A Kentuckian's Guide to the World Cup Semi-finals
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This is Adriana Lima changing your channel back to the Copa.[/caption]
Ãgua mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. Well, only the toughest and best four teams are left and it's been a pretty incredible run so far, hasn't it? Even though the US bowed out in the round of 16 (Damn you Belgium!) this has been the best Copa del Mundo that I think I've ever watched. There are more games going into extra time than ever, there have been some amazing goals, and teams playing way above their punching weight. That being said, we've ended up with 4 pretty mainstay teams. Between the four of them, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and Argentina have won 10 World Cups, and been runners-up in 11 finals. This is a group with a great pedigree. Since this year has seen the explosion of ratings for the World Cup and because interest seems higher than ever (and because I'm Samba K) I present to you the Kentuckian's guide to the Semi-finals (Final Four, we'll call it) of the World Cup.
Brazil
Official Team Nicknames: Canarinho (Little Canary), A Seleção (The Selection)
Pedigree: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002) Runner-Up (1950, 1998) Third Place (1938, 1978)
Road to the Semis: Brazil has had one of the more challenging roads to the Final Four. They won Group A by winning two games and drawing one. The opening game was the controversial 3-1 win against Croatia. Then came the famous 0-0 draw with Mexico in which Guillermo Ochoa was otherworldly. The team then unceremoniously annihilated Cameroon 4-1 in route to a birth in the Round of Sixteen. This was the super-tense PK game between Brazil and Chile where Neymar shot the winning PK in gut-wrenching fashion, with the weight of the world upon him. Unfortunately for the hosts, in the next game against Colombia, Neymar was injured--breaking a vertebrae--in a sour grapes 2-1 victory.
State of the Union: Not good. Neymar, their star player, is out for the Cup with his broken back. Star Thiago Silva is out for the semi-finals with a second yellow card in the quarters. Both Hulk and Fred have looked terrible at times, and it's hard to say if the back line can keep playing as poorly as they have been recently, especially against the Germans. That being said, they're the home team. They have the weight of a nation behind them and expectations have been lowered after the loss of Neymar. If any team has the guts to win against these circumstances, it's Brazil.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 1996-1997 - This Brazil team is making a run to the semis, despite injury to one of their best players. This is analogous to the 'Cats in the '97 tournament when they made a deep run all the way to the NCAA Final despite the midseason injury to Derek Anderson. Though it hasn't yet made it to the final, Brazil plays in a similar fashion, with an amazing offensive attack, generally outscoring opponents by a sizable (for soccer) margin.
Representative City in Kentucky: Lexington - As Brazil is the home of the Brazilian team, so Lexington is the home of the Kentucky Wildcats. But the similarities... uh... don't end there? There are people in both dyeing their hair blonde. There are horses? There are very attractive women who claim both as home? There are mosquitoes? Geez, this is hard. Is there a Samba class in Lex? (Google searches say no.)
Germany (Deutschland)
Official Team Nicknames: Die Mannschaft (The Team), Die Adler (The Eagles)Pedigree: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990) Runner-Up (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002) Third Place (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010)
Road to the Semis: The Germans won Group F win two wins and a draw. They beat down Portugal 4-0 and beat the US (not in our hearts) 1-0. In another example of the Game 2 Curse, somehow they let Ghana score two goals to tie them 2-2. In the knockout rounds a fit Algerian team took Germany to the ropes before conceding a couple and losing 2-1. Germany then listlessly disposed of France (where have I heard that one before!) on their way to this appearance in the Semis.
State of the Union: It's tempting to say that things aren't good in Deutschland either, but that would probably be selling them a little short. Germany probably has the best collection of talent on the field of any team that was in the World Cup, much less the teams that are left. Players like Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mats Hummels, and keeper Manuel Neuer are world class. I could probably say the thing about most of the other players. But they haven't seemed to really mold together as a team yet, there's something that's been missing so far. The attack has been mediocre for a roster with this talent, but it hasn't been an issue so far.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 2013-2014 - A team that has the most talent, has all of the parts there to be a champion. Can Germany do what our Cats came so close to doing and close it out? Who knows, but I really think they can. They have incontestable talent at every position, just like last year's Cats, and when all of the gears are turning, they look nearly unbeatable. They had some tough games in qualifying that made people question their coach, Jogi Löw, and their heart, but they've made a deep run at the Cup that is making people into believers. It'll be interesting to see how this ends.
