Scare in Copenhagen (6/12)

B1-Denmark's Christian Eriksen collapsed in the 43' and needed CPR in a scary scene as the home crowd stood in silence.  The match was suspended of course but then resumed (of course not... wait, they did, about 90 minutes later) at the request of the players (and a stable and awake Eriksen).  B2-Finland, making their first major tournament, converted their only shot of the match on a cross to upset DEN 1-0.  DEN came out flat (as expected) and missed a game-tying penalty.  DEN, #10 in the world, now faces the top team in the world, B3-Belgium, who also won on the road dispatching B4-Russia, 3-0.

In the early match, A4-Switzerland eased off the pedal after going up 1-0 and A3-Wales took advantage gaining a 1-1 tie.  The first three matches of Euro 2020 were scoreless at the half but none ended up as nil-nil draws.  

All 49 entries picked DEN (the only match that was unanimous), which means no one got the point.  12 picked a tie between WAL-SUI and 45 picked BEL.  Eleven (11) are tied for first with 3 points while Isayoldchap has no points.  

Dailies # 1 - Worth the Wait

After a one-year delay, 364 days to be precise, Euro 2020 in 2021 kicked off in front of a sold-out limited capacity crowd of 12,916 in Rome's Stadio Olimpico.  The unique thing about this Euro is that 9 countries will get to play at least two group matches in front of their home crowd.  

The home 2A-Italian team didn't disappoint though they would have to wait until the second half to explode for three goals in a 3-0 drubbing of 1A-Turkey.  Hard to believe it was the first time ITA scored more than 2 goals at a Euro match and the dam was only broken by an own goal in the 53'.  TUR had no shots in the first half and just three for the match (none on goal) while ITA peppered them with 24.  Not only is TUR in a hole with a -3 goal differential but they picked up two late yellow cards as well.

This is the first Euro with VAR, and while you could make an argument ITA should have gotten a PK late in the 1st half, if the consistency is that in a normal running motion, if the player isn't intentionally making himself bigger, there is no PK call, then I'm fine with that.  It sets a precedent but if VAR starts becoming inconsistent, that's when we'll run into controversy.  

For our 3rd HWCI EURO pool, we got a record 49 entries, which even tops our highest Women's World Cup (44 in '19) and is our fourth-highest soccer pool ever (behind World Cups '18's 79, '14's 75, and '10's 66).  France and Belgium are clear favorites with England in the mix.

You can view everyone's picks ("Picks" on the top menu) and by tomorrow will have the Who's Who, Choice Distribution, and other information up.  43 of 49 picked ITA (boy, I thought TUR was a dark horse but they folded big-time).

Admin Picks!

 Okay, so I have submitted two entries:

• Futbol Fabone Twelf
• Glory to the Heroes

Explanations for why the nicknames forthcoming...  Good luck!  We have at least 45 entries... kickoff is minutes away!

Edit for Explanations:  This is the 12th HWCI soccer pool and since this is played across Europe instead of one host country, I picked an older language for Twelve, one where the semifinals and final will be held in England, in this case, Old English ("Twelf"), which means "two left over after ten".  Turns out 12 has more dividable (thus, desirable) properties over 10, believe it or not.

Russia was upset with Ukraine's new jerseys, which dropped just five days ago, as it has an outline of the country, including the part Russia annexed.  But since it is the UN-recognized border, UKR gets to keep the outline.

There are also two innocent phrases that individually are fine but when combined, become the rallying cry of Ukraine during the annexation.  We get this drilled into us at work, where unclassified + unclassified can be classified.  Or if you apply it to spoilers, one post may say "Luke and Vader get into an interesting conservation" which is fine, and one post may say "One reveals a family secret", which is fine, but put them both together and connecting the dots, "The Empire Strikes Back" gets spoiled for someone.

