Congrats, Winners!

1st Place =  $ 190 : SalsaKing (Ricardo A)    2nd Place =  $  95 : Thecomebacker (Edmund L) *-wins tiebreaker    3rd Place =  $  65 : Russo (Alex R)    4th Place =  $  40 : The Mighty Mobelfakta (David F)

Italy v Spain

14': ESP scores off a great pass by Fabregas!  ITA has not trailed so how will they respond? Can SalsaKing taste the title?
16': ITA Pirlo with a good FK opportunity (he's the only one to score a FK goal in the last 2 EUROs)
25': ESP's Pique gets first yellow... doesn't look like we'll get the ugly WC final when 13 cards were given
29': ITA's Cassano's shot nutmegs two defenders but not the GK
41': Jessica Alba, I mean Jordi Alba, gets a Beckham-esque pass through two defenders and puts it away for a 2-0 lead.  I guess a lot of goals are scored in the final as a team has scored  two goals 12 of 13 finals (11-0-1).  Is SalsaKing dancing?
12:35: Halftime!  All hope is not lost.  The SJ Earthquakes just came from 3-1 down to beat the LA Galaxy... of course, that's MLS and not elite international competition.  But there's hope.
61': Not good for ITA.  A sub is injured and no subs left.  Now playing with 10 men. ITA were lucky earlier in the half, though, to not get a handball in the box penalty which could've iced it for ESP.  ESPN just flashed ESP is 41-3-4 in their last 48 competitive matches -- of course, USA had one of those wins!
75': ESP's Fernando Torres is entering the match!  Gordo or Pando? Fabregas out.
81': Considering ESP hasn't given up a goal in 500 minutes in knockout rounds, ITA should be toast.
84': Torres puts the game in the refrigerator!  3-0.  SalsaKing should be counting his money now.  Torres is the 6th to have 3 goals but would win the Golden Boot with 1 assist and a better point to minute ratio.
88': Torres is unselfish and passes to Juan Mata who scores ESP's 4th goal!  
90': 3 painful minutes of stoppage time.
1:36: OVER!  Balotelli storms off the field, ESP celebrating (as is SalsaKing)!   ESP is the first team to win 3 straight major titles!  Dynasty and best team ever?  Who needs David Villa?

Love how they engrave the trophy on the spot (like they couldn't start in the 84' when Torres scored).  ITA at least gets into the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Veteran Dancer vs. The Reality TV Veteran

It's kind of crazy that so many people still flock to the drive-in and even more shocking that they still exist.  Went with the family to see Madagascar 3 (didn't stick around for Rock of Ages) and people were still filing in at 10:45 at night which caused headaches getting out.  But a neat experience harkening the past.  Not too far in the past that I do remember using FM for the sound (vs the heavy speaker hooked to the window).

Well, our HWCI EURO pool has no past as this is the first one (of many).  We just need a soccer pool in 2013 (FIFA Confederations Cup is too short and only has 8 teams -- but convince me) and 2015 (with Women's World Cup expanding to 24 teams, a possibility).

Well, good luck to our two finalists for the inaugural title.  We won't name the trophy after you, because, uh, there is no trophy, but it will be an honor nonetheless.  Will it be Ricardo A's SalsaKing or Bernice P's Adivinanza?  The former works and runs the press box during Chivas USA matches and after games goes dancing while the latter once ran public relations for the San Diego Spirit of the defunct pro women's soccer league WUSA (not to be confused with the WPS, which finally folded this year) and turned adventurer and reality TV star.  The former also seems to win Sam N's (V2 Wedding Bells!!! and V2 Divorce Court!) LA Galaxy stat crew PANDO Pools while the latter will try to become our 3rd female champ of the last 4 soccer pools.  One of them will be $195 richer.  Good luck!

Issue # 7.3.1 "Azzurri vs La Furia Roja..."

Well, the end is near.  The penultimate issue!

