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     BRAZIL THE FIRST TITAN TO FALL; USA STILL CLAIMS IT HASN'T PEAKED YET
Spermicidal WFC is 1 of 4 to get 7 of 8 teams correct to move into first

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- The Round of 16 provided lots of drama with one huge upset and one huge comeback but surprisingly, no extra time.  While four matches were scoreless at halftime, 13 of the 19 goals scored in the eight matches were in the last 45 minutes.  In an odd splitting of the eight matches over four days (2-3-2-1), the last R16 match didn't end until just before 9 pm PDT Tuesday and now we get our second two-day break of the tournament which is good since 2A-China, who in the battle of the underdogs bested 2C-Cameroon 1-0, played on Saturday and the 1D-United States, who only could score when 3F-Colombia used their 2nd backup goalkeeper, played on Monday and will face each other Friday. 

For the fourth straight match, the USA players and coach had to once again suggest the team hasn't peaked yet which is frustrating for us fans to watch.  Not only did COL hold USA scoreless at the half, they did it with their backup GK (since their starter dumbly picked up a second yellow late in a match that didn't matter for COL qualifying for the R16).  But then their backup GK, Catalina Perez, forgetting the USA has trouble scoring, took out Alex Morgan on a breakaway drawing a straight red which mean COL had to go to their backup of their backup GK.  And interestingly, maybe because it wasn't injury related, the 2nd backup GK didn't really get a chance to warm up.  But it didn't matter since Abby Wambach proceeded to shank the ensuing penalty kick wide left.  It was only when Alex Morgan, realizing that it was the backup backup GK, surprised everyone by shooting instead of crossing beating her to the near post and putting the Americans on the scoreboard.  The U.S. needed another PK to get their second goal.  They had better start "peaking".

In an unfortunate FIFA shenanigan with the draw and schedule, two teams who now aren't having trouble scoring will face each other in the Quarterfinal.  #1 1B-Germany put up four more goals in downing #5 3D-Sweden (who the USA tied 0-0), 4-1, giving the Germans 19 goals in the tourney thus far.  #3 1F-France shut out 2E-South Korea 3-0 giving them 8 goals in their last two matches.  So now #1 will face #3 in what should've been at least a semifinal match. 

1C-Japan calmly and poetically defeated 3A-Netherlands although it had to survive a stoppage time brain fart by their GK (did Pete Rose have a bet that Japan would win by one and gave her a call to just let it go right past you) and a last second block in the box to preserve a 2-1 win.  Japan is the only team to win all its matches but it has played four teams who have never been in the WWC before.  Its next opponent, Australia, picked up its first-ever knockout stage win in dramatic fashion, knocking off talented 1E-Brazil, 1-0, on a brilliant strike by Kyah Simon in the 80'.  Meanwhile, host 1A-Canada knocked off the 3C-Swiss, 1-0, while 2F-England rallied with two second-half goals (including a great game-winning strike by Lucy Bronze) to beat 2B-Norway, 2-1.  Man, there have been quite a few golazos from long-range.

Spermicidal WFC, D.R. (3rd-Tied, 89), Thecomebacker (3rd-T), and Toney Tribe (5th-T, 88) got 7 of 8 quarterfinal teams correct with the former holding on to a one-point lead.  Soccerhorn fell to 2nd place as he, YellowCard (5th-T), and Bailo Con Hope Solo (8th-T, 86) all got 15 of 16 R16 teams right but managed only 6 of 8 quarterfinalists.  Where's Heather Mitts (18th, 74), UAU! (19th-T, 72), and Vivisdaddy (19th-T) only got 4 of 8 and not coincidentally, they along with three others who only got 5 of 8 correct have been eliminated from winning money in the pool.  Ponytail Houligans (14th-T, 82) is the lowest ranked entry to still have a chance to win the pool.  Art is last with 70 pts.

Assuming I did this correctly this time (too many formulas meshing with each other but luckily the overall picture didn't change much), YellowCard has the best chance to win the pool (20.3%) while D.R. has the best chance for money (56.3%).  There are only 7 matches left (not including the 3rd place match, which could figure in the total goals tiebreaker) and 11 can still win the pool and 16 entries are still alive.

    Bits 'N Bobs:  Goals: 126 (2.86/match, 44 matches) (4 own goals (8-NGA, 18-ECU (2), 35-MEX), 16 goals by subs (3-GER (2), 8-SWE, 16-CIV, 16-THA, 16-CRC, 23-COL, 24-ENG, 24-MEX, 25-NED, 27-GER(2), 30-CMR, 31-NGA, 39-GER, 41-AUS, 42-NED))... Shutouts: 26 (1-CHN, 2-NZL, 3-CIV, 4-THA, 5-SUI, 6-ECU, 9-KOR, 11-ENG, 13-CAN, 13-NZL, 14-NED, 17-NGA, 19-USA, 19-SWE, 21-ESP, 23-FRA, 27-THA, 29-ECU, 31-NGA, 33-CRC, 35-MEX, 37-CMR, 38-COL, 40-KOR, 41-BRA, 44-SUI)... Hat Tricks: 5 (Anja Mittag (3-GER), Celia Sasic (3-GER), Gaelle Enganamouit (6-CMR), Fabienna Humm (18-SUI), Ramona Bachmann (18-SUI))... PK: 13/16 (1-CAN, 4-NOR(x-SV), 5-JPN, 6-CMR, 6-CMR, 6-CMR, 9-BRA, 13-NZL(x-CB), 18-SUI, 18-ECU, 22-KOR, 26-CHN, 36-ENG, 38-USA (x-WL), 38-USA, 39-GER)... 90'+ goals: 6 (1-CAN 92', 6-CMR 94', 14-CHN 91', 24-MEX 91', 36-COL 94', 42-NED 92')... Leading at Half: 23-2-6 (13 ties, L: 30-SUI, 34-ESP)... Scoring 1st Goal: 30-4-8 (2 0-0 ties, L: 16-CIV, 30-SUI, 34-ESP, 43-NOR)... Red Cards (goals for/against): 3 (6-ECU 66' (0/3), 31-NGA 69' (0/0), 8-COL 47' (0/2))...  everyone got USA and GER advancing, 20 CAN, 19 got JPN, 18 ENG, 18 FRA, and 7 CHN... BigRedMessi (8th-T) was the only one to pick AUS to make quarters... only 10 thought BRA would make Last 8... everyone has their champ intact but 5 lost SWE in their final (no doubt boosted by former USA coach Pia Sundhage) and Art lost BRA in his final... FRA has had 58% or more possession in all 4 matches (58%, 60%, 61%, 62%)... GER now has a +17 GD (19-2) and has taken an incredible 119 shots, 42 on goal, getting at least 25 shots (at least 8 on goal) in each match (29-15, 27-8, 36-16, 25-11)... ENG has twice allowed goals in the 90+ minute... my Futbol Fabone 7 (14th-T, 82) has a 3.91% chance to win 3rd or 4th (5 in 128) with my second pick Sepp 'N Turf (8th-T, 86) having a 19.5% chance to win first and 35.9% for money (46 in 128)... due to NED getting 3rd instead of 2nd 10 entries were guaranteed 4pts (have both NED & JPN in Qtrs) while 2 will guaranteed 0...  well played match as JPN and NED each had only 6 fouls while USA picked up 22 including the second yellow for both Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe who will both miss the CHN match...

I have good news for you, my lord. War has begun.
Excellent. Everything is going as planned -- Count Dooku and Darth Sidious, II:AOTC....
Scott