
This is gonnabe a rough ride indeed.
Though Sturridge is strong too.
Out of half, still URU 1, ENG 0. Rooney keeps adding to his not-goal total.
Sturridge down the right... to #2 who gives a fantastic cross and Rooney provides a perfect finish! He's finaly got a World Cup not-not-goal! URU 1-1 ENG 75 min gone!
Oh Luis Suarez. Oh wow.
Nevermind, WRooney.
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ITA v CRC.
Predictably defensive, but both teams are creative in the other team's half. Balotelli is being Balotelli and CRC, while they are taking long shots, are also passing quickly in combination. The key to this will be which team gets just a tough more space on one of these counters or developed attacks. It looks like both teams are competent shots and there should be a goal or two before all it told.
Wow. that's a not-a-good no-call. That Costa Rican got trucked.
I like the collars on the ITA jerseys.
That's an incredible cross with a perfect header off the crossbar into the goal.
CRC 1 - ITA 0. 45min gone, 2min stoppage time to go.
Those dang substitutes gettin into it in the tunnel.
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Pretty certain that ITA is more likely to generate a scoring chance when CRC has the ball than when ITA has the ball.
Nice save 20 yards outta the box, Buffon!
I do not like the CRC jerseys.
The closeup of the neck area of the ITA jerseys make me like them even more.
And CRC qualifies for the elimination round! ENG out!
ITA v URU is gonna be a BEAST.
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That header from FRA seems like it should have been saved by the SUI GK. Maybe I'm too used to MEX and USA GKs saving e'rything.
AND NOW ANOTHER QUICK GOAL! FRA has immediately erected the most dangerous lead in the game! FRA 2, SUI 0. 18 min gone!
Every crest with a single star is made to feel lonely by the BRA shirts.
An incredible break, cross counter from FRA!!! FRA 3 SUI 0! 40min gone.
Ton of space for all involved. Counter Counter Counter.
That SUI defender on the third goal needed to "do his work early". He did not.
Pretty sure that SUI is going to lose to FRA.
This second half could be great (but I'll be watching in the background).
(Oh and That goal by Benzema? Incredible service. Now 4-0 FRA over SUI.
Border non-war, sirs. That was the editing time.
And just now at 72 min gone, FRA has scored again. 5-0 over SUI)
See you seeing me next time 'round the bend.
20140616
World Cup Volume 4
Sun&Mon, June 15-16.
An Irregular Series
ECU scores by way of picture-perfect service to an unmarked man in the box who finishes with a spot-on header.
The suisse are physical. Grabbing, chasing, bumping. They are generating good hard shots just outside of the box and strong low crosses from the corners of the box. Especially from the right side.
SUI seems unable to play any quick passing, so too ECU.
SUI seems to rely on two-level passing... thiis is likely in part due to the depth of the ECU defense. ECU seems content to counter, and seemed so from the start. Doubly so now that they have a goal in hand.
Really like the SUI red kit. The vertical flank lines are pleasingly straight and plain.
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And now SUI scores! On a header by a marked man off a corner... he held his ground quite well against the ECU defender and got a very solid head on it.
More hard 20-25yd shots from SUI.
I do not appreciate the attitude problem of SUI. Lots of exaggerated falls, arms wide, palms up in the univeral sign for "whaaaaaat?" And complaining to teammates as well.
Looks like SUI got jobbed on that offsides call. Can't be off on an opponent's play, right?
Looks like #9 from SUI didn't get the skintight shirt memo.
HOLY SUISSE STOPPAGE TIME GOAL!!!
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Argentina, thus fa, has benefitted from a ball bouncing off of a stationary defenderr into the net. BIH needed #3 to not cower on the cross and instead head it away. He really ducked down to get under that one.
That Messi is just so quick and has very good vision.
Are the refs wearing golf shirts? Why would they have the spine-stipe for refs? The weird yellow-orange on yellow is a trip too.
MESSI GOAL!!!
I see it glanced off of a BIH defender, but that was all Messi.