Spain (3-0-2) Real Federación Española de Fútbol	vs.	Italy (2-0-3) Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio

LAST TWO WORLD CUP CHAMPS TO MEET
It'll be SalsaKing vs Adivinanza for the inaugural title
"All or nothing, huh? That's how I roll!" -- Advinanza
"Let's do this!! I won't be able to watch the game in peace now" -- SalsaKing

Balotelli Busts Germany

Finally, a goal scored in regulation, thanks to Mario Balotelli.  The last two matches were scoreless.  Finally, a goal scored in the run of play.  Last time was ESP's Xabi Alonso's goal in the 19' three matches ago.  Finally, a classic matchup, which thanks to Italy's two first-half goals, provided an entertaining second half which we have missed since Germany last played, four matches ago.  But it was Balotelli all over the pitch and his two first-half goals barely stood up as Germany peppered the goal area with many missed chances and some great saves by ITA's Gianluigi Buffon.  It was his opponent's counterpart, Manual Neuer, which provided a great show acting as the 12th attacker in the last five minutes, kicking and heading balls away while leaving his net empty.  Germany did pull one back in one of the frantic moments as ITA was called for a hand ball and Mesut Ozil, boy we haven't heard that name as much as we thought, put away the PK in the 90'+2 leaving a couple of minutes for a tying goal.  But it never came and Italy stunned Germany, 2-1, ending the German's record 15-match competitive win streak and remain unbeaten against them in tournament matches (4-0-4).

So now we get a rematch

Ronaldo Doesn't Miss PK- That's Bad

As the stakes get raised, the matches turn defensive and this was reminiscent of the World Cup 2010 final where Spain and Holland should've been a great match turned chippy with 13 yellow cards.  This was was just as chippy, with brief moments of flair, and 9 yellow cards and ended 0-0.  How bad?  Spain had just 2 shots on goal after 90 minutes.  Portugal none (like CZE in the quarters).  Spain did turn it up in the last 20 minutes of overtime and as things opened up and POR tired, Spain got 3 more shots on goal while Portugal managed two.  In the PSO, once again, the team who misses the first PK wins.  A great save on ESP's Xabi Alonso's attempt gave POR the advantage but ESP GK Iker Casillas came up big.  In fact, both GKs guessed correctly on five straight kicks (though the last three snuck by for goals).  It was a crossbar that doomed POR and Cesc Fábregas won it for ESP, 4-2, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the sidelines having not taken a kick (he would've been next).  It was a risky tactic that failed as taking it 1st (give team momentum and confidence) or 4th (almost always taken and likely a decider) seems like the sweet spot and as we saw here, you may not get to 5th.  Of course this didn't work for the LA Galaxy in the 2009 MLS Cup when goal scorers Landon Donovan (5th) and Edson Buddle (6th) both missed their kicks.  But I digress.  ESP will have a chance to be the first team to win 3 straight major titles.

Three were eliminated

Foster's Futbol Brew # 5: Tournament All-Stars

June 27, 2012

Foster’s Football Brew:  Tournament All-Stars

I got the idea for this short segment after watching Alexi Lalas and Michael Ballack select their tournament Top 11.  I have to disagree with many of Lalas’ picks, and a couple of Ballack’s.  I decided to wait until the quarter finals were over to give top players a chance to shine.  Here’s my take:

Goalie:  Joe Hart had an historically atypical tournament for English goalkeepers…he didn’t F&@# up!!!  He went into the quarters

Back in Action, Both on the Field and in the Pool

Currently overseeing the stat team work the Charlotte Eagles - Chivas USA match here at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, CA.  Not much to report in this U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal.  But there will be lots to report tomorrow when the EURO 2012 resumes with Portugal-Spain.  In talking with Ilmigliore (Warner L), Blue Panther (Eduard C), and SalsaKing (Ricardo A), no one seems to give Portugal (or Italy for that matter) a chance.  But that's why they play the game.  Hopefully, it won't be snoozers like the France-Spain or England-Italy matches.  But watching with interest regardless will be Charles D (Sisyphus) and Ricardo A (SalsaKing) as one will be eliminated from winning the pool after the match.  Good luck!