Representative City in Kentucky: Louisville - Louisville has it all in the Commonwealth. They have the best city economy and the most resources of any city in the Commonwealth. Similarly, Germany and all the German fans have it all when it comes to training, players, and pedigree. Can they use this to become champions? Can Louisville use it's reputation as the fanciest, richest city in the Commonwealth to grab an NBA team or some other Crown Jewel? Who knows....
Argentina
Official Team Nicknames: La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue)
Pedigree: Champions (1978, 1986) Runner-Up (1930, 1990)
Road to the Semis: Argentina, if you looked at the record on paper, would look like they've had one of the best tournaments of any team. And that's true, if you're just talking about Lionel Messi. The Argentinians won Group F in convincing fashion beating Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria in not particularly convincing fashion. The Iranian match was particularly bad until a stoppage minute miracle by Messi. In the knockout stages they came very close to allowing Switzerland through, needing extra time again, and then took care of Belgium with one excellent moment and just enough defense.
State of the Union: Even with other talent players like Higuain, there really isn't anyone on this team but Lionel Messi. Without his assists and his goals, Argentina would have probably not have even made the Cup. They've looked awfully shaky, but have somehow managed to scrape and claw their way to a win every time. But can they seriously ride just one player to a title? It happens in other sports...
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 2011 UCONN Huskies - I honestly couldn't think of a Kentucky team that rode a single player all the way to a Final Four--we're too good at recruiting for that. But if you remember the 2011 tournament (and unfortunately, you probably do) then you remember that it was the Kemba Walker team, and not much beyond that. If the Huskies could ride Walker all the way to a title, there's probably no doubt that Messi--an impossible world class player--could probably drag his team all the way to the Copa.
Representative City in Kentucky: Hodgenville - Much like the front line of Argentina, Hodgenville only has one thing going on. There's nothing wrong with the restaurants, bars, and people in Hodgenville, but they're definitely overshadowed by one thing. Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace. Lincoln is basically the Messi of Presidents, and he's it (I think I've made that point clear, especially with Di Maria out of the tournament), he's what they've got. I'm sure that Hodgenville has some stuff going for it, but how much do they probably piggy back off of the national birthplace? Probably a little bit, at least.
The Netherlands (Holland)
Official Team Nicknames: Oranje, The Flying Dutchmen
Pedigree: Runner Up (1974, 1978, 2010)
Road to the Semis: The Dutch absolutely annihilated their competition in the group stage. A 5-1 beat-down of Spain (the team that beat them in the final of the previous World Cup) started it out. This was followed by a 3-2 victory over the feisty Socceroos of Australia, and a 2-0 drubbing of a very strong (but resting) Chile side. Things have looked less... easy in the knockout stages. The Netherlands trailed 1-0 for almost 40 minutes of an intense match against Mexico before pulling victory--frankly--out of their butts. In didn't hurt that Arjen Robben is both an amazing player and an amazing flopper. After winning that match, the Dutch needed a similar heroic effort to hold up against plucky Costa Rica in the Quarter finals. It was anybody's game when it went to penalty kicks, but the strong Dutch shooters hit true and bagged the game for Die Oranje.
State of the Union: Each game it has seemed like the Dutch have played worse and worse, yet they've won every time. Arjen Robben has been a physical force on the right wing and if he gets an opening, he's going to make the other team pay. Robin van Persie has been fairly listless in the knockout stages, but still had the temerity to hit the first penalty shot against Costa Rica. Sneijder can't quit hitting the bar. The Dutch have the second most talent in the tournament, next to Germany, and if they play to their potential they will reach the final. If not, it's anybody's guess.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 2010-2011 - This team had some great players who came on strong in the tournament to become a better team than they were though of. The Dutch are doing something similar with their team. After a loss at the 2010 World Cup, and a team implosion at the 2012 Euros, no one thought the Netherlands would do very well at this tournament. This is similar to how Brandon Knight and co. struggled during the regular season (after falling short against WVU the year before, not all the same guys but, you know) before going on a magical run to the Final Four, beating UNC and OSU along the way. This is what the Oranje have done.
Representative City in Kentucky: Barbourville - So Barbourville is a fairly blue-collar town, with a couple of real stars (Flem Sampson, Green Adams, or Supreme Court Justice Samuel Freeman Miller anyone?). This is how the Dutch operate. They've got a couple of stars in Van Persie and Robben, and the rest of the team are blue collar workers. Also, Barbourville is in the heart of Kentucky weed country, for good or bad. This is like Amsterdam, right? That's in the Netherlands... weed... smoking... stuff... just go with it.