So "Glory to Ukraine" is cool and if another country had "Glory to the Heroes" that would be neat, but put them both on a Ukraine jersey, it's a political reference, and both Russians and Ukrainians will know what you are really talking about.  So "Glory to the Heroes" is to be nixed on the jersey but it survives as my nickname on my second entry!

Classic USA-MEX match & Other Friendlies

WORK FROM HOME -- It was not surprising that the USA won a meaningless match against MEX (they sometimes do, and no, the Nations Cup trophy is not worth playing for, as evident by players MEX did not call up) since this does not lead to, for example WC qualifying or a Confederations Cup berth.  But, oh what a match it was.  Of course, a typical USA misplay led to a MEX goal barely 70 seconds in and a near death blow when they went up 2-0.  Except they didn't, VAR rules offsides and minutes later, USA scored off a corner kick to tie it at 1.  Boy, nearly every one of USA's 6 corners resulted in a great header, most on goal, something that rarely happens in soccer.  It was like a free scoring opportunity every time.  When MEX went up late, USA tied it again three minutes later (yeah, off a corner).  

Then VAR ruled PKs twice in the second half of Extra Time, one for USA (where Christian Pulisic nailed the PK) and one for MEX (where backup GK Ethan Horvath came up big with a save).  That gave the final USA 3, MEX 2.  But let's not forget

FFB-5.1 "CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS, and DARK HORSES: EURO 2020" (6/4)

 

June 4, 2021 
FFB-5.1 "CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS, and DARK HORSES: EURO 2020"

by Eric Foster

CONTENDERS, PRETENDERS, and DARK HORSES:  EURO 2020

 Who Will Exceed and Fall Short of Expectations?

Readers be warned, the views I’m about to inflict upon you are skewed, formulated by a huge soccer fan who cancelled his cable plan in 2020, almost exclusively following top European players in the English Premier League thru Barclay’s Fantasy Football.  Furthermore, the rest of the insight expressed herein originate from dated impressions made during World Cup 2018!

When I compared the odds (based on betMGM) for teams to win the Euro 2020 (oddly not renamed Euro 2021) with FIFA rankings and Power Rankings (The Athletes Hub), I scratched my head.  Recent team playing form aside, there are definitely some underrated and overrated teams.  These disparities made me rethink which of the top teams in the Euro 2020 are Contenders, just Pretenders, or Dark Horses that may surprise us!  I’ve listed these teams in descending order of my own personal rankings of their chances to win the tournament.

1) BELGIUM

Power Ranking:  3^rd

FIFA Europe Ranking:  1^st 

Odds to Win: +550

Verdict:  CONTENDER! 

Some bookmakers had Belgium level with France, or at least better than England…and they may have slipped after Kevin De Bruyne broke his face in the UEFA Championship game.  The Phantom of the EurOpera should be ready to make an appearance with a protective face mask.  He won’t let down his teammates!

Issue # 1.0.1 "The 2021 HWCI Euro 2020 Pool... or Something Like That" (5/29)

Archive

Saturday, May 29, 2021 

EURO 2020 REBOOTS IN 2021 IN 11 CITIES

After a one year delay, our 3rd Euro pool kicks off with a deadline June 11th

SANTA BARBARA, CA (smt)- After the pandemic postponed Euro 2020, UEFA's celebration across Europe kicks off June 11th in 2021 although the 24-team tournament will still be called Euro 2020.  Eleven cities (down from original 13) in 11 countries will host with 9 teams getting to host at least two group matches.  Thanks the UEFA Nations League, C4-North Macedonia (MKD) won a place in the tournament, its first (along with Finland).  Hosts were paired (if both qualified) in each group then drawn for order (1,2,3,4) so you'll see, for example, #37 Hungary leading Group F as F1.   Will playing at home, with fans mostly from their country (due to some inter-Europe travel restrictions), help elevate teams?  There is no overwhelming favorite so is this England's year (with a potential to play 6 of 7 matches in Wembley Stadium)?