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

Final Four Teams, 8 Final Scenarios

Well, I was wondering if we'd have an interesting final week in the pool since everyone seemed to pick ESP or GER but with POR and ITA in the mix, no one is guaranteed money.  In fact, no one will win the pool until the winner of the Final is determined.  There aren't as many "tied" scenarios as I hoped but there are a few.  Remember, for the tiebreaker, it's only goals scored in regulation or overtime (the "official" score) and does not include penalty kick shootout (PSO) goals.  So today's match would be "0" goals as the official score is 0-0 (not 6 with PSOs).  

So there are four people who will win the first HWCI EURO Pool.  All will have to root for their team depending if Portugal (Charles D's Sisyphus), Germany (Brian S's Flying Elvi), Spain (Ricardo A's SalsaKing), or Italy (Bernice P's Adivinanza) wins the 2012 EURO.  Below are the final 8 scenarios and how the 13 entries can win money:

Italy Means Four Best Teams in Semis

England, like against France, played a defensive game but had its counter attack chances.  Luckily for England, Italy started Mario Balotelli, who reverted back to his bumbling ways of his first match, keeping the English in the match.  So we had our 11th scoreless first half, our 1st scoreless regulation match, and it was still scoreless heading into the Penalty Kick Shootout.  But Balotelli redeemed himself, making ITA's first shot and ITA beat probably the only other major team who is worse in the PSO than they are, 4-2.

The standings tightened up as Flying Elvi was one of 5 to pick ENG incorrectly (11 correctly got ITA), but still leads by a point over Walleye, who is trying to get into the money despite losing his champ NED (he can't finish higher than 3rd).  13 got 3 of 4 Semifinalists.  Three more (Tuan, FC Spermicidals, and Kona Coast Sliders) were eliminated leaving 13 vying for the four money spots.  There are now just 4 who can win the first ever HWCI Euro Pool

The Champs Roll On

I haven't really seen the Spain-France match yet, caught some sniplets, and then the ending as a French player rolled over a Spainish player in the box for only the tourney's 3rd PK (and 2nd made) to punctuate a 2-0 victory.  Not sure if France were just outplayed, unlucky, or just being French.

More later, but as for the pool, no change at the top with Tuan, who lost his champ France, can't win 1st.  SiemkoStrimkoPlinko!, RunnerLuis, and Wampa are now eliminated.

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.

With Ronaldo, Czech-Mate!

Don't awake the sleeping giant, but Cristiano Ronaldo is playing like a superstar and his third goal of the tourney, a 79' header where he just ran around a listless defender, sends a revived Portugal team into the Semis with a dominant 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.  If not for the woodwork, Ronaldo could have a half-dozen goals this tournament.  Portugal outshot CZE 20 to 2... 2!  And none of the two were on goal.

Only three picked POR to advance to the Semis with Flying Elvi jumping to a 7-point lead atop the standings, Sisyphus moving from 27th-Tied to 12th-Tied, and Blue Panther moving out of last place to 34th.  Although all 19 entries remain alive after today, three now have no chance for 1st, reducing the pool of pool winners to just six.  Walleye (3rd, 57), Absolutely Clueless (4th-T, 56), and BigRedMessi2 (4th-T, 56) can only win 2nd now.  As for possibilities, Flying Elvi has a 32.8% chance to win the pool and a whopping 93.8% chance to win money.

Prize Money Distribution

Wow, the time is finally here.  The official prize breakdown.  We had an amazing 39 entries submitted which means that there is $390 to break up.  As with our other pools (without a Bonus) 1st is around 45-50% with 2nd about half of that.  The other places are just to make the numbers add up.  Since we didn't reach 50 entries, there is no Bonus Prize so the 20 of you who are eliminated have no hope at money.  So here it is:

   1st Place =  $ 190
   2nd Place =  $  95
   3rd Place =  $  65
   4th Place =  $  40

Good luck!

