OT: World Cup 2018

[HuskyHawk]

Don't commit stupid fouls. Don't commit late fouls. Don't commit stupid, late fouls.

They really have no ability to defend against that attack without fouling.

 

[Jaker]

I like Brandt, wish he would play more

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Kroos didn’t play very well, by my god, that was a peach of a goal.

 

[Jaker]

Kroos didn’t play very well, by my god, that was a peach of a goal.

Yeah he was non existant for 48 minutes of the second d half

 

[intlzncster]

What a push over the last ten minutes. Brilliant save by Sweden, a bullet shot off the post and then a perfectly executed set piece to go up, all down a man.

I felt like the Germans didn't turn it on early enough. They played w no urgency for a while there given their world cup hopes were on the line

Overall good decision to sit ozil. He's been a no show.

 

[UConnStats]

I felt like the Germans didn't turn it on early enough. They played w no urgency for a while there given their world cup hopes were on the line

Overall good decision to sit ozil. He's been a no show.

Gomez put a lot more pressure on the D too. They looked really stiff in the first half before he entered. Was happy for him.

 

[Jaker]

This will be Ozils last WC

 

[HuskyHawk]

I felt like the Germans didn't turn it on early enough. They played w no urgency for a while there given their world cup hopes were on the line

Overall good decision to sit ozil. He's been a no show.

They simply ran their cross game over and over and over. It got them a goal early in the half and they went back to it. Dominated possession and chances, but they weren’t being creative.

I feel like, after the last WC, everybody who faces Germany sits back. You can’t let them come at you with pace or they will tear you apart, and the defense on the counter has been poor. They need to adjust their offensive strategy a bit.

South Korea match will be interesting as they have good speed. Sweden Mexico also looks interesting.

 

[auror]

If Sweden and Germany played 11 vs. 10, do you think Germany would be favored by the oddsmakers?

Obviously Sweden wasn't playing to score, but Germany can be dangerous on the counter also (they just haven't been able to show it since they keep giving up the 1st goal).

 

[intlzncster]

If Sweden and Germany played 11 vs. 10, do you think Germany would be favored by the oddsmakers?

Obviously Sweden wasn't playing to score, but Germany can be dangerous on the counter also (they just haven't been able to show it since they keep giving up the 1st goal).

I wouldn't think so. A full game short sided is exhausting. jmo tho

 

[UConnStats]

I wouldn't think so. A full game short sided is exhausting. jmo tho

Yeah a whole game down a man is a tall task. Germany only found an identity when their backs were against the wall. Even with a win, they should be really disappointed with the way they’ve played so far. So lethargic, and definitely letting the expectations in their head. Before the second half today, they really reminded me of Spain during the last cup.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Lol, ask the three black people who live there about it.

Possible brief visit(s) to Switzerland once or so aside, it appears less likely you've ever been in the former Yugoslavia during or after Serbia's recent nationalist, ethnic, and religious genocide. Given Serbia's genocide-diminished diversity, few non-racist Serbians, part Serbians, or people of much if any intellectual depth would even jokingly criticize Switzerland's relatively low albeit growing population of "black people" (your words). Serbia?

Yes, only about 5% of Switzerland's residents are from Africa or descended of African parents or grandparents. Setting aside Swiss ethnic diversity quadrupled the last three decades from a small %, another percent+ are of more distant African or other darker genetic skin tone backgrounds from other non-African nations. Serbia? Not nearly so much, slobodan!

With Los Ticos out in Group E, no additional compelling reasons are really required to root for Brazil and Switzerland to advance and the White Eagles' expedited return to Belgrade. Иди кући, Слободана!

 

[HuskyHawk]

Possible brief visit(s) to Switzerland once or so aside, it appears less likely you've ever been in the former Yugoslavia during or after Serbia's recent nationalist, ethnic, and religious genocide. Given Serbia's genocide-diminished diversity, few non-racist Serbians, part Serbians, or people of much if any intellectual depth would even jokingly criticize Switzerland's relatively low albeit growing population of "black people" (your words). Serbia?

Yes, only about 5% of Switzerland's residents are from Africa or descended of African parents or grandparents. Setting aside Swiss ethnic diversity quadrupled the last three decades from a small %, another percent+ are of more distant African or other darker genetic skin tone backgrounds from other non-African nations. Serbia? Not nearly so much, slobodan!

