World Cup

[cernjSHU]

Cape Verde was clearly the team of the tournament. Put Argentina in to OT and scored two goals against the reigning champs. They played their hearts out today and almost took the game into PKs.
I knew Cape Verde was fast and athletic when I saw them against Spain but they didn’t show anything offensively. But, they did show that they were more than just defensive specialists. Awesome show by them and congratulations to all Cape Verdeans for the great display of Soccer.

 

[HALL85]

Cape Verde was clearly the team of the tournament. Put Argentina in to OT and scored two goals against the reigning champs. They played their hearts out today and almost took the game into PKs.
I knew Cape Verde was fast and athletic when I saw them against Spain but they didn’t show anything offensively. But, they did show that they were more than just defensive specialists. Awesome show by them and congratulations to all Cape Verdeans for the great display of Soccer.

Egypt with lots of questionable and dirty play vs Australia. Didn’t understand the strategy of using different goalie (even though he was experienced) for the PK’s but it didn’t matter as Australia had two attempts that weren’t even on goal.

 

[HALL85]

Morocco with a strong second half, and back to back quarterfinals as they will also “tri-host” 2030 World Cup.

 

[cernjSHU]

Morocco with a strong second half, and back to back quarterfinals as they will also “tri-host” 2030 World Cup.

Morocco’s World Cup comes to an end when they play France. It’s fun to watch some of the underdogs do well. But in the end, I want ( and I think the world wants) a blockbuster Final Four with Spain v France and Argentina v Brazil/England.

 

[HALL85]

Morocco’s World Cup comes to an end when they play France. It’s fun to watch some of the underdogs do well. But in the end, I want ( and I think the world wants) a blockbuster Final Four with Spain v France and Argentina v Brazil/England.

WC is like MM. Extremely rare for an underdog like Morocco getting to final four. France looks really strong and they should roll.

How many more venues/games are on your plan?

 

[STLPirate12]

Why are we still calling Morocco underdogs? They reached the semis of the last world cup, which included knockout wins over both Spain and Portugal. They've also won a U-20 world cup and an Olympic bronze medal since then, indicating young talent and high level player development. Perhaps they're not one of the top favorites to win it all, but they're more of a dark horse than a Cinderella and have generally been expected to make a deep run and included in the group of teams considered capable of winning it.

 

[shupat08]

Yeah. It's been a weird narrative on this board that the #6 team in the world (who is ranked higher than Netherlands) has been an underdog and also upset Netherlands?

 

[Fishjam]

Yeah. It's been a weird narrative on this board that the #6 team in the world (who is ranked higher than Netherlands) has been an underdog and also upset Netherlands?

Yeah, games have been very competitive but overall its been very chalky.

The Round of 16 had only 4 teams outside the top 16 in the World Rankings. Paraguay #34 and Canada #30 had the lowest rankings and both were eliminated today. The only 2 remaining outside the top 16 are #21 Norway and #24 Egypt.

 

[hallsoccer03]

Anyone else want to make comments that it’s “just Paraguay” Or “Paraguay that bad or is USA that good?”

 

[BobbieSolo]

Yeah. It's been a weird narrative on this board that the #6 team in the world (who is ranked higher than Netherlands) has been an underdog and also upset Netherlands?

you know why

 

[cernjSHU]

Yeah. It's been a weird narrative on this board that the #6 team in the world (who is ranked higher than Netherlands) has been an underdog and also upset Netherlands?

Not really a weird narrative. They are a relatively a newcomer to this status. The previous World Cup, they parked the bus and prayed for penalty kicks. That how they beat Spain. That’s not top 10 makeup. This time around they are for real. But you just don’t think of them because they are not historically a top 10 team. Not sure what Solo is insinuating.

 

[shupat08]

Not really a weird narrative. They are a relatively a newcomer to this status. The previous World Cup, they parked the bus and prayed for penalty kicks. That how they beat Spain. That’s not top 10 makeup. This time around they are for real. But you just don’t think of them because they are not historically a top 10 team. Not sure what Solo is insinuating.

I mean. I think of them. Maybe you don't?

 

[shupat08]

Anyone else want to make comments that it’s “just Paraguay” Or “Paraguay that bad or is USA that good?”

They have definitely been a formidable opponent this WC. You and I said that from the beginning.

But the way they comported themselves yesterday was pretty embarrassing for the Paraguayan federation, players, and fans imo.