Lets start off with water breaks. I know I have not really touched on them but as a quick infomercial: FIFA decided that every game will have a water break because they hate soccer, then (in combination with Fox) they all decided to try and make an extra dollar by going to commercial breaks. I hope they all have a meal they saved/are looking forward that is either eaten by someone else or ruined before they can eat it. They deserve all our scorn. Turns out players agree: see van dyke clip. Also, it turns out (surprise surprise) that the water breaks are having a profound effect on the games. see tweet below. thank you Pablo for the tweet. The graphs in that tweet show that momentum is having wild swings from before and after the water breaks. I wish FIFA would stop (existing/running anything/ruining everything).
I will continue to preach the gospel of Telemundo! #BOYCOTT FOX. I love that nearly every water break the announcers make a point that they will not be going to commercial. Today I heard them talking to each other saying, we won’t go to commercial, I can’t imagine anybody would, is there anybody that goes to commercial? (paraphrasing) (they were talking in Spanish). Together we can make a change. Never forget the power you have. TELEMUNDO!
Alright now to the games. Everyone tied today, which for some teams was a win.
La Roja (so creative) (Spain) 0 v Blue Sharks (Cape Verde) 0
This was a win for Cape Verde. They had no business being in this game (they wouldn’t be in here if the tournament hadn’t expanded) [see stats] much less to get a tie. They parked the bus and didn’t move.
Spain come in as a heavy favorite to win the entire tournament. But let’s not go too crazy, it is just one game….
The Red Devils (Belgium) 1 v The Pharaohs (Egypt) 1
This was a tie. It was a good game to watch as Egypt broke out of its defensive shell on multiple occasions and had a number of chances. Belgium was Belgium ie could be good but don’t really give you anything to cheer. In fact, I will go ahead and say I am over Belgium. I no longer will believe they can do anything. If they do something cool. If they don’t, also cool. They are an incredibly frustrating team because they have a lot of talent, but they can’t ever figure out how to be a team. That said, Lukaku is pretty sick. First touch off the bench was a goal. (Don’t come at me about this, I get it was an OG but I still give to Lukaku).
The Green Falcons (Saudi Arabia) 1 v La Celeste (also creative) (Uruguay) 1
MBS is a very cool guy that everyone likes. Uruguay are really really bad at defending set pieces. They should probably work on that before the next game. Saudi Arabia, going up 1-0 before half and almost pulling it out all the way to the end, are starting to make a habit of doing something crazy in their first games (they beat Argentina in game one of the last world cup). Will they do something else? Unlikely (but not because of MBS or his wonderful efforts or investments). Uruguay, like Spain, need to wake up and do better.
Persian Cheetahs (Iran) 2 v All Whites (New Zealand) 2
Surprisingly, the most exciting game of the day. (Belgium and Egypt was a good game too but again I am over Belgium). Good job guys you still tied!
Tomorrow’s Games
3 pm – France v Senegal – this could be a good game because Senegal should be a good team, but they did not look good in the friendly against USA + France could just be too good.
6 pm – Iraq v Norway – Get ready for Erling 
9 pm – Argentina v Algeria – The Champs Are Back
12 am (midnight) Austria v Jordan – good look to anyone not on the west coast trying to watch this
The Un-Informed Expert's World's Cup Newsletter 
Leave a comment