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.
USA Plays today!!!!! Nothing we did in the group play matters anymore. We either win or we die.
Hydration breaks are bullshit and FOX and FIFA should both burn. #boycottfox! Telemundo does not go to commercial breaks. Spread the word!
Today’s Games
Ivory Coast 1 (273) v. Norway 2 (40)
I don’t know how to feel about Norway. They were not the dominate team today, they did not look like the clearly better team, but they did exactly what they needed to do. (Ivory Coast dominant states Shots 15-9, shots on target 5-3, corners 14-3). Norway’s first goal in the 39th min, which Haaland did not score, was a beautiful solo effort from the left wing. Beautiful touches in the box and super quick shot to curl around the keeper in to the left upper 90. Before the goal the Nords had built some momentum, but Ivory Coast had the run of play. After the goal, there was some lingering Nord momentum, but quickly Ivory Coast took control again. The Nords seemed content with playing a defensive game and not risking too much. That worked until the 74th. (Norway even almost scored off a corner in the 66th but an Ivory Coast defender blocked the ball on the goal line). Finally, through a piece of individual dribbling that matches most any highlight you will ever see, Ivory Coast got their tying goal. But then Norway picked up their pace and started re-applying the pressure that got them their goal in the first half, and lo and behold, Haaland scored! It was not anything crazy or unique, but it was a goal.* Norway then closed things out and held onto the win.
Ivory Coast looked good. They had chances but they just couldn’t find the last touch.
Norway is difficult to know what they can do. They clearly are good, but are they beat-brazil-good? I don’t know. We shall see.
France 3 (316) v. Sweden 0 (68)
France is the first team with a higher population density to win in the knockouts. Interesting. France was too good. Mbappe was too good. This game could have been 4, 5, 6 to 0. I mean look these stats.
You should not be see something like that in a knockout game of the World Cup. Also they did this with four new starters in their lineup. France has an unbelievable amount of talent, by far the most talent (but talent does not always mean the best team). The fact they have been so dominant for the last 8 years (won 2018, 2nd in 2022) and look like they could continue that form, and they are still a relatively young team—this is what everyone thought the OKC Thunder were on the path to do (we still could be we just had a lot of injuries this year so it is not to say we arent/cannot but I am not crazy, we did not make it to the finals this year). France is head and shoulders above the rest, until someone can beat them.
Lets talk Mbappe for a second. He is doing things we have never seen before. What he has done and at the young age he has done it in (won a world cup at 18), the last person/only person to do the same or better is Pele. Ever heard of him? He has 18 world cup goals (second behind Messi but is nearly certain to hold that record by the time he finishes playing), he has the most goals in world cup knockout games of all time – 10; and he does all of this with a speed, skill, and genius that is hard to say we have seen ever before. This kid might be good. Enjoy him. This is not usual. Even if he did not play another game again, he is already in the ranks of all time greats.
Mexico 2 (177) v. Ecuador 0 (192)
This game started too late (lightning delay not scheduled). Mexico national anthem is way to long, like we get it, you are happy to be Mexican, but come on….we don’t need 5 minutes of singing about it.
Anyways, Mexico came out hot and freaky. They wanted the game and the stadium wanted them. However, it seemed the Ecuador was starting to stem the tide around the 17th min when they hit the post after a nice little meg in the box. Turns out they had not. In the 21st min Mexicos left wing/forward made a run that began around 15 yards from his own box all the way to shooting and scoring Mexico’s first goal. That deep of a run let him slide through Ecuador and they lost track of him. He ended up in Ecuador’s half with no defender around him. Then, Ecuador’s decided to be extra dumb idiots by giving away the ball in their half and then falling down. Raul Jimenez scored a great goal (we like Raul because of what he has had to go through). Ecuador had some chances throughout the rest of the game, but they never dominated things like Brazil, Morocco or Germany did when they went down. Turns out Ecuador was just not what people thought they were. Also, you can always tell the real character of a team when they are losing, and Ecuador’s character is of big ugly babies. Mexico, on the other hand, are looking way better than what people thought they were. More importantly, Mexico clearly has an advantage playing at home, which they will get to do again in their next game. Watch out!
Tomorrow’s Games
12 pm (noon) – England v. DR Congo – England should win this games easily. They are unquestionably the better team with better players at every position. But two things: 1) DR Congo is playing with heart and without anything to lose. That is a dangerous team to play. 2) Historically, England is not known as a domineering team that crushes teams (like France for example). I except that this will be a park-the-bus game for DR Congo, so if they can either get an early goal or prevent a goal late into the second half, it will be very fun to watch.
4 pm Belgium v. Senegal – I won’t waste any words on Belgium. I hope Senegal wins. I need them to win. Get Belgium out of my life. However, because futbol gods exist, and they are cruel. So, they will probably win (and then USA could have to play them-2014 nightmares reappear)
8 pm – USA v. B&H – What is there to say? USA has to win! THEY HAVE TO WIN!!! But, we are in an usual position of being the better team and knowing that is the case. (We have to win). B&H will be waiting for free kicks, corners, and throw ins to try and find a goal. They will try to counter, they will put the entire team behind the ball. They will make spaces tight, they will foul. (We have to win). We have the skill, we have the team, we have the heart, we have the country, we have everything we need. And, I believe . . . I believe that …. I believe that we ….. I believe that we will ….. I believe that we will win…. I Believe That We Will Win….I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!
I want each one of you to find your loved ones and tell them there is a game to watch. I want you to find a stranger and tell them there is a game to watch. I want you to, from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm to block out your calendars, silence your phones, and lock in!
*Golden Boot update: 1) Mbappe 6 goals (2 assists); 2) Messi 6 goals; 3) Haaland 5 goals*
**Crazy stat of the day – Haaland has 60 goals for Norway in just 53 games. That means he averages more than one goal per game for Norway (1.13 to be exact). That (according to wikipedia) is the 3rd best goal-per-game number of all time, and the other two guys played in 1914 and 1925. That is insane. Norway essentially gets to play like they are up 1-0 in every game because of Haaland. As a comparison, Messi and Mbappe are at 0.61; CR7 is at 0.63; and Harry Kane is at 0.70.
***Couple notes from Germany v Paraguay yesterday – Paraguay declared a national holiday today because they won yesterday. That freaking rocks. Germany lost on their 6th pk taker, apparently they had no plan for a 6th kicker and 5 players declined to take the shot. If that is true, that would be one of the worst bits of preparation I have ever heard of.
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