Thursday, June 26, 2014 [Released 6/30]
Issue #5.1.4 "Backing In is A-OK : JURGEN IST PANDO!"
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AMERICA RULES ROUND OF 16; ASIA WINLESS
JB & Rainman join Win It All in 1st

GOLETA (smt) -- While working near Santa Barbara, I got to listen to the last few minutes of the 1st half and things looked promising for G4-Team USA (they weren't getting blown out) and G2-Portugal had a one-nil lead at the half for a three-goal cushion (more or less).  But a G1-Germany goal and a G3-Ghana goal narrowed it down to just one.  Luckily I wasn't listening to this so it was stress free because when I started to listen at the end of the 2nd half, the person who kept us from clinching a place into the R16, Cristiano Ronaldo, put in an easy rebound to seal USA's entry into the R16.  So kind of a lackluster "yay" but I will take it.  First time USA has made back-to-back R16s (luckily they didn't keep alternating with FRA who did follow the great-horrible-great-horrible-great pattern this year).  USA's qualification meant 8 of the 10 North and South American teams made the R16.  Go America!

H1-Belgium may not be a traditional power but they know how to win games late as they once again scored late, this time down a man (1st team to score while down a man this WC), to win Group H and face the USA.  BEL's win meant that all four Asian teams finished last in their group (winless at 0-9-3).  H3-Algeria's come-from-behind tie with H2-Russia meant Africa sent two teams to the R16 for the first time (the other 4? 1-7-1).

F4-Iran finally scored but it was F1-Argentina and F4-Nigeria advancing out of Group F.  E3-France and E2-Ecuador coasted to a tie but ECU needed the win and Xherdan Shaqiri's hat trick easily sent the E1-Swiss into the R16 with FRA winning the group.

In the pool, JB picked up 24 pts and Rainman 23 in the last 8 matches to finish in a 3-way tie with Win It All with 64 pts.  SLO (11th-Tied, 61) and Beast (15th-T, 60) both picked up 25 of 32 pts to rise in the standings with the latter rising 17 spots from a tie for 32nd.  Gaby (68th-T, 47) and El Russo (53rd-T, 51) only picked up 14 pts with the latter falling 36 places from a tie for 17th.  But Kona Coast Sliders and Samba are the ones tied for last with 44 pts.  Win It All got 13 of 16 R16 teams correct while 3 got just 7 of 16.  In the Group Stage, Flying Elvi (11th-T, 61) picked the most correct with 31 of 48 while Gaby just got 17 of 48.

Check here if you forgot who you picked.

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 HWCI EURO Pool newsletter, Eric's "Foster's Football Brew" is back and he is actually at the World Cup now 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.  But I intend to update the standings at the end of every matchday.

   SIDES 'N KICKS:  [48 matches] Goals: 136 (2.83/match) (Own: 4 (1-CROvBRA, 10-HONvFRA, 11-BIHvARG, 46-GHAvPOR); Subs: 25)... Scoring First: 32-7-4 (5 0-0 tie; 1-CRO, 3-ESP, 6-JPN, 7-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG, 26-HON)... Lead at Half: 19-4-2 (23 ties; 6-JPN, 8-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Shutout: 26 (2-CMR, 5-GRE, 10-HON, 12-IRN, 12-NGA, 13-POR, 17-BRA, 17-MEX, 18-CMR, 19-ESP, 22-JPN, 22-GRE, 24-ITA, 27-IRN, 28-BIH, 31-RUS, 35-AUS, 36-CHI, 39-ITA, 40-CRC, 40-ENG, 41-HON, 42-ECU, 42-FRA, 46-USA, 47-KOR)... PK: 9/10 (1-BRA, 3-ESP, 7-URU, 10-FRA, 13-GER, 15-ALG, 20-AUS, 25-fra, 37-COL, 38-GRE)... Red Card (Goals For/Against): 9 (8-URUvCRC (94+' 0/0), 10-HONvFRA (43' 2Y 0/3), 13-PORvGER (37' 0/2), 18-CMRvCRO (40' 0/3), 22-GREvJPN (38' 2Y 0/0), 34-CROvMEX (89' 0/0), 39-ITAvURU (59' 0/1), 42-ECUvFRA (50' 0/0), 47-BELvKOR (45' 1/0))... Multiples: 12 (Neymar (2) 2G (1-BRA, 33-BRA), Robin Van Persie 2G (3-NED), Arjan Robben 2G (3-NED), Karim Benzema 2G (10-FRA), Thomas Müller 3G (14-GER), Mario Mandzukic 2G (18-CRO), Luis Suarez 2G (23-URU), Enner Valencia 2G (26-ECU), Jackson Martinez 2G (37-COL), Xherdan Shaqiri 3G (41-SUI), Lionel Messi 2G (43-ARG))... Goal line technology: FRA G (48')... Regions: UEFA (13 teams) 18-14-7, CONMEBOL (6) 13-3-2, CAF (5) 3-9-3, AFC (4) 0-9-3, CONCACAF (4) 5-4-3 ... Water Break (>89.6F, 30' each half):  1 (30-USAvPOR 39' @Manaus)... GRE made the R16 for the 1st time... no subs scored in the last 8 matches... ARGvNGA featured the first time each team scored in the first 5'... Shaqiri's hat trick was the 50th in WC... 8 0f 10 North & South American teams made the Round of 16 while just 2 of 9 African/Asian teams qualified... IRN became the last team to score a goal in WC in 82'... NGA finally allowed a goal (3') then allowed 2 more... ECU had 4 pts but failed to qualify... Asian teams finished last in all 4 groups (B, C, F, and H)... NED, ARG, and BEL are the only teams to get all 9 points...  53 got both Group E R16 teams correct while Gaby was the only one to get none... all 75 got at least 1 Group F R16 correct and 28 got both... 22 got all 4 Group E & F R16 teams correct while 17 got just 2 of 4... 9 got both Group E matches correct while 7 got both wrong... 50 got both Group F matches correct while 5 got both wrong... six got all 4 Group E & F matches correct while Gaby got both wrong... 9 picked up 15 of 16 pts in Group E & F while Gaby picked up just 6... Rainman and Swedish Fish got all 4 Group G/H R16 teams while 5 got just 1 of 4; Swedish Fish also got 15 of 16 pts while El Russo only got 4 of 16 pts... 5 got all 4 Group G/H matches correct while 11 got just 1...

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Where were you when USA qualified?  In Goleta, on wireless bluetooth, with Watch ESPN app on Moto X...
Scott