Yesterday’s matches were exciting until the last moment. Just crazy, crazy stuff. I think that VAR has been a great boon to the game and look forward to more evolutions.
I heard a great program on the BBC last week or the week before that played an audiogram with thuds being the frequency of shots on goal from the World Cups of the 60’s to now and it was striking because there were like 50 on average then and 20 now. The game has changed – players are more fit, better trained, playing and improving year-round. Defense is better and so there are many less shots on goal per match, but that doesn’t mean that the games are boring, just that players aren’t taking nearly as many shots from farther out because they are trained to not waste the opportunity and instead to go closer or pass. Interesting, and something to keep in mind when looking at modern or future changes.
And so today we have the final matches for the group stage.
At 10, Senegal v Colombia and Japan v Poland. I’m watching match 1 and rooting for Los Cafeteros. I have family history in Colombia and so of course they have my full support. I might even make an arepa for a mid-morning snack! For match 2, I expect Japan will win, but am ready for more twists and turns, and should they lose, Colombia could come out on top in the bracket!
At 2, England v Belgium. Should be an incredible match, great football. I cannot wait!
At the same time, Panama v Tunisia will be the final match of the group stage. The results won’t matter as both teams are heading home. I hope Panama wins as I want them encouraged to come back. It’s amazing what a victory can do to improve funding and attention for future teams!
Enjoy the matches today everyone. Friday is a day off, and then shit gets real on Saturday at 10!
Just One More Canuck
England has looked good against weaker teams – today, we’ll see what they’re really like.
My wife’s family is from Germany, so of course there’s been rending of garments and tears of rage (tears of grief). But that’s what you get when you play one half of decent football in three games
Alain the site fixer
England seemed sloppy game 1, better game 2, so we’ll see. And like @Just One More Canuck: said, they’ve been against weaker teams. That changes today!
Leto
It’s not just the training, but it’s the “we have to get the perfect pass/perfect looking/most BEAUTIFUL goal ever” style that makes it irritating to watch. There’s multiple times where players could shoot from 6-20 yards, with a quality shot, but they won’t do it because it’s not “beautiful” enough. They’ll make another cut to beat the defender, that they just beat, again. They’ll take an extra non-needed touch. It’s irritating.
Platonailedit
Brit tabloid humor against germans.
SRW1
The action of the day is in the early games in group H. Three teams can still go through, with Senegal – Columbia being the weightier of the two games, especially if Poland are already on the beach. My sympathies are on the side of Senegal to save some pride for Africa.
England – Belgium: Both teams are already through and might not conceive there to be much difference in the quality of possible opponents in the first knock-out round. Which are all the ingredients for a stinker of the France – Denmark class. We’ll have a first idea when the team sheets are published and they smell of B-teams being sent out.
Tom Levenson
@Platonailedit: that’s effing hilarious. “Now I know what it feels like to be English.”
Platonailedit
@Tom Levenson: That was a nice comeback from Lothar.
Platonailedit
@SRW1:
Senegal have the only black coach in this WC. I too hope they make it to the last 16.
rikyrah
Good luck to the underdogs
mali muso
Always rooting for the African team and especially for Senegal as it’s a neighbor with DH’s home country of Mali. (In fact, post-colonialism, they were one country for a hot minute before an amicable divorce.)
Edmund dantes
Yeah. England Belgium will probably be a snooze fest. Don’t get injured. Don’t get any cards for anyone that matters.
0-0 is fine for both. Even a loss doesn’t matter.
Amir Khalid
Yes it will. South Korea, effectively out of contention for the group stages, still managed to beat Germany last night. Germany were dreadful, true, but it was still a historic win for South Korea and something to take pride in. Panama and Tunisia are not moving on, but both teams still have national pride to play for, and that is not nothing. National pride is why fans at the World Cup paint their faces in the colours of their flag, and why they paid all that money to be there.
