PUTY’S WORLD CUP REVIEW & PREVIEW – June 17/18
Sam’s Safe Space for Soccer Stoolies
Hi haters™,
I’m back with the latest installment of Puty’s World Cup Review/Preview in which we will run through what happened today and take a quick gander at the games that are on deck tomorrow. I’ll try to make it quick and painless, include some useful info and a mix of editorialization and maybe some mild giggles, and get you off and on your way.
[Programming note: preview blogs and links to find the podcast located at bottom of the blog for anybody who has yet to see/listen to them.]
So let’s get to it…
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Recap – June 17
Three more games were played, meaning 22 of the 32 teams in the tournament have now played. Scores for the day were:
After crunching the numbers and parsing the advanced statistics, a world class panel of experts debated for many hours and eventually arrived at this interim Power Rankings among the teams that have played so far:
[Note: some of you may take issue with some of the rankings, which is fine as I am not here to stop you from being dumb and harboring incorrect opinions.]
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COSTA RICA 0 – 1 SERBIA
CONCLUSION: Ugly game with not a whole lot of interesting highlights (or even lowlights really) to mention that was ultimately decided by a moment of individual brilliance from Aleksandar Kolarov.
What did we learn about Costa Rica?
Not a ton. Solid defense with not a whole lot to offer going forward. In other words exactly what was expected. Ticos are in a tough spot now going forward with games against Brazil, clearly the most talented team in the group, and Switzerland, which could potentially make for one of this tournament’s ugliest games.
Costa Rica vs Switzerland, metaphorically
What did we learn about Serbia?
Striker Aleksander Mitrovic was disappointing up top, failing to finish off several easy chances set up by Serbia’s stacked midfielders, led by Sergej Milinkovi?-Savi?. A win is a win and puts the team in good shape atop the group, however, this type of performance is not going to be good enough get it done against… well, pretty much anybody else.
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GERMANY (0) – (1) MEXICO
CONCLUSION: One of the most entertaining games of the World Cup so far (on the same level with Spain/Portugal, albeit with far less impressive finishing), and a “famous result” for El Tri. Both teams came out throwing haymakers for the first half hour, with Mexico’s young gun Hirving Lozano scoring a nice goal in the 35th minute that totally changed the dynamic. For most of the rest of the game Mexico was content to sit back and absorb pressure, then trying to catch Germany on the counter. Germany had plenty of looks but was unable to finish any, while Mexico – especially Chicharita – wasted several 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 fast break opportunities.
What did we learn about Germany?
Solid but not impenetrable defensively, especially against an opponent that is both skilled and not intimidated. Ze Germans controlled the game after Mexico scored, but big questions remain about if and from where goals will come. There was some post-game grumbling by players, Mats Hummels in particular, about how the team’s tactics of throwing everything and the kitchen sink forward (wing backs especially) ended up leaving him and Jerome Boateng exposed at the back. This seems notable not because it is surprising – Germany won the 2014 World Cup using a similar approach – but the fact that he kinda sorta threw some teammates under the bus publicly like that may hints at the possibility of there being some truth to the whispers of internal turmoil in the locker room. It is also worth noting that one loss is not the end of the world, however, it increases the chances of a matchup – a serious grudge match – of Germany and Brazil in the first knockout round, which would be insane.
Mesut Ozil highlight reel vs Mexico
What did we learn about Mexico?
This team can play. Mexico could and perhaps even should have scored a couple more goals given the unconverted counter attack breakaways they wasted. They may have been a little fortunate not to have conceded given Germany’s pressure but aside from a handful of half (or maybe three-quarter) chances El Tri did a pretty damn good job of holding Ze Germans at bay.
PS: shouts to Rafa Marquez for appearing in his fifth – FIFTH! – World Cup… almost as impressive as not being in jail right now.
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Brazil 1 – 1 Switzerland
CONCLUSION: Disappointing performance from Brazil, which was shockingly bad in the final third. Switzerland did everything they could to make the game as ugly as possible, kicking and fouling the Brazilians (notably Neymar) anytime they looked likely to break into open space. Along those lines, bad game by the referee who seemed to lose control of the game early. Switzerland’s goal was not without controversy either as it came on a corner kick in which Steven Zuber appeared to get away with a little push off on his defender, creating the space needed to head home the cross. The push looked pretty marginal to me, and always looks a lot worse when slowed down on replay, but it raises the point of when does a push become a foul? This is precisely the problem with trying to use VAR for subjective decisions like fouls and handballs, and why it ultimately is stupid.
What did we learn about Brazil?
Beautiful goal by Coutinho but the fact the team wasn’t more dynamic in the offensive zone was incredibly disappointing. They showed all sorts of flare, with quick bursts of individual skill and sexy passing, which could ultimately coalesce into a scary attack… but at the moment looked a little disjointed.
What did we learn about Switzerland?
WHY DO YOU HATE FUN?
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PREVIEW – June 18
Tomorrow’s games don’t appear to be the most compelling on paper but, given the incredible amount of Spursiness that will be on display, suffice to say that anything could happen.
Reminder: if you want more detailed explanations for my thinking behind the picks, check out the group previews that were the past week – links at the bottom. But here is a quick and dirty run-through and some shot-in-the dark predictions…
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Sweden (+105)
Good Korea (+300)
Draw (+210)
Korea is a bit of an unknown quantity but have not looked spectacular coming into the tournament, having been held to a 0-0 draw by the same Bolivia team that the USMNT beat 4-0. Thus far the theory about Asia and Africa beginning to close the gap on some of the UEFA teams has not worked out all that well (even if Peru outplayed Denmark)… but it’s a little too early to discard at this point. I’m closing my eyes and going with a 1-1 draw.
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Belgium (-700)
Panama (+1600)
Draw (+650)
Matchup of EPL versus MLS (plus smattering of other leagues). MLS is going places but it ain’t there yet. Is there a chance Panama could pull a shocker? In a word, no. Belgium to win 4-1.
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Tunisia (+105)
England (+300)
Draw (+210)
In contrast, is there a chance that Tunisia could pull of a shocker? In a word, Tottenham. England has a remarkable capacity for finding ways to lose World Cup games and Tunisia is not a pushover but England has too much talent to pick against them in this one. An important thing to keep an eye on is Harry Kane’s ankle. If they have any hope of winning a knockout game (let alone two) they need him 100% healthy, which he was absolutely nowhere near coming down the stretch this spring. England to win 2-0.
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So there we have it. Not the kind of marquee lineup of games to get too jazzed about but, godamit, if you can’t get excited about watching World Cup soccer instead of working then that sucks for you.
In case anybody hasn’t seen them below are the previews and podcasts, with the next episode dropping sometime in the next day or two.
Group previews:
PUTY’S WORLD CUP PREVIEW (presented by Barstool) – Groups A & B
PUTY’S WORLD CUP PREVIEW (presented by Barstool) – Groups C & D
PUTY’S WORLD CUP PREVIEW (presented by Barstool) – Groups E & F
PUTY’S WORLD CUP PREVIEW (presented by Barstool) – Groups G & H
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Podcasts:
iTunes (Apple): click here
iHeart (Droid): click here [also available Stitcher and Spotify]
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Holler,
Samuel Army