Holiday programming announcement: Tomorrow, and maybe Friday, I’m going to put up a single 7:45am EST post to cover all three of the day’s remaining matches.
Y’all can scroll up to discuss the games as they happen, because I don’t want poor WaterGirl to have to interrupt her holiday to wrestle FYWP into submission.
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Germany vs Japan | Predicted lineups [@kicker] pic.twitter.com/KXJwbiiSzu
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) November 20, 2022
Germany vs Japan is today 🇩🇪🇯🇵#ブルーロック #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/HwboWrq9KL
— BLUE LOCK『ブルーロック』 (@BL_Egoism) November 23, 2022
SportsMole:
Seeking to consign dismal memories of Russia 2018 to history, Germany kick off their World Cup 2022 Group E campaign against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.
Die Mannschaft were eliminated from the group stage four years ago, while their Asian counterparts were on the verge of stunning Belgium in the last 16 before being eliminated.
The curse of the defending champions was well and truly alive for Germany at the 2018 World Cup, as the side formerly led by Joachim Low saw the defence of their 2014 crown end at the first hurdle before a last-16 elimination to England in the recent European Championships.
Defeat at Wembley marked the end of Low’s celebrated tenure in the Mannschaft hotseat, as serial winner Hansi Flick embarked on a new adventure with the national team, who may be going under the radar somewhat as Argentina and Brazil earn the favourites tags.
On the other hand, an underwhelming record of just two wins from their last eight games has not served to increase the German confidence, as Die Mannschaft finished third in their Nations League group with Italy, England and Hungary before beating Oman 1-0 in a warm-up friendly last Wednesday…
Takashi Inui’s wonder strike to put Japan 2-0 up against Belgium would seemingly seal an unexpected route into the last eight of the 2018 World Cup for the Samurai Blue, who ultimately succumbed to three Red Devils strikes to end their hopes of a first-ever quarter-final appearance.
Japan have made a habit of going out in the group stage before reaching the last 16 of the World Cup in their six tournaments since 1998, which does not bode well for Hajime Moriyasu’s men this time around, but qualifying from 15 wins from 18 and a record 58 goals is certainly a good omen…
Lady WereBear
I’m just here to stick up for Open Source software, which we are on now.
Yes, I have converted to Mastodon. And writers and readers can find me there at @[email protected]
If you have been nice to me, you can get an invite to my server, which I chose out of thousands.
JML
Interesting matchup here. Germany hasn’t been able to really put it together and show that they can be a dominating side. On the other hand, Japan has never quite figured out how to take their squad to the next level. Germany is the stronger side and should win, but Japan is exactly the kind of side that worries every manager in World Cup.
JML
I think Germany deserved that PK and it might open the floodgates.
Anyway
Thanks AL. I love the early rounds of the WC, usually lose steam around the semi-finals. Four-day weekend coming up here, will be able to watch some games.
sab
@Lady WereBear: Keep checking in re Mastodon. I haven’t made the jump yet but I intend to and I am too lazy to bookmark anything. Just the kind of reader you want, yes? My cats scream “Help us! She’s lazy! She only fed us two hours ago!”
Lady WereBear
@sab: It is a strange new world for people who can’t even remember the sign up process for their favorite social media, because it happened when they were young and strong :)
And it’s gotten so much worse! Mr WayofCats is coming out of the worst crash he’s ever had, so he’s a natural experiment in idiot overlord decisions.
We replaced the iMac that was ready to go to junior high with a new laptop, so he could work from bed. So much has changed, OS & internet and how we buy software.
And he’s hip to all this. Got the very first Mac as a graphic artist and loves his iPad. That helped us stave off the big computer replacement until the laptop.
But then he was down for months. Now he’s slowly getting back into the game, but this is a typical couples conversation:
“What is this THING?”
“Oh, yeah, it’s a security thing. You moon it.”
“What?”
“They went cheap. I prefer the ear one. Go ahead, nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“Is this Elon Musk’s fault?”
“Probably.”
