World Cup watch thread

[MadaboutWu]

Man I wish Ghana had made that penalty kick.

[WuDrWu]

Huge win for Costa Rica today as they advance to the Sweet 16 and at the same time eliminate England.

Who saw CONCACAF at 4-1-1 at this point?

[Kung Wu]

Switzerland's first goal today was the worst goal of the tournament. It's worth watching though as it plays out like a sitcom. Terrible shot right at the wall. Defender flinches and throws his leg out so he doesn't get hit and it flies right below him. How French. Then the keeper is hopping around instead of being light footed and reacts way too late. Funny stuff.

[LuskingforGuttin]

The Germany-Ghana clash was riveting action. Any nation that gets three points from Ghana should be proud.

[WuDrWu]

The quality of play in this World Cup so far has been outstanding, to say the least. The play from the superstars around the world (Mueller, Suarez, Messi, RVP to name just a few) has been epic, the CONCACAF teams have more than acquitted themselves so far, and many of the underdogs have shown well and put a scare into the blue bloods. Then of course you have England and Spain, eliminated before the United States has even PLAYED a second game.

[Kung Wu]

Well, things just got interesting.

[MadaboutWu]

In the event I was pulling for Ghana. I couldn't help myself--I just like an upset too much and today would have been a historic one. Plus I don't care for Germany. Today when they got down I was surprised to see them complain quite a lot to refs and gripe at each other--hadn't expected it (and not what my dislike is based on--that's just personal rooting interest + blue blood status).

Beat Portugal and we're in. It's going to be tough. A draw and we're still in good shape. Even with zero points against Germany we would advance if Ghana-Portugal draw and almost certainly if Portugal wins (though we likely would be out if Ghana wins). Lose and hell breaks loss in the group.

[Kung Wu]

Ok people what's your bold prediction of the score for today's USA vs Portugal match?

I'm going:

USA - 2.5
Portugal - 2.5

For a total of 5 points. Who gets the win is hard to see.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

4-2 USA.

[Kung Wu]

Oops I just found out the referee is from Argentina. His sphere of influence will be the Argentinian mafia which runs rampant and has no qualms about interfering with soccer by fixing matches. The Argentinian mafia won't like to see Portugal pushing through because it's more difficult to predict how they will perform on future matches. That and because the Nazis that fled Germany to Argentina have much love for Klinsmann! They will send in the order to allow USA to win! USA! USA! USA!

USA - 3
Portugal - 2

With the USA being given one controversial goal.

[WuDrWu]

In the event I was pulling for Ghana. I couldn't help myself--I just like an upset too much and today would have been a historic one. Plus I don't care for Germany. Today when they got down I was surprised to see them complain quite a lot to refs and gripe at each other--hadn't expected it (and not what my dislike is based on--that's just personal rooting interest + blue blood status).

Beat Portugal and we're in. It's going to be tough. A draw and we're still in good shape. Even with zero points against Germany we would advance if Ghana-Portugal draw and almost certainly if Portugal wins (though we likely would be out if Ghana wins). Lose and hell breaks loss in the group.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if we tie Portugal, and lose to Germany, and Ghana beats Portugal, won't both Ghana and the US have 4 points? And since the US beat Ghana, isn't that the first tiebreaker, meaning the US would advance most certainly?

[AndShock]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if we tie Portugal, and lose to Germany, and Ghana beats Portugal, won't both Ghana and the US have 4 points? And since the US beat Ghana, isn't that the first tiebreaker, meaning the US would advance most certainly?

FIFA doesn't care about head-to-head. It goes by goal differential and then goals scored. After that it gets weird and I think drawing lots is only down 6 or 7 spots on the tiebreaker list.

[AndShock]

I was wrong, FIFA does care about head-to-head, it's just after GD and goals scored

"The ranking of each team in each group shall be determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all the group matches;

b) goal difference in the group matches;

c) greatest number of goals scored in the group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their ranking will be determined as follows:

d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;

e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;

f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;

g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee. "

Fun fact: if Argentina wins 1-0 against Nigeria and Iran wins 1-0 against Bosnia - Iran and Nigeria are drawing lots to determine who advances.

[Shoxfan11]

Just a warning, I seem to be an unlucky person. Now that I'm jumping on the bandwagon, expect to have John Higgins or Gerry Pollard reffing the match against Portugal tonight.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Just a warning, I seem to be an unlucky person. Now that I'm jumping on the bandwagon, expect to have John Higgins or Gerry Pollard reffing the match against Portugal tonight.

Its an Argentinian. Which means its like having Ed Hightower.