NOT THAT THIS BLOG CONDONES SPORTING SHENANIGANS: But, given Mexico's 2-0 win over France today ...Mexico next plays Uruguay, which also needs a draw to advance. France has only one point and has to beat South Africa and hope Mexico and Uruguay don't tie their match in Tuesday's final group games.
My understanding is that because Uruguay leads in goal differential, it's Mexico which has the incentive to win here -- next round, group winner will face Greece or South Korea, group runner-up faces Argentina, and I'd say that might matter a little. Still, doesn't
everyone want to screw over
the cheese eating surrender monkeys who stole Ireland's slot?
For this post, you are sentenced to a headbutt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPD_t6L9Qec
ReplyDeleteThe Englishman at my work who is running us yanks through a world cup pool, suspects that they may collude to get a draw and bets it will be interesting to watch the game to see how blatantly they do this.
ReplyDeleteYes. Since the U.S. won't win and Ireland and Scotland are not in it, I'm really just rooting against France. And England.
ReplyDeleteDid somebody say "headbutt?"
ReplyDeleteIt brings to mind one of the all-time cases of first-round collusion, which had a side serving of historical resonance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany_v_Austria_(1982)
ReplyDeletecheese eating surrender monkeys. I laugh aloud.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if anyone has access to a television/internet feed, the Germany/Serbia match is kind of insane. The ref has yellow carded nearly every player on the pitch, and gave two to the German (Polish) striker Klose (both soft) to send him off. Serbia took the lead immediately, and since then Germany has been dominating while being down a man. The other German (Polish) forward, Podloski has missed several great chances, including a penalty kick after the Serbian defender handled the ball in the box. It has been ridiculously exciting.
ReplyDeleteListened to USA Slovenia. Disallowing Edu's goal is a net 3 point swing to Slovenia, which could well dictate who goes thru.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the replay, and it is mystifying what the ref saw. If there was a foul at all, it was on Slovenia against Bradley. By the way, the two non-disallowed U.S. goals were two of the prettiest our national team has ever taken.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the phrase "cheese eating surrender monkeys" will ever cease to be funny to me.
ReplyDeleteProbably not.
Who knew Tim Donaghy had switched to soccer?
ReplyDeleteHere's what I have after today's results.
ReplyDeleteSlovenia 4 (+1), England & USA 2(+1), Algeria 1(-1). Algeria is not eliminated.
1. USA advances with a win or a tie over Algeria, if Slovenia beats England
2. USA advances with a win over Algeria, if England beats Slovenia. England and USA are tied in points and they'll go to the tiebreaker for group victor.
3. USA advances with a win over Algeria, if England and Slovenia tie. Slovenia also advances.
4. If USA-Algeria tie and England-Slovenia tie, Slovenia advances, while USA and England are tied for second in points. Go to tiebreaker.
Or just read this at Deadspin: http://deadspin.com/5567304/what-needs-to-happen-for-the-us-team-to-advance
ReplyDelete6th tiebreaker is a coin toss.
Removed for TOU violation. Who's the tattletale?
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to call either goal pretty when both resulted from the Slovenian goalkeeper flinching instead of raising his arms to block the shot that barely went over his head.
ReplyDeleteThe Edu non-goal, however, was pretty, other than all the Slovenian holding in the box.
USA needs to beat Algeria (or a draw and help from Slovenia) to get through. And if we can't beat Algeria, we don't deserve to get through. Oddly, Group C second place may end up better off than Group C first place if Germany finishes second in Group D.
Separately, how did England get a top-seven seed?