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11-29-2022, 04:18 AM
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#61
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Group Play Final Round
The final round of group play begins today. Of the 16 spots available in the knockout rounds only 3 are taken - France, Brazil & Portugal. Only 2 teams have been eliminated - Canada & Qatar. The remaining 27 teams all have something at stake.
Beginning in 2026, the tournament will be expanding from 32 to 48 nations. The 48 teams will be divided into 16 groups of three. The top two teams in each group will progress to a new knock-out phase of 32. It means that 16 teams will go home after playing just two matches.
This World Cup will likely be the last time we witness the drama & tension of a final round of group play where there is so much at stake for so many teams. I'm going to savor it!
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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11-29-2022, 02:30 PM
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#62
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,708
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Congratulations to England and US, both won their matches today and are moving on. I was only able to watch part of US - Iran, but highlights of England - Wales show some very nice goals.
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11-29-2022, 02:43 PM
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#63
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,259
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Finally, a win for the USA.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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11-29-2022, 03:36 PM
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#64
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Watched the U.S. match start to finish.
The concern for the U.S. moving into the knockout round vs the Netherlands is a lack of scoring. It's been this team's Achilles heel throughout qualifying and the group stage of the WC as well.
Gregg Berhalter needs to look beyond expecting goals from the striker position. For some reason, Berhalter has a reluctance to play our most talented player, Gio Reyna. Reyna is a starter for his club team Dortmund and is highly rated. He also brings a skill set to the U.S. side that would better enable us to break down defenses. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet, has the ability to take on opponents 1 v 1 along with great vision and a high "futbol I.Q."
Getting past the Netherlands will be very difficult. Especially so if Pulisic's injury makes him unavailable along with Sargent. And if Gregg remains stubbornly wed to the same old, same old then the same result should be expected. Lack of scoring.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-01-2022, 10:10 AM
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#65
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Belgium eliminated
Considered a dark horse contender to win this World Cup, the Red Devils are on their way home after a scoreless draw with Croatia. Romalu Lukaku missed two sitters in front of the Croatian goal that could have sealed a win for Belgium.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-03-2022, 10:10 AM
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#66
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On a hill in the Pine Barrens
Posts: 9,719
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The dream is over for U.S. fans.
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12-03-2022, 10:40 AM
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#67
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by target2019
The dream is over for U.S. fans.
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As for the "dream", that is very much alive for most fans of the USMNT. Our roster was the 2nd youngest at this World Cup. And there are more, even younger, talented players making their way to Europe to compete in top 5 leagues. Expectations will be raised even higher for the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup. Most players on this current roster will be entering their prime.
For this World Cup, the baseline expectation was that the USMNT had enough talent to make it out of group play. And then depending on the draw, maybe even get to the quarterfinals.
The Dutch were the better side today. I'm looking forward to what our USMNT will have to offer going into 2026.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-04-2022, 03:02 PM
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#68
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,708
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Play always improves during the round of 16 when every match now is win or go home, and today's encounters were no exception. England looked as if they initially underestimated Senegal, but recovered and played an excellent match with 3 very nice goals. They will face France in one quarterfinal.
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12-06-2022, 09:15 AM
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#69
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Japan v Croatia
Croatia again, as they did 4 years ago, end up advancing in the tournament after prevailing in kicks from the mark. Although only a goal apiece was scored over 120 minutes of play, it was still an entertaining match between two clinical sides. Croatia's keeper was outstanding and snuffed out any hope Japan had during the taking of penalty kicks.
Additionally, the lone FIFA center referee from the U.S., Ismail Elfath, did an outstanding job managing the game. IMO, his performances so far have earned him another assignment for the quarterfinals.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-09-2022, 03:37 PM
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#70
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,708
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Best day so far in the ‘22 World Cup IMHO. Croatia clearly had a game plan which they executed well, while Brazil looked like they expected an easy day that didn’t work out. Croatia’s keeper had another great game. The English ref was also very good.
