2014 World Cup 12 Day Report
Our CONCACAF advisory stands, no patsies here. Mexico and Costa Rica are in, US (should have been in) and Honduras, TBD.
Qualified for the round of 16: Group A: Brazil, Mexico Group B: Netherlands, Chile Group C: Colombia, TBD Group D: Costa Rica, TBD Group E: TBD, TBD Group F: Argentina, TBD Group G: TBD, TBD Group H: Belgium, TBD
Colombia 2 - Ivory Coast 1 Ivory Coast dominated, Colombia victimized their weak backline to advance. Either team could face Costa Rica, Italy or Uruguay in the quarterfinals. Ivory Coast can qualify with a win, or draw vs Greece and Japan loss to Colombia.
Uruguay 2 - England 1 After riding the pine vs Costa Rica (bookings) Liverpool striker Suarez knocked in 2 goals to send the Brits home. Italy are next with Uruguay needing a win to advance.
Japan 0 - Greece 0 The aggressive Japanese dominated, the Greek defense showed up. To advance: Greece must win vs Ivory Coast. Japan must win vs Colombia with Ivory Coast loss/draw.
Italy 0 - Costa Rica 1 The Italians should have taken heed of our CONCACAF advisory. Horribly absent in all phases of the game, they mailed a postcard in from the beach and lost accordingly. Costa Rica played well enough to advance. The Italians must tie Uruguay to advance, a +2 goal win and Costa Rica loss to England would give them the group.
Switzerland 2 - France 5 The French made fondue out of the Swiss. Their first two goals 67 seconds apart, it was 5-0 at 72' when they decided to take the rest of the game off. France need a win/draw vs Ecuador to advance and will likely face Nigeria/Iran then Germany.
Honduras 1 - Ecuador 2 Ecuador came back from 1 goal down in a fairly even game in which Honduras missed by "that much". To advance: Honduras need a win vs Swiss and a Ecuador loss. Ecuador must overcome France and hope the Swiss loss/draw vs Honduras.
Argentina 1 - Iran 0 The Argentine's dominated and needed a Messi goal at 90' to avoid the draw. Iran can advance to face France with win over Bosnia and Nigeria loss to Argentina.
Germany 2 - Ghana 2 The Germans showed they are human. Gotze struck first for the Germans at 51', Ghana rallied for the lead with a 10 minute flurry, Ayew 54' & Gyan 63', sub Klose at 71' with the equalizer for Germany.
Nigeria 1 - Bosnia 0 Snakebitten Bosnia (own goal cost them a draw vs Argentina) dominated but could not manage a goal and got their ticket home punched. Should they hold off Argentina, Nigeria will likely advance to face France.
Belgium 1 - Russia 0 A listless match in which both sides seemed to be playing for a draw. The Belgians netted the winner at 88'. To advance: Russia now need a win vs Algeria and S. Korea loss/draw vs Belgium, or a win and S. Korea win.
South Korea 2 - Algeria 4 Wide open, lots of offense and little D. Algeria are the first African side to ever score 4 goals in a WC match. To advance: Algeria need a win vs Russia or draw and S. Korea loss/draw to Belgium. S. Korea need a win vs Belgium and Algeria/Russia draw, or a win and Algeria loss.
USA 2 - Portugal 2 Coming back from 1 - nil to take a 2-1 lead, the US demonstrated tenacity and better ball handling skills, offensively. The US had their ticket to the knockout round punched, with completely inept defensive ball handling they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
With 5' supplemental, on two occasions the US could have run the ball into the Portuguese corner and wasted ample time. Instead, opting to pass into the center, they gave up possession and allowed precious time for the Portuguese to obtain a draw at exactly 95'. No team from this group has been eliminated and now the US must negotiate a draw with Germany for both to advance.
Netherlands 2 - Chile 0 A spirited match in which the Dutch only needing a draw, played to win and dispatched Chile to play Brazil. Without striker VanPersie (bookings) twin sub goals @ 77' & 90' validated their winning Group B.
Australia 0 - Spain 3 The Roos were overmatched as the reigning champion Spaniards, left Brazil with bruised pride, a shutout win and 3 goals.
Cameroon 1 - Brasile 4 A listless side from Cameroon were sent packing by the home team who will next face a familiar foe - Chile. Cameroon managed their only goal in 3 games vs a suspect Brazilian backline.
Croatia 1 - Mexico 3 How Mexico finished #4 in CONCACAF and needed a playoff victory to arrive in Brazil is beyond me. Mexico only needed a tie and played in dominating fashion to eliminate a good Croatian side. We suspect Mexico's next match vs the Netherlands will be one of the best this Cup has to offer.
