El Tri (Mex) 2 v Bafana Bafana (S. Africa) 0 – Estadio Azteca*
Soooo many red cards. Mexico had been in the opening game of a world cup 6 times before today, and they were 0-6 in those games. The last three African teams to open a world cup had all won. None of that mattered today. Mexico was never really challenged by South Africa as they got an easy first goal in the first 15 minutes of the game. They should have gotten at least one more goal before half (one of their dumb dumbs duffed a shot so badly that it nearly went off his heal). Then the second half happened and South Africa decided it was not really interested in playing more than three games this world cup. A straight red** for taking down a goal scorer 3 mins in to the half pretty much sealed it. Then Raul Jimenez scored (we like this guy because of what he has overcome) and did seal it. The Bafanas then got a second straight red for good measure (you can’t slap people in the face). Feeling left out though, while it was 11 v 9 players, Mexico got a straight red card for no good reason. South Africa, not wanting to squander a golden opportunity, apparently decided to practice a new freekick for the first time that only one guy had in his head and did not share with the class. With South Korea and Czechia rounding out group A, South Africa (minus 2 starters) seems poised to get a solid fourth in the group.
Funnies Break
Mexico’s coach has an unusually large mouth
The refs look like cyborgs
Tigers of Asia (S. Korea) 2 v The Representatives (Czechia) 1 – Estadio Guadalajara
The Tigers of Asia look good and Son-Hueng Min looks excited to lead them. First half was Korea looked dominate and Son probably should have scored, but ended 0-0. The second half was much of the same, Korea wanted to and was close to scoring. But then, 58th min, and against the run of play, Czechia with the a long-throw-set-play goal. (Sidenote – long throws are making a big time comeback and i love it). Korea didnt pout, and in the 66th they got their first goal. Ten minutes later it looked like Czechs had done it again from another set play, buuuuuttttt turns out they were offsides. 3 minutes later, S. Korea goal!!! Clinical. Classic attacking pattern and executed perfectly. 81 – incredible save by S. Korea (another long throw almost goal, gotta love the long throw). 90+2, hell of a save by S. Korea to keep the lead.
Water Break Rant (hold on to your butts) – Back on May 31, a young man was watching the USA v Senegal game and writing some notes, this is what he said (focus on the part inside the blue box):
Fast forward to June 11, we get to minute 24 of the Mex/S. Africa game, we have a water break and BAM!!! COMMERCIAL BREAK!!!!! For people that have not watched soccer before today, it is important for you to understand that before today there has never been a commercial break during the running clock of a half of a soccer game. In fact, soccer has often been ridiculed in the US because of the lack of breaks in the game. Water breaks are not new. We did them when we were young playing in 112 degree weather, they have been in the world cup before. But before, the water break was a very quick thing (maybe a minute), where the players had to stay on the field, they had to be handed liquids from the bench, the refs would tell them to hurry up and warn them from stepping off the field, and then they would go back out and keep playing. All the while the camera would linger on the players and the announcers would tell you something interesting or give an overview of the game so far. It was definilty a break in the action, but not more than a foul around the box with a free kick. Now, they have made the breaks 3 minutes long, the players are going off the field, they are sitting on the bench, the coach is getting the computer out to show them something, and THEY ARE GOING ON COMMERCIAL BREAK! (Seems to resemble timeouts found in basketball or football, what a coincidence) The greed and arrogance to do this is beyond what I can put down in thoughts. It is insane! Maybe I am just an old man yelling at clouds, but having a commercial break outside of halftime is infuriating me and ruining my experience of watching soccer games. That is not how a soccer game should flow, it is not how it has ever been played. Part of soccer is that you are sprinting 10k while someone is actively trying to stop you and you have to manage all that comes with that and you only have one break to catch your breath. Now we basically have quarters just so poor old FIFA can make an extra dime to make sure they can feed their families diamond encrusted gold dusted wagu steaks while on their private jet to their week-long yacht trip (but they could not even get the biggest yacht available that week because that cost $1 mil and they could only afford to pay $600k). It is crazy that the game clock is running while we are not watching the field the clock is running on. I want to donkey kick Giano infantino right in the nuts.
Also, the water breaks are happening regardless of the weather. FIFA does not care about the players, they just want to have another spot to put commercials in. It is INFURIATING. I am angry.
*Many people believe Estadio Azteca is named after the ancient culture that once controlled much of the territory now known as Mexico. Those people are wrong. It is named after the legendary and universally beloved Pontiac Aztek.
**You can get a red card by getting two yellow cards in one game, or by getting a red card without any previous yellow cards (ie a straight red). Historically, red cards are rare and straight red cards are even more unusual as they are reserved for the most egregious fouls (think Zizi head butting the Italian in the 2006 finals). [spolier] Prettttyy freaking crazy to have three straight reds in one game. Not sure I agree with the 2nd or 3rd ones.
Tomorrow’s Games
3 pm – Canada v. Bosnia and Herzegovina
9 pm – USA v Paraguay (time for everyone to lock in)
The Un-Informed Expert's World's Cup Newsletter 
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