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Post by Cap on Nov 29, 2022 21:13:02 GMT -5
Anyone watching?
I haven't gotten to watch quite as much this year because of work, but it has been a pretty bonkers tournament so far. Pumped for the U.S. game Sat!
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Post by microstatistics on Dec 3, 2022 0:30:05 GMT -5
Yeah, the group stage was bizarre and fascinating. So many unexpected results, one truly shocking upset (Saudi Arabia over Argentina), huge flops (e.g., Denmark), unexpected successes (e.g., Australia), big favorites fielding B teams and lazily losing (e.g., Brazil, France, Portugal), "superior" teams bossing the play but failing to convert and getting defeated (e.g., Germany) etc.
Speaking of, the decline of Germany has been disappointing. They used to be the Kiyoshi Tamura/Volk Han of World Cups: Routine world-class showings coupled with an absurdly high average performance. They played pretty well this time so the pieces are still there but the finishing was atrocious and general approach muddled so a reconfiguration is in order.
No one looks that convincing. Maybe Brazil, based off the first two matches with their main team but let's see.
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Post by Cap on Dec 3, 2022 8:21:03 GMT -5
I was talking about that last point with some friends last night. There is really no team that looks dominant coming out of the group stage. It feels a bit like this could be just about anyone's tournament. Both my teams (USA and Korea - I lived in Korea for a year) are still in it, so it has already been a success in my book.
Now I'm off to go watch USA probably get wrecked.
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Post by Cap on Dec 4, 2022 10:12:36 GMT -5
Man... I'm not terribly surprised by the result of the US v Netherlands game, but it was still a little disappointing, especially given how hard and well the US played. They were out classed on the touches and movement, but they created a some opportunities and kept the pressure on. Netherlands vs Argentina should be a banger.
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Post by microstatistics on Dec 4, 2022 16:10:10 GMT -5
The trend at this World Cup is that if you fail to covert your chances, you are gonna concede and lose. I'm liking the Dutch: not pretty, but pragmatic and clinical.
Also, after three Kawada-esque chokes (WC 2006, Euro 2016, WC 2018), England finally don't disappoint and at long last we get a France vs. England knockout match.
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Post by Cap on Dec 9, 2022 23:10:58 GMT -5
What a day... two really good, competitive games that ended in PKs. The usual suspects have had their games, some more than others, but the keepers have really felt like the stars in this world cup, and that has come into great focus in this knockout stage, even more-so in the ones that have gone to a shoot-out. Wild quarterfinals so far.
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Post by microstatistics on Dec 11, 2022 13:55:03 GMT -5
Yeah, the quarter-finals were compelling. Brazil's stubborn approach being completely undone by an unperturbed Croatia, the momentum shifts of Argentina-Netherlands, Morocco completely neutralizing Portugal's attacking potential, free-flowing France-England being decided by killer instinct during key moments.
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Post by Cap on Dec 11, 2022 15:42:03 GMT -5
I'm convinced if Morocco pulls off the upset against France they are winning it all. There isn't a team on the other side of the bracket in the form France is in and the confidence Morocco would get from that upset would make them unstoppable.
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Post by club on Dec 12, 2022 14:59:26 GMT -5
I'm all aboard the Morocco train. Given the history, going through Spain and then France is a helluva narrative.
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Post by gramsci on Dec 14, 2022 4:40:42 GMT -5
The GOAT did it again, I hope he wins it and stops the stupid debate about him not being the best of all time because he doesn't have an overrated trophy like the World Cup!
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Post by Cap on Dec 15, 2022 8:45:27 GMT -5
Sad to see Morocco lose, but they had a hell of a run. They even looked pretty good yesterday. France is just in great finishing form right now. All they needed were a few shots. They feel like the favorites to repeat, but I'll be pulling for Messi and Argentina. Barring either team having a monumental letdown, it should be a really good game.
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Post by gramsci on Dec 18, 2022 17:23:33 GMT -5
Greatest match ever.
What a privilege to be able to see Messi in real time and follow his career. Football should stop now. This was the series finale.
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Post by microstatistics on Dec 18, 2022 21:49:45 GMT -5
Completely insane final. Utter Argentine domination for 75+ min and a 2-0 lead and 20 min later, France is on the verge of winning 3-2. Argentina retake the lead with 12 min left, only to blow it again and almost lose 4-3 at the death. A midfield masterclass almost undone by a defensive meltdown.
The penalty shootout was more straightforward and the best team did win the trophy but man, did they do it the hard way or what.
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Post by Cap on Dec 19, 2022 7:49:30 GMT -5
I have been watching the world cup since I was a kid and have witnessed all three World Cup finals that have gone to PKs. This was the best final I've ever seen. Soccer's ability to milk drama out of a sporting contest was on full display in this one, truly special stuff.
As yall said, it took a while and it was a tough, long match, but the better side won... clean as a sheet in the middle of the pitch.
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Post by kas on Dec 19, 2022 9:32:31 GMT -5
Argentina's strength this World Cup is how they've effectively shut down teams and restricted the amount of shots they had. For 80 minutes they did that, but when you're up against a player with the ability of Mbappe you're not going to do that forever. Almost won France the World Cup all by himself. Exhilarating end to what has been one of the best on-pitch World Cups I've seen.
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