PUTY’S WORLD CUP REVIEW & PREVIEW – June 25/26
Sam’s Safe Space for Soccer Stoolies
Hi haters™,
What a day. WHAT A DAY! Monday’s games, particularly the Group B deciders in the afternoon session, are what soccer is all about. Not the highest quality of games, but what they lacked in enterprising play was more than made up for in ball-tingling drama. Today will be hard pressed to live up to such a high bar, but the glorious mess that is Group D has the potential to give yesterday a run for its money.
So let’s take a quick peek back at the Group A and B games from Monday and then roll through what we’re looking at today from Groups C and D at Puty’s World Cup…
But first a programming announcement (posted last night):
[Hint: links at bottom of post]
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Recap – June 25
Scores from yesterday:
Groups A and B are now officially settled and six more hang in the balance, two of which will be decided today:
Before we take a look at what’s on deck though, let’s roll through a brief recap of what went down yesterday…
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SAUDI ARABIA (2) – (1) EGYPT
RUNDOWN: For all intents and purposes this was a meaningless game but kudos to the Saudis who got their asses handed to them in the first game of the tournament by Russia but got progressively better in each of the three group matches and pulled out the win. It was not without controversy, however, as the Egyptians conceded not one but two questionable penalties that went to VAR – definitely no behind-the-scenes funny business involved though I’m sure, no sir! – that ended up being the difference.
Eye for an eye, win for a win
Thoughts on Saudi Arabia?
Not very good but showed a little heart so good for them for snagging a win.
Thoughts on Egypt?
Sergio Ramos is real a POS.
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URUGUAY (3) – (0) RUSSIA
CONCLUSION: Well, wouldn’t you know it, Russia came up against a legitimate opponent and suddenly didn’t look so good. Uruguay dominated the game and was already winning even before Russia picked up a red card to seal their fate.
Thoughts on Uruguay?
Finally looked like a team that might do a little damage in this tournament, though – despite winning all three games and conceding ZERO goals in the entire group stage – it is still hard to give them TOO much credit given how historically weak this group was.
Thoughts on Russia?
Bad performance but, strangely, their style of run run run run run their balls off – definitely not on next-gen roids though, no sir! – could prove more problematic for their R16 opponent in Spain than would a more skilled team. Not that the Russkis are going to win that game but just something to keep an eye on.
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IRAN (1) – (1) PORTUGAL
CONCLUSION: I made people very, very mad on the internet for saying that Iran would advance over Portugal in the tournament and boy oh boy I praying to gods I didn’t even know existed for a minute there in stoppage time when Iran had an open look at goal to win the game and send them through…
Alas, it wasn’t to be as the Iranian put it wide and Portugal pulled out the draw, which was enough to qualify in second place.
[[VAR rant alert… skip ahead if you please]]
The game itself, like the Spain/Morocco game being played in parallel, was marred by about a dozen VAR shouts and/or actual reviews, and the number of calls that were either questionable or just plain wrong – Pique not getting red card, Ronaldo not getting red card, Iran getting tackled in the box but no penalty, ball hitting Portugal defender’s arm and Iran getting penalty (plus the two VERY questionable penalties given to the Saudis earlier) – is PRECISELY why I have been so outspoken about the fact that trying to use VAR is bullshit for subjective calls like fouls and handballs. It was absolutely used correctly in allowing Spain’s last second equalizer (we’ll get to that), but that is an objective decision and I have no problem with using it for that. Some people who have been paying attention for a long time are probably annoyed that I keep saying the same thing over and over but unfortunately a lot of people are not paying attention and that’s who my constant drumbeat on this issue is directed at. But enough of that for now.
Thoughts on Iran?
Good not great team that plays hard and had a couple chances that could have sent them through over Portugal… but they just didn’t convert. That’s World Cup soccer for you. The margins are razor thin and coming up big when it counts is all that matters… and a big reason the Legend of Ronny continues to grow.
Thoughts on Portugal?
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but it was yet another not-so-great performance from the Portuguese. People are split into two camps when it comes to this team. There are those who say this is just how they play and they will continue to do just enough to win, much as they did at Euro 2016 where they didn’t really deserve to get out of their group and dominated absolutely nobody the entire tournament… yet ended up winning the whole damn thing.
