World Cup - Day 15
So last day before the Round of 16.
First game is the much anticipated Brazil vs. Portugal. Both teams are top 5 in FIFA rankings and both have looked good. Both teams are essentially in the next round so the outcome is more about seeding.
The 2nd morning game is North Korea Ivory Coast. Sadly Ivory Coast would need a Portugal loss and to make up like 9 points in goal diff to pass to the next round.
In the afternoon we start with Chile and Spain, both very good teams (Chile was #2 in the CONMEBOL conference). Spain needs a win as they currently sit tied with Switzerland with 3 points (and up 1 on goal difference). Chile needs at least a tie to pass first. If they lose then it all depends on the other game. If the Swiss beat Honduras and Spain wins you would have a 3 way tie with 6 points and it'll come down to goal difference.
This game is so much better than Spain Chile right now. Very fast paced. Swiss are fighting for their lives and pushing hard.
It's a lot like the end of the US-Algeria game. End to end stuff with some questionable finishing.
How many times can Honduras screw up these breaks?
How many new and interesting ways can the Swiss keep missing oppoortunities in the box?
There have been at least 15 scoring chances in the last 15 minutes. No goals. Exciting each time.
And offsides. That's a new one for the Swiss.
Chile and Spain have clearly decided that nothing good can come from attacking.
AHHHHH HONDURAS!!!! How do you not get one of any of those 3 players to just tap it in?
How? They're a Concacaf side thats how.
Spain-Portugal and England-Germany are massive games for the round of 16. Brazil - Chile looks extremely exciting as well.
And even Ghana-U.S. is a revenge game for '06. The next few days should be really fun.
All five South American nations through to the second round. This must be the fewest European teams in the round of 16 ever.
5 South America
2 Concacaf
1 African
2 Asian
6 Euro
The Europeans always struggle when the tournament is outside of Europe. It's hard to compare to past tournaments because the field used to be smaller. Here is a quick sample:
Mexico '70 Quarters:
3 South America
4 Europe (including the Soviets)
1 Mexico
Argentina '78 (No knock out round, two group stages)
5 Europe
3 South America
Mexico '86 (round of 16)
10 Europe
4 South America
1 Morocco
1 Mexico
OK, here's what's bugging me: all this overanalysis of why the African teams didn't do so hot this year. "It's the weather." (Then why did Mexico and Brazil and Argentina and Spain do just fine?) "It's the European coaches." Come on.
- Ghana did just fine. Overachieved, even.
- South Africa and Algeria suck. RSA definitely overachieved.
- Cote d'Ivoire got stuck in a group with Brazil and Portugal.
- Only Cameroon and Nigeria could be said to have underachieved, and their groups were no picnic, and Nigeria's downfall was helped a bit by the second-worst flop of the Cup so far.
Only one Africa side made it through in '06, too: Ghana again. Why the sudden expectation for African sides to do super great? I don't buy that they should just because it's on their continent.