Today's Games:
France vs Germany (12:00 PM, ESPN2)
Brazil vs Colombia (4:00 PM, ESPN)
Previous Results:
Argentina 1, Switzerland 0 (aet)
Belgium 2, United States 1 (aet)
The Argentina-Switzerland game was interesting. For most of regulation it looked like wave after wave of Argentine offense crashing against Switzerland's defense, only to come up empty-handed. Then in extra time, either Argentina got tired or they got skittish, and Switzerland was able to play more evenly. But then 2 minutes from stoppage time in the second extra time period, Switzerland clumsily gave the ball away aroudn midfield, and Argentina immediately countered, got the ball to Messi with numbers on the attack, and he found his teammate for the goal. Surprisingly, juts one minute later Switzerland had a wonderful chance to tie it up, but their header hit the post.
And then came the US game, I'm going to go full-bullet point here:
- I don't watch much MLS. I love US Soccer and great soccer, and MLS isn't great soccer yet. With a kid (and another on the way), I have to prioritize what sports I watch, and I just don't have time for MLS to be one I regularly watch. So my experience with Chris Wondolowski is limited to his games with the national side.
My first memory of Wondo was in a (I think) Gold Cup game. A teammate had dribbled into the box, drawn the keeper out, and then crossed the ball to Wondo inside the 6-yard line without a keeper in front of him. Wondo reared back, and booted the ball over the friggin cross bar. From less than 6 yards out. Needless to say, I was somewhat less than surprised when his shot from within the 6-yard line in regulation stoppage time sailed over the net again. Some players just aren't cut out for the World stage. They can thrive in MLS, but when they step up to that next level, they can't make it work. Incidentally, broadcaster Taylor Twellman was another perfect example of this player.
Much respect to Wondo though, for going on twitter that evening and apologizing for making a mess of that chance. He didn't have to do that, and it shows he's a stand-up guy.
- The United States played a very negative game against Germany. They bunkered down and essentially gave up on mounting anything in the way of a sustained attack, hoping to exit that game with a 0-0 draw. After their 1-0 loss, multiple players came out and said that they had given Germany too much respect, and they couldn't do it again against Belgium.
Then they came out and did exactly that against Belgium. That's why Tim Howard had to make 16 saves juts to keep the US in the game.
- After watching the last 15 minutes of extra time, I'm very confused. Those 15 minutes (with the US down 2-0) featured sustained possession, coordinated attacks, inventive play, creativeness, and legitimate threats on the Belgian goal. It was a joy to watch. Julian Green's first touch was tremendous. The free kick that almost sprung Dempsey for the tying goal was magnificent.
But it makes the preceding 105 minutes all the more infuriating. No the US isn't going to dominate possession or the game against a side as strong as Belgium, this tea isn't there yet. But to have nothing approaching that level of creativity at all in the first 105 minutes? It just doesn't make sense.
- On the one hand, if you had told me Michael Bradley wouldn't even approach the level of play he showed in the 2010 World Cup I would have given this team no chance to make it out of the Group of Death. But they did, and it's a credit to this team that they overcame that. But to get deeper into the knockout stage? They weren't going to be able to do that without a full game's worth of the Bradley we saw in the final 15 minutes of extra time.
- My top 3 players for the US team are, in order
1. Tim Howard - there is no argument for anyone else in the top slot
2. Jermaine Jones - I said above that I never would have thought the US could emerge from the Group of Death with Michael Bradley so off his game. The US made it work because Jones picked up much of the slack for Bradley. He was everywhere, both offensively and defensively.
3. Clint Dempsey - #3 was a tough spot to fill, but Dempsey's scoring 2 goals for this team gives him the slight nod over Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, and DeAndre Yedlin.
Finally, what a round of 16 it was. 6/8 games were decided by penalties or 1 goal. 5/8 required extra time. And we've already had 2 penalty shootouts. And looking at the upcoming matchups, I'd be shocked if this tournament had already peaked in terms of quality.
Updated Bracket
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ROUND of 16
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QUARTERFINALS
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SEMIFINALS
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FINALS
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A1
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Brazil
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1
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(3)
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B2
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Chile
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1
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(2)
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A1
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Brazil
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C1
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Colombia
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C1
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Colombia
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2
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D2
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Uruguay
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0
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E1
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France
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2
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F2
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Nigeria
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0
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E1
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France
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G1
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Germany
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G1
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Germany
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2
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aet
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H2
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Algeria
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1
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B1
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Netherlands
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2
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A2
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Mexico
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1
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B1
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Netherlands
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D1
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Costa Rica
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D1
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Costa Rica
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1
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(5)
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C2
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Greece
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1
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(3)
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F1
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Argentina
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1
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aet
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E2
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Switzerland
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0
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3RD PLACE
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F1
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Argentina
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H1
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Belgium
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H1
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Belgium
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2
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aet
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G2
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United States
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1
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