Qualified for the round of 16: Group A: Brazil, Mexico Group B: Netherlands, Chile Group C: Colombia, TBD Group D: Costa Rica, TBD Group E: TBD, TBD Group F: Argentina, TBD Group G: TBD, TBD Group H: Belgium, TBD
Colombia 2 - Ivory Coast 1 Ivory Coast dominated, Colombia victimized their weak backline to advance. Either team could face Costa Rica, Italy or Uruguay in the quarterfinals. Ivory Coast can qualify with a win, or draw vs Greece and Japan loss to Colombia.
Uruguay 2 - England 1 After riding the pine vs Costa Rica (bookings) Liverpool striker Suarez knocked in 2 goals to send the Brits home. Italy are next with Uruguay needing a win to advance.
Japan 0 - Greece 0 The aggressive Japanese dominated, the Greek defense showed up. To advance: Greece must win vs Ivory Coast. Japan must win vs Colombia with Ivory Coast loss/draw.
Italy 0 - Costa Rica 1 The Italians should have taken heed of our CONCACAF advisory. Horribly absent in all phases of the game, they mailed a postcard in from the beach and lost accordingly. Costa Rica played well enough to advance. The Italians must tie Uruguay to advance, a +2 goal win and Costa Rica loss to England would give them the group.
Switzerland 2 - France 5 The French made fondue out of the Swiss. Their first two goals 67 seconds apart, it was 5-0 at 72' when they decided to take the rest of the game off. France need a win/draw vs Ecuador to advance and will likely face Nigeria/Iran then Germany.
Honduras 1 - Ecuador 2 Ecuador came back from 1 goal down in a fairly even game in which Honduras missed by "that much". To advance: Honduras need a win vs Swiss and a Ecuador loss. Ecuador must overcome France and hope the Swiss loss/draw vs Honduras.
Argentina 1 - Iran 0 The Argentine's dominated and needed a Messi goal at 90' to avoid the draw. Iran can advance to face France with win over Bosnia and Nigeria loss to Argentina.
Germany 2 - Ghana 2 The Germans showed they are human. Gotze struck first for the Germans at 51', Ghana rallied for the lead with a 10 minute flurry, Ayew 54' & Gyan 63', sub Klose at 71' with the equalizer for Germany.
Nigeria 1 - Bosnia 0 Snakebitten Bosnia (own goal cost them a draw vs Argentina) dominated but could not manage a goal and got their ticket home punched. Should they hold off Argentina, Nigeria will likely advance to face France.
Belgium 1 - Russia 0 A listless match in which both sides seemed to be playing for a draw. The Belgians netted the winner at 88'. To advance: Russia now need a win vs Algeria and S. Korea loss/draw vs Belgium, or a win and S. Korea win.
South Korea 2 - Algeria 4 Wide open, lots of offense and little D. Algeria are the first African side to ever score 4 goals in a WC match. To advance: Algeria need a win vs Russia or draw and S. Korea loss/draw to Belgium. S. Korea need a win vs Belgium and Algeria/Russia draw, or a win and Algeria loss.
USA 2 - Portugal 2 Coming back from 1 - nil to take a 2-1 lead, the US demonstrated tenacity and better ball handling skills, offensively. The US had their ticket to the knockout round punched, with completely inept defensive ball handling they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
With 5' supplemental, on two occasions the US could have run the ball into the Portuguese corner and wasted ample time. Instead, opting to pass into the center, they gave up possession and allowed precious time for the Portuguese to obtain a draw at exactly 95'. No team from this group has been eliminated and now the US must negotiate a draw with Germany for both to advance.
Netherlands 2 - Chile 0 A spirited match in which the Dutch only needing a draw, played to win and dispatched Chile to play Brazil. Without striker VanPersie (bookings) twin sub goals @ 77' & 90' validated their winning Group B.
Australia 0 - Spain 3 The Roos were overmatched as the reigning champion Spaniards, left Brazil with bruised pride, a shutout win and 3 goals.
Cameroon 1 - Brasile 4 A listless side from Cameroon were sent packing by the home team who will next face a familiar foe - Chile. Cameroon managed their only goal in 3 games vs a suspect Brazilian backline.
Croatia 1 - Mexico 3 How Mexico finished #4 in CONCACAF and needed a playoff victory to arrive in Brazil is beyond me. Mexico only needed a tie and played in dominating fashion to eliminate a good Croatian side. We suspect Mexico's next match vs the Netherlands will be one of the best this Cup has to offer.
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