Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We still have time to mess this up!

Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Optimism opens the door to great things.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

“But what about the lurkers?”

The next time the wall wtreet journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

You cannot shame the shameless.

I really should read my own blog.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

John Fetterman: Too Manly for Pennsylvania.  Paid for by the Oz for Senator campaign.

Infrastructure week. at last.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

You are here: Home / Sports / World Cup / World Cup: Just Plain Fun!

World Cup: Just Plain Fun!

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Wow folks, yesterday did not disappoint! What a pair of thrilling matches, into PKs.

 

Let’s see what Madame Fate has in store for the teams today!

First up, at 10: Mexico v Brazil. Vamos Mexico!

Then at 2, Belgium v Japan.  I expect Belgium will win, but this cup has been full of surprises, so let’s see what happens!

 

Enjoy the matches today folks!

Reader Interactions

134Comments

  1. 1.

    Amir Khalid

    I just heard the stadium announcer in Samara do a countdown to kickoff. Never seen that before.

  2. 2.

    swiftfox

    Ehhhh….I saw just the second half of Croatia/Denmark and it was ok. Maintain that any tournament/playoff that has to be decided by anything other than normal play of the game is not watchable. And it sounds like Spain lulled everyone to sleep. Today’s games look to be more dynamic.

  3. 3.

    Jeffro

    That was seriously irritating, rooting for Spain and then Denmark yesterday. I think killing my teams’ chances of winning is my super power. =(

    If anyone has an opponent y’all want me to root hard for (and thereby destroy), just send $5 to jeffro dot com and we’ll consider it DONE

  6. 6.

    Amir Khalid

    @swiftfox:
    The commentators are saying it’s very hot in Samara today. I wouldn’t expect Brazil or Mexico to maintain a fast pace throughout the match.

  7. 7.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    Just joined the match in the third minute after getting up. Went to bed at 3:00 and slept unevenly. I need covfefe. ☕

    Don’t tell my Brazilian brother-in-law, but I hope Mexico wins. Brazil is super talented, but they always seem like egotistical dicks. Mexico may be egotistical dicks too, but I haven’t seen them enough to know that.

  9. 9.

    dr. bloor

    Alain, you are easily entertained. Yesterday’s matches were tire fires.

    Looking for some real footie today.

  11. 11.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @Amir Khalid:

    It’s currently 89°F (32°C) at 6:20 p.m. in Samara. Pretty hot by European standards, even though the humidity is only 24%.

  14. 14.

    Bostonian

    Announcer said it’s 92 in Samara now. I bet it is hotter inside the stadium than outside.

    Why that would be a problem for Mexican and Brazilian players I don’t know. You can always spot Brazilian tourists because if it goes under 70 they wear parkas.

    This game is much more enjoyable than yesterday’s.

  20. 20.

    Gin & Tonic

    Hey, Alain the Site Fixer, any chance you can fix the site so I don’t have to re-type my nym every fucking post? Chrome on Windoze.

  22. 22.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Amir Khalid: Amir, whenever you mention your guitar travails, I mean to recommend a great live Led Zeppelin album with some just amazing guitar work: How The West Was Won. If you haven’t heard it, I expect you’ll fine lots to mine. To my taste, the band was at its peak.

  23. 23.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Gin & Tonic: Do you check the box? This is WordPress, not me. The mobile site is the one that had issues. I am currently trying to get the damned theme to update on the test server and even manually installing it is not working. So when I get help on that from the developers, then I can update that to the current version then do our customizations then once it all works, copy the files here and then many small gremlins should scatter. I’m hoping that whatever is causing standard WP comment form to not remember your nym (and some other folks too, but not everyone!) will then vamoose.

  25. 25.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Alain the site fixer: ok I’m using Edge on this pc, not chrome but that’s because Chrome is logged into many BJ sessions right now so I don’t want to have to close all that. But it saved my nym and email. Now I’m going to jump to another post to see if it still remembers.

