WWC 2023

England - Denmark

Now we see if England is ready for realz!!

This, like the other matches, should be good!!

England up by one and causing chaos in the Danish box as the ball is crossed in.

Good stuff!!

Asleep as Columbia takes a win against Germany with a header in stoppage time. That was after Germany tied at 1 from the spot in the 89th minute.

Drama to be end!

Group play is almost over and there have been thrillers (and “boring ” blow outs) but more thrills than dull moments!

New Zealand out! Crazy! The US not straight through but sitting on GD in group.

Next weekend and the round of 16 should be good too!

Japan!!! Against the run of play breaks down the middle and scores!!

Meanwhile, Zambia goes up early against Costa Rica.

Phew!!

Another half field sprint, and a particularly deflected shot causes a bulge in the old onion sack!!

Japan 2, Espania nil

Ww!!

Nooooooo!!’

Japan breaks again!

Clean. No offsides. No foul. Third different goal scorer!!

Spain is in trouble.

(Poocorn)

I was going to say that the game of “negative splits” is about to begin.

When trailing, you try to pull back a goal before the half. If you don’t, then you have half of the second half to pull back the goal.

Defensively, you have half the time from the now until the whistle to defend.

The tension ratchets up on the trailing team. And that shows with the “two goal lead” being the most dangerous spot to win from!

Ah, momentum!!

But add a third and the fear becomes losing faith in your side. Spain is in real trouble!

And the good futbol continues!!

I think there are maybe 14 people here paying attention to the World Cup.

Anyway...

Wow on Sweden smacking Italy and Australia smacking Canada. Especially Sweden.

Looking forward to a Midnight PDT game against Portugal.

Fingers crossed for a draw or win.

US v Por

10 minutes…. Get your coffee stout and get ready!!

At the bar and nobody has ever asked….

Heathens???

A scare for the US as Portagul knocks one off woodwork latr in the maych.

They play to a tie. Ned kicked thesnot out of Vietnam.

US through. But questions are there.

Who is going to score for the front line??

Onto the 16!

Sweeden seal the deal with a late PK.

The So. Agrica v Italia has been a great match!!

Hard fought, end to end action. I was going to b&m about 11 minutes of stoppage time when RSA scores a break nearly down the middle and then the left side. No offides!!

RSA 3 - Ita 2

And there is still +5 minutes!!

Italy out!!

Past me bed time!!

I want to be hopeful, but the rest of the world has caught up to The USA. And of course they draw Sweden in the round of 16, finishing second in the group.

This is not a round of 16 match-up.

Either #1 or #3 in the world is going down in the first knockout stage. Sweden would love to knock out the USA and if their last two group games (7-0 GD) is any indication, they have some confidence the USA doesn't.

I also love collegiate softball. (Go Wildcats!) For nearly 2 decades it was UCLA and Arizona and every other team in the country.

First the SEC got good and then The Big 12. Now Oklahoma is doing what Arizona and UCLA used to do. Going 65-2 and obliterating almost everyone.

That's what is happening to the USWNT. Other countries are like all the Big12 and SEC schools that caught up to UCLA and Arizona.

Japan is scary. Yet to concede.
Austrailia is feeding off the crowd. Can't rule them out.
Netherlands, England, Denmark, and France all could win.

Jamaica didn't concede during group play, but also only scored once, still, their defense and a spot kick could get them through like Croatia in the men's world cup.

I'm gonna give my odds based on observation so far.

Sweden - 3/1
Japan - 7/2
USA - 4/1
Austrailia - 5/1
England - 6/1
Netherlands - 7/1
France - 9/1
Switzerland- 9/1
Nigeria - 10/1
Denmark -12/1
South Africa - 15/1
Jamaica - 15/1
Spain - 18/1
Colombia - 20/1
Norway - 35/1
Morocco - 50/1

And because I'm always wrong predicting sports it will probably be something else.

Round of 16

Spain has Switzerland pinned back late n the first half.

Please, talk smack! All decorum goes out the window during the game!

We all shake hands after!



Also up:

Japan v Norway
Netherland v RSA (i think)

Me: Japan could win the whole thing! Ned looks strong and should move forward. But that is why the game is played!!



ETA: Spain nets another while I typed this up!

Japan looked slow in minute seventy whenNorway made a center sub. A couple shots at equalization and Japanturhsns around and scores!

3 - 1

With time and ideas running out!

A great match!!



ETA: if Japan keeps this form they can beat any team!!

The drama!!!!

….

US starts

GAH!!!

Bar is closing and there is 15 left!!!

Peace out, mutha luv bones!!!

I walk home, in the rain, up hill, both ways…

How else was it going to end???

Three missed PKs, a save, and the US is bounced from the World Cup.



They really missed Rose Lexell. Nobody to put it away and they had their chances.

You don’t score, you ask for problems.
Go Netherland! Go Japan!

Bounced from the World Cup by 2 millimeters no less. That hurt. Like losing in the first round as a #2 seed in basketball.

Sweden vs. Japan is another match happening too early.