This is my first post since the World Cup started. Matter of fact, this is my first post since, I don't know.
Now has come the time of year, where you see every paper dedicated quarter of their pages to the World Cup, even published a free afternoon copy to update the early morning matches, where all football websites automatically redirects to their World Cup page, where every single available restaurant or grocery shop will be posted with the World Cup fixtures with very updated scores, and inevitably where world production slump to a 4-year low, by how many percent, no one will know, because no one wants to waste their time calculating such thing.
I went there, you know. But that will be in another story. I'll tell. =P
Now all the teams have played two matches. This is how it is set up for the final round-robin matches.
In Group A, Mexico and Uruguay are in pole position (or shall I say, front row) to qualify. If they play out a draw, both will qualify, thus the unavoidable conspiracy theory. As far as my short my memory can fetch, I remembered a similar scenario in Euro 2004, where two Scandinavian countries - Sweden and Denmark - could both qualify if they play out a draw, shutting out Italy, and they did. However, in this context, the second-placed team - Mexico, if they will play out for a draw - will meet Argentina, a team in fine form. To my simple logic, and assuming fair play, they (or at least Mexico) will not play out for a draw. Meanwhile, for South Africa, they face a very real possibility of being the first host nation not to progress beyond the first round. Even when the Asians first hosted the World Cup, neither Japan nor Korea ever progressed beyond group stage before, but they did it for the first time in 2002.
Saying that, both teams are doing fairly well. Koreans will be facing off Nigeria in Group B and if they better the Greeks result, they will progress, although the Greeks might potentially face an understrength Argentinian team who already booked their place, then again, is there such thing as an understrength Argentina?
Group C is quite interesting, well, at least on paper. The 7th tie-breaker by FIFA is drawing of lots. What does that mean? If all the predetermined criteria are unable to separate the teams, then who will qualify will be determined by drawing ping-pong balls from a goldfish bowl. Yeap. I read this interesting article here. This scenario will be very real if both England and USA draw their matches, and England scored two goals more than the Americans. As said by the article, "Sometimes I can't help feeling that pulling little plastic balls out of bags and revealing their contents is the most fun some FIFA officials have in their lives." Well said.
Group D holds the best performing African country in Ghana, although need to be said, both of their goals are penalties. Germany missed their first non-shootout penalty since 1970 something, and Australia got their players (star players shall I say) red carded in both matches, both in the first half.
Group E has the first qualified country in Netherlands and the first eliminated country in Cameroon. The maths here is simple: Japan and Denmark will determine who is joining Netherlands. Same as the Koreans, if they draw, the Japanese will finish ahead of their opponents.
Bizarrely enough, FIFA might have to do the 'drawing of lots' to determine two groups, the other is Group F. If both final Group F matches end in a draw with the scoreline, someone will be sent home because their ping-pong did not get picked by Sepp Blatter (or Jacob Zuma, or anybody). What an amazing feat by the All Whites, a country where spherical balls can be counted by hand, featuring a squad with amateurs and players without clubs.
Group G - the so-called Group of Death - might just be literally. Portugal whacked 7-0 against the North Koreans, often mentioned as the most reclusive nation in the world, a country who executes people for the mildest of 'crimes' (if they are crimes). We all pray that the heroes who qualified for the World Cup will be treated as they deserve and not as failures or national disgrace. Cote d'Ivoire - their official name - can still progress, although incredibly unlikely. Their win, together with Brazil's - must combine to a win margin of more than 9 goals, for the Africans to qualify.
And finally, in Group H, all can still progress - even Honduras - although Chile is definitely in the driving seat.
Here's some interesting facts. The scenic Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, the one that will host the final, have witnessed the most goals per game compared to other venues. Matches that kicked off at 1:30 pm South African time also has the most goals, although heavily deviated due to Portugal's hammering of North Korea. However, that is the end of the afternoon matches, from this stage onwards, all matches will kick off at 4 or 8.30 pm South African time only, must be to please the European audience.
The Hispanic countries lead the number of shots/attempts, with Spain, Argentina and Chile, although Argentina has a much higher success in scoring. Cameroon is sixth, although already eliminated. Portugal met the woodwork the most with 3, although they wouldn't mind, considering their overwhelming win. Two penalties are missed, the other one being David Villa, who could have scored the tournament's second hattrick.
OK enjoy the final round of group matches! May the most entertaining team wins the tournament.