Y'all gotta quit it with these fugazi whistles in the stands.
And BIH is back in it! The most dangerrous lead in the game is 2-0! 85min in, and now BIH has the lift in their step.
Yo, BIH, yyou're gonna wanna put more than 5 up against their 7 back wwhen you've got 5 or so minutes to score.
Feels like ARG has more men in attack and more men in defense. BIH just doesn't seem to be able to keep up. Or even "be" as frequently as they need to.
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And now we've moved on to The Day The Death Starts.
GER v POR
I always really enjoy the POR jerseys. this yeah, so far, no exceptions. When they founded "Portugal" did they just pick the best colours for their flag as the whole basis for a country?
Cool that POR is playing at the spot that they discovered... in kind of a weird colonial way. That's the weirdness of world sport. Quadruply o for the World Cup. There is all this weird y'know... histroy behind the teams that has noting at all and everything to do with the team itself.
I like when players sing or mouth the words to their national anthems. I like when folks attendings game do that too.
And TAKE YOUR HAT OFF.
This GER side really has one of the most... coherent set of players in the Cup. The rest of the teams have more repeat-players. Like, doubling up on identical players.
Anyway, on to the watching.
20140613
World Cup Volume 3
Fri, June 13.
An Irregular Series
Eto'o is not as fast as he once was.
A great goal by MEX raken away. So far MEX is ending all of their possessions in shots. CAM is not completing passes in attack and seem confused as to what next to do. There go-to must then be a counter-attack, perhaps.
A couple of corner kicks for CAM.
Now a MEX player kicks a CAM player in the ribs. Foul. Appropriate, but overacted.
CAM generates a great scoring opportunity and shot with a hard run down the right flank with a cross onto the striker's foot. Miss by just a sidebar. Keeper was there too.
Now madness off of the corner in front of the MEX goal. Eto'o just sets up in front of the goal waiting for slop. Aging still effective strikers, man.
Wow, now a great MEX set piece... shoulda been a goal.
MEX still generating attacking runs which CAM must make tackles on. Thus far they have done so.
And now MEX scores on a set piece!
NOOO! Another flag! Let's see the replay! Oh wow... they might have gotten that right, technically, butnot... i mean... that's tight.
OH, that Forward Peralta has to get a foot on the ball there... a redirect, anything. MEX still looking superior, however, CAM has shown the ability to beat individual defenders in tight spaces.
MEX still talking to the refs in the rain. Man is it coming down out there.
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MEX creates a two-step attack on that one-- setting up the body from an offsides position which will then be onsides when your teammate receives it.
"The keeper didn't know much about it but that didn't prevent him from saving it."
MEX finally breaks though the initial disappointment and scores a second-chance goal on a carom off of the CAM keeper.
And THAT is why you trail the play actively, waiting for a chance.
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SPA v NED is looking as-advertised. A little less possession than ESP would like, nice incisive attacks for NED.
Wow a PK for that? Looked like he didn't make contact to me.
Perfect ball to get the pass there though.
And Spain is up 1-0.
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Wow, RVP really made a fantastic header there from distance. A nice run and a passable ball through to him, but a fantastic header in what is normally no-man's land. Nice first half here.
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ROBBEN IS GOING LEFT.
ROBBEN IS SCORING WITH HIS LEFT.
And then the floods.
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And like that, CHI has scored 2 on AUS in 13+ minutes.
They are attacking attacking attacking.
Like The Spurs on The Heat.
Like they're playing their younger brothers.
Not sure I'll need to keep watching this one afterall.
I mean, my father often said that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in the game.. but these guys are playing for their countries, right?
I mean, that makes a lead more or less dangerous to hold?
28:00
World Cup Vol 2.
an Irregular Series.
Croatia starts aggressive. Gets a shot on goal.
Brazil now in charge. Charging ahead.
Croata gets a turn and charges ahead, getting a solid cross... but to no one.
Now some back and forth into a wide Brazilian free kick.
Across, a couple of BRA headers... no goal.
Modric creates a shot for another cross... tight header... woah. Almost Croatian lead.