Tony Jay
With England – Belgium there’s a whole thing about “No, really, you finish first, it’s fine.” going on since the team finishing second in the table would arguably have an easier route to the final. Personally I think it’s bollocks. there’s no such thing as an easy route through the last 16. The winners might have to face any combination of France, Brazil, Uruguay, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina and Japan/Colombia/Senegal, yeah, but all of those teams have glaring weaknesses that have already been exposed in this tournament. Plus the runners-up will probably have to find a way past Spain or Croatia after negotiating Switzerland or Sweden, after playing Japan/Colombia/Senegal, and Croatia are probably the form team so far. Playing as underdogs or playing with the weight of expectation? Don’t know which I’d pick.
Hopefully the managers do pick a lot of the reserve team players tonight. They’re all good enough to be here and as the second-choice brigade they’ve got a lot more to prove. I can’t see anyone eager to convince the manager they’re worthy of a first team place willingly playing to lose. Could be a great game.
Group H is another one of those “God Knows” situations. I think I’m right in saying that Japan just need a draw to guarantee progression, while a draw between Senegal and Colombia would send them both through if Japan lose to Poland. Maybe the barrage of abuse the Poles have received from their own supporters and media will spark something in them so they finally put in a decent performance, but they’ve given no sign of life so far. Japan will probably win, which means if I had to choose between Colombia and Senegal… Senegal, just to make Sadio Mane smile.
Gelfling 545
I have a question from one ignorant of such matters. I saw a comment from an acquaintance thst his son plays Irish football? Is this what we uninformed Yanks call soccer or something else? (They’re from South Buffalo going back generations where even the street sighns are in Irish Garlic, so it could be a local usage but I’m curious..)
Tony Jay
@Edmund dantes:
While I don’t think you’re wrong about the cards and the injuries, I really don’t see England as being capable of playing for a bore-draw. We’re simply not set up to do what Italy or Portugal do so well and stifle a game for 90 minutes, we don’t have the discipline and it’s not something the players are used to from their domestic leagues. They might not go 100% from the whistle, but they’ll attack.
Tony Jay
@Gelfling 545:
Do they mean Gaelic football? I don’t follow it myself but from what I’ve seen it’s mental and highly entertaining.
Amir Khalid
@Gelfling 545:
This typo is absolutely delightful.
Tony Jay
Penalty. Senegal.
Tony Jay
Nope. The ref has ruled it out with VAR.
mali muso
Doh! Oh well…so much for the penalty opportunity. Allez Senegal!
Platonailedit
That was a clear penalty.
Platonailedit
Great save by japanese goalie right on the goal line.
Mnemosyne
@Amir Khalid:
I don’t watch sportsball, but they had the soccer-loving deejay on one of the local radio stations explain how big a deal it was that South Korea beat Germany and all of the post-game celebrations between the Mexico and South Korea fans. Apparently they were mocking up joint flags, tossing the Mexican Consul in the air, etc. ?
They also played audio of the South Korean announcers when the goal was scored, and Americans my age will know what I mean when I say that I’m pretty sure I heard the equivalent of “Do you believe in miracles?” in Korean.
I love it when an underdog wins. ?
We have a pretty large Mexican population in LA (duh), and I’ve noticed that people have started putting little Mexican flags on their cars in honor of the national team. I hope they keep getting to do it for at least another round or two.
Tony Jay
@Platonailedit:
I thought so to, but the Colombian defender got his foot on the ball and out of Mane’s control a fraction of a second before he took him down.
OTOH, what is it with this World Cup and 90% of crosses into the box from the edge of the 19 yard box being utter bilge? The end product is almost always terrible across the board. Is the ball strangely formed?
Colombia not producing much at all. Sad to see J-Rod going off.
Platonailedit
@Tony Jay: Rodriguez is reportedly carrying injuries. He didn’t even stay on the ground to watch the game.
Tony Jay
@Platonailedit:
Really? That doesn’t sound good.
Colombia are going to have to change things up a lot in the second half, because if they don’t Senegal are going to convert one of these chances at some point and Colombia are out.
Neldob
What time are these games,pacific time? I might be able to catch the one with Senagal.
Tony Jay
@Neldob:
It’s on now.
SRW1
Apparently, Japan – Poland is quite the snoozefest. I’m sticking with the Senegal – Columbia game, but the Guardian MBM is not enthused with Japan – Poland.
