Futbol

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Wed, 11/30

Group D
1 France 6
2 Australia 3
3 Denmark 1
4 Tunisia 1

10:00 AM EST
Australia 1-1-0 vs Denmark 0-1-1. Go futbol!
Australia advances with a win or tie.
Denmark needs a win and help.
Go Tunisia 0-1-1 > France 2-0-0
Tunisia needs a win and help.
France has advanced with the top seed, nothing to play for.

Australia 1, Denmark 0
2nd time Australia has advanced and only the 1st time it's won 2 Group Stage games.

Tunisia 1, France 0
Good for them to have something to cheer about despite not advancing. They may even be able to say they beat the eventual Champ.

Group D
1 France 6, advances 1st seed
2 Australia 6, advances 2nd seed
3 Tunisia 4
4 Denmark 1

The 1st seed plays the 2nd seed of a different group and vice versa.

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Whoa.

That was intense.

Helluvan Irani attack, especially at the end.

Tue, 11/29

2:00 PM EST
Iran 1-1-0 vs USA 0-0-2
Mixed feelings. I'm not jingoistic. I hate Iran's govt, but honor the people that have been resisting it for months, and dying in the hundreds. Go futbol.
Iran is in if it wins, will need help if it ties. USA is only in if it wins.

Iran 0, USA 1

Group B
1 England 7, advances
2 USA 5, advances
3 Iran 3
4 Wales 1

Saw that some Irani protestors were celebrating the loss. That makes me feel better, but I'm not sure if it's the wisest tactic on their part, especially losing to the US.

World Cup 2022: Friend of Iran's (midfielder) Saeid Ezatolahi shot by Iranian security forces after celebrating loss

I wasn't even thinking of the danger of celebrating.

Wed, 11/30

Group C
1 Poland 4
2 Argentina 3
3 Saudi Arabia 3
4 Mexico 1

2:00 PM EST
Go Mexico 0-1-1 > Saudi Arabia 1-1-0
Mexico needs a win and help.
Saudi Arabia advances with a win, or a tie and a tiebreaker.
Go Poland 1-0-1 > Argentina 1-1-0
Argentina has won a lot, and I honor Poland's Ukraine solidarity and sacrifice.
Poland advances with a win or tie, with a loss and help.
Argentina advances with a win, or a tie and help.

Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 1
Poland 0, Argentina 2

World Cup 2022: Mexico's dramatic group stage exit marks end of an era for El Tri

Group C

1 Argentina 6, advances top seed
2 Poland 4, advances 2nd seed
3 Mexico 4
4 Saudi Arabia 3, Bye-bye, GO Yemen.

Poland's goal differential is 0, Mexico's -1. Mexico is out.

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Thu, 12/1

Group F
1 Croatia 4
2 Morocco 4
3 Belgium 3
4 Canada 0

10:00 AM EST
Go Morocco 1-0-1 > Canada 0-2-0
Canada has already been knocked out and I want Croatia beaten. Morocco advances with a win or a tie.
Go Belgium 1-1-0 > Croatia 1-0-1
Belgium needs a win. Croatia advances with a win or a tie.

Group E
1 Spain 4
2 Japan 3
3 Costa Rica 3
4 Germany 1

2:00 PM EST
Go Costa Rica 1-1-0 > Germany 0-1-1
Costa Rica advances with a win or a tie and help. Germany advances with a win and help.
Japan 1-1-0 vs Spain 1-0-1. Go futbol.
Japan advances with a win, or a tie and help. Spain advances with a win or a tie, or with a loss and help.

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Thu, 12/1

Group F
1 Croatia 4
2 Morocco 4
3 Belgium 3
4 Canada 0

10:00 AM EST
Go Morocco 1-0-1 > Canada 0-2-0
Canada has already been knocked out and I want Croatia beaten. Morocco advances with a win or a tie.
Go Belgium 1-1-0 > Croatia 1-0-1
Belgium needs a win. Croatia advances with a win or a tie.

Morocco 2, Canada 1 , but Canada also doubled its all-time WC goal production.
Belgium 0, Croatia 0

Group F
1 Morocco 7, advances, top seed
2 Croatia 5, advances, 2nd seed
3 Belgium 4
4 Canada 0

Aside: Are the stadium toilets labeled 'WC WC'?

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Thu, 12/1

Group E
1 Spain 4
2 Japan 3
3 Costa Rica 3
4 Germany 1

2:00 PM EST
Go Costa Rica 1-1-0 > Germany 0-1-1
Costa Rica advances with a win or a tie and help. Germany advances with a win and help.
Japan 1-1-0 vs Spain 1-0-1. Go futbol.
Japan advances with a win, or a tie and help. Spain advances with a win or a tie, or with a loss and help.

Costa Rica 2, Germany 4, exciting
Costa Rica was up 2-1 early in the second, inspiring hope, then collapsed.
Japan 2, Spain 1

Group E
1 Japan 6, advances with the top seed, good for Asia.
2 Spain 4, advances with 2nd seed
3 Germany 4
4 Costa Rica 1

Spain had a huge goal differential advantage thanks to a 7-0 stomping of Costa Rica.
Ironically, Costa Rica beat Japan 1-0.