…and (imho) there are people with brains who know that lightning doesn’t not strike twice like that. But credit to Portugal, the only thing that matters at the World Cup is win and advance, and while they didn’t win they did advance.
Also, in a tournament in which everything that could go wrong for Messi, old boy finally caught a break as Ronny stepped up and got stoned by a goalkeeper who couldn’t even catch the dang ball in the first half. It ain’t much to hang your hat on for Messi, but at least it’s something.
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SPAIN (2) – (2) MOROCCO
RUNDOWN: Morocco deserved to go home with a little something in a tournament in which their performances have been far better than the results. Truth be told the North Africans could easily have won the game and bounced Spain into second place in the group but for a stoppage time goal by Iago Aspas – disallowed at first but rightly reversed to a good goal after VAR.
Offside?
Thoughts on Spain?
After looking good against Portugal, their strongest opponent (on paper) in the group, Spain has looked extremely ordinary in consecutive games against Iran and Morocco. While the Asian/African teams were likely underrated coming into the tournament they aren’t going to compare to some of the teams that Spain is going to play in the knockouts, which could be… problematic. The defense has been particularly fragile, perhaps a function of that fact that Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos – whether they admit it or not – probably hate the hell out of one another.
“Best buds”
Thoughts on Morocco?
Well-deserved consolation point. Hooray!
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PREVIEW – June 26
Schedule for today as we are about to get balls deep in Groups C and D:
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Australia (+195)
Peru (+140)
Draw (+235)
Peru has played two games, lost two games and scored zero goals. That is a pretty record. And yet one could make a legitimate argument they are the best team in this group after dominating Denmark and in many ways (not the scoreboard) getting the better of France. That is just how the cookie crumbles in soccer sometimes. My guess is they come out and put a spanking on the Aussies though, who will likely still be in mourning over the death of an unnamed teammate, murdered in broad daylight by Tim Cahill at practice yesterday. Sad!
Peru to win 2-1.
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Denmark (+360)
France (+110)
Draw (+170)
France has not played well enough up to this point to really deserve the label as “one of the favorites” but they certainly have the potential. On the other side of things Denmark does not deserve to be sitting on four points and in good shape to move on. My guess is the Frenchies will remind people why they were considered one of the big swinging D’s coming into the tournament. France to win 3-1.
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Iceland (+275)
Croatia (+105)
Draw (+255)
I slept on Croatia coming in and they stuffed me in a locker (jokes on them though cause I’ve been here so much it and Tottenham losing are my happy places). Their midfield was as good as advertised and the team itself does not appear at all affected by the legal issues surrounding several key guys (eg, Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren). Iceland on the other hand is precisely who we expected, and is totally dependent upon set pieces and opponents making defensive errors. Any game involving my guy Lovren has the potential for some howlers, of course, but Croatia have looked solid enough that I’m done doubting them – for the moment anyway. The one big, big, BIG caveat about this game that you should keep in mind if your brain is saying “holy moly those are great odds on Croatia” is that the team has nothing to play for and may end up resting some guys, while Iceland still has a shot at advancing (if, say Argentina/Nigeria draw, which is certainly possible)… so worth keeping that in mind. Nevertheless, I’m going with Croatia to win 2-0.
Still got ugly jerseys doe
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Nigeria (+500)
Argentina (-200)
Draw (+340)
Argentina could show signs of having the quality that led them to three straight finals (WC14 and Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016) or they could absolutely crumble and look like the team that lost all three of those finals and is now being held together by sticks, chewing gum and an overburdened mini-god named Messi. Nigeria is a game opponent and will come in knowing (or at least thinking) they can play with Argentina after having beaten them 4-2 in a friendly last fall. This game could legitimately go a million different ways. So let me be clear about this: I would not touch this game from a gambling perspective with your money. Argentina could explode for a bunch of goals or they could collapse in on themselves and complete the implosion process that began against Croatia last week. Needless to say, the crystal ball is mighty hazy on this one but I’m going with not a lot of defense and Argentina to win 3-2.
Ah, memories of simpler times…
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So there we have it. I’m going to put out a blog later with the official “unveiling” but just between you and me the latest episode of PUTY’S WORLD CUP PODCAST…is now officially up on all (or at least most? I hope??) relevant podcast platforms, so pretty please with whip cream and sprinkles on top download, subscribe, review – and do it all again for good measure just in case!
Note: next episode coming Friday morning!
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Holler,
Samuel Army