  26. 26.

    Alain the site fixer

    Hah, ok, found a WP bug. I went back to other posts and it remembered my info but I didn’t comment and when I came back to this post, the info is gone. So something is wrong in WordPress. I’ll see if I can report it, but it’s not something I’m qualified to fix.

  34. 34.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Alain the site fixer: Ok, bug submitted to WordPress bug tracker. Now it’s wait and hopefully I can get a response with some code edits so I can make this issue disappear.

  36. 36.

    Elizabelle

    @Amir Khalid: Seconding that. I love recent comments!

    And if it’s some Wilmerite or other loon fighting with him/her/itself, so much the better to know to stay out.

  37. 37.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Amir Khalid: many folks I’ve known were oblivious. But that’s not a surprise.

    @Amir Khalid: recent comments and posts were causing major performance hits and with the state of the site right now, it was a first step in reducing some pressure. For now, they’re off but that’s not necessarily permanent.

    That took 5 minutes to type. I’m never using Edge again. Fuck their bs.

  39. 39.

    dr. bloor

    Can’t figure out if Neymar needs a topical anesthetic or anticonvulsant meds here.

  42. 42.

    randy khan

    I always find shootouts to be simultaneously dramatic and disappointing. But I grew up with the NHL when regular season games could end in a tie and playoff games were played until somebody broke the tie.

    I understand the soccer folks’ theory that endless overtime would be very hard on the players, but the game is a test of endurance, too. And I’d say that you could give each team one more substitute for each OT period, or something like that, to help deal with the exhaustion issue.

  45. 45.

    SRW1

    @randy khan:

    I don’t know whether you mean an additional ‘additional substitute’, but as of the begin of this World Cup teams do get a fourth substitute if a game goes to extra time.

  50. 50.

    Platonailedit

    Great break goal from the Brazilians. Firmino shows his coach for entering him so late in the game.

  51. 51.

    Platonailedit

    @eric: Oh, he is a great player alright. Just stop with the stupid antics which everyone can see through.

  52. 52.

    Amir Khalid

    @randy khan:
    I too would favour allowing a fourth sub for extra time. As for indefinite extra time, I think you have to consider the increased risk of heat injury to players, and the fact that exhausted players don’t make for watchable football. Sudden-death extra time (“golden goal” extra time) was tried some years ago, around the turn of the millennium, and nobody really liked it.

  54. 54.

    SRW1

    That went about as expected. Mexico’s means were just too limited to bring about another upset.

    I suspect the Belgium – Japan game will be a repeat, hopefully minus the fouls and the play-acting.

  59. 59.

    randy khan

    @SRW1:

    I don’t know whether you mean an additional ‘additional substitute’, but as of the begin of this World Cup teams do get a fourth substitute if a game goes to extra time.

    I was thinking one per period, with 15 minute periods. At some point, maybe you would allow people who’ve been subbed out to come back in.

  60. 60.

    randy khan

    @Amir Khalid:

    The fatigue is part of what makes NHL playoff overtimes exciting. Granted, football is a different game, with a lot more field to cover, so it might not work well, but to the eye of someone used to overtime deciding games, it’s just strange to do shootouts. FWIW, I feel the same way about the overtime rules used by college teams in American football – the OTs are pretty different from the main game, although it’s not as bad as the shootout in that respect.

  61. 61.

    thalarctosMaritimus

    I apologize if this was already mentioned, and I missed it. It’s been a hell of a fortnight, and I haven’t been able to keep up with everything. (On the other hand, I got my submission in to the Social Venture Partners competition well under the wire yesterday, so yay! Totally worth all the work.)

    Where’s Randinho? I used to see him posting on football. I hope all’s well with him.