So there's your basic guide to the last four teams. You want predictions you say? Alright... Semifinal 1: GER 2 - BRA 1 Semifinal 2: NED 3 - ARG 1 Third Place Game: BRA 2 - ARG 2 (Brazil 5:3 in penalty kicks) Final: GER 3 - NED 2 Germany your winner. The Netherlands, always the bridesmaid and never the bride. ;( Let me know what you think the ending will be on twitter (@KalanKucera) or in the comments.
This is Adriana Lima changing your channel back to the Copa.[/caption]
Ãgua mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura. Well, only the toughest and best four teams are left and it's been a pretty incredible run so far, hasn't it? Even though the US bowed out in the round of 16 (Damn you Belgium!) this has been the best Copa del Mundo that I think I've ever watched. There are more games going into extra time than ever, there have been some amazing goals, and teams playing way above their punching weight. That being said, we've ended up with 4 pretty mainstay teams. Between the four of them, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and Argentina have won 10 World Cups, and been runners-up in 11 finals. This is a group with a great pedigree. Since this year has seen the explosion of ratings for the World Cup and because interest seems higher than ever (and because I'm Samba K) I present to you the Kentuckian's guide to the Semi-finals (Final Four, we'll call it) of the World Cup.
Brazil
Official Team Nicknames: Canarinho (Little Canary), A Seleção (The Selection)
Pedigree: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002) Runner-Up (1950, 1998) Third Place (1938, 1978)
Road to the Semis: Brazil has had one of the more challenging roads to the Final Four. They won Group A by winning two games and drawing one. The opening game was the controversial 3-1 win against Croatia. Then came the famous 0-0 draw with Mexico in which Guillermo Ochoa was otherworldly. The team then unceremoniously annihilated Cameroon 4-1 in route to a birth in the Round of Sixteen. This was the super-tense PK game between Brazil and Chile where Neymar shot the winning PK in gut-wrenching fashion, with the weight of the world upon him. Unfortunately for the hosts, in the next game against Colombia, Neymar was injured--breaking a vertebrae--in a sour grapes 2-1 victory.
State of the Union: Not good. Neymar, their star player, is out for the Cup with his broken back. Star Thiago Silva is out for the semi-finals with a second yellow card in the quarters. Both Hulk and Fred have looked terrible at times, and it's hard to say if the back line can keep playing as poorly as they have been recently, especially against the Germans. That being said, they're the home team. They have the weight of a nation behind them and expectations have been lowered after the loss of Neymar. If any team has the guts to win against these circumstances, it's Brazil.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 1996-1997 - This Brazil team is making a run to the semis, despite injury to one of their best players. This is analogous to the 'Cats in the '97 tournament when they made a deep run all the way to the NCAA Final despite the midseason injury to Derek Anderson. Though it hasn't yet made it to the final, Brazil plays in a similar fashion, with an amazing offensive attack, generally outscoring opponents by a sizable (for soccer) margin.
Representative City in Kentucky: Lexington - As Brazil is the home of the Brazilian team, so Lexington is the home of the Kentucky Wildcats. But the similarities... uh... don't end there? There are people in both dyeing their hair blonde. There are horses? There are very attractive women who claim both as home? There are mosquitoes? Geez, this is hard. Is there a Samba class in Lex? (Google searches say no.)
Germany (Deutschland)
Official Team Nicknames: Die Mannschaft (The Team), Die Adler (The Eagles)Pedigree: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990) Runner-Up (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002) Third Place (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010)
Road to the Semis: The Germans won Group F win two wins and a draw. They beat down Portugal 4-0 and beat the US (not in our hearts) 1-0. In another example of the Game 2 Curse, somehow they let Ghana score two goals to tie them 2-2. In the knockout rounds a fit Algerian team took Germany to the ropes before conceding a couple and losing 2-1. Germany then listlessly disposed of France (where have I heard that one before!) on their way to this appearance in the Semis.
State of the Union: It's tempting to say that things aren't good in Deutschland either, but that would probably be selling them a little short. Germany probably has the best collection of talent on the field of any team that was in the World Cup, much less the teams that are left. Players like Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mats Hummels, and keeper Manuel Neuer are world class. I could probably say the thing about most of the other players. But they haven't seemed to really mold together as a team yet, there's something that's been missing so far. The attack has been mediocre for a roster with this talent, but it hasn't been an issue so far.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 2013-2014 - A team that has the most talent, has all of the parts there to be a champion. Can Germany do what our Cats came so close to doing and close it out? Who knows, but I really think they can. They have incontestable talent at every position, just like last year's Cats, and when all of the gears are turning, they look nearly unbeatable. They had some tough games in qualifying that made people question their coach, Jogi Löw, and their heart, but they've made a deep run at the Cup that is making people into believers. It'll be interesting to see how this ends.
