Issue # 6.2.1 "Best Four Teams In..."

It'll be nice to have a 2-day break.  Of course, why Portugal and Spain each get an extra two days rest seems illogical for UEFA.  We'll see how it plays out.  Very nice that 13 are still alive and 4 each have an equal chance of winning the pool.


EACH QUARTERFINAL FEATURED ONE DOMINANT TEAM
Flying Elvi leads by a point, but four can win title

Like Economy, Germany Bests Greece

No one really gave Greece a chance and when Germany dominated the first half and scored before halftime, it looked like lights out.  But a Greece counter tied the match and the hope was to get through regulation.  But Germany is Germany and in quick succession, scored three straight.  Only a late PK, just the 2nd awarded in the tourney, made the final score a somewhat respectable 4-2.  No magical Greece run like in 2004 this time.  We even got the classic Miroslav Klose header (circa 2006) as Mario Gomez, with three goals, sat on the bench.  Greece tried to replicate the success in their first match where they resisted an onslaught by Poland only to tie it in the second half. It did work again, it's just that 35 minutes is much too much time for Germany to strike back.

Since 37 of 39 picked GER in the pool not much changed except that Bix Pix fell from 21st to 33rd (48 pts) and Blue Panther regained the last spot once gain (41).  Flying Elvi still holds a 7-point lead and a 93.8% chance to win money.

Issue # 5.1.3 "Familiar EURO Field..."

Wow, what a tourney thus far.  In the end, don't the 8 teams look like they should be there in the EURO knockout stage (except for Czech Republic)?  But now, who is still alive in the pool? 


FRANTIC FINISHES AS KNOCKOUT STAGE SETTuan and The Flying Elvi on top as 20 are still alive

You're Unpredictable

Almost forgot how crazy having simultaneous matches is. Having to watch the replays was even trickier. Going about fifteen minutes at a time switching between games hoping you don't hear the score of the other match.  In a group where all four teams could not only qualify for the quarterfinals, but also win the group, the possibilities were numerous.  But who would've thought that both Greece AND Czech Republic would make it the Last 8.  In their first matches, GRE had to play down a man and a goal, missed the tourney's only PK attempt, and rallied to tie while CZE were routed by RUS 4-1.  How things change.

GRE were outshot

Foster's Futbol Brew # 3: Trouble’s a Brewin

June 13, 2012

Foster's Futbol Brew:  Trouble’s a Brewin (Third Edition)

Well, the first half of Group play has concluded, and as usual, there were plenty of surprises.

Let’s start with Holland losing to the Great Danes.  Well, as I predicted, Arjen Robben would be the guy to hold back the Dutch…but I didn’t expect a loss.  I can count at least half a dozen shots taken by Robben, only one of which was a worthwhile strike, which hit the post.  All other attempts sailed over the cross bar or were an easy save for the Danish keeper.  If Robben

Greek Tragedy

Finally, the baby is sleeping after several hours.  But then she got hungry again.  This has been a long night after another long day at work.

Greece GK Kostas Chalkias allowed two goals in the first six minutes and then had to leave in the 22' due to injury.  And after that, Czech Republic didn't score another goal.  Had he only left in the 2' instead.  So, CZE avoided being eliminated with the win although GK Petr Cech (who was incredible for Chelsea in the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League) had another shaky outing with a poor clear for GRE's only goal. Just 10 got this result correct in one of the more conflicted matches (16 GRE, 13 TIE).

A Russian march in Poland (doesn't sound wise on paper) on Russia's Indpendence Day was going fine until they met some Polish fans.  Despite the violence and 123 arrests, RUS and POL met for real on the pitch with RUS a chance to be the first team to clinch a spot in the quarters.  POL once again came out strong and once again failed to put away chances allowing RUS to strike first.  A golazo by Jakub Blaszczykowski evened it up ending in a 1-1 tie.  Just 13 picked the tie with Popozao, JP, Kona Coast Sliders, and Agenterob (the latter two on 3-game win streaks) going 2-0 today while 26 went 0-2.  But Walleye once again is alone in first with 14 points.  VZ Wedding Bells!!! is on a 6-game losing streak and is in a 4-way tie for last.

Both GRE and POL had goals disallowed by very close offisde calls.  This has been a great group to watch as all four teams have scored at least once in each of their matches, 12 goals total (3.0 per match).  All four teams are alive and all control their destiny... a win by any team will get them through to the Quarterfinals, even GRE (who'd advance if there were a 3-way tie at 4 pts each).

The Group of Death resumes in a few hours with DEN-POR and then with another big superpower matchup, NED-GER.

Wild First Day - Six tied for 1st

What a topsy-turvy first match.  Seemed like co-host Poland was going to blow out Greece, especially when the refs generously sent a Greek off with two soft yellows, giving 18 entries a first taste of victory to start the pool.  Then Greece tied it with super sub Dimitris Salpigidis equalized early in the second half putting 10 entries closer to the win column.  Then the Polish GK took down Salpigidis for a PK and 11 who picked Greece were getting ready to celebrate their two points.  But the backup GK saved it and in the end, 10 entries got it correct -- a tie.  The first tie of our soccer pools where you could earn points and it happened in the very first game.  So instead of 18 entries losing a chance for points in a wash (no points for anyone), 10 picked up two points.  Of course, I was one of those 18 who are now 2 points behind instead of tied with everyone.  How bizzare must it be for the Polish fans to hear a goal celebration song when Greece scored in their own stadium.

In the nightcap (in Poland at least), Russia showed they are the team to beat in Group A by thumping the Czech Republic 4-1.  Roman Pavlyuchenko's one-man effort (for the 4th goal) was so great it reminded me of someone like Kobe Bryant taking on the entire opposing team and still scoring.  So 27 of the 39 entries picked Russia and in the end, six are on top of the standings with 4 points while eight entries are still pointless.  You can now find the daily standings in the menu above (usually by the next morning, but hopefully always earlier).  We are unofficially at 39 entries which is more than the 20-25 I expected.  We should be official by Monday evening when I check the PO Box for any more mailed entries (we had 2).

Refs off to a bad start; Poland off to a great one

Co-host Poland is having a ton of chances but can only put away one, leading 1-0 at the half over Greece,  Meanwhile, the refs are having a run of questionable calls, unfortuantely both on the same player putting Greece down a man (after already having to sub one of its starters due to injury).  One missed handball (saving Greece) and one non-call handball (ref looked to be correct, accidental), thelatter which sent Greece into a frenzy, earning yet another yellow card.  What a start!  Maybe Ukraine has a chance then?