[ HWCI World Cup Pool ]

Sunday, July 8, 2018 
Issue #6.2.2 "It's Coming Home" (After Quarterfinals)
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ENGLAND ON A HIGH, HOSTS NO MORE
Flying Elvi holding on to lead; 14 still alive

STUBHUB CENTER, CARSON, CA (smt) --  2G-England scored a goal before and after halftime in shutting out 1F-Sweden, 2-0 to advance to the semifinals for the first time since '90.  English fans are going crazy as they hope this is the run that will erase 52 years of bad memories including '16's Euro loss to tiny Iceland.  While I wore my '09 era Beckham England home jersey, I got so many compliments at the Camarillo Premium Outlet including shouts of "we're bringing it back home" referring to the World Cup trophy.  Forgot how many tourists go to these outlets so a lot of soccer fans. 

The last of the giants were put down, as 1G-Belgium used an own goal and a killer counter attack in the first half to hold off 1E-Brazil's 16 second half shots in winning 2-1.and making the semis for the first time since '86.  BRA's Neymar had a great free kick late in stoppage time that was just tip saved over the bar.  1C-France's youth proved the difference over Edison Cavani-less 1A-Uruguay in winning 2-0 to advance to the semifinals for the first time since '06.  Host 2A-Russia again went toe-to-toe to a superior foe as 1D-Croatia is ranked 50 spots higher than the hosts.  Russia scored first before Croatia equalized sending the match into Extra Time.  Unlike the previous 3 Extra Times (where Russia and Croatia were part of) it was not scoreless as Croatia scored in the 101' but Mario Fernandes matched it in the 115' sending the match to the PSO.  Since both teams Round of 16 matches went to PSOs, both teams have played 240 minutes of soccer.  With the PSO tied at 1, Fernandes became the first player to not hit the PK on target in this World Cup, hitting it wide left.  That was all Croatia needed as they hit their next three to win 4-3 to make the semis for the first time since '98. 

Walleye was one of two (USA 2026 WC Champs the other (22nd-T, 94)) to get 3 of the 4 Semifinalists to jump to a tie for 4th (101 pts) and is one of three who could win the pool if France makes the Final.  Flying Elvi remains in first (105) with his GER champ pick and can win if Belgium loses in the Final while Stillcryin4USA (16th-T, 96) will win if Belgium wins the World Cup.  11 others can win money in the 8 different scenarios listed here:

2018 HWCI Men's World Cup Pool - Final Four Possibilities
---------------------------------------------------------
If FRANCE beats CROATIA in the final, then the possible winners are...
                   Walleye Score: 124 (place 1 winner)
              BigRedSquare Score: 121 (place 2 winner)
           Sacre Les Blues Score: 115 (place 3 winner)
                 Sokkerbix Score: 109 (place 4 winner)
If CROATIA beats FRANCE in the final, then the possible winners are...
                   Walleye Score: 110 (place 1 winner)
              BigRedSquare Score: 107 (tiebreak: 4.5 | 2nd if <=5 | 3rd if >=6)
             Blitzkreig813 Score: 107 (tiebreak: 6.0 | 3rd if <=5 | 2nd if >=6)
                  Bigblue2 Score: 106 (tiebreak: 5.5 | 4th if <=5)
     FernandoHierrosArmada Score: 106 (tiebreak: 6.0 | 4th if >=6)
If FRANCE beats ENGLAND in the final, then the possible winners are...
                   Walleye Score: 133 (place 1 winner)
              BigRedSquare Score: 121 (place 2 winner)
           Sacre Les Blues Score: 115 (place 3 winner)
                 Sokkerbix Score: 109 (place 4 winner)
If ENGLAND beats FRANCE in the final, then the possible winners are...
                   Walleye Score: 119 (place 1 winner)
                    Roban3 Score: 109 (place 2 winner)
              BigRedSquare Score: 107 (tiebreak: 4.5 | 3rd if <=5 | 4th if >=6)
             Blitzkreig813 Score: 107 (tiebreak: 6.0 | 4th if <=5 | 3rd if >=6)
If BELGIUM beats CROATIA in the final, then the possible winners are...
            Stillcryin4USA Score: 119 (place 1 winner)
           Gimme Your Mane Score: 116 (place 2 winner)
     Kona Coast Soccer Uno Score: 115 (place 3 winner)
               Flying Elvi Score: 114 (place 4 winner)
If CROATIA beats BELGIUM in the final, then the possible winners are...
               Flying Elvi Score: 114 (place 1 winner)
     Sarachan 4 U.S. Coach Score: 110 (place 2 winner)
                Poolraider Score: 108 (place 3 winner)
            Stillcryin4USA Score: 105 (place 4 winner)
If BELGIUM beats ENGLAND in the final, then the possible winners are...
            Stillcryin4USA Score: 119 (place 1 winner)
           Gimme Your Mane Score: 116 (place 2 winner)
     Kona Coast Soccer Uno Score: 115 (place 3 winner)
               Flying Elvi Score: 114 (place 4 winner)
If ENGLAND beats BELGIUM in the final, then the possible winners are...
               Flying Elvi Score: 114 (place 1 winner)
     Sarachan 4 U.S. Coach Score: 110 (tiebreak: 6.0 | 2nd if <=6 | 3rd if >=7)
                   Walleye Score: 110 (tiebreak: 6.5 | 3rd if <=6 | 2nd if >=7)
                    Roban3 Score: 109 (place 4 winner)

