PUTY’S WORLD CUP REVIEW & PREVIEW – June 26/27
Sam’s Safe Space for Soccer Stoolies
Hi haters™,
I said in yesterday’s preview that Monday’s games had set a high bar as far as compelling soccer goes… but Tuesday did NOT disappoint. There is something about the afternoon slot that has been bringing the fire this week, though a quick peek at today’s schedule suggests it may instead be the morning games that drop some heat. We shall see!
Either way, welcome back to another edition of Puty’s World Cup Review/Preview, where we’ll start with a brief recap of what happened yesterday and then jump into what you can expect to look out for today. So let’s get to it…
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Recap – June 26
Scores from yesterday:
Four groups are now officially settled. Four more hang in the balance. Two more will be decided today:
First for a brief rundown of the day that was…
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TUESDAY’S GAMES
AUSTRALIA (0) – (2) PERU
RUNDOWN: It took three games but a performance and final result finally matchup up for Peru, which had made a habit of outplaying opponents but ending up losing due to a combination of bad luck and even worse finishing. An argument could be made that they looked like the best team in this group, but it wasn’t to be. At least their fans – of which there were MANY in Russia – get to go home with a consolation prize of three points.
(For everybody involved, unfortunately)
Thoughts on Australia?
Finishing fourth on one point thanks to a draw against Denmark is a fair result. Lots of hustle and actually showed more ball possession skills than I was expecting, but in the end not creative enough going forward to cause problems for opponents.
Thoughts on Peru?
Soccer can be a cruel and fickle mistress. Denmark stole Peru’s spot in the knockouts. Perhaps the Peru coach’s decision to sit their best player (Paolo Guerrero) for most of that first (yet decisive) game in which Denmark ended up winning 1-0 may have been a mistake. Maybe. Just maybe.
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DENMARK (0) – (0) FRANCE
RUNDOWN: In retrospect, of course, the writing was on the wall an hour before kickoff when the French XI was posted and six changes were made for this game. After two lackluster games I would have thought that Didier Deschamps would be more concerned about getting starters more time on the field together in the hopes they might start clicking… but he instead decided that rest was more important, thus allowing Denmark to park the bus and sit on a scoreless draw that would see both teams get what they wanted (a ticket to the next round).
Thoughts on Denmark?
Out here lookin like a snack for Croatia in the R16.
Thoughts on France?
Three games, three results (2W, 1D), but zero chance of going anywhere in the knockouts if they don’t get their asses in gear.
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NIGERIA (1) – (2) ARGENTINA
RUNDOWN: Drama, drama, drama. Messi got the game started off right with a goal that made it move, bringing down a long ball on high thigh and a second touch in short succession that was immediately deposited in hardcore soccer fans’ spank bank for later. (Oh, and his third touch was to blast the ball past the keeper with his “weak” foot.) Things got interesting from there, however, as several penalty shouts were ignored – two for Nigeria looked pretty legit (Kelly Nacho got kicked in the head and Marcos Rojo headed the ball directly into his own hand) – while a third looked pretty weak on a foul by Javier Mascherano but was awarded and converted by Nigeria. Twitter obviously was ablaze with talk about which of the penalties were legit and the hard truth is that there are arguments for and against ALL of them so the fact we are using VAR to re-decide subjective calls is farcical to begin with.
Regardless, the game was decided late on when the aforementioned Rojo banged in a cross sending all of Argentina into ecstasy and (eventually) Maradona to the hospital.
Thoughts on Nigeria?
Solid tournament for a team that came in with little experience but showed that are, and more importantly will be, a force to be reckoned with.
Thoughts on Argentina?
Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge win for Argentina and probably even bigger for Messi, who would have been tarred with the disappointment of crashing out at the group stage forever. Don’t get me wrong, when Argentina lose sometime in the next couple of games it is still going to be treated as a national disgrace, but the difference between that day coming at the group stages versus knockouts is unspeakably massive. But as I have been saying all along, and as much as it pains me to say as a Messi stan, this team is flawed and has no chance of winning the World Cup.
