World Cup Day 9 Open Thread
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)
And at least in my opinion, everything that was karmically deserved for the way they qualified in the first place.
The handball against Ireland. Forgot about that.
Plus - although this is not France's fault in the least - the format change midway through the qualification, where the playoff went from a totally random draw of second-place group finishers to having the top five ranked teams in one pot and the next five in another. FIFA should never have allowed that.
I totally forgot about that, too. You could write a book with "FIFA should have never allowed..."
Not that he didn't get away with one (actually it was a double-handball), but I thought it was unfair how Henry got destroyed in the press afterwards and forced to apologize for a reflex action.
France's failure to qualify for '94 was one of the most unbelievable things. All they needed was to get one point in their last two games, against Israel and Bulgaria, but they shockingly lost to Israel and then, in the final minute of a tie game against Bulgaria (when all they had to do was kill the clock), this happened:
"Ten seconds from the end!" the stunned announcer repeats after the goal.
Like 'em or not, the French are never boring.
I wonder what Samir Nasri and his girlfriend think right now?
I don't know, but he seems to be happy.
I'm not saying France aren't good (clearly they are...very good) but man the Swiss look terrible today.
I thought today's match would be much more competitive than its turned out to be. Credit to France as well, they are running over, around and through the Swiss defense. Scary team to meet in the knockout stage.
France bringing Giroux in was the spark they needed offensively, but the Swiss defending and goalkeeping was really shocking (insert Swiss Cheese joke). I feel awful for the Swiss coach who they keep showing close ups of... must be a nightmare for him.
Giroud and Benzema are so tough...couldn't believe DD didn't start Giroud in the first match.
Hitzfeld is a legend, too...he's retiring from the Swiss job after the tournament (been there since 2008).
74 goals this world cup.
One Shining Moment is going to be like 30 minutes long this year!
Honduras:
Valladares (c), Figueroa, Bernardez, Izaguirre, Bengtson, Costly, Garcia, Espinoza, Garrido, Claros, Beckeles
Ecuador:
Dominguez, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes, Noboa, Montero, Ayovi, Caicedo, E. Valencia, Minda, A. Valencia (c)
Okay, Honduras, don't let CONCACAF down now.
Tomorrow I have this thing called "LIFE" to contend with and will be on the road so one of you SOCCAH loving friends will probably need to start this thread.
Foul is assessed, then both players are up and running. Must have got some dirt in their vaginas.
Karim Benzema is having an all-time insane World Cup... He's on my fantasy team and it has been crazy.
3 goals
A legitimate goal ruled an own goal instead
2 assists
1 missed penalty
A goal at the end of the game disallowed for coming one second after the dumb ref blew for time.
Jumped in the wall on a soft shot-- for no reason!- to cost France the clean sheet
Amazing! He should be in for the Golden Boot with 6 goals, but he only has 3! *ha*