The Mauling of Brazil

It has been a bit since I last posted. Truthfully, I had just forgotten to write but if I had I would have said that biggest concern for Brazil was not the loss of Neymar but the loss of Thiago Silva. His second yellow card was so stupid, he ran into the goalie during his free kick, and could have been avoided. Silva is the rock of this defense and that can be clearly seen in this mauling being handed to the Brazilians. This game is so painful to watch and frankly embarrassing that is has spurred me to blog about it during halftime. Where has Brazil's defense been? Dante is a good alternative to Silva and plays for German champions Bayern giving him great experience on the world stage. It looks like Germany is not even trying after the first goal. 5 goals in 18 minutes is a ridiculous statistic in a World Cup Semi Final.

Brazil's performance is similar to Spain's defeat to Netherlands earlier in the group stages but is actually a lot worse. Brazil have made it to the semifinals in their home country with the support of the entire country. It is no secret that I have thought that Brazil's performance has been lack luster and suspect thus far but it was the home court advantage that made them so successful. That is why this mauling is so sad. I always thought Brazil was going to loose to Germany but not in such a sad and pathetic manner as this. I know the game is far from over but I honestly don't see Brazil coming back from a five goal deficit. However, I do hope and pray that they at least score some goals so to as not disappoint their entire country and save themselves from being burned in effigy.

The last major tragedy for Brazil was their loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil when the goalie Barbosa let in the game loosing goal. After that point Barbosa was vilified in Brazil and ended up dying poor and alone. Brazilians still talk about the loss and still hate the guy. I hope that this does not happen to any of these players and more importantly to the coach Scolari.

Let's see what 45 minutes will bring...

World Cup Hiatus

I know, I know it has been a bit since I have last posted but if you know me at all this would not surprise you. In my defense, I have taken a break in solidarity with the two day break we have been forced to take. I am so excited for tomorrow's games and am not surprised that the US soccer team will not be part of the line up in the coming days. Much has been said about the US's loss to Belgium, I mean look at the 100 of memes devoted to Howard's heroics. I am not going to focus much on the US and will just say that I am not surprised that we lost to Belgium. It was miraculous that the US made it out of the group of death and speaks to the growth of the program but I think many can agree that their quality of play was severely lacking(Mostly that we hardly had the ball during our games). To need your goal keeper to make a record amount of saves in a World Cup speaks to the lack of quality throughout the rest of the field. The benefit of the US's showing in the World Cup was the interest it created in American's watching soccer. I believe (haha) that this is one of the biggest achievements of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as coach. Now when I tell people that I can't go somewhere because I am watching soccer maybe they will understand and even share my passion for soccer.

Tomorrow's France vs. Germany game should be entertaining. The German's were not very convincing in their late win against Algeria. They did not look like the machine we are used to and a lot of that can be attributed to their incredibly slow defense. Why Lowe is using four natural center backs to occupy defense makes no sense to me. The purpose of a right and left back is to have another attacking option and lengthen the width of attack on the field. The simplest solution would to use Lahm as a right back, the position he has played for most of his career except for this past year. It should be interesting to see how this defense stands up against the speedy French attack. I'm pretty sure Mertesacker is going to stomp on Valbuena in annoyance (Mertesacker is 6'6 and Valbuena is 5'4, an entertaining match up.) If you are to believe reports it could be that the German lineup will drastically change since seven players have the flu... but who exactly is sick is on lockdown. Germany should pray for a speedy recovery.

The biggest potential news that can occur tomorrow... Brazil loosing. I honestly think that this is a possibility. Colombia have played incredibly well, so much so that I am beginning to believe that they will win this World Cup. Home support cannot save a Brazilian team whose defense has looked suspect and whose attack has lacked its usual Brazilian flare and creativity. James has a great chance of becoming Public Enemy Number One in Brazil after knocking out the Selecao.