B3-Belgium is the #1 team in the world while F3-France (#2), D1-England (#4), F2-Portugal (#5) (defending champs), E1-Spain (#6), A2-Italy (#7), and B1-Denmark (#10) are also in the top 10.  As you can infer, Group F is the group of death with France, Portugal, and Germany (have fallen to #12!).  Since there are just six groups, four of the six 3rd place teams will advance to the Knockout Stage so all three could make it but maybe #37 Hungary can surprise someone in that group.

So what has changed in our pool? 

We are the People

So there is a thing as official music artist of EURO 2020.  Hmmm.  Actually not a bad anthem which was created by DJ Martin Garrix and features Bono (yes, that Bono).  BTW, I do really like the Hans Zimmer anthem he composed for MLS as the teams walk and take the field.  Sounds great at Dignity Health Sports Park.

So 19 days left and the 2021 HWCI EURO Pool is mostly updated  now.  Or this is the 2021 HWCI EURO 2020 Pool.  I don't blame UEFA for not changing it to EURO 2021 (though one of their excuses about saving the environment since they already printed so much EURO 2020 stuff was humorou$).  Years from now, will it matter?  

Look for an email blast about Friday May 28 and I will be at the LA Galaxy match May 29 to hand out paper copies of the entry form (but you can enter now!).  Just remember teams will be able to carry 26 players (vs 23) but still so sign of the injured-Zlatan for Sweden.  And if there is a COVID hit on a team, the match could be rescheduled within 48 hours.

UK Wants it All

Well, the Euros are happening and UEFA still plans to have it across 12 cities in Europe.  But potentially, England (or the UK with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the mix) could be the sole host of the tournament when it kicks off June 11.  UEFA said thanks, but no thanks, but depending how new COVID-19 variants progress, things could change.  England was already hosting the "final four" anyway.

Thanks to the UEFA Nations League, we will get to a smaller nation in the tournament as North Macedonia qualified via the Path D playoff.  Finland will also be making their Euro debut.

Our 3rd HWCI EURO Pool (and 12th Soccer pool) will be this summer!

Now EURO 2021

Due to extreme precautions against the spread of the coronovirus disease (COVID-19) and the uncertainty of when (or if) it could be effectively contained or mitigated, Uefa announced it is postponing EURO 2020 (which was scheduled to kick off June 12) until 2021.  That means our 3rd HWCI Uefa EURO pool will have to wait until next year as well.  It is hard enough to plan this big of an event on its own, even harder doing so always looking over your shoulder wondering if the event would even happen so a good decision.  This not only presents a clean break from 2020 but it also would allow all the domestic club European leagues to complete their seasons when safe and not worry about butting heads against EURO 2020 or worry about international windows.

Twenty teams had already qualified with four more to be decided by qualification play-offs (based on finish in Nations League 2018-2019) which was to played in March before COVID-19 popped up.  This was also going to be the first EUROs played across all of Europe (in celebration of Uefa's 60th anniversary) rather than a host nation (or two).  The new dates are June 11-July 11, 2021.

Also, Copa America was postponed until 2021 as well.  Luckily, 2021 is the year we had no soccer pool so EURO 2021 will fit nicely in there.  We have the HWCI World Cup pool in 2022, HWCI Women's World Cup pool in 2023, and EUROs again in 2024.  With this postponement, it would allow me a stress-free way in the summer to reflect on our past 10 soccer pools (6 Men's World Cups, 2 Women's World Cups, 2 EUROs) so look for periodic blog updates here.  Stay safe!

Post mortem

Euro 2016 Champions

3F-Portugal (3-0-4) A Seleção 1st Title F2: Tied ISL 1-1 F4: Tied AUT 0-0 F6: Tied HUN 3-3 R16: Beat CRO 1-0 (aet) QF: Tied POL 1-1 (Won PSO 5-3) SF: Beat WAL 2-0 F: Beat FRA 1-0 (aet)

(Published 7/10/19) In the pool, Ford R's Rainman rose and won the pool eliminating Game of Two Halves.  Eric F's BigRedMessi2 finished 2nd, Michael W's Big Blue 3rd (winning tiebreaker), and Tuan L's The Eleven 4th.  