Argentina - Netherlands was an exciting match despite a poor job by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. I think he set a new record for yellow cards and he certainly didn’t control the field. The game was unnecessarily rough as a result, but they were still two top tier teams playing to their potential. The Netherlands equalizer scored just as time ran out was about as exciting as it gets.
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12-09-2022, 03:44 PM
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#71
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Best day so far in the ‘22 World Cup IMHO. Croatia clearly had a game plan which they executed well, while Brazil looked like they expected an easy day that didn’t work out. Croatia’s keeper had another great game. The English ref was also very good.
Argentina - Netherlands was an exciting match despite a poor job by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. I think he set a new record for yellow cards and he certainly didn’t control the field. The game was unnecessarily rough as a result, but they were still two top tier teams playing to their potential. The Netherlands equalizer scored just as time ran out was about as exciting as it gets.
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Missed them both!! Travel day for us. We were boarding the plane just as kicks from the mark started in the Brazil v Croatia match. That result was quite an upset considering how heavily favored was Brazil. The Croatia side has no quit in them!
Learned of the Argentina v Dutch result after we landed. Argentina is my sentimental favorite. How great it would be for Messi to finally win a World Cup.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-09-2022, 03:46 PM
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#72
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Sugar Land, Texas
Posts: 1,245
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Brazil is overrated.
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12-09-2022, 03:48 PM
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#73
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,176
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I missed Croatia-Brazil but had the Argentina-Netherlands game on while doing stuff around the house... thank goodness for cable DVR . It seemed very time I came back within range of the TV and goal had recently been scored. I did sit and watch the shootout. The fan and player emotions at the end of these games are incredible.
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FIREd date: June 26, 2018 - "This Happy Feeling, Going Round and Round!" (GQ)
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12-09-2022, 03:58 PM
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#74
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F.I.R.E User
Brazil is overrated.
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The same could be said of Spain.
I'll wager that the Spaniards completed close to 1000 passes in their loss to Morocco. Spain with the ball was like watching paint dry. For all of that knocking the ball around, the Spaniards managed an XG (expected goals) of 1.55 to Morocco's .82, yet were unable to finish - and then missed all 3 of their kicks from the mark!
Spain's performance v Morocco resembled that of 2018 in their knockout loss to Russia.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-09-2022, 04:02 PM
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#75
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,708
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Quote:
Originally Posted by candrew
Missed them both!! Travel day for us. We were boarding the plane just as kicks from the mark started in the Brazil v Croatia match. That result was quite an upset considering how heavily favored was Brazil. The Croatia side has no quit in them!
Learned of the Argentina v Dutch result after we landed. Argentina is my sentimental favorite. How great it would be for Messi to finally win a World Cup.
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The first Argentina goal started with a pass by Messi that was amazing, a real testament that he is one of the best players in the world. The highlights don’t capture it.
Someone forgot to tell Croatia they were the inferior team. From the first whistle their attitude on the pitch was that of a winner, and they never let Brazil find their rhythm.
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12-09-2022, 04:04 PM
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#76
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Morocco v Portugal
The match tomorrow between Portugal & Morocco could be interesting.
Morocco will likely play a low to mid-block and look for their opportunities in the counter attack.
Although Portugal thrashed Switzerland in the round of 16, going against Morocco's disciplined defending could pose problems.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-09-2022, 04:08 PM
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#77
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB
Someone forgot to tell Croatia they were the inferior team. From the first whistle their attitude on the pitch was that of a winner, and they never let Brazil find their rhythm.
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I'm a fan of Luka Modrić. He is certainly worthy of GOAT status as one of the most talented and technically proficient midfielders of his genre.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-18-2022, 10:57 AM
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#78
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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What a Final!
Just "WOW".
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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12-18-2022, 11:01 AM
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#79
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,708
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Quote:
Originally Posted by candrew
Just "WOW".
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+1
What an exciting match
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12-18-2022, 11:04 AM
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#80
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,349
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It will be long remembered, that's for sure.
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
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