Representative City in Kentucky: Louisville - Louisville has it all in the Commonwealth. They have the best city economy and the most resources of any city in the Commonwealth. Similarly, Germany and all the German fans have it all when it comes to training, players, and pedigree. Can they use this to become champions? Can Louisville use it's reputation as the fanciest, richest city in the Commonwealth to grab an NBA team or some other Crown Jewel? Who knows....
Argentina
Official Team Nicknames: La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue)
Pedigree: Champions (1978, 1986) Runner-Up (1930, 1990)
Road to the Semis: Argentina, if you looked at the record on paper, would look like they've had one of the best tournaments of any team. And that's true, if you're just talking about Lionel Messi. The Argentinians won Group F in convincing fashion beating Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria in not particularly convincing fashion. The Iranian match was particularly bad until a stoppage minute miracle by Messi. In the knockout stages they came very close to allowing Switzerland through, needing extra time again, and then took care of Belgium with one excellent moment and just enough defense.
State of the Union: Even with other talent players like Higuain, there really isn't anyone on this team but Lionel Messi. Without his assists and his goals, Argentina would have probably not have even made the Cup. They've looked awfully shaky, but have somehow managed to scrape and claw their way to a win every time. But can they seriously ride just one player to a title? It happens in other sports...
Equivalent 
The Netherlands (Holland)
Official Team Nicknames: Oranje, The Flying Dutchmen
Pedigree: Runner Up (1974, 1978, 2010)
Road to the Semis: The Dutch absolutely annihilated their competition in the group stage. A 5-1 beat-down of Spain (the team that beat them in the final of the previous World Cup) started it out. This was followed by a 3-2 victory over the feisty Socceroos of Australia, and a 2-0 drubbing of a very strong (but resting) Chile side. Things have looked less... easy in the knockout stages. The Netherlands trailed 1-0 for almost 40 minutes of an intense match against Mexico before pulling victory--frankly--out of their butts. In didn't hurt that Arjen Robben is both an amazing player and an amazing flopper. After winning that match, the Dutch needed a similar heroic effort to hold up against plucky Costa Rica in the Quarter finals. It was anybody's game when it went to penalty kicks, but the strong Dutch shooters hit true and bagged the game for Die Oranje.
State of the Union: Each game it has seemed like the Dutch have played worse and worse, yet they've won every time. Arjen Robben has been a physical force on the right wing and if he gets an opening, he's going to make the other team pay. Robin van Persie has been fairly listless in the knockout stages, but still had the temerity to hit the first penalty shot against Costa Rica. Sneijder can't quit hitting the bar. The Dutch have the second most talent in the tournament, next to Germany, and if they play to their potential they will reach the final. If not, it's anybody's guess.
Equivalent Kentucky Team: 2010-2011 - This team had some great players who came on strong in the tournament to become a better team than they were though of. The Dutch are doing something similar with their team. After a loss at the 2010 World Cup, and a team implosion at the 2012 Euros, no one thought the Netherlands would do very well at this tournament. This is similar to how Brandon Knight and co. struggled during the regular season (after falling short against WVU the year before, not all the same guys but, you know) before going on a magical run to the Final Four, beating UNC and OSU along the way. This is what the Oranje have done.
Representative City in Kentucky: Barbourville - So Barbourville is a fairly blue-collar town, with a couple of real stars (Flem Sampson, Green Adams, or Supreme Court Justice Samuel Freeman Miller anyone?). This is how the Dutch operate. They've got a couple of stars in Van Persie and Robben, and the rest of the team are blue collar workers. Also, Barbourville is in the heart of Kentucky weed country, for good or bad. This is like Amsterdam, right? That's in the Netherlands... weed... smoking... stuff... just go with it.
So there's your basic guide to the last four teams. You want predictions you say? Alright... Semifinal 1: GER 2 - BRA 1 Semifinal 2: NED 3 - ARG 1 Third Place Game: BRA 2 - ARG 2 (Brazil 5:3 in penalty kicks) Final: GER 3 - NED 2 Germany your winner. The Netherlands, always the bridesmaid and never the bride. ;( Let me know what you think the ending will be on twitter (@KalanKucera) or in the comments.
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