With Los Ticos out in Group E, no additional compelling reasons are really required to root for Brazil and Switzerland to advance and the White Eagles' expedited return to Belgrade. Иди кући, Слободана!

Really disappointed in Los Ticos. They didn’t show up with much after being pretty solid in qualifying.

Don’t give two craps about ethnic diversity one way or the other though. I’d be rooting for Ireland if they were in.

 

[superjohn]

Possible brief visit(s) to Switzerland once or so aside, it appears less likely you've ever been in the former Yugoslavia during or after Serbia's recent nationalist, ethnic, and religious genocide. Given Serbia's genocide-diminished diversity, few non-racist Serbians, part Serbians, or people of much if any intellectual depth would even jokingly criticize Switzerland's relatively low albeit growing population of "black people" (your words). Serbia?

Yes, only about 5% of Switzerland's residents are from Africa or descended of African parents or grandparents. Setting aside Swiss ethnic diversity quadrupled the last three decades from a small %, another percent+ are of more distant African or other darker genetic skin tone backgrounds from other non-African nations. Serbia? Not nearly so much, slobodan!

With Los Ticos out in Group E, no additional compelling reasons are really required to root for Brazil and Switzerland to advance and the White Eagles' expedited return to Belgrade. Иди кући, Слободана!

Lol, I know all about Yugoslavian history. My grandpa is a Serb and my grandma is a Croat.

Racism in Switzerland: ‘People of colour are automatically perceived as foreigners’

Blacks feel rejected by the Swiss

'Go back to Africa': reports of racism hit record high in Switzerland

Survey shows extent of racism and discrimination in Switzerland

Racist, xenophobic incidents sharply rise by a third in Switzerland

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ha...arn-the-truth-about-their-residents-1.5439604

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Lol, I know all about Yugoslavian history. My grandpa is a Serb and my grandma is a Croat.

No worries slobodan, the comic relief's appreciated. Got it, only one of us has spent much time in Serbia. Carry on with the horse blinders, and the inconsistencies of your ethnic concerns with Switzerland.

 

[superjohn]

No worries slobodan, the comic relief's appreciated. Got it, only one of us has spent much time in Serbia. Carry on with the horse blinders, and the inconsistencies of your ethnic concerns with Switzerland.

I never said Serbia isn't racist or made any sort of comparison, you did. Now you're calling me a murderous dictator, that's really big of you. You also have no idea where I've been or who I am.

Aside from calling me a murderous dictator I commend you on finally typing a post that was intelligible.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I never said Serbia isn't racist or made any sort of comparison, you did. Now you're calling me a murderous dictator, that's really big of you. You also have no idea where I've been or who I am.

Hardly, yet enabled your many inconsistencies and drew out more of your unintelligible ironies. Got it, no time in the Balkans.

 

[Travelman6]

Yeah a whole game down a man is a tall task. Germany only found an identity when their backs were against the wall. Even with a win, they should be really disappointed with the way they’ve played so far. So lethargic, and definitely letting the expectations in their head. Before the second half today, they really reminded me of Spain during the last cup.

Ya just ask colombia who played 10 on 11 for 87 minutes and still nearly pulled it out. A great team can still beat most teams down a man, even if down for much of the game.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Ya just ask colombia who played 10 on 11 for 87 minutes and still nearly pulled it out. A great team can still beat most teams down a man, even if down for much of the game.

Sure, exceptions occur. With 2 otherwise similarly talented, organized, motivated, experienced, conditioned, size, etc. opponents over the course of many games, advantage and victory typically goes to an 11-man team versus a 1-man down opponent.

 

[auror]

Sure, exceptions occur. With 2 otherwise similarly talented, organized, motivated, experienced, conditioned, size, etc. opponents over the course of many games, advantage and victory typically goes to an 11-man team versus a 1-man down opponent.

Main variable in question is "similarly talented".

I guess the better hypothetical is how good a team would Germany be favored down a man.

I think they'd be favored over say Canada. What about Saudi Arabia, who I think was clearly the worst team at the World Cup. They've scored 0 goals and have a -6 differential through 2 games in a not-insanely-difficult group. I'd take Germany over them as well.

 

[intlzncster]

Group F scenarios are crazy:


- Mexico need a point vs. Sweden to go through and top the group. They are definitely through with a defeat if Germany fail to win.
- Sweden are guaranteed to qualify if they win or better Germany's result. If they beat Mexico and Germany fail to win, Sweden will top the group.
- Germany must win by two or more goals or better Sweden's result to guarantee qualifying.
- If both Germany and Sweden draw, the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If both draws are the same scoreline, Germany finish second on head to head.
- South Korea must beat Germany and hope Sweden lose to Mexico to have a chance of qualifying.