Now has come the time of year, where you see every paper dedicated quarter of their pages to the World Cup, even published a free afternoon copy to update the early morning matches, where all football websites automatically redirects to their World Cup page, where every single available restaurant or grocery shop will be posted with the World Cup fixtures with very updated scores, and inevitably where world production slump to a 4-year low, by how many percent, no one will know, because no one wants to waste their time calculating such thing.
I went there, you know. But that will be in another story. I'll tell. =P
Now all the teams have played two matches. This is how it is set up for the final round-robin matches.
In Group A, Mexico and Uruguay are in pole position (or shall I say, front row) to qualify. If they play out a draw, both will qualify, thus the unavoidable conspiracy theory. As far as my short my memory can fetch, I remembered a similar scenario in Euro 2004, where two Scandinavian countries - Sweden and Denmark - could both qualify if they play out a draw, shutting out Italy, and they did. However, in this context, the second-placed team - Mexico, if they will play out for a draw - will meet Argentina, a team in fine form. To my simple logic, and assuming fair play, they (or at least Mexico) will not play out for a draw. Meanwhile, for South Africa, they face a very real possibility of being the first host nation not to progress beyond the first round. Even when the Asians first hosted the World Cup, neither Japan nor Korea ever progressed beyond group stage before, but they did it for the first time in 2002.
Saying that, both teams are doing fairly well. Koreans will be facing off Nigeria in Group B and if they better the Greeks result, they will progress, although the Greeks might potentially face an understrength Argentinian team who already booked their place, then again, is there such thing as an understrength Argentina?
Group C is quite interesting, well, at least on paper. The 7th tie-breaker by FIFA is drawing of lots. What does that mean? If all the predetermined criteria are unable to separate the teams, then who will qualify will be determined by drawing ping-pong balls from a goldfish bowl. Yeap. I read this interesting article here. This scenario will be very real if both England and USA draw their matches, and England scored two goals more than the Americans. As said by the article, "Sometimes I can't help feeling that pulling little plastic balls out of bags and revealing their contents is the most fun some FIFA officials have in their lives." Well said.
Group D holds the best performing African country in Ghana, although need to be said, both of their goals are penalties. Germany missed their first non-shootout penalty since 1970 something, and Australia got their players (star players shall I say) red carded in both matches, both in the first half.
Group E has the first qualified country in Netherlands and the first eliminated country in Cameroon. The maths here is simple: Japan and Denmark will determine who is joining Netherlands. Same as the Koreans, if they draw, the Japanese will finish ahead of their opponents.
Bizarrely enough, FIFA might have to do the 'drawing of lots' to determine two groups, the other is Group F. If both final Group F matches end in a draw with the scoreline, someone will be sent home because their ping-pong did not get picked by Sepp Blatter (or Jacob Zuma, or anybody). What an amazing feat by the All Whites, a country where spherical balls can be counted by hand, featuring a squad with amateurs and players without clubs.
Group G - the so-called Group of Death - might just be literally. Portugal whacked 7-0 against the North Koreans, often mentioned as the most reclusive nation in the world, a country who executes people for the mildest of 'crimes' (if they are crimes). We all pray that the heroes who qualified for the World Cup will be treated as they deserve and not as failures or national disgrace. Cote d'Ivoire - their official name - can still progress, although incredibly unlikely. Their win, together with Brazil's - must combine to a win margin of more than 9 goals, for the Africans to qualify.
And finally, in Group H, all can still progress - even Honduras - although Chile is definitely in the driving seat.
Here's some interesting facts. The scenic Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium, the one that will host the final, have witnessed the most goals per game compared to other venues. Matches that kicked off at 1:30 pm South African time also has the most goals, although heavily deviated due to Portugal's hammering of North Korea. However, that is the end of the afternoon matches, from this stage onwards, all matches will kick off at 4 or 8.30 pm South African time only, must be to please the European audience.
The Hispanic countries lead the number of shots/attempts, with Spain, Argentina and Chile, although Argentina has a much higher success in scoring. Cameroon is sixth, although already eliminated. Portugal met the woodwork the most with 3, although they wouldn't mind, considering their overwhelming win. Two penalties are missed, the other one being David Villa, who could have scored the tournament's second hattrick.
OK enjoy the final round of group matches! May the most entertaining team wins the tournament.
wtf
ReplyDeleteaku ingat cerita ko pegi world cup
dem