Unless……………………..
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ICELAND (1) – (2) CROATIA
RUNDOWN: I was admittedly a little more focused on the Argentina/Nigeria game but this game came alive late as Iceland knew a win would have been enough to send them through. They managed to create a fair amount of chances but, as often happens, the need to go forward ended up leaving the defense more exposed than usual. Not a great performance from the Croatians but at the same time they did not have a ton to play for so pessimists (“they gave up a lot of chances to Iceland?!”) and optimists (“they beat a game Iceland team without even really trying!”) can point to the game and arrive at totally different conclusions.
Thoughts on Iceland?
Highlight of the tournament was stoning Messi’s penalty and snagging a point in the opening game. After that they just weren’t dynamic or clinical enough.
Thoughts on Croatia?
Hard to take much from a game in which they didn’t come in fully motivated, but the fact they still found a way to win does say something. They’ve got an almost ideal matchup in R16 against Denmark after which shit will get a lot more realer (potentially) assuming Spain can slip by the drugged-up Russkis.
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PREVIEW – June 27
Schedule for today as we are about to get balls deep in Groups E and F:
I pretty much gave away my thinking on these games on the latest episode of Puty’s World Cup Podcast – links at the bottom! Hint! Hint! – but here’s a quick and dirty recap…
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Mexico (+125)
Sweden (+225)
Draw (+235)
I am nervous for Mexico in this game. They have been near the top of my power rankings throughout the tournament after deservedly beating Germany and Good Korea, but despite sitting on six points they could conceivably crash out of the tournament if they don’t secure a result today. Part of what has made them good is their willingness to come out and go at opponents… but the risk of that is obvious since it leaves them more exposed at the back, which is not ideal for a team that only needs a point to advance. So I could absolutely see Mexico finding a way to lose this if Sweden is as clinical and takes a chance or two the way they did against Germany… but for now I’ll stick with El Tri – if only for one more game. Mexico to win 2-1.
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Good Korea (+1500)
Germany (-650)
Draw (+625)
Germany is flawed and Korea has gotten a little unlucky so far… but Germany ain’t that flawed and Korea hasn’t gotten that unlucky. Ze Germans to win 3-0.
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Switzerland (+275)
Costa Rica (+105)
Draw (+255)
A lot of people seem to think that Switzerland is a darkhorse in this tournament. I don’t see that at all. Their future is totally up in the air at this point and could either win the group if they beat Costa Rica (if Brazil fail to beat Serbia) or get eliminated if they lose, so plenty of motivation to win. This is definitely going out on a limb given how poorly Costa Rica have played but it wouldn’t shock me if they held Switzerland to a draw – assuming they stop tackling people in the box on every other corner kick. I’ll say the Ticos decide to show a little spine and sneak away with a surprising 0-0 draw.
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Serbia (+550)
Brazil (-200)
Draw (+320)
Brazil have been my gun-to-head favorites to win the tournament, and I have not been terribly impressed by Serbia, but I’ll be honest I got a little shook when a Brazilian crept into my DMs and basically shit on The Seleção. If there is one thing the Brazilians always have in spades it is confidence, so the fact even one person from the country thinks they are nowhere near as good as I think they are left me slightly shooketh. It is true that Brazil has yet to “find itself” offensively but they have enough talent to make me think they should “grow into the tournament” and, thankfully, their defense has been relatively solid. A crap performance from Brazil is the only way these afternoon games would be worth a shit, and that fact alone makes me think it could happen… but I’ll go with gut and say Brazil to win 3-1.
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So there we have it. As mentioned, the latest episode of PUTY’S WORLD CUP PODCAST is now officially up on all (or at least most? I hope??) relevant podcast platforms!
(Note: next episode coming Friday.)
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Holler,
Samuel Army