Issue # 9.2.5 "It's Coming Home" (7/10)

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Saturday, July 10, 2021 
Issue # 9.2.5 "It's Coming Home" - History of our Pool

The European Championship Final   -
1934 WC Champs 1938 WC Champs 1968 Euro Champs 1982 WC Champs 2006 WC Champs	vs	1966 World Cup Champs
ITA - Italian Rep (Italy) Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC)		ENG - England The Football Assoc (The FA)
#7 | 1A | Winner | 5-0-1 4th Final ('68, '00, '12) A1: Beat Turkey 3-0 A4: Beat Switzerland 3-0 A6: Beat Wales 1-0 R16: Beat 2C-Austria 2-1 (ET) QF: Beat 1B-Belgium 2-1 SF: Beat 2E-Spain 1-1 (PSO 4:2)		#4 | 1D | Winner | 5-0-1 1st Final D1: Beat Croatia 1-0 D4: Tied Scotland 0-0 D6: Beat Czech Rep 1-0 R16: Beat 2F-Germany 2-0 QF: Beat 3C-Ukraine 4-0 SF: Beat 2B-Denmark, 2-1 (ET)

ITALY GOING FOR 2ND EURO TITLE; ENGLAND ITS FIRST
Final is Noon PDT Sunday

ROSEMEAD, CA (smt) - After watching Lionel Messi get his (hard-to-believe) first international trophy (Copa America) in Argentina's foul-filled, what happened to VAR, 1-0 win over Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) (in front of some fans for once), you wonder if 1D-England will suffer the same fate as BRA at home to 1A-Italy.  ENG is 4-0-1 in London's Wembley Stadium this tourney but ITA does have an extra day of rest.  ITA is making its fourth Euro Final but haven't won it since '68 while ENG is just making its 2nd final, Euro/World Cup combined, but did win the WC Final in '66. 

For years, people have asked about the Euro pool, usually right after each World Cup.  Having not watched the Euros (I don't think it was regularly on live TV until the '08 one), I didn't know what to expect.  Considering each World Cup has "token" teams from Africa and CONCACAF (e.g., blowouts), the '12 Euros only had 16 teams and all were quality.  So even though the setup was different from the World Cups (32 teams), I managed to get it to work.  Granted it was a little easier because it was just the top 2 teams (no 3rd place to worry about like in '16 and '20).  But folks like Eric F convinced me people would be interested and they were, with 39 entries in our first year.

Just our 3rd Euro pool,

FFB 21.2 Copa Finals Preview

Saturday, July 10, 2021

So this evening at 5pm kicks off Lionel Messi's penultimate opportunity to earn a title for Argentina, one that has eluded La Albiceleste since 1993.

While most the world has focused on the Euro, the Copa America 2021 championships conclude a tournament featuring Wall-to-Wall, heart-filled, non-stop action. In comparison, The Copa has been a hard tackling, dirty affair, tallying 102 yellow cards by 10 teams across 27 matches. The nicer Europeans managed only 136 yellow cards by 24 teams across 50 matches. Don't play in adult soccer leagues in South America without shin guards and supplemental health insurance!

Leo Messi has worn his heart on his sleeve throughout the tourney, hussling, providing leadership, notching many assists, and scoring four goals (tied for tournament lead). He is just two goals short of Pele's South American international competitions record. Messi is surrounded by a younger squad featuring some promising up-and- comers. I would say the team is very nearly as good as the 2014 World Cup team. Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez are both creative and dangerous, showing better finishing in the final third than 2014 group. However, this defense is more susceptible than the 2014 WC Runners Up. As an ARG fan, that Achilles heel worries me. 

A random note for Argentina fans: if Scaloni starts Nico Gonzalez, ARG has a 50% chance at best to win. If he stays longer than 60 minutes, ARG's chances fall to 35%. I was pulling out my non- existant hair during his poor performance vs Ecuador in the quarterfinals, with blown shots off easy passes from Messi, a near own goal, and useless fouls, one of which led to a yellow card (woulda been a red card at the Euros!) 

I predict Messi gets a goal, with regulation ending in a 2-2 tie with penalty kicks, giving an edge to Brazil given Argentina's PK's history. 

Catching Up!

BACKYARD BBQ -- Just trying to see what else it out there right now in world football...  

• Although there have been zero fans and lots of controversy, the top 2 teams in South America will meet for the COMNEBOL Copa America final Saturday night as the #3 team Brazil hosts #8 team Argentina.  Lionel Messi will be going for his first Copa title, believe it or not, as ARG has not won Copa since '93.  BRA is a slight favorite and you can watch on FS1 at 5 pm PDT.
• UEFA is doing away with the away goals tiebreaker for the '21-22 season.  In place since '65, if the two-match aggregate is tied on goals, then whoever has the most "away" goals wins.  Now, if goals are tied, extra time and penalty shootout will commence.  This only applies to club competitions.  Away goals is still the 5th tiebreaker for qualifying and the Nations League playoffs are knockout matches.
• The USMNT won't field its strongest lineup for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a farce of a tourney that features "qualified" teams of Curacao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Suriname, and Qatar (yes, I know, not from CONCACAF but invited).  BTW, it kind of technically already started with "Prelims" that took place as triple headers in Ft. Lauderdale on July 2/5/6.  So, ignore everything until the Quarters start on July 24.  The final featuring USA and Mexico will be in Las Vegas's new stadium, so that is cool (well hot, since it will likely be 100°+F).
• The USWNT named their 18-player roster and it includes 17 from the '19 World Cup team.  That is surprising as it is hard to usher a new crop of talented players if they are frozen out by the veterans.  At least the four alternates are newbies.  The team begins its quest July 21 (two days before the Opening Ceremony in front of no fans).

