Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Issue #2.1.1 "I Believe That We Will Win : TheComeBacker"
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OPEN PLAY MEANS NO LEAD IS SAFE; NED, CRC, USA SHOCK WINS
Our 5th World Cup pool has a record 75 entries; Americano Pazzo & The Mighty Mobelfakta share lead

LA HABRA, CA (smt) --  This crazy FIFA schedule has A1-Brazil and A3-Mexico finishing their second matches before #H3-Russia and #H4-South Korea started their first.  That, coupled with FIFA caving in and changing some times around due to heat (foreshadowing 2022 if Qatar keeps it), means match #'s are not necessarily in order.  This World Cup has also started off with a bang with 49 goals scored in the first 17 matches (in first 16 in 2010, just 25 goals) and six teams coming back to win their matches (just 3 times in all of 2010).  Also, just 2 ties in the first 16 matches (6 in 2010) before A1-Brazil and A3-Mexico kicked off their second matches with a herculean MEX GK effort in a scoreless draw.  It took 12 matches before the first tie, listless scoreless draw between F3-Iran and F4-Nigeria.  With the varied climates, the humidity, rain, and heat haven't stopped the goals from coming, thanks to some poor GK (how many goals went in after hitting the GK's hands?) and superstars actually performing (last year, the first 25 goals were scored by 25 different players).

Haven't seen most of the World Cup live despite taking two weeks off from work.  Been reduced using my Moto X to tether 4G to my Roku 2 player and using WatchESPN to project that to the yellow wall in a conference room.  Also, been using the WatchESPN app a lot (use the main feeds (e.g., ESPN), not ESPN3 for high quality video) and ESPN Radio to catch up in some action.  I do appreciate ESPN's World Cup Tonight 90 minute recaps because they use former players from many nations and show the interviews (with translation) and embrace the multi-cultural diversity of the World Cup.

Day 1 could've been trouble, but riots were prevented when BRA rallied from a behind to beat CRO 3-1 thanks to a gift PK (dive) which changed the momentum.  Diving and some bad calls have tainted the Cup but the Brazilians don't care and picked up 3 points.  Their scoreless second match is giving the nation pause though.  I do need to get myself a CRO jersey though.  

The biggest shock of the tournament was the B2-Dutch thrashing defending champion B1-Spain, 5-1, scoring 5 straight goals with a pair of goals by both Arjan Robben and Robin Van Persie.  The biggest upset of the tournament was CONCACAF's D2-Costa Rica also rallying from a 1-0 deficit to shock South American side D1-Uruguay, 3-1, who was Suarez-less.  The biggest win of the tournament was G4-USA stealing one from quicker G3-Ghana, 2-1, to put the demons of the past two WCs behind them as the 3rd time was the charm.  The USA now faces superpowers G1-Germany and G2-Portugal but GER destroyed POR 4-0 behind Thomas Müller's hat trick.  Müller was rewarded for being unselfish in trying for a hat trick by passing up a good shot but seconds later he had the tap in for the hat trick.  The biggest steal was E1-Switzerland, who also was down 1-0, nearly giving up a late go-ahead goal only to come right back down and sc0re with seconds left in extra time (the latest goal in group stage history) to beat E2-Ecuador, 2-1, taking the tie away from ECU.  It was one of the great calls by the ref as he played the advantage (instead of giving SUI a free kick) and the Swiss converted in style.

The other clash of superpowers featured an exchange of goals between D4-Italy and D3-England with the former coming on top, 2-1.  C4-Japan and H2-Algeria also blew 1-0 leads in losing to C3-Ivory Coast and H1-Belgium, respectively, while H3-Russia blew a 1-0 in tying H4-South Korea.  B3- Chile and E3-France also scored three times in beating B4-Australia (3-1) and E4-Honduras (3-0), respectively.  F1-Argentina didn't play well but Messi scored and they beat first-timers F2-Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2-1.

In the pool, our 5th, we had a record 75 entries from a record 60 different people.  Brazil was the overwhelming favorite with 35 picking them as champs on their home turf and 33 others getting them to the semifinals.  Argentina (16), Germany (10), and Spain (9) were also top picks with just four other nations getting some love (Belgium (2); USA, Italy, Mexico 1 each).  After 17 matches, American Pazzo and The Mighty Mobelfakta lead with 13 points (same after 16 matches).  Who are these people?  Now you can see everyone's picks.  Gabby is last with just 4 points (same after 16 matches). 