Foster's Futbol Brew # 4: The Fourth Froth

June 20, 2012

Foster's Futbol Brew: The Fourth Froth

Is anyone getting tired of hearing the same White Stripes song (7 Nation Army, I think) over and over and over again when a goal is scored? Wouldn’t it be cool if each team had a pre-selected (and different) song to play when they netted one? Perhaps we could hear “The Winner Takes it All” when the Swedes score (ode to ABBA)! England would have it best with “We Are the Champions!” Funny enough, the Miami Heat started using the same song as they took a big lead late in Game 4 against the Thunder in the NBA Finals! And the crowd actually started the “woooaaah…woah woah woah woah woooaaah, woooaaah.” Woah is me!

Back to the best sport on Earth. (For those of you not keeping track,

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

SiemkoStrimkoPlinko! Not Yet Stinko!

Thanks to the crazy France pick to win it all, my second entry is still alive, though after watching the French play, not for long.  Here are my 16 possible winning outcomes (note that "2" could mean tied for 2nd):

SiemkoStrimkoPlinko!
1st	2nd	Semi	Semi	Place (Could be Tied)
FRA	GER	CZE	ENG	2
FRA	ENG	CZE	GER	2
FRA	GER	CZE	ITA	2
FRA	ITA	CZE	GER	2
FRA	GRE	CZE	ENG	2
FRA	ENG	CZE	GRE	2
FRA	GRE	CZE	ITA	2
FRA	ITA	CZE	GRE	2
FRA	GER	POR	ENG	2
FRA	ENG	POR	GER	2
FRA	GER	POR	ITA	2
FRA	ITA	POR	GER	2
FRA	GRE	POR	ENG	2
FRA	ENG	POR	GRE	2
FRA	GRE	POR	ITA	2
FRA	ITA	POR	GRE	2

If you would like to see your possible winning outcomes (so you know who to root for), you can either post a comment to any of the blog posts (including this one), post your request on Twitter to @HWCI_Pools or  #hwcieuro, or post at our Facebook page.

The English Helping the French

You know when you go to a meeting that you think might be 15 minutes and 2 hours later everyone is still discussing the same topic?  Yup, that's been me.  Rough couple of weeks at work as we have too much work (nice problem, I guess, in this economy). 

Anyway, it's always nice when one soccer powerhouse helps another.  The French could not get anything started as the then winless Swedes shut out France, 2-0, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic half-volleying a rocket into the net for the first goal. But luckily, FRA back-doored their way into the Last 8 when England took care of business squeaking by Ukraine, 1-0, thanks to a header by the returning Wayne Rooney.  FRA's 23-match unbeaten streak got snapped but it didn't matter as the French lazily advanced (they could've lost 10-0-- they would only be out if UKR scored twice and won).  The penalty of course is that they have to face Spain instead of Italy.  35 picked ENG (no one had thought UKR would win) while 8 picked SWE.  Eight went 2-0 while 4 went 0-2.  Twenty (20) correctly picked both ENG and FRA in the Quarterfinals while no one missed both.

For all the group matches,

It All Changes Now - Who is Eliminated?

You'll see a couple of changes of interest to you.  The Standings page now includes two additional columns.  "Pl" is the highest placement you can reach with the remaining 128 possible outcomes.  If it says "E", well, that means your entry has been eliminated.  Sorry.  My primary entry Futbol Fabone Five is one of 20 to get an early retirement.  Since we have 4 money spots, the number 1-4 corresponds to the highest possible placement (you could lose a tiebreaker) where "1" means you are one of the 9 entries with a chance to win the pool.  My second entry (SiemkoStrimkoPlinko!), barely surviving thanks to France back-dooring into the Quarters, has a "2" which means I could still finish in 2nd place though it might mean I need GRE and FRA meeting in the final.  If you want to know which possible outcomes would win you money, please post a comment at the bottom of this post or request it via Facebook or Twitter.

The other new thing is a new menu tab on top called "Possibilities".  This shows what percentage you could win 1st or win money.  Right now, The Flying Elvi is flying high as he has a 26.6% to win 1st and a 71.9% to win money.  But that could change in a few days!