Germany has won the WC 4 times, most recently in 2014.
Germany has been the WC runner up 4 times, most recently in 2002.
Germany is eliminated at the group stage for the second WC in a row.
This may start WW3, you know how those Germans get.

New phrase to me: "winless game".

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Fri, 12/2

Group H
1 Portugal 6
2 Ghana 3
3 South Korea 1
4 Uruguay 1

10:00 AM EST
Ghana 1-1-0 vs Uruguay 0-1-1. Go futbol!
Ghana is in with a win or a tie.
Uruguay is in with a win and help.
Go South Korea 0-1-1 Portugal 2-0-0. Go Asia.
South Korea is in with a win and help.
Portugal advances with top seed, nothing to play for.

Group G
1 Brazil 6
2 Switzerland 3
3 Cameroon 1
4 Serbia 1

2:00 PM EST
GO Switzerland 1-1-0 > Serbia 0-1-1
Switzerland is in with a win or a tie.
Serbia is in with a win and help.
GO Cameroon 0-1-1 > Brazil 2-0-0
Cameroon is in with a win and help.
Brazil advances with top seed, nothing to play for.
I know, there's a conflict between rooting for Switzerland and Cameroon, but I really want Serbia kept out. Otherwise, I prefer Cameroon.

[Vrede too]

Fri, 12/2

Group H
1 Portugal 6
2 Ghana 3
3 South Korea 1
4 Uruguay 1

10:00 AM EST
Ghana 1-1-0 vs Uruguay 0-1-1. Go futbol!
Ghana is in with a win or a tie.
Uruguay is in with a win and help.
Go South Korea 0-1-1 Portugal 2-0-0. Go Asia.
South Korea is in with a win and help.
Portugal advances with top seed, nothing to play for.

Ghana 0, Uruguay 2
South Korea 2, Portugal 1
South Korea scores the game winner in injury time.

Group H
1 Portugal 6
2 South Korea 4 Go Asia.
3 Uruguay 4
4 Ghana 3

South Korea and Uruguay tie with 4 points.
South Korea and Uruguay tie on goal differential at 0.
South Korea advances based on goals scored, 4-2.

[Vrede too]

Fri, 12/2

Group G
1 Brazil 6
2 Switzerland 3
3 Cameroon 1
4 Serbia 1

2:00 PM EST
GO Switzerland 1-1-0 > Serbia 0-1-1
Switzerland is in with a win or a tie.
Serbia is in with a win and help.
GO Cameroon 0-1-1 > Brazil 2-0-0
Cameroon is in with a win and help.
Brazil advances with top seed, nothing to play for.
I know, there's a conflict between rooting for Switzerland and Cameroon, but I really want Serbia kept out. Otherwise, I prefer Cameroon.

Switzerland 3, Serbia 2
Cameroon 1, Brazil 0

Group G
1 Brazil 6
2 Switzerland 6, advances with 2nd seed
3 Cameroon 4
4 Serbia 1

Round of 16, Sat 12/3
OT and the dreaded penalty kicks are back, win or go home.

10:00 AM ET
GO Group A #1 Netherlands > Group B #2 United States, TV: FOX
Dutch handle, I have no choice.

2:00 PM ET
GO Group D #2 Australia > Group C #1 Argentina, TV: FOX
The upset (I assume) would rock the futbol world.

[GoCubsGo]

Drama free second half..

They're playing at different speeds and urgency.

Has the men's team ever exceeded expectations? (Nope)

[GoCubsGo]

The Dutch uniforms come with sweat stains built in.

[Vrede too]

Drama free second half..

They're playing at different speeds and urgency.

Has the men's team ever exceeded expectations? (Nope)

If it qualifies, usually flops at the Group stage or Round of 16.
Best result Third place (1930)
1954-1986 Did not qualify
2002 Quarter-finals 8th (that was fun, lost to eventual runner up Germany 1–0)
2018 Did not qualify
2026 Qualified as co-host (Canada, Mexico, United States) - Cool, sorta. No carbon neutrality with that much air travel.

ORANGE! "Greatest team to never win a World Cup."

[GoCubsGo]

Drama free second half..

They're playing at different speeds and urgency.

Has the men's team ever exceeded expectations? (Nope)

If it qualifies, usually flops at the Group stage or Round of 16.
Best result Third place (1930)
1954-1986 Did not qualify
2002 Quarter-finals 8th (that was fun, lost to eventual runner up Germany 1–0)
2018 Did not qualify
2026 Qualified as co-host (Canada, Mexico, United States) - Cool, sorta. No carbon neutrality with that much air travel.

ORANGE! "Greatest team to never win a World Cup."

2006, 2010, 2014? DNQ?

[Vrede too]

2006, 2010, 2014? DNQ?

Opps, I forgot to link, sorry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... _World_Cup

2006 Group stage
2010 Round of 16
2014 Round of 16

We're #(25, 12, 15), USA USA USA!

