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

Archive

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