Another dangerous cross...
OWN GOAL!.
Brazil down. 0-1, 11th minute. woah.
Both teams now agitated. Aggressive.
Croatia has a religious goalkeeper? Could this end up like the Stanley Cup? Hot GK wins?
More breakdowns in the back for Brazil, and then a brilliant cross which BRA cannot finish. This could be the World Cup recotrd breaker for BRA like 2014 MLU play was to the Boston Whitecaps.
Oh. I assume some oh you know that whole MLU thing. YOu may not.
Back to the footy.
Much more confidence and excellence from Brasil Now.
STill dangerous CRO attacking. They get to the endlines, and make dangerous crosses back. They attack as you advance up the field.
NEYMAR.
This is going to be a great World Cup.
Nice size-difference subsitution putting #20 in for HULK.
These teams are showing the sort of timidity that I expect tosee challenged by USMNT.
TERRIBLE DIVE rewarded for Brazil!
PK Time. Neymar again?
Nice quick rythhmdance attack, NM,Jr.
GK prolly shoulda grabbed that with one of hte both hands he hit it with.
It is certainly not beyond CRO to score again before this ends though.
Nice advantage playon there... nice... goal!! for CRO!
Oh.. no... i'm not sure what the call here is... ? Announcers are saying for something on the GK? Boo. Bad call ref. Long-standing soccer tradition, I know... but bad call.
And a well executed goal to finish 'em from Oscar. That's one hell of a toe poke, Oscar.
BRA 3 CRO 1.
BRA still attacking... FRED pulls up lame... They looks like they may yet pay for these 3 points with blood.
Now cramping? these guys conna get the LEbron tratment for cramps?
CRO will probably score some goals this tourney. They get balls into the box. They got jobbed on that penalty. Neymar is very sprightly yet powerful.
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This show is now like 300 miles away from the game? Ohright, BRA is a big place.
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Now today I look forward to every single game. The centerpiece is clearly
SPA v NET
Spain Netherlands
Espana Nederlands
ESP v NED
Two nations of footballing idealists. There are egos galore, and skill which justifies it. But how will it shake out this time as each team will truly debut themselves after their last battle? Quick aggressive passing and forceful recovery versus longer range-slicing passing and the holding ability and SNEIJDER AND ARJEN AND RVP (the last of whom I intensely dislike despite his ability).
Not to be underestimated is the opener of
Mexico v Cameroon
MEX v CAM
There hould be a basic contrast of styles which is appealing in the World Cup, a well as two teams full of aspiration at this point in play.
And we finish with the always aggressive
Chile v Australia
CHI v AUS
Australia is always a hard team to predict for me in any international sport. They just have athletes down under and any given generation in any given sport that has a group of particularly talented and dedicated big people is dangerous. This works in American Sport as well. The issues for each preventing soccer from dominating are country-based football variants, other professional field sports leagues, and whatever else.
Chile has always been team which plays to score. They will do whatever they need to do and do it aggressively. This should be a telling match for both teams.
There are no take-backs or do overs at the World Cup.
But there IS extended "Advantage, play-on..."
On to the soccer-watching.
20140612
World Cup Volume 1.
Thurs, June 12.
Folks are all talking about Klinsman.
As they should be
As he wants us to be.
But most are underestimating his intelligence.
By that I mean that he's speaking clearly from a philosophical seat of removal.
He's not in the game and thus far, nothing in the World Cup has happened.
The World Cup is a different world for as long as it lasts.
Sure it contains nations, but the nations are not at war with one another until
The World Cup begins, and then when it is over,
The Worlds are no longer at this type of war.
No matter which team he would be coaching at this point, Klinsman would say that it is too early to talk about chances to win the World Cup. It is not a statement about the USMNT. It is a statement about him Klimsman and his beliefs. He would not presume to speak for his team as a whole, I think.
But then again, I think.
Not time for this first opening display of futbol, football, soccer, &c.
Brazil
Brasil
BRA vs Croatia
CRO.
Nice.