  62. 62.

    lol chikinburd

    Fox commentators have their tongues all the way up Brazil — openly salivating over the prospect of a France-Brazil semi, on the apparent grounds that Belgium are minnows. Christ. If the basis is 2-0 over Mexico, then give the cup to Sweden. I mean, OK, Mexico were fun to root for, but they were ultimately a limited side, their signature win diluted by how terrible Germany turned out to be at this tournament.

    Assuming they avoid disaster against Japan, I’ll be rooting hard for Belgium to humiliate those schmucks at Fox, and also because Brazil = the Yankees and FTFY, and also because I’ve been rooting for Belgium anyway because beer.

  64. 64.

    JCJ

    @lol chikinburd:

    I’ve been rooting for Belgium anyway because beer.

    Exactly my rationale as well. Any nation that can produce Chimay, Affligem, etc is clearly superior.

  67. 67.

    TomatoQueen

    Sorta Samba footy. Stupid Hair Tricks. Neymar is no more than 12.

    4th attempt to post. Comment box freezes, then entire site. (IE, vpn, Win7, Flint, Puerto Rico, nym)

  68. 68.

    MCA1

    @lol chikinburd: I’m pulling for Belgium just to see them break through and expand the paltry list of countries who’ve won the thing. There’s a good bit of parity out there right now – Brazil look good, but not overwhelmingly so by any stretch; Germany, Spain and Argentina are gone already; France has seemed a little listless other than a 25 minute stretch yesterday after they fell behind. A final four of Uruguay, Belgium, Croatia and Colombia would be pretty fun to see even if Fox’s ratings suffered.

    FWIW, I think the announcers falling all over themselves over Brazil stems from the supporting cast. Willian was a wrecking ball to Mexico today, Coutinho’s played well, the defense is stout (1 goal given up in 4 games), so they’re not over-reliant on Neymar. Seems like a good formula to have one of the best 5 players in the world but be able to handily win several games in a row without him dominating, unlike Argentina or Portugal. They haven’t faced anyone all that strong, but they could be legit.

    Aside, would it be that hard for a ref to clean up the self-reinforcing cycle of Neymar being the real life “crisis actor,” everyone knowing it, and defenders roughing him up because they know everyone knows he flops at the slightest breeze so referees are more circumspect about calling legit fouls when they’re perpetrated against him? Step 1: yellow card Neymar the first time he hits the ground writhing and grabbing his ankle over minimal contact. Step 2: yellow card the next guy who fouls him for real and it’s even questionably rough.

    I’m not sleeping on England here. Can’t believe I’m saying that – I know their history – but Colombia with a banged up Rodriguez, then no one stronger than Croatia between them and the final is about as rosy a stretch as one could ask for.

  70. 70.

    Calouste

    @SRW1: Spain has a history of very mediocre results in major tournaments, except for 2008-2012. They are just reverting to form.

  71. 71.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Steeplejack: I just fixed that. Do let me know in the upcoming Open Thread how that goes for you. If that’s all it is, I’ll kill my bug report!

  72. 72.

    Yutsano

    @Alain the site fixer: Edge is compete ass. It came with my new computer and I hate it with the rage of a thousand suns. Couldn’t get Firefox on there fast enough.

    Also: The blog just went sideways on the numbers counts and it looks like posts are disappearing?

  73. 73.

    Amir Khalid

    @randy khan:
    In the gridiron sport, the ball is in play for only a few seconds at a time. Very different from football, where the action is pretty much continuous throughout the half. Indefinite extra time is much more doable in the former. If you say tired players makes ice hockey more thrilling in extra time, I don’t watch enough of that sport to form an opinion; although I myself find tired players not much fun to watch.

  75. 75.

    Yutsano

    @Amir Khalid: I don’t know if I would call it thrilling necessarily. But it does get interesting to see who catches their second wind.

    Seems like the site is hating my old work browser. Gonna play in mobile for a bit and see what happens.

  76. 76.