Platonailedit
Poland score. That was a lovely connect at the goal mouth by Bednarek from the well floated free kick by Kurzawa.
HumboldtBlue
@Just One More Canuck:
You’re not going to see anything from England today other than a team playing a friendly. The team that finishes second in that group has a far easier road to the semis than the winner, just glance at the left side of that final 16 bracket. Also, those two weak teams England beat are the same two weak teams Belgium beat, but I don’t hear the same condemnations of their Golden Generation.
Let’s go Senegal! Let’s hear the Lions of the Teranga roar (Mane! Mane!)! (Colombia is overrated and overhyped)
Tony Jay
Poland leading Japan, which will put both Senegal and Colombia through as things stand.
HumboldtBlue
@Platonailedit:
If Japan loses there’s a good chance they are out and both Senegal and Colombia go through because Colombia will win the goal differential tie-breaker even though they lost the head-to-head match.
Platonailedit
@HumboldtBlue: Yup. That’s where it stands for now.
HumboldtBlue
@Platonailedit:
I had to go check, I thought head-to-head carried weight and it doesn’t, goal differential first tie breaker.
Tony Jay
And as it stands, if Colombia score then Senegal will be going out because all of their stats will be the same as Japan’s except for cards received, which they lead.
Anything could still happen.
And it has. Colombia 1-0 Senegal.
HumboldtBlue
Damn.
Tony Jay
Senegal need to score or hope Japan concede again, or they are out.
Tony Jay
Now it’s on. Senegal really going for it.
Christ’s kneecaps, how do you not put that away? Unchallenged in the box, sky it from 6 yards out.
Platonailedit
Japan back in 2nd without scoring because of fewer yellow cards?
Platonailedit
Yet another near miss from Senegalese.
HumboldtBlue
@Platonailedit:
This is from BBC — Japan and Senegal require only a point in their respective games against Poland and Colombia to qualify.
Colombia will qualify with victory over Senegal. If Colombia win Japan will need to lose by fewer goals than Senegal to progress. Colombia can also qualify with a draw if Japan lose, because they have a better goal difference.
Amir Khalid
Senegal are going at Colombia with everything they’ve got, and Colombia are sitting on their 1-0 lead. I want to see Senegal score.
Platonailedit
@HumboldtBlue: It’s all getting confused.
Neldob
@Tony Jay: ok. Thanks.
Tony Jay
Senegal really need to take one of these chances. Colombia are just going to defend their box and try to waste time, hitting on the break when and if they can. About 10 to go with stoppages.
SRW1
Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew)
Japan 1-0 down. Senegal 1-0 down. Japan currently going through on fewer yellow cards. The only fitting way for this group to end is for Japan to start wasting time, thinking they’re safe, only to then get booked.
Platonailedit
Japanese just running out the clock. Just hoping.
Platonailedit
It’s ridiculous.
Platonailedit
Bummer for Senegal to go out like this.
HumboldtBlue
Poor Sadio Mane. Senegal should have scored two. Can’t waste those chances in a knockout game.
Tony Jay
Senegal just couldn’t craft a chance in the time they had left, paying the price for not taking advantage of their early domination. Sad for Senegal.
Platonailedit
via bbc
It is the first time in history a team has been knocked out of the World Cup on fair play.
SRW1
And another case of an African country going out after a truce in the other game. Sad.
Neldob
Well, I caught the end, watching on my cell phone and it was still exciting in miniature.
Platonailedit
Ridiculous ‘rules’. A coin toss would have been better. At least then, the game would have gone on. Unlike the unsportsmanlike act shown by Japan in the final minutes, who ironically went through on ‘fair play’.
SRW1
Conclusion from the MBM at the Guardian:
Irony alert: Japan go through on the “fair play” rule, despite putting in the most unsporting ten-minute shift of any team in this World Cup to date. Well done, Fifa. Well done.
At least it wasn’t a whole 90 minutes like in Die Schande von Gijon.
Platonailedit
LOL. There is always a Simpsons reference for everything.
HumboldtBlue
Senegal going out now does really help Liverpool because Mane will be back for a full training camp.
The England-Belgium game could come down to the number of yellow cards as well. Currently both teams are tied at each step.