[+] Let's talk about the World Cup!

[Maxperson]

I actually feel for him.

I used to play at a pretty high- but not pro-level, always in a defensive role (typically fullback or goalkeeper). And in one of the last competitive leagues I was in, I had one of my best EVER games in goal…ruined by a single error.

I was in a TERRIBLE team, and we were slated to play one of the contenders. I volunteered to play goal. We were completely outmatched. Almost all 90 minutes were played on our side of the field. The ball only crossed midfield on my clearing kicks. I stopped 45 of 46 shots. That’s not a typo.

The winning goal came in the closing seconds of regular time. A guy on the other team tried centering the ball, only to find nobody was there except me. I saw the slow roller, and then saw our right wing flying down the sideline unmarked. Instead of doing what I was supposed to do, I tried to smack the ball to my sprinting winger.

…and my cleat slipped out from under me in the dirt, and I did a full Charlie Brown backflip, whiffing on the ball. I had just enough time to scramble up, chase the ball as it dribbled across the line into the net, and hear the final whistle.

Wow. That really sucks.

How is that an error, though, and not just bad luck?

 

[Clint_L]

Actually my post was to say the tournament is over now that the host countries are out. We have no dogs in the hunt as the saying goes. Yeah yeah yeah. I know it doesn't work that way.

Spoken like a wonderful host.

 

[Zaukrie]

We're all pulling for Morocco Norway...

 

[Old Fezziwig]

You really think Egypt stands a chance against Argentina? Refs will even cheat to help Argentina out. Egypt I feel is more like the US in this showing...but...I can be surprised (for example...Netherlands...how did the Netherlands fall so far!).

I do think that Egypt has a good shot against Argentina -- they're going to have to weather a bit of a storm in the second half, for sure, but they're a pretty solid side. And Argentina might be a bit past their sell-by date. (I thought they were a bit past it in the last World Cup, even though they won.) I'm not sure that the ref will cheat to help Argentina. If I were feeling conspiratorial, I'd say that FIFA might put pressure on refs to help Egypt, given their clear efforts to grow the sport in the Arab-speaking world (cf World Cups in Qatar and KSA, Salah's status as the most famous and best Arab-speaking footballer). And I'm not even that committed to that.

The Netherlands didn't fall far. The grossly unfair 48 team format just pits the USA vs. Bosnia and the Netherlands vs. Morocco in a knockout round. You've got 1's facing 2's and 1's facing 3's and some 2's facing 2's. What pool you fall into is more important than how good you are.

Yeah. On top of this, the Netherlands have been really uneven for a while. Koeman's past his prime as a manager. Between his 16 months at Everton and his 14 at Barcelona, he really seems to have lost his touch. Of course, I'd be suspicious of either of those jobs. They're both impossible gigs. Everton in particular is not a job I'd want to attempt.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

What cool acronym can we come up with M. P. S. U. P. A? SPUMPA? Ok USMNT,

You write USMNT and I think of TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

As of this writing, Egypt just scored their 2nd goal, for a 2-0 lead.

 

[Zaukrie]

As of this writing, Egypt just scored their 2nd goal, for a 2-0 lead.

Unreal

 

[Morrus]

Wow. I did not see that coming.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Wow. That really sucks.

How is that an error, though, and not just bad luck?

My cleat failing to find grip on the field is an accident, but the primary job of the goalkeeper is to keep the ball out of the goal, and I forgot that. I saw a scoring opportunity and went for it, and it caused a loss.

In hindsight- even immediately post game- there was enough time for me to have stopped the ball then kicking it to my uncovered teammate. The worst thing that would have happened would have been time expiring 0-0. If the game continued, I had a good chance of getting us to a shootout…and their goalie hadn’t seen a single shot.

Instead, I got greedy.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

2-1 now