Qrop Non Sequitur
Famous last words as the rich are eaten.
sab
Turkey day tomorrow. Spouse helpfully invited the kids, so cleaning all day and cooking, and cooking all tomorrow. Pared down guest list, but big turkey or small turkey take same effort.
I have missed the kids. Hope we don’t get covid or rsv.
cmorenc
Very one-sided first half, with Germany dominating possession and strong attacking/shot attempts. Japanese player have skill, but are under-matched against the equal+ skill and greater strength and phsicality of Germans, like a really good U-13 youth team playing up against a really good U16 team. And yet, at half Germany is only up 1-0 via a rather unusual (though legit) foul by Japanese GK against a German attacker while both were chasing a ball moving away from goal.
sab
@Lady WereBear: I work seasonally. Every year the same software is different. This year I can’t even figure out how to edit cells in Excel.
Plus they parked the office Christmas tree in my office. I want to retire but so many other women did that they are seriously short staffed.
Lady WereBear
I never minded the constant change if it was better!
Lady WereBear
Oh, no. Chesapeake. At a Wal-Mart.
Another Scott
@sab: Re Excel – Does F2 not work any more??
I wouldn’t be surprised – MS is always breaking stuff and making it more convoluted.
Hang in there.
Cheers,
Scott.
JML
Oh my an equalizer by Japan!
West of the Cascades
Second goal for Japan! Brilliant run, incredible finish. Japan has been the better team in the second half, and a win would be well-deserved. Five minutes plus 23 minutes of stoppage time (est.) left.
sab
@Another Scott: I will check next week.
cmorenc
@cmorenc:
Wow, what a shocking result in full-time, given Germany’s total domination in the first half. As big a surprising upset as yesterday’s Saudi vs Argentina game.
Omnes Omnibus
England must be chuffed that Argentina and Germany are in a bit of trouble.
sab
@Lady WereBear: How do you know if it is better if you cannot work it?
ETA One of my bosses less brilliant ideas. Hire women because they are cheap. But they retire when their older husbands retire, or get deathly sick or die. Men don’t do that. They just beaver on.
I actually love my bosses. But that idea didn’t work.
JMG
I started rooting for Japan the moment I saw that their manager was rocking a three-piece suit on the sideline.
Another Scott
Meanwhile, … ProPublica:
Good, good.
Oversight matters.
Anti-trust and anti-competitive enforcement matters. MotUs only seem to know how to try to collect monopoly rents. The USA has put up with that for far too long. Capital needs to get back to the basics of making money the old fashioned way.
Cheers,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
Putting chains across navigable waterways?
Tom Levenson
@Omnes Omnibus: See, e.g., Boston’s Museum of Science bridge.
there used to be (minor) docks in Cambridge. Now what’s left is used for kayak rentals (a very good thing).
Rather more minor than Huey Long’s bridge across the Mississippi, but the same idea.
Cacti
Japan wins the battle of the Axis.
Cacti
Colonialism and slave labor?
Alison Rose
Waking up to a Japan win is very nice!
Another Scott
Whew! That’s a busy right hand!!
RIP.
(via LOLGOP)
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@Omnes Omnibus: @Tom Levenson: @Cacti: Whew. Tough crowd today.
Hehe. ;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
Paul in KY
@Omnes Omnibus: Rather (said in upperclass drawl)
Dadadadadadada
@Cacti: Is Italy a joke to you?
They should be, lol, they didn’t even qualify!
Another Scott
IOKIYAR.
Until it isn’t.
(via nycsouthpaw)
Grr…,
Scott.
Qrop Non Sequitur
@Another Scott: Good to know. Waiting to see if anyone does something about it.
Lady WereBear
@sab: They have lost the plot. They don’t even bother with instructions manuals, and your experience makes that obvious.
If old hands like you and me can’t figure out a spreadsheet, it’s them, not us.
Cacti
@Another Scott: That would be a basis for the Senate to refuse seating him in the event that he won.
Steve in the ATL
@Omnes Omnibus: you brought your A game today, unlike Germany