Ready for the Knockout Rounds

The first three games of the round of 16 have not disappointed. I KNEW that the first game, Brazil vs. Chile, was going to go to penalty kicks even before it started. With this tournament the extremes are just inevitable. I was happy that Brazil started the game better than they had in the knockout rounds. Neymar and co applied a lot of early pressure and had some great creative chances. After Hulk's give away and the resulting Chile goal the Brazilians reverted back to their lackluster and sloppy style of play. The sad part is is that Alexis Sanchez's goal was practically in slow motion. Julio Cesar clearly could have stopped Sanchez's weak side footed shot. The goal confirmed my belief that Cesar is really not that good of goalie. I still believe this even though he saved two of Chile's penalty kicks but that is primarily due to good luck. Cesar did a good job of guessing which side the players were going to go proving that you don't have to be better to win, you just have to be lucky. The man of this match was Hulk. He was one of the few players who in the second half looked liked they cared. He had a great goal disallowed and proved really problematic for the Chilean defense. I think he clearly made up for his give away that the Chilean goal. 

Brazil's showing yesterday did not instill confidence in their progression in this tournament. I think that the Colombian's will prove problematic to Brazil's oftentimes shaky back line. The Colombian's showing against the Uruguayans was impressive. James' two goals, especially the first, were great and have helped catapult him to a new level of superstardom. I can see him making a big money move away from Monaco and heading to a team in La Liga and the Premiership. The Colombians are one of the few teams in the World Cup that have both a good defense and a good offense and have a shot of shutting down Neymar, who is supposedly injured with a swollen thigh. Who knows if that is really the truth. I do not feel bad at all that the Uruguayans went out without scoring a goal and not really being that impressive. It is safe to say that I am still a little bitter about Suarez.

One of the many informative Google World Cup Trends graphics

The Mexico vs Netherlands started off on a good foot with the cutest Google Doodle. I really like that Google is changing their doodles multiple times a day in honor of the World Cup. If you haven't I would also check out Google's World Cup trends page, they have created some really cute graphics and interesting facts about what people are searching for during this year's tournament.

I LOVE this doodle!! That lion is so cute!!

Another personal favorite and my sister's favorite doodle! 

The Mexicans played a very impressive first half despite the oppressive heat in the stadium that made me tired and I was sitting on my butt. You know that the day is really hot when the fans in the section directly in the sun have to leave to find shade, and they are all drunk on alcohol and soccer fandom. The second half started well for the Mexicans, clearly since that's when they scored their goal. I was confused as to why Miguel Herrera felt the need to take out Dos Santos, the goal scorer, for a more defensive minded player leaving the Mexicans with only one offensive option. I believe that a 1-0 victory is not a comfortable one and would not play for a tie. The Mexican team resigned themselves to defending the Netherlands in their own half for much of the second half and when they did get the ball had only one player up field for the counter attack. Even bringing in Chicharito did not provide the Mexicans with a good offensive option on the counter attack.

Clearly Arjen Robben was the best player on the Dutch team. He was super problematic for the Mexican defense drawing a lot of late tackles. I felt that their should have been a penalty called in the first half since Arjen was just too quick for the Mexican defense. I have spoken about Robben before and have given him some flack but it can not be disputed that he is an amazing player. He reminds me alot of Messi, with their dominant left foot, quickness, and ball control that allows them to somehow get around defenders. Sneijder's goals was truly amazing and was a pay off for what I believed was an inevitable Netherlands goal. It is clear that Mexico is not adept at defending corners and their was no way that Ochoa could have blocked that shot. The late penalty is a bitter pill to swallow. I do not believe that Robben should have been awarded that penalty since it was a soft foul but Robben did a Academy Award winning performance of selling it as a foul. It is sad that the Mexicans went out so late since they have really had a great tournament but I, personally, am not that torn up about it. Truthfully, I wanted the Dutch to win since I think that they have an all round better team. Their ability to come back from behind and put off the Mexican team is proof that they are a good team and have the ability to go far in the tournament. 

Such a great goal!

Back at it in the Morning

Sadly there was no soccer today but I probably needed the break from sitting and watching soccer constantly. The break has also allowed me to mentally prepare for the next round of competition and get my DVR ready to tape games with overtime and probably penalty kicks. I am excited to say that the US will be making their way into my viewing schedule. Though tying with the Germans the US were able to make it out of the group of death much to the surprise of many sport critics.