[GoCubsGo]

Soccer great Pelé reportedly receiving end-of-life care in Brazil

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Soccer great Pelé reportedly receiving end-of-life care in Brazil

Yeah, yesterday:

Brazil fans at World Cup show support for soccer great Pelé



Brazilian fans showed their support for soccer great Pele during the national team's 1-0 loss to Cameroon at the World Cup on Friday....

Fans in Qatar displayed a banner with the image of Pele holding a soccer ball behind one of the goals at Lusail Stadium. They also opened a large flag with an image of the Brazil great and the words: ''Pele. Get well soon.'' One fan in the stands held up a jersey with a photo of Pele on it.

Another large image of Pele could be seen on a building near the venue, along with the messages ''get well soon'' and ''we love Pele.''

... Brazilian fans who gathered before the match against Cameroon also had Pele in mind, singing songs about him and sending him well-wishes.

In the pre-match news conference on Thursday, Brazil coach Tite said the entire team wanted ''to wish good health to Pele'' from Qatar....

I'm glad they got the chance to do that. How fitting that this comes during the WC, and that the God Pele has awakened Mauna Loa in Hawai'i!

Round of 16, Sat 12/3
OT and the dreaded penalty kicks are back, win or go home.

10:00 AM ET
GO Group A #1 Netherlands > Group B #2 United States, TV: FOX
Dutch handle, I have no choice.
Hoera!

2:00 PM ET
GO Group D #2 Australia > Group C #1 Argentina, TV: FOX
The upset (I assume) would rock the futbol world.

Argentina went up 2-0 in the 57th minute and I figured it was over. Australia scored in the 77th minute and played furious ball until the end. 1-2, awww.

GO Netherlands > Argentina!!!

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Sun, 12/4

10:00 AM EST
Go Group C #2 Poland 1-1-1 > Group D #1 France 2-1-0
France almost always does well and I'm honoring Poland's Ukraine sacrifices.

2:00 PM EST
Go Group A #2 Senegal 2-1-0 > Group B #1 England 2-0-1
Go Africa!

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...

GoMaroonsGo
GoJulianneGo

Chicago's Julianne Sitch becomes first female coach to win men's soccer NCAA championship

The University of Chicago won a men's soccer NCAA championship unlike any other on Saturday.

With a 2-0 win over Williams College in the NCAA Division III final, Maroons head coach Julianne Sitch became the first woman in college sports history to win a national men's soccer championship....



... The win completed an undefeated 22-0-1 season for Chicago, whose lone non-win came against New York University on Oct. 28. Overall, Chicago outscored the opposition 51-11. That's a strong way to start your career as a college head coach.

Chicago picked Sitch, a Chicago native, to lead its program in April 2022 after two previous stints as an assistant coach with the school. She has also worked as an assistant coach for the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars and head coach of the Red Stars Reserves, as well as an assistant women's soccer coach for Illinois-Chicago.

Before her coaching career, Sitch was a star player at DePaul (Chicago) and still holds the school's all-time total points and assists record. Her professional career lasted 13 years, with three different stints on the Red Stars.

Clearly, she's not a person who minds working in Chicago, and now she's made history doing it.

GoChicagoGo!

[GoCubsGo]

GoChicagoGo!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julianne_Sitch

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Rough day for underdogs.

Sun, 12/4

10:00 AM EST
Go Group C #2 Poland 1-1-1 > Group D #1 France 2-1-0
France almost always does well and I'm honoring Poland's Ukraine sacrifices.
Nope, 1-3.

2:00 PM EST
Go Group A #2 Senegal 2-1-0 > Group B #1 England 2-0-1
Go Africa!
Nope, 0-3. Go Colonizers.

France has won it all twice, in 1998 and 2018. England has only prevailed once, way back in 1966. England has never been a runner up, France once in 2006.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F ... _of_finals
So, go O Really and go England!

It's Asia Day!

Mon, 12/5

10:00 AM EST
GO Group E #1 Japan 2-1-0 > Group F #2 Croatia 1-0-2

2:00 PM EST
Go Group H #2 South Korea 1-1-1 > Group G #1 Brazil 2-1-0. As if.

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It was un-Asia Day.

Japan and Croatia played to 1-1 in regular time and OT, then PK's, ugh.
Croatia goalie made an unheard of 3 saves.
Croatia scored 3.
Japan kickers sucked.
Croatia 3-1, no need for 5th kicks.

Brazil stomped South Korea 4-1. It was 4-0 at halftime.

Go Brazil > Croatia in the Quarter-finals.

Round of 16 final games Tue, 12/6

10:00 AM EST
Group F #1 Morocco 2-0-1 vs Group E #2 Spain 1-1-1
Hmm, I've spent time in Spain and love it, but Morocco is the last remaining African team and last Muslim team. Go Morocco, I guess.

2:00 PM EST
Go Group H #1 Portugal 2-1-0 > Group G #2 Switzerland 2-1-0