As for the $40 Bonus, only three can win it since UEFA will finish with 13 wins (of 15 knockout matches) as only UEFA teams are left.   That means UEFA will be the Winningest Region with 13 wins.  Only 3 entries had this by the way they picked their bracket.  Krispy Kremer (71st, 78) wins the Bonus if the total goals scored in the 3rd place and Final matches is 8 or more (not including PSO goals).  Note that if Croatia beats France and the total goals (3rd+Final) is 5 or less, then Bigblue2 (13th-T, 95) will win 4th and won't be eligible for the Bonus.  There is also a chance of a 3-way tie for some scenarios if the total goals is 7 (that would be $13.33 each).  Here are the simplified Bonus Possibilities:

2018 HWCI Men's World Cup Pool - Bonus Possibilities
----------------------------------------------------
If FRANCE beats CROATIA in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Flying Elvi (tiebreak: 5.5 | Tied if <=6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
                Bigblue2 (tiebreak: 5.5 | Tied if <=6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
           Krispy Kremer (tiebreak: 8.5 | 3-way Tie if =7 | Wins if >=8)
If CROATIA beats FRANCE in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Flying Elvi (tiebreak: 5.5 | Wins if <=5 | Tied if =6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
                Bigblue2 (tiebreak: 5.5 | Tied if =6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
           Krispy Kremer (tiebreak: 8.5 | 3-way Tie if =7 | Wins if >=8)
If FRANCE and ENGLAND in the final, then the possible winners are...
             Flying Elvi (tiebreak: 5.5 | Tied if <=6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
                Bigblue2 (tiebreak: 5.5 | Tied if <=6 | 3-way Tie if =7)
           Krispy Kremer (tiebreak: 8.5 | 3-way Tie if =7 | Wins if >=8)
If BELGIUM is in the final, then the possible winners are...
                Bigblue2 (tiebreak: 5.5 | Wins if <=6 | Tied if =7)
           Krispy Kremer (tiebreak: 8.5 | Tied if =7 | Wins if >=8)

Eric's "Foster's Football Brew", a HWCI EURO Pool staple, is back, already four issues in.  If anyone else wants to contribute, let me know.  Anyone else going to Russia and want to send pictures or mini-reports?

The prize distribution will be detailed at a later date (although eagle-eyed viewers will already have seen the distribution). 

