This round were are going to learn population density. For example Maine has a population of 1,421,310 and covers 35,380 square miles. So, it has a population density of 46.
As for a general note for today. Soccer is the best, the World Cup rocks, and today’s games delivered!
Today’s Games
Brazil 2 (66) v. Japan 1 (870)
Japan had a good first half and a great first goal. After that, Brazil shock it off, got up, and started flexing its muscles. It was 1-0 at half. In the first half Japan had 4 shots, in the second half they had 1. You tend to not win games that way. In the second half, it was all Brazil. In the 53 min, Japan somehow kept Brazil out by having 3 players + the goalie block the ball off the line. Then in the 56th they got their first. The rest of the half was an onslaught on Japan’s goal, but the Japanese held strong…until the 90+5 mins. With one minute left in the game Brazil got their second (well deserved) goal. Japan clearly was looking to counter the whole game and park the bus, but the second half there was no counter. Brazil not only dominated, they did it with energy and movement. They had multiple good chances in the second half, and deserved to win the game. Japan, for their part, played the game they wanted to play, but they just were too over matched.
Germany 1-3 (620) v. Paraguay 1-4 (46)
PEW PEW PEW!!! UPSET! Remember that team that USA absolutely dominated 4-1 in the first round of games? Ya, that team just be Germany!* Paraguay got a well played goal to go up 1-0 before half, and then early in the second half Germany leveled the game. It seemed like things were going to go the same way that the Brazil game had just gone. Unlike Brazil, however, Germany did not have the same movement or energy. They had plenty of chances, but they were mostly coming in as crosses from outside the box. It makes sense to do this when you have size and the other team is putting nearly their whole team in and around the box, but when that is all you do it actually is fairly easy to defend. Your team defense is not stretched and can conserve energy by staying in its shape. Also, unlike Japan, Paraguay still maintained an (meger) offensive capacity.
Then you go into extra time.** Was it a foul on the keeper or not? Germany scored in the 101 min, but it got called off because of an apparent foul on the Paraguayan keeper. I think it was a foul. It was well sold by the keeper, but in the box the keeper is always given extra protection/the benefit of the doubt. Obviously Germans will disagree, but to that I would say, you should have played better for the other 119 minutes.
Then into pks. The Germans were pretty abysmal. Their first miss was a terrible pk. Their second miss is an example of what happens when the player relies too much on trying to out wait the keeper. But then, Paraguay crumbled under pressure and missed their two game winning opportunities (to be fair Manuel Nuerer had a great save on the last shot). Improbably it was all tied at 5 shots! Germany were going to salvage their tournament! SIKE!!! We got a classic John Terry on Germany’s 6th shot and Paraguay won it.
For Germany, since winning it all in 2014, their next three tournaments they left the tournament at group stage (2018), group stage (2022), and round of 32 (2026). They have lost their spark. They are arrogant, slow, and uncreative. They need Pep Gaurdiola to coach them. They have the talent, they just need to shape it and motivate it.***
For Paraguay, as much as don’t really like them (Al-moron is a big part of that), you cant help but root for the goalkeeper (who was their star of this match)
Netherlands 1-2 (1,419) v. Morocco 1-3 (225)
What a game! If you did not love this game, you have a poop in your brain (and probably your butt). This game was free, it was flowing, it was all over the field. The first half, Netherlands was the dominate team and Morocco worked on the counter. The second half those roles switched. Both dominating teams had beautiful ball movement and tempting chances. Both countering teams went forward without pause and with purpose. This is the best of the best (goals are lovely but gameplay is even better). Then in the 72, Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Netherlands.**** Morocco did not panic. Instead, they methodically kept the dominate pressure applied until they got their first in the 90+1. Then to extra time.
Extra time was a bit of a snooze. Neither team really wanted to risk it, but Morocco remained dominate. On to PKs.
Morocco started off by losing two coin tosses in a row, not the start you would want. Netherlands first pk was confidence. Morocco first hits post. Bono fake out of the fake out! Netherlands so unlucky. I don’t know that I have ever seen a goal like that. Confident third for Netherlands. Morocco found confidence. Oh no Netherlands, you missed the goal! OH NO MOROCCO! You hit the post, AGAIN! BONO is a PK MASTER!!! MOROCCO, NIEGH NEIGH NEIGH
Also as an aside. This game had the most blood i have ever seen in one game. #soccertough
Tomorrow’s Games – All of these games are going to be the bee’s knees!
1 pm – Ivory Coast v. Norway – Will Haaland continue his scoring prowess?
5 pm – France v. Sweden – Is France’s power going to break Sweden?
9 pm – Mexico v. Ecuador – Will home field push Mexico to new heights or will Ecuador show what many thought it had?
*By the transitive property, since USA beat Paraguay and Paraguay beat Germany, USA is better than Germany. Also, since Germany beat USA in the last game before the world cup, USA is better than USA!!!
**In fútbol, extra time always consists of two 15 min periods. There is no golden goal, so even if a team scores the game goes until the end of the extra time. If you’ve been with me, you know what I am about to say. You cannot have anymore extra time than we already have. Humans cannot run any harder than these players run for any longer than these players run. An average player runs about 7 miles in a 90 minute game. It is not just running, It is dragging, sprinting, jumping, pulling, fighting all while trying to keep your touch, pass the ball, shoot the ball, and while you are trying to keep your head and concentrate on everything going on around you. There is no off switch, there is no break between offense and defense (unless you are Messi), it is a battle of stamina and wills. Now add 30 minutes to all of that. Good luck. I get that pks are as much luck as skill, but it is a thing everyone can practice and it requires an ability to control nerves. PKs will break your soul, they will crush your spirit, they take your breath. You may not like it, but it is the way (Mandalorian voice).
***If somehow Germany is playing this poorly as a protest to the corruption of FIFA, that would be awesome. (Last three world cups Russia, Qatar, North America) I, however, doubt that they are doing this.
****Gakpo just suffered an unimaginable tragedy. His girlfriend suffered a miscarriage and they lost their unborn child. That is why he (and everyone else watching) was crying after scoring.
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