    MCA1

    @Amir Khalid: It’s compelling in hockey because it leads to more scoring chances despite (and sometimes because of) more conservative play in overtime. It’s easier for an offensive player to find that burst of energy to score a game winner than it is for a tired defenseman to go to the well one more time and make a great play. Goalies probably get fatigued and make saves at a lower percentage, too (hypothesis without any numbers to back me up). And in the playoffs, because skaters are only on the ice for shifts of about a minute, with shifts shortened to account for tired legs in OT, there’s not as discernible a dropoff in speed, etc. as you might expect.

    Aesthetically, even 4 on 4 hockey (the regular season solution) is closer to the “regular” game than a shootout is, so people don’t mind that.

    I’d be interested in knowing what percentage of tournament games that go to extra time in soccer end up going to shootout vs. get resolved with a goal during the run of play in those 30 minutes. Because to my eye, the majority of teams get extremely cautious in OT, almost like they’d prefer the virtual coin flip of PK’s over the 10% possibility that aggressive attacking leads to a goal on the counter because that’s a more ignominious way to lose.

    Either way, what they do now is lacking in drama and leads to the lesser team (like Russia) winning way too often if 90 minutes finish with the score tied. Shorten the field, take players off, allow unlimited open substitutions, eliminate offsides, do something.

  77. 77.

    HumboldtBlue

    Usually I can bear and enjoy Brazil because they are wonderfully talented and entertaining but not this team despite Bobby Firmino. They are just unlikeable particularly that overrated ass Neymar. Cheered every kick he got today, surprised Mexico dodn’t pose more of a challenge.

  78. 78.

    HumboldtBlue

    @MCA1:

    Spain spurned at least a half-dozen good chances to score during the run of play and Modric missed a PK in injury time that would have won it for Croatia. PKs are the best way to finish a soccer match after 120 minutes of running. The Croatia-Denmark shootout was riveting. It does take getting used to, however.

  79. 79.

    zhena gogolia

    @Alain the site fixer:

    This is bad news. I’ve been patient because I thought you were aware of the problem and were working on it. My nym is only saved for about a half hour. The autofill has my husband’s real name instead of my nym for some reason. It’s discouraging me from even reading the blog. Also — the front page does not reflect the correct number of comments on a post. I have to go to the comments, scroll to the bottom, and refresh, and then I get the total comments. I am very disappointed to learn that these are not temporary problems that you’re working on.

  80. 80.

    MCA1

    @HumboldtBlue: You say riveting, I say contrived. It’s too dissimilar to the regular run of play of the game for my taste, despite having gotten used to it over many years. Seems too coin flippy, too – like some game theory guessing match about which direction the shot’s going or which way the goalie’s likely to leap – more than a true differentiator based on skill alone. (Not that this is a game in which luck and arbitrariness doesn’t already play an outsized role due to the inherent difficulty in scoring, which levels the playing field from where it might sit based on talent alone. That’s a detractor for me personally, though many others’ mileage seems to vary significantly).

  82. 82.

    zhena gogolia

    @raven:

    The blog was working perfectly for me before he started tinkering with it so people could use it on their teeny-tiny phones. Now it sucks.

  85. 85.

    What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @MCA1: Keep in mind that in hockey teams generally roll out 3-4 distinct “lines” (offensive players) and “partners” (defensive players) throughout the game. They are not limited to one full side + 3 or 4. They literally replace the first playing group with two full other groups and roll them on and off as they tire throughout the game. Yes, they get tired, but they also get lots of breathers.

  86. 86.

    mali muso

    Anyone else watching this Japan-Belgium match? I thought Belgium was supposed to be the dominant one in this match-up but they are not looking so great. Japan holding their defensive line and playing more aggressively than I expected. 0-0 at the half.

  87. 87.

    HumboldtBlue

    @mali muso:

    Japan played well, Belgium probed and had a few looks, they are very dangerous and it’ll be interesting to see if Martinez makes any adjustment to get De Bruyne further up field.