Though I am happy the US live to play another day, I am worried about how well we will play. The game against Germany saw us revert to the style of play we used against the Ghanians, one that was unconvincing and worrisome. I know that the torrential downpour in Recife impacted both teams style of play but it cannot overshadow tendencies that are emerging within the US team. The biggest problem is a lack of possession the result of poor give aways in midfield. Surprisingly one of the main culprits is Michael Bradley, arguably America's best player going in to the World Cup. He seems to have not been "on" in the past three games. He was responsible for the giveaway in midfield that led to Portugal's late tying goal and aided the German's dominance in possession. His passes were not as precise and he got caught on the ball too many times resulting in some cynical late challenges to try to get the ball back. Happily the midfield has been bolstered by the skills of both Beckerman and Jones. Many have become obsessed with Beckerman because he has dreads but I am more impressed with his covering of the US defense. Jones has moved farther up the field and has helped create another attacking option for the US while still tracking back to aid his defense. My hope is that the US play more like they did in the Portugal game. They created more attacking options, retained possession, and were overall more dynamic. Playing like that means it will be possible to beat an overly hyped Belgium who have failed to be decisive thus far in the World Cup.

Tomorrow's Chile vs Brazil game will hopefully be good. I really want the Chileans to upset the Brazilians but hometown advantage is sure to help the Brazilians. Though Chile fans have been impressive in their support and have taken to singing their national anthem over the allotted time limit as well. I'm hoping that the speed of the Chileans causes problems for the Brazilians as well as the fact that the Chile team will not be intimidated by the host country. Chile will play their style of football regardless of their opposition and it is why they are so entertaining to watch. It seems that there is quite a bit of animosity between the teams with arguments emerging over the assigning of British Howard Webb to officiate the match. The Chileans are under the impression that he will be weak in the face of the physical game and that he has shown a bias towards the Brazilians. It was reported that he thought the Chileans had no hope but it is hard to tell if that is true or not.

It seems as though Colombia have a great shot of beating the Uruguayans. I honestly think that without the scruple-less Suarez the Uruguayans will not be able to handle the Colombian team. Truthfully I just really don't want a team associated with such a dirty person to win. They don't deserve it. It is why I will be really upset if Barcelona buy Suarez for 80 million pounds this summer. I am going to be very conflicted in my feelings towards my favorite team. Regardless, I am excited to get back to watching soccer tomorrow and re-aprising my carefully crafted watching schedule.  

Bad Luck for the Ivorians

I wanted to speak briefly about the Ivory Coast vs. Greece game. Firstly, this two games at once thing, which I find unnecessary, is really hampering my World Cup watching vibe. I hate that they tell me the score of the other game because I might actually want to watch and be surprised! There should be a spoiler alert button!

I really wanted the Ivory Coast to win. The Toure brothers sadly lost their younger brother to cancer, and Serey Die lost his dad hours before their game against Colombia. The team needed something to boost their spirits and had the opportunity to make history in going to the round of 16 for the first time ever. I was impressed thus far with how the Ivory Coast played and had a good feeling they would be able to beat the goalless Greeks.

This game was torture to watch and Greek's goal off of an Ivory Coast mistake was heartbreaking. I could not breath after Ivory Coast equalized and thought that luck was on their side with Greece missing four shots off the crossbar. That penalty and Samaras great goal was so sad. The Ivory Coast were a minute away from leaving the groups stages and it seemed like a cruel joke for them to loose in such a manner.

My take aways from the game was that Gervinho is an impressive player. I had seen him briefly at Arsenal when he got playing time but his showing in the World Cup has been incredibly impressive. His threat on the left side was incredible and his speed and skill on the ball was the reason why the Ivorians were able to score many of their goals. The game capped a day that was filled with World Cup drama and contributed to my palpable anxiety.

The Bite Felt Around the World

Watching the Uruguay vs. Italy game was like watching a car crash. The majority of the game was spent with the two teams undergoing a tactical battle and trying to figure out how to break the other one down without conceding a goal. The large amount of fouls, yellow cards and even a red card showed just how much these two teams hated each other and how much the game meant to them. It was not until the last 15 minutes in which we witness the true ugliness of the game.

All are talking about Luis Suarez once again biting Italy's Chiellini. Suarez is lucky that the referee was no where near him and that the camera angle is not clear enough to definitively show proof of the biting. However, I think all of us are familiar with Suarez biting filled past and I for one have no trouble believing that he would stoop to such a level. The biting must have shaken up the Italian team and I believe is the reason why Italy's usually impenetrable defense conceded the goal on the corner. From there the game erupted into the two teams' benches freaking out in response to the wreck on the field. The benches were getting nasty with the assistant coaches coming to blows and teams throwing extra balls on the field to delay the game. Sadly, the game represents what I dislike most about football and feeds into the stereotypes that many have in regards to football.