THREE-WAY TIE FOR FIRST AND SECOND
- If Sweden and Germany win they will finish level on six points with Mexico, and it will first come down to goal difference.
- Sweden are through in all scenarios. Germany are through in all but three scenarios, which means Mexico are most likely to be eliminated.
- If Sweden win by two or more goals they are through, with Germany guaranteed to qualify with any win (Mexico out)
- If Germany win by two or more goals they are through, with Sweden through with any win (Mexico out)
- If both Germany and Sweden win 1-0 the three teams would have identical records and it would go to head-to-head mini-league, and this would see Germany and Sweden through on goals scored (with Germany top on direct head to head with Sweden) and Mexico out.
- If both Germany and Sweden win 2-1 then Sweden would win the group on head to head goals scored. Mexico would be in second ahead of Germany in third on direct head to head
- If both Germany and Sweden win 3-2 (or any higher one-goal identical margin of victory) then Sweden would win the group with Mexico second and Germany third on head-to-head mini-league goals scored
- The only other way Mexico can go through, at the expense of Germany, if is both games are won by one goal, but Mexico's defeat against Sweden is a higher-scoring game.
- If Sweden win by one goal, and Germany win by one goal but in a high-scoring game, Germany win the group with Sweden in second and Mexico out

THREE-WAY TIE FOR SECOND
- If South Korea win and Sweden lose there will be a three-way tie for second on three points for Germany, Sweden and South Korea. It will first come down to goal difference.
- If South Korea beat Germany by two goals they are guaranteed to finish second
- If South Korea beat Germany 1-0 and Sweden lose 1-0 to Mexico, Germany would be second on direct head to head against Sweden with South Korea bottom
- If South Korea beat Germany by a higher-scoring one-goal margin than Sweden lose to Mexico, then South Korea would finish second on direct head to head against Germany with Sweden bottom
- If Sweden lose by more than one goal they cannot qualify, and South Korea would therefore finish second with any victory

 

[Ewekon]

It's still going on?

 

[HuskyHawk]

England just crushing Panama. No problem finishing today.

 

[Jaker]

Panama. Costa Rica terrible. How did we not beat theses crap teams?

 

[intlzncster]

Panama. Costa Rica terrible. How did we not beat theses crap teams?

I think Costa Rica is better than they've showed. Panama blows.

Our federation blows. People might not have liked him, but firing Jurgen was a panic move. Hiring Arena was a completely uninspired, losing move.

 

[navery12]

I think Costa Rica is better than they've showed. Panama blows.

Our federation blows. People might not have liked him, but firing Jurgen was a panic move. Hiring Arena was a completely uninspired, losing move.

No argument on Arena, but Jurgen should have been gone a long time ago. Missing this World Cup wasn't exactly a surprising result given the way USA Soccer was trending

 

[intlzncster]

No argument on Arena, but Jurgen should have been gone a long time ago. Missing this World Cup wasn't exactly a surprising result given the way USA Soccer was trending

I get that position, but it's the timing of it that blew. You can't fire your manager that late in the game and expect the results to shake out in your favor. I think there was a better chance to qualify under Jurgen at that point. I think they probably qualify with a result against T&T. But that's just my opinion.

He did need to go. Timing was bad. Either do it years earlier, or post WC.

 

[Jaker]

I get that position, but it's the timing of it that blew. You can't fire your manager that late in the game and expect the results to shake out in your favor. I think there was a better chance to qualify under Jurgen at that point. I think they probably qualify with a result against T&T. But that's just my opinion.

He did need to go. Timing was bad. Either do it years earlier, or post WC.

Agree, should have let this WC cycle play out with Klinnsmen, release him after.

 

[Jaker]

Japan has been surprisingly good.

 

[UConNick]

I'm probably in the minority but I wanted to keep Klinnsmann. He gave us the highest ceiling with his European ties. I had a feeling we were screwed when he was replaced by Arena. Felt like an ultimate cop out and a backward move, not forward or even lateral. As of now I don't think an American coach is good enough to harness the natural athletic ability this country has. Not forward-thinking or creative enough. I would love someone like Laurent Blanc or even Osorio if he would stab Mexico in the back like that.