Issue # 8.2.4 "If at First You Don't Succeed..." (7/8)

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Thursday, July 8, 2021 - Issue # 8.2.4 "If at First You Don't Succeed..." - [Dailies: July 6-7]

THIRD TIME NOT THE CHARM FOR SPAIN; ENGLAND REBOUNDS FOR WIN
Footballsack in the lead and wins with ENG; otherwise, Gli Azzurri wins pool

CLEANING THE YARD AT HOME, CA (smt) - Major soccer teams will once again grace the final although one has had much more success than the other with 1A-Italy's five major titles (4 WC, 1 Euro) to 1D-England's lone '66 WC title.  ITA is making its 10th major Final (6 WC, 4 Euros) while this is just ENG's second major final ('66).  But soccer's origins are associated with ENG and having the best domestic league, but yet no titles to show for it.  Will the trophy be "coming home" or will English fans once again drown their sorrows in beer again.

Once again 2E-Spain had 62%+ possession (6th straight), once again the match went to Extra Time (3rd straight), and once again the match with to the penalty shootout (2nd straight).  ESP had survived them all but not today.  ITA failed on their first attempt (ESP opponents had missed 4 straight PSO kicks, 3 saved) but if at first you don't succeed, the next four went in, including a very cheeky fake out of the GK who moved to Jorginho's left and Jorginho calmly slid a slow ball to the right corner for the victory.  The 1:1 (4:2 PSO) victory was technically

It's Coming Home - Almost (7/7)

EL SEGUNDO, CA to DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK -- 2B-Denmark scored first for the 5th straight match on the tourney's first direct free kick goal for 25 yards out.  But 1D-England tied it on the tourney's 11th own goal before the half and the match eventually went to Extra Time.  But ENG kept pressing (its 21 shots was more than half its combined five-match total (37) and its 10 shots on goal were 67% of their combined 5-match total (15)) and was rewarded with a soft penalty call in ET.  Of course, Harry Kane missed (the 8th PK miss of the tourney) but the save was poor and he scored off the rebound.  The 2-1 win keeps ENG in London for the final against 1A-Italy.  The trophy is almost home for ENG.

Of the four times teams have lost when scoring the first goal, DEN has two of them.  ENG allowed a goal for the first time in the tourney but had their third straight multi-goal match (after scoring just twice in the first 3 matches).  This was the first ET match for both teams and of the 7 that have gone to ET, this is the fourth to feature at least one goal.

19 picked ENG which eliminated Kona Coast Facui's, Cloak, and Forza Roma.  Footballsack still leads with 115 pts.  Two money spots remain, will it be Gli Azzurri and FrankfromSeattle (ITA win) or Slyelf and Fantasy (ENG win)?

If ITALY beats ENGLAND in Final…
         Gli Azzurri 122 points
        Footballsack 115
          Avenger #3 110
    FrankfromSeattle 108
If ENGLAND beats ITALY in Final…
        Footballsack 127 points
          Avenger #3 122
              Slyelf 116
             Fantasy 115

It Starts with the GK (7/6)

You go left and I go right...

iTENNIS PERFORMANCE CENTER, SOUTH EL MONTE, CA -- 1A-Italy's only goal was started by the goalkeeper after catching an attempted cross and less than 15 seconds later, ITA was up 1-0.  But in the 80', 2E-Spain finally finished on a great give-and-go to send the match into their 3rd straight Extra Time.  ESP again had most of the possession and attack in the Extra Time but for their second straight match, it went to the Penalty Shootout.

ITA's first kick was saved but ESP skied high theirs.  After trading two kicks each, ITA scored again putting pressure on Alvaro Morata, who did score the 80' goal but had been up and down, and this was down, as his weak attempt was saved.  Knowing a goal would win it, ITA's Jorginho calmly baited the GK to his left and slotted a slow shot into the right corner for the win.  Not quite a Panenka, but so daring even the Spanish GK applauded after he was duped.

The 1-1 (4-2 PSO) win sent ITA to its 4th Euro final (where they only won once in '68).  ESP only won 1 of its 6 matches in regulation.  They may have the most goals (13) but two were own goals.  So they have the most shots (111) and shots on goal (43) and possession (66.8%) but not much to show for it.

ITA was picked by 5 and this eliminated Rich-inho and Carseroni, leaving 9 entries still alive.  Three can't win the pool and it will come down to either Gli Azzurri (if ITA wins final) or Footballsack (if DEN/ENG win final).