American Pazzo and JB (9th-tied, 11) won their first 5 matches (by game order, American Pazzo won first 6) while, in game order, TheSpecialOneLA (3rd-T, 12), BigBlue (9th-T), and Popozao (3rd-T) won 8 straight games at one point (Match 8 to 15).  Gaby lost 8 straight at one point (Match 2 to 11).

This year, Sammy is once again provide biting commentary (the once Landon lover and now a hater) with his daily matchday "PANDO! or GORDO?" newsletters (his 3rd straight pool doing it).  Also, following his successful EURO Pool newsletter, Eric's "Foster's Football Brew" is back and he will actually be at the World Cup later this month to provide insights on the ground.  If anyone else wants to contribute, let me know.  Anyone else going to Brazil and want to send pictures or mini-reports?

The best way to keep up with the pool is to follow @HWCI_Pools on Twitter or visit the #HWCIwc hashtag (you don't need Twitter account to view) often for daily updates.  Less often will be our Facebook group page (post comments or organize viewing parties) and then these newsletters every 4 days or so.

   SIDES 'N KICKS: [16 matches] Goals: 49/16 matches (3.06) (Own: 1-CROvBRA, 10-HONvFRA, 11-BIHvARG)... Scoring First: 8-6-1 (1 0-0 tie; 1-CRO, 3-ESP, 6-JPN, 7-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Lead at Half: 6-4-0 (6 ties; 6-JPN, 8-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Shutouts: 6 (2-CMR, 5-GRE, 10-HON, 12-IRN, 12-NGA, 13-POR)... PK: 5/5 (1-BRA, 3-ESP, 7-URU, 10-FRA, 15-ALG)... Red Card (Goals For/Against): 8-URUvCRC (94+' 0/0), 10-HONvFRA (43' 0/3), 13-PORvGER (37' 0/2)... Multiples: Neymar 2G (1-BRA), Robin Van Persie 2G (3-NED), Arjan Robben 2G (3-NED), Karim Benzema 2G (10-FRA), Thomas Müller 3G (14-GER)... Goal line technology: FRA G (48')...  [17 matches] Goals: 49/17 matches (2.88) (Own: 1-CROvBRA, 10-HONvFRA, 11-BIHvARG)... Scoring First: 8-6-1 (2 0-0 tie; 1-CRO, 3-ESP, 6-JPN, 7-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Lead at Half: 6-4-0 (7 ties; 6-JPN, 8-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Shutouts: 8 (2-CMR, 5-GRE, 10-HON, 12-IRN, 12-NGA, 13-POR, 17-BRA, 17-MEX)... PK: 5/5 (1-BRA, 3-ESP, 7-URU, 10-FRA, 15-ALG)... Red Card (Goals For/Against): 8-URUvCRC (94+' 0/0), 10-HONvFRA (43' 0/3), 13-PORvGER (37' 0/2)... Multiples: Neymar 2G (1-BRA), Robin Van Persie 2G (3-NED), Arjan Robben 2G (3-NED), Karim Benzema 2G (10-FRA), Thomas Müller 3G (14-GER)... Goal line technology: FRA G (48')... there were 11 dual entries and two entered the max 3 entries... Brazil and Argentina were the only teams everyone picked to make the Round of 16 while the Socceroos were the only team not picked to make the Round of 16... no one picked CRO (vs BRA), BIH (vs ARG), IRN (all 75 picked ARG)... no one picked a tie in AUSvESP... 73 picked BRA to finish 1st in Group A, 68 picked ESP to top Group B, 63 picked GER to top Group G, and 61 picked BEL to top Group H... 14.8% (534/1750) of group stage picks were ties (this is the first WC pool to allow people to pick a tie)... 8 entries did not pick a single tie while 27 picked 10 or more ties... [16 matches] UEFA 6-6-1, CONMEBOL 4-2-0, CAF 1-3-1, AFC 0-2-2, CONCACAF 3-1-0, OFC (no teams)... [17 matches] UEFA 6-6-1, CONMEBOL 4-2-1, CAF 1-3-1, AFC 0-2-2, CONCACAF 3-1-1... USA's Clint Dempsey's goal was the 5th fastest (30 seconds)... top group seeds when 6-2-0 in their first match... Belgium Craft Beer (72nd-T, 6) and Barackatology (22nd-T, 10) (both by Andrew M) were the only ones to pick CRC's upset... while 47 went 3-0 on Day 4, Swedish Fish (66th-T, 7) went 0-3... 19 correctly picked our pool's first-ever tie (NGAvIRN)... just 5 picked NED over ESP and just 5 picked the tie between RUSvKOR...

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Where were you when Brooks scored? Watching the Watch ESPN app, on my Moto X, in my car just arriving at Kidz Spot...
Scott