Winners (Tie = 5)…
	Rainman	100	1st Place $120
	BigRedMessi2	94	2nd Place $75
	Big Blue	92	3rd Place $50 (Tie: 7.5, Diff = 2.5)
	The Eleven	92	4th Place $25 (Tie: 9.0 Diff = 4.0)

Stats:   Goals: 108 (2.12/match) (3 OG, 8 PK, 9 90'+, 2 ET)... Scoring 1st (32-5-10, 4 0-0 ties): 16-WAL, 32-ESP, 40-IRL, 44-ENG, 46-BEL.... Lead at the Half (18-2-5, 26 ties (22 0-0)): 16-WAL, 40-IRL... Shutouts (34): 02-ALB, 05-TUR, 06-NIR, 07-UKR, 08-CZE, 10-BEL, 11-AUT, 15-ALB, 17-UKR, 18GER, 18-POL, 19-SWE, 21-TUR, 22- IRL, 24-POR, 24-AUT, 25-ROU, 26-SUI, 26-FRA, 27-RUS, 28-SVK, 28-ENG, 29-UKR, 30-NIR, 31-CZE, 35-ITA, 36-SWE, 38-NIR, 9-CRO, 41-SVK, 42-HUN, 43-ESP, 48-WAL, 50-GER, 51-FRA... PK (8/12): 01-ROU (G), 14-ROU (G), 20-CZE (G), 23-ISL (G), 24-POR (X), 32-ESP (X), 33-AUT (X), 40-IRL (G), 41-GER (X), 44-ENG (G), 47-ITA (G), 50-FRA (G)... ET (5): 37-SUIvPOL (0:0), 39-CROvPOR (0:1), 45-POLvPOR (0:0), 47-GERvITA (0:0), 51-PORvFRA (1:0)... PSO (3, 28/37): 37-SUIvPOL (4:5, 5.0), 45-PORvPOL (5:3, 4.5), 47-ITAvGER (5:6, 9.0).... Hat Tricks (0)... Red Cards (GF:GA) (3, 0:1): 02-ALB 36' (0:0), 11-AUT 66' (0:1), 40-IRL 66' (0:0).... Own Goals (3): 09-IRLtoSWE, 23-ISLtoHUN, 38-NIRtoWAL... All five teams making their first appearance finished 3rd or higher and four – Iceland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Wales – qualified for the round of 16 (Albania came up just short)... FRA's Antoine Griezmann won the Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot (6 goals)... POR and SUI were the only teams not to officially lose (SUI lost in PSO)...

After Round Robin (36 matches):  Scoring 1st (23-2-7, 4 0-0 ties): 16-WAL, 32-ESP.... Lead at the Half (12-1-4, 19 ties): 16-WAL... Shutouts (26): 02-ALB, 05-TUR, 06-NIR, 07-UKR, 08-CZE, 10-BEL, 11-AUT, 15-ALB, 17-UKR, 18GER, 18-POL, 19-SWE, 21-TUR, 22- IRL, 24-POR, 24-AUT, 25-ROU, 26-SUI, 26-FRA, 27-RUS, 28-SVK, 28-ENG, 29-UKR, 30-NIR, 31-CZE, 35-ITA, 36-SWE... PK (4/7): 01-ROU (G), 14-ROU (G), 20-CZE (G), 23-ISL (G), 24-POR (X), 32-ESP (X), 33-AUT (X)... Hat Tricks (0)... Red Cards (GF/GA) (2, 0/1): 02-ALB 36' (0:0), 11-AUT 66' (0/1).... Own Goals (2): 09-IRLtoSWE, 23-ISLtoHUN... UKR was just the third team ever to not score a goal (TUR '96, DEN '00)... GER did not allow a goal, just the 3rd team to do so (GER '96, ITA '80)...