Footballsack is now our leader with 107 pts and can't finish lower than 2nd.  Avenger #3 is 2nd with 102 pts and can finish 2nd/3rd/4th-Tied only.  7 others are battling for the final two spots.  Carseroni is 6th (96) but is eliminated.  Cloak is tied for 11th (90) but can still finish with a tie for 4th.

If ITALY beats ENGLAND in Final…
         Gli Azzurri 122 points
        Footballsack 115
          Avenger #3 110
    FrankfromSeattle 108
If ENGLAND beats ITALY in Final…
        Footballsack 127 points
          Avenger #3 122
              Slyelf 116
             Fantasy 115
If ITALY beats DENMARK in Final…
         Gli Azzurri 114 points
        Footballsack 107
  Kona Coast Facui's 104
          Avenger #3 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 4th
               Cloak 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 4th
If DENMARK beats ITALY in Final…
        Footballsack 107 points
          Avenger #3 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 2nd/3rd
         Gli Azzurri 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 2nd/3rd
          Forza Roma 101 

Issue # 7.2.3 "There Were Six Singularities" (7/5)

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Monday, July 5, 2021 -  Issue # 7.2.3 "There Were Six Singularities"

First Semifinal -Wembley Stadium-
ITA - Italian Rep(Italy) Gli Azzurri (The Blues) Federazione ItalianaGiuoco Calcio (FIGC)	ESP - Kingdom of Spain La Roja (The Red One) Real FederaciónEspañola de Fútbol (RFEF)
#7 | 1A | Winner | 5-0-0 6th Semifinal ('68, '80, '88, '00, '12) A1: Beat Turkey 3-0 A4: Beat Switzerland 3-0 A6: Beat Wales 1-0 R16: Beat Austria 2-1 (ET) QF: Beat Belgium 2-1	#6 | 2E | Runner-Up | 2-0-3 5th Semifinal ('64, '84, '08, '12) E1: Tied Sweden 0-0 E4: Tied Poland 1-1 E5: Beat Slovakia 5-0 R16: Beat Croatia 5-3 (ET) QF: Beat Switzerland 1:1 (PSO 3:1)

			Second Semifinal -Wembley Stadium-
			ENG - England Three Lions The Football Assoc (The FA)	DEN - Kingdom of Denmark De Rod-Hvide (The Red-White) Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU)
			#4 | 1D | Winner | 4-0-1 3rd Semifinal ('68, '96) D1: Beat Croatia 1-0 D4: Tied Scotland 0-0 D6: Beat Czech Rep 1-0 R16: Beat Germany 2-0 QF: Beat Ukraine 4-0	#10 | 2B | Runner-Up | 3-2-0 4th Semifinal ('64, '84, '92) B1: Lost to Finland 1-0 B4: Lost to Belgium 2-1 B6: Beat Russia 4-1 R16: Beat Wales 4-0 QF: Beat Czech Rep 2-1

THE ONE-YEAR LATER TORUNEY HAS BEEN A GEM
Semifinals begin Tuesday; a Marvel Infinity Stone look at the tourney

HOME, CA (smt) - As Marvel's Avengers begin Phase 4 of their saga a year late (with seemingly TV's WandaVision, Falcon & Winter Soldier, and thus far, Loki (2 eps left) not progressing any grand story (but nonetheless entertaining as a standalone series) and pretending Phase 3 never really happened), I wondered how the one-year wait for the Euro 2020 (not 2021) tournament was going to be.  Would there be fans?  Would teams have to withdraw due to COVID-19 positive tests?  Would the tournament be consolidated into one location bubble?  Luckily, everything has been pretty normal with only the near death of a player on the pitch shocking the world.  Well, normal if you consider France, Portugal, Netherlands, and Belgium bowing out way too early.  And normal if you think teams will only have to wait 16 months (rather than 24 due to a winter World Cup) to get another shot at redemption on the grand stage. 

Euro 2020 seemed to have harnessed the power of the Infinity Stones, six immensely powerful gem-like objects tied to different aspects of the universe, to pull off a well-run tournament (so far!).  The first Euros with VAR, there have only

Issue # 6.2.2 "We Will Not Vanish Without a Fight!" (7/4)

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Sunday, July 4, 2021  ***HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY***
Issue # 6.2.2 "We Will Not Vanish Without a Fight!"    [Dailies: July 2-3]

UNDERDOGS FIGHT WAY INTO SEMIS
Avenger #3 takes lead and is guaranteed at least a tie for 4th; 11 entries still alive

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CA (smt) - 2E-Spain were being written off after lackluster ties to start the tournament but then scored 5 goals in consecutive matches before running into a stubborn 3A-Switzerland team.  1A-Italy had an easy group but outshone the #1 team in the world in #1B-Belgium.  2B-Denmark nearly lost a player in the field and lost the first two matches before fighting back to become the first team to qualify after losing the first two and needed to hold off 3D-Czech Republic.  Only #1D-England had an easy path the the semis despite playing away from Wembley Stadium for the first time.

ESP's only goal was an early own goal and took 27 shots (17 in extra time) with no goals to head into the penalty shootout with SUI tied at 1-1.  SUI, which rallied again to tie,