World Cup Day 9 Open Thread

Submitted by skurnie on

Happy Friday to everyone. After two incredible matches (and Greece/Japan) yesterday, we get more good group action including CONCACAF in two matches and a good European battle between the French and Swiss.

Group D

Italy - Costa Rica 12pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

Group E

Switzerland - France 3pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

Honduras - Ecuador 6pm EDT (ESPN / Univision / Watch ESPN)

skurnie

June 20th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^

As an aside, someone mentioned yesterday that the afternoon games have been better than the 6pm games. That's because FIFA schedules the European powerhouses (Eng/Italy/Germany/Netherlands/etc) during the day to ensure prime time viewing in Europe.

The only 6pm games you'll see with European nations: Croatia, Greece, Russia, BIH. Otherwise you'll get Western Hemisphere teams (like today), Africa or Asia-Pacific nations. 

I'm not saying that diminishes the quality of the matches but it might have something to do why all the big first round matchups (Dutch/Spanish, Eng/Italy, Germany/Por) were earlier in the day.

Next week the matches split between 12pm EDT and 4pm EDT for the final round of the Group Stage.

Everyone Murders

June 20th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^

Shouldn't that be "Rich Coast"?  I mean, come on now!  You, with your hoity-toity affectations.

(Great explanation for why the Euro games are in the middle of the day, BTW.  Seems obvious in retrospect, but it had not occurred to me because of my myopic view of how the sports world should work.)

Everyone Murders

June 20th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^

Is that like a double negative?  If so, we're both being super serious on the topic.

In any event, I think we're on the same page - the whole Côte d'Ivoire sub-thread yesterday put the antics in pedantics.*  The OP is doing a nice job unofficially hosting these threads, so I thought a little towel snap on his/her behalf might be appropriate. 

*This, of course, being an invitation for someone to say that the proper word here would be "pedantry" not "pedantics".

Needs

June 20th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^

France-Switzerland is huge because the winner likely avoids Argentina and gets the runner up of what's likely the worst group.

wlubd

June 20th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^

Group D

Costa Rica is through with a win.

England is eliminated if Italy don't win.

Group E



France is through with a win and a Honduras win or draw.

Switzerland is through with a win and an Ecuador win or draw.

Ecuador is eliminated with a loss and a France win or draw.

Honduras is eliminated with a loss and a Swiss win or draw.

skurnie

June 20th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^

Italy:

Buffon (c), Chiellini, Darmian, Motta, Candreva, Abate, Marchisio, Balotelli, Barzagli, De Rossi, Pirlo

Costa Rica:

Navas, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Duarte, Bolanos, Campbell, Ruiz (c), Diaz, Gamboa, Tejeda

Zoltanrules

June 20th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^

He is a good sport and just enjoys life and playing with the guys like a kid in a city park.They should win a 2 - 1 type game today but Costa Rica  has been really pesky.

When asked about CR, Mario Balotelli said, " F@ck those  F@cking Diaz brothers, I bury those cockroaches".

 

 

 

AHM16

June 20th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^

Beauty of the World Cup is it gets your mind off of the countdown for football season by occupying your mind for one Month of the summer

Needs

June 20th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

Italy doesn't have to push forward too hard here. because of the goal difference tie breaker, they'd still go through with a.tie in.their last game if they only lose by one goal

skurnie

June 20th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^

Switzerland:

Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Inler (c), Seferovic, Xhaka, Behrami, Rodriguez, Mehmedi, Djourou, Shaqiri

France:

Lloris (c), Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Sakho, Cabaye, Valbuena, Giroud, Benzema, Matuidi, Sissoko

skurnie

June 20th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^

van Nistelrooy is mystified with the 11 Offiside calls against Costa Rica. He's even explaining how a striker should make a run. Maybe that's something Ballotelli and Prandelli should hear from someone who scored 35 goals in 70 games for his country. 

Zoltanrules

June 20th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

I really think the heat and intensity of the England game had Italy fatigued MENTALLY. They were good the first 20 minutes and then lost interest. Of course Mario is the poster boy for mental break downs. Italy better be ready for Uruguay to try and run them out of the arena.

Zoltanrules

June 20th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^

likely with a tie vs Portugal. Group H looks to be the weakest from what I have seen so far. Russia and Belgium not exactly world beaters. Fatigue seems to be a factor in some of the games due to heat / humidity. If we get  a draw or better Sunday, I'd rest many players vs Germany. Germany will probably do the same.

Mr. Yost

June 20th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^

I'm still going to watch on WatchESPN (determined to watch every minute of every match...have seen most of them live)...

...is it worth watching now and catching up with the final two matches or should I just wait until tonight? I saw the highlights.

Mr. Yost

June 20th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^

For the match where they had no sound and the anthems weren't played...

Why didn't they just have fans sing the anthem?

I know some anthems don't have words, so that would make sense, but if both did...they should've let them sing.

EDIT as I'm typing. WOW that was weird. The announcers just mentioned that it was France vs. Hondurus. And I believe both have lyrics...the French obviously do, because, well, obviously...and they just sung it, so, obviously.

skurnie

June 20th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^

Swiss goal waived off for offside and then Benzema draws a penalty (Djourou has some words for Benzema before he took his penalty).

It's saved, France hit the post and it's finally cleared. Wow. What a sequence.