2010 HWCI World Cup Pool Update

Monday, June 21, 2010
Issue # 4.1.2 "An Odd World Cup"
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LAX CAMPUS OF USC, CA (smt) - While it was going to be tough for the host country to advance, it was expected some of the African teams would be inspired playing in their home continent and do some damage.  Thus far, that damage is only one win in 12 tries (1-7-4).  A1-South Africa, B2-Nigeria, E4-Cameroon, and the G3-Ivory Coast all fell in their second match while D4-Ghana needed a PK to tie D2-Australia (who for the second straight match, got one player ejected with a straight red card) and C3-Algeria tied the listless C1-English side. 

While the tabloids are all over England which has managed only two ties, A4-France has just self-destructed.  When rumors even reach the point that the French would forfeit their match, it's sad.  Players being sent home, trainers and directors quitting, the team refusing to practice... maybe South Africa can sneak through after all.  But the other Euro powers aren't having a great cup.  D1-Germany fell to D3-Serbia and in the biggest shocker, F3-New Zealand, with no pro league, tied F1-Italy 1-1 and the Italians needed some acting to earn the PK which tied it.  On the other hand, the E1-Dutch became the first team to advance to the knockout stage while today, G4-Portugal routed G2-North Korea 7-0 (with Cristiano Ronaldo finally scoring (with a comedic touch)) and H1-Spain bounced back.

Meanwhile, South American teams are doing fine, thank you.  G1-Brazil (2nd team to qualify), H4-Chile, and B1-Argentina picked up second wins while A3-Uruguay (by GD) and F2-Paraguay find themselves at the top of their groups.  Yes, all five won their second match and all five are in first.  The Asian teams came back to earth with both Koreas (B3-S, G2-N) and E3-Japan losing and Australia tying.  CONCACAF saw A2-Mexico humiliate the French while C2-USA overcame a 2-0 deficit to nearly beat C4-Slovenia -- nearly because the ref (who won't ref any R16 matches) called a phantom foul on Maurice Edu's game-winning goal.  Oh, well.  The USA shouldn't have been down 2-0 to begin with.  H3-Honduras is still just happy to be there, losing to Spain 2-0.

That day also saw the ref in the Germany-Serbia game hand out yellow cards for every tackle which numbered six in the first half including GER's Miraslov Klose's second yellow card.  Refs have also given suspect PKs and ejected players when they clearly didn't see the play but saw the opponent fall down (one of the most egregious was Kaka's second yellow when the opposing player got tapped in the chest and fell holding his face), in this second round of matches. 

The second round was entertaining (including the defenseless Cameroon-E2-Denmark match) and saw 41 goals (2.56 avg) after only 25 were scored in the first set of matches.  Only two teams have booked their ticket to the Round of 16 while Cameroon and North Korea are officially eliminated.  Of the 16 matches, only four ended in ties.  To find out the Group scenarios for the teams still alive, you can go here.

After 32 matches, Corner Kick Kid and Forza Pazza find themselves on top with 18 points (out of a possible 22 non-tied matches).  Ten are currently on a 7-match winning streak.  While five (along with two aforementioned entries, Lionelmessi (3rd-Tied, 17), Big Tex (17), and Sisyphus, with Sisyphus making the biggest jump from a tie for 33rd to a tie for 6th with 16 pts) went 10-2 this round, Krispy Kicker only got 4 of 12 to fall into last, even past the random Coin Tossed entry (9 pts).  65 of 67 correctly picked Brazil through while 64 picked Holland.  The 42 who picked Cameroon or the two who picked North Korea are out of luck (no one unluckily picked both). 

If you check the standings, the prize distribution is listed.  I'll go over that and the Bonus Prize in my next issue. 

The blog is up and running and should be the one-stop shop for the latest timely updates on the pool.  Also, Sam's Pando! or Gordo? is now 15 issues in with the latest one found here.

   SIDES 'N KICKS:  The first 32 matches have seen 66 goals (only 2.06 goals per match)... Teams scoring first are 20-2-7 (3 scoreless draws, comebacks by 19-GRE & 26-DEN)... Teams leading at the half are 12-0-2 (13 scoreless 1st halves, 5 tied at 1 at the half)... 20 matches have been shutouts (including 3 nil-nil)... Roofers:  USA's Landon Donovan & BRA's Luis Fabiano got in close range and shot basically a rocket at the GK's head for goals... two slight corrections on picks:  I corrected Mireal's 2E pick to CMR (was accidentally inputed as USA) and corrected Princessa's total goal tiebreaker to 5.0 (was accidentally inputed as 0.5); thus, the team distribution was updated...

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Boy, my picks suck...
Scott