The hope is that FIFA punishes Suarez for his gross actions but I wouldn't be surprised if that didn't happen. Suarez is a big name and is one of the big reasons why FIFA is making so much money through television rights and sponsorship. I feel bad that Italy had to loose in such a manner. Obviously this occurrence is going to color what people remember of Italy's involvement in the 2014 World Cup. Especially sad is that the Italian coach Cesare Prandelli has chosen to resign before he would probably have been fired for Italy's showing in the tournament. Buffon and Pirlo have likely played their last games in the World Cup and most will not be reflecting on their illustrious careers and impact upon Italian football. Though Suarez is a great player, I think it is evident that he is not a good nor smart individual.

The best result of this biting incident... the great memes it has inspired.

I have come to suck your blood!

How Suarez sees each player

Cameo in the final season

Shout out to the Mexican team's great win over Croatia. I for one know we are all excited to see more of Miguel Herrera and his great goal celebrations!

My personal favorite!

GOALS, GOALS, and A Front Flip Thrown in for Good Measure

It has been a weekend filled with some great games. I have to say that the Ghana vs. Germany game was probably the best one I have seen thus far. Both teams played well and their defenses were relatively open allowing for some great scoring opportunities. The game solidified my belief  that the Ghanians lost to the USA not because they sucked at playing but because they were just unlucky. The speed of the Ghanian counter attack is remarkable and tested the athleticism of the lumbering giant that is Per Mertesacker. He had a hard time following the Ghanian players and tracking them as they made their way on to goal. What Germany does have in their favor is a deep bench that really came through for them in the Ghana game. I was happy to see Miroslav Klose earn his record goal and proves that even though he is kind of old, he still has it (but not necessarily the ability to do a front flip).

The first half of the Iran vs. Argentina game was so boring. Having all 11 players defend against a team does not make for entertaining football, but, as we witnessed, it is effective. I felt bad for Iran and their loss in the 91st minute, damn you Messi, since they had more threatening chances on goal then the flat footed and sloppy Argentinians. Once again it shows just how great of a player Messi is. All he needs is one moment of brilliance in what was a  pretty lackluster game to carry his team through to the round of 16. Who my heart truly goes out to is Bosnia. I thought that they were going to make a dent in this year's tournament having been familiar with their players during the club season. That Eden Dzeko goal was clearly a goal and it was so sad that it was wrongly declared offside. However, Nigeria played a really good game and came back to show that they have a strong team. The last games in this group should be interesting. I read an article saying that if Iran and Nigeria end up with the same points and goal differential that FIFA will flip a coin to determine who goes in to the round of 16. For all those involve I pray that this is not the case. It is just so unfair and wrenches the control of your fate from you. I would buy a rigged coin to ensure my passage to the next round.

Today's USA game thankfully proved that we can actually play football. Michael Bradley was in good form showing just how important he is to the team. He actually held on to the ball (Hallelujah!) and created many a chance for Fabian Johnson to get behind the Portugal defense. It sucks that Portugal's first goal in the game was off of a Geoff Cameron error but the USA's positive response shows that we are here to compete in this year's World Cup. I have to say that once again Jermaine Jones impressed. He was crucial in retaining the ball in midfield and halting the dangerous counter-attacks of Portugal. His goal was also pretty amazing. The US looked dangerous on many occasions and Bradley's almost goal was painful. Dempsey once again scored for his team proving to me that the team does not need Jozy Altidore. I think he kind of sucks. His ball handling skills are subpar and I am never impressed with his hold up play or his runs into the box. People say how much of a physical presence he has but every time I see him he is easily pushed off the ball. Dempsey is way more creative of a player and has some great skill on the ball.

Sadly the US still have one more game to play before the round of 16 can happen thanks Portugal's LATE goal. The USA fan's response to the goal was hilarious. If people hadn't been so much I would have thought their face paint was running because of their tears. Thursday's matches are going to intense. The USA must pray for a win or tie with Germany. Many will say that the US have beaten Germany before at an international friendly. However, that was Germany's B Team. For this Thursday, Germany will not be holding back and will have all their great players on the field. Fingers crossed that Portugal ends up beating Ghana (honestly who knows what will happen) and the US win/loose/tie against Germany. Then we will be guaranteed on to the next round.