Final standings:

Rnk Team W-L-D PT GD GF-GA GRP

--- ---- ----- -- -- ----- ---

 1. POR  3-0-4 13 +4  9-5  3F 

 2. FRA  5-1-1 16 +8 13-5  1A

---

 3. WAL  4-2-0 12 +4 10-6  1B

 4. GER  3-1-2 11 +4  7-3  1C

---

 5. ITA  3-1-1 10 +4  6-2  1E

 6. BEL  3-2-0  9 +4  9-5  2E

 7. POL  2-0-3  9 +2  4-2  2C

 8. ISL  2-1-2  8 -1  8-9  2F

---

 9. CRO  2-1-1  7 +1  5-4  1D

10. ESP  2-2-0  6 +1  5-4  2D

11. SUI  1-0-3  6 +1  3-2  2A

12. ENG  1-1-2  5  0  4-4  2B

13. HUN  1-1-2  5 -2  6-8  1F

14. IRL  1-2-1  4 -3  3-6  3E

    SVK  1-2-1  4 -3  3-6  2B

16. NIR  1-3-0  3 -1  2-3  3C

---

17. TUR  1-2-0  3 -2  2-4  3D

18. ALB  1-2-0  3 -2  1-3  3A

19. ROM  0-2-1  1 -2  2-4  4A

20. SWE  0-2-1  1 -2  1-3  4E

21. CZE  0-2-1  1 -3  2-5  4D

22. AUT  0-2-1  1 -3  1-4  4F

23. RUS  0-2-1  1 -4  2-6  4B

24. UKR  0-3-0  0 -5  0-5  4C

         Tie: PT, GD, GF

Emotional night for Ronaldo

Sub Eder on top of the world

In a Euro tournament that saw 21 of the 50 matches go into halftime scoreless (3F-Portugal participating in three of them), why would the final be any different?  For a 3F-Portugal team that tied five of their six matches after 90 minutes, why would the final be any different?  For a 1A-France team that has hosted two major tournaments in the past 32 years and won both, why would the final be any different?  Uh, on that last one... A scoreless first half and a 0-0 tie after regulation were par for the course for the Portuguese (though France's Andre-Pierre Gignac late stoppage time twirl just hit inside the left post and ricocheted out) who had to play without captain Cristiano Ronaldo who left in the 25' due to a knee injury.  France had the better of the few opportunities but after the 1st half of extra time, ran out of gas.  A minute after POR's Raphael Guerreiro hit the cross bar on a direct free kick that shouldn't have been theirs (one of the few blown calls by the ref - handball on the wrong team), POR's Eder takes it in and hits a two-bouncer 25-yard shot that just beats the keeper for the only score of the night.

Moths had more fun than the fans

Ronaldo went on a roller-coaster ride by starting the match with high anticipation and pressure, in tears after being knocked down hard in the 8' and eventually having to call for his own sub in the 25' (a la moth), and in tears again after Portugal won its first major trophy.  France started off the match well but it seems the Ronaldo injury sucked the energy

Heading to the final

In meantime, catch up on kick-ass anime
with awesome music, Macross Delta!

3F-Portugal (2-0-4) will try to snap a 10-match losing streak to 1A-France (5-0-1) when the two national teams meet up for the final in Paris, France.  In the new expanding Euro (24 teams from 16), a third-place team has reached the final.  It has happened twice in the World Cup when they had 24 teams with Argentina losing 1-0 to Germany in the '90 final and Italy losing in PKs (0-0 (3-2)) to Brazil in the '94 final.

Both teams struggled to being the tournament with France needed a late second-half goal to edge Romania while Portugal blew a 1-0 lead to tie, at the time, lowly Iceland.  After settling for a tie in their 3rd match, France has won each knockout stage scoring 9 goals.  Portugal has played even in the first 90 minutes in each of their first