  88. 88.

    mali muso

    wow. Well, there goes Japan with the first goal. Belgium better step it up.

  89. 89.

    Amir Khalid

    Japan have shown no fear of the higher-rated Belgium, and have matched them in every department — including, alas, not quite being able to put the ball away. I get the feeling it’s going to take a defensive howler for us to see that first goal.

  90. 90.

    Steeplejack

    Great point by Japan!

    @Amir Khalid:

    I get the feeling it’s going to take a defensive howler for us to see that first goal.

    LOL.

  93. 93.

    mali muso

    Now, I feel just a little bit better about Senegal getting sent home and Japan getting to stick around.

  97. 97.

    Tony Jay

    Belgium might be the superior team in this tie, but a combination of aimless bluntness in the final third and Japanese defensive stoutness has kept them out, and when Japan break on them the Belgians look vulnerable to attacks down the flanks. If Japan can keep this up for another 45 Belgium might start worrying, but with Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku up front it’s surely only a matter of time before they find a way through.

    Fast forward half an hour

    I go and put my son to bed and what the developing donkeybollox just happened!?!?!?

  98. 98.

    SRW1

    2 – 0 ! Looks like the wrong flood gate opened.

    Belgium have to go for it now. We might be in for a thrilling finish to this game.

  99. 99.

    Amir Khalid

    Belgium are looking a bit shaken. Conceding two goals in four minutes will do that to you.

  101. 101.

    Tony Jay

    Lukak…ooooooooooh!

    Belgium could really do with a goal sooner rather than later. Looks like the plan is to muscle up in midfield and get the front three playing closer to the Japanese box.

    But that will leave gaps at the back that Japan are more than capable of taking further advantage of.

  105. 105.

    mali muso

    Ok, that was a pretty nutty play. lol. But it got the ball in the net, so who cares what it looked like?

  107. 107.

    SRW1

    Lukaku seems off the boil today.

    But then so appears the Japanese goalie. 2 – 1.

  113. 113.

    Amir Khalid

    And Belgium are level! They’ve found an answer to Japan. This is one heck of a contest, the best match I’ve seen this World Cup.

  115. 115.

    Tony Jay

    Normally I’d say that the momentum must be with Belgium now as they push for a winner, but the Japanese apparently don’t agree. This is a cracking game. Extra time, please.

  118. 118.

    Amir Khalid

    Some heroic goalkeeping by Kawashima to deny two close-range attempts in quick succession.

  120. 120.

    Captain C

    @randy khan: If it were up to me, after Extra Time, there would be an old-NASL-style shootout, with players starting with the ball 35 yards out (and the goalie on the endline), with 5 seconds to shoot the ball. I went to a bunch of Cosmos games as a kid, and the shootouts were always quite exciting.

    Here’s some video of such a shootout.

    Barring that, perhaps we could have kicks from the arc instead of the spot; the shooter would be allowed to put the ball anywhere on the penalty arc, and otherwise it would be the same as penalty kicks.

  125. 125.

    Amir Khalid

    A last-kick-of-the-match winner for Belgium. Brave, beautiful Japan are out.

  129. 129.

    HumboldtBlue

    @burnspbesq:

    I didn’t think he had it in him. He also moved De Bruyne further up the pitch and dropped Witsel back and Belgium clicked on.

  131. 131.

    burnspbesq

    Absolutely a textbook counterattack, reminiscent of the Donovan goal against Algeria in 2010. Great run by Lukaku to create the space for Chadli, and an even better dummy.

  133. 133.

    bluefish

    All the brasileiros in my world, myself included, are so very torn today. We don’t want to divide that baby in two.

  134. 134.

    L85NJGT

    Fun games today.

    Mexico ran out of talent, and Belgium flatters to deceive.

    Mexican coach Juan Osario went off on the refs in the post-match presser. He tirade was pointless and unjustified. Hopefully the US Federation will scratch him from consideration for next cycle.

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