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:  [60 Matches / 13 Ties] Goals: 157 (2.68/match) [Own: 11 (4-MARvIRN, 5-AUSvFRA, 8-NGAvCRO, 15-POLvSEN, 17-EGYvRUS, 33-RUSvURU,  42-SUIvCRC, 44-MEXvSWE, 46-TUNvPAN, 51-RUSvESP, 58-BRAvBEL), Subs (incl. Own): 13 (1-RUS 70', 4-MAR {og} 90'+5, 29-BEL 90', 30-ENG 78', 32-JPN 78', 35-IRN 90'+3, 36-MAR 81', 36-ESP 90'+1, 42-SUI 88', 50-ARG 90'+3, 54-BEL 74', 53-BRA 88', 54-BEL 90'+4, 58-BRA 76'),  Stoppage: 19 (1-RUS +1, 1-RUS +4, 4-IRN +5 {GW}, 14-ENG +1 {GW}, 23-CRO +1, 25-BRA +1 {GW}, 25-BRA +7, 27-GER +5 {GW}, 28-KOR +3, 29-TUN +3, 34-KSA +5 {GW}, 35-IRN +3 {GT}, 36-ESP +1 {GT}, 42-CRC +3 {GT}, 43-KOR +3 {GW}, 43-KOR +6, 50-ARG +3, 54-BEL +4 {GW}, 56-COL +3 {GT}), Extra Time: 2 (59-CRO 101', 59-RUS 115')]... Scoring First: 42-5-12 (1 Nil-Nil ties [37-DENvFRA]; 26-SRB, 27-SWE, 34-EGY, 46-PAN, 54-JPN)... Lead at Half: 19-3-4 (34 ties; 26-SRB, 27-SWE, 46-PAN)... Shutout: 31 (1-KSA, 2-EGY, 4-MAR, 6-PER, 8-NGA, 10-CRC, 11-GER, 12-KOR, 13-PAN 18-KSA {2}, 19-MAR {2}, 20-IRN, 21-PER {2}, 23-ARG, 24-ISL, 25-CRC {2}, 31-POL, 33-RUS, 37-DEN, 37-FRA, 38-AUS, 41-SRB, 43-GER {2}, 44-MEX, 45-ENG, 47-JPN, 48-SEN, 53-MEX {2}, 55-SUI, 57-URU, 60-SWE)... PK: 21/28 (3-POR, 5-AUS, 5-FRA, 6-per [H], 7-arg [S], 8-CRO, 12-SWE, 14-TUN, 16-JPN, 18-EGY, 22-AUS {2}, 24-isl [H], 28-MEX, 29-BEL, 30-ENG, 30-ENG {2}, 34-ksa [S], 34-KSA {2}, 35-por [S] {2}, 35-IRN, 39-NGA, 40-ISL, 42-crc [XB], 44-SWE {2}, 50-FRA {2}, 51-RUS, 52-cro [S], 56-ENG {3})... PSO: 4 (26/39) [51-ESP:RUS 4.5 (3:4 {GGsGs:GGGG}), 52-DEN:CRO 5.0 (2:3 {sGGss:sGGsG}), 56-COL:ENG 5.0 (3:4 {GGGxs:GGsGG}), 59-RUS:CRO 5.0 (3:4 {sGlGG:GsGGGG})]... Red Card (GF/GA): 4 (2/2) [16-COL 3' {R} (1/1), 27-GER 82' {2Y} (1/0), 33-RUS 36' {2Y} (0/1), 55-SUI 90'+4 {R} (0/0)]... Multiples: 12 [Cheryshev 2 (1-RUS), Ronaldo 3 (3-POR), Costa 2 (3-ESP), Lukaku 2 (13-BEL), Kane 2 (14-ENG), Musa 2 (24-NGA), Lukaku 2 {2} (29-BEL), Hazard 2 (29-BEL), Stones 2 (30-ENG), Kane 3 {2} (30-ENG), Mbappe 2 (50-FRA), Cavani 2 (49-URU)]... Zero SOG (Shots): 4 [1-KSA (6), 12-KOR (5), 20-IRN (5), 25-CRC (4)]... Goal Line Tech (Award): 1 (5-FRA 81')... VAR: 19 (5-FRA PK+ 56', 6-PER PK+ 45', 12-SWE PK+ 63', 17-EGY PK+InBox 72', 20-IRN Off+ 62', 22-AUS PK+ 36', 25-BRA PK- 79', 24-ISL PK+ 80', 34-KSA PK+ 45'+2, 35-POR PK+ 50', 35-IRN PK+ 90'+1, 36-ESP Off- 90'+1, 39-NGA PK- 76', 42-CRC Off+ 90'+1, 43-KOR Off- 90'+3, 44-SWE PK- 29', 48-SEN PK- 17', 55-SWE PK- 90'+4, 58-BRA PK- 58')... 63%+ Poss: 13 [4-MARvIRN (63) L, 7-ARGvISL (73) T, 20-ESPvIRN (68) W, 25-BRAvCRC (69) W, 27-GERvSWE (71) W, 35-PORvIRN (68) T, 36-ESPvMAR (68) T, 39-ARGvNGA (65) W, 43-GERvKOR (70) L, 44-MEXvSWE (65) L, 46-TUNvPAN (64) W, 51-ESPvRUS (74) T-L, 55-SUIvSWE (64) L, 59-CROvRUS (64) T-W]... 25+ Shots: 5 [7-ARG (26vISL) D, 11-GER (25vMEX) L, 43-GER (26vKOR) L, 51-ESP (25vRUS) D-L, 58-BRA (26vBEL) L]... Regions (Teams/R16/QF/SF): UEFA (14/10/6/4) 27-14-17, CONMEBOL (5/4/2/-) 11-7-3, AFC (5/1/-) 4-9-3, CAF (5/-) 3-10-2, CONCACAF (3/1/-) 2-7-1, OCEANIA (-)... BEL has a 24-match undefeated streak... 5-AUS's, 14-TUN's, 17-EGY's, and 51-RUS's only shot on goal was their PK goal... FRA scored all 4 goals on 4 shots on goal against ARG and all 2 goals on 2 shots on goal vs URU... COL was the 11th team to score in stoppage time to tie or win the match... more than half the matches were tied at the half (34 of 60 (56.7%))... VAR corrected a mistaken identity 21-PER 81' and helped award two yellow cards (10-SRB YC+ 90'+8, 35-POR YC+ 83')... RUS committed 25 fouls against CRO and had 7 shots on goal which was 5 more than their previous two matches combined... BEL had previously lost to hosts KOR ('98) and BRA ('14)... 51 picked FRA and 21 picked BEL with 13 getting both (20 missed both)... BRA was picked by 23 to win the Cup and 55 had them in the semis... 7 picked ENG and no one picked CRO (72 went 0-2)... 19 only got 1 of 4 semifinalists... Tjnunes is last with 66 pts but could get 75... 71 had UEFA as their Winningest Region while 8 had CONMEBOL... 22 had UEFA with 9 wins... of the four teams, those who picked them to win the WC:  BEL (7), FRA (4), ENG (2), CRO (0)... 21 had BRA and URU ending exactly in the Quarterfinals and 58 had MEX ending exactly in the Round of 16...

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Fun to see both LA teams score 4 goals each on the same day -- and both at home playing 30 minutes apart (since LAFC match moved from 1:30 to 8 pm due to 100+ degree weather)...
Scott

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