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.

World Cup of the Underdogs

Before I gear up for two more games today, I thought it would be important to highlight the great work under appreciated teams are doing in this year's tournament. Costa Rica's win today is proof that announcers and spectators have sold teams short who do not fit in to the typical mold of teams who have previously won the World Cup or have big name stars. Truthfully, I was not expecting much from Costa Rica given that they came from a confederation, CONCACAF, that has been traditionally weaker than the others. Besides having been there before on a cruise I did not know much about the country or its soccer team. I did learn that they do not have a standing army which I find pretty interesting and that they are pretty great at soccer.

Watching Costa Rica take on Italy I was struck by how great their defensive discipline was. They were able to keep a tight back line that thwarted the attack of Balotelli and the creativity of Pirlo, something that England was not able to do. Costa Rica held on to the ball well and were able to immediately retrieve the ball even when under pressure by the Italians. In Costa Rica's first game I was very impressed by Joel Campbell and his ability as a striker. After this game I was impressed by Costa Rica's full backs and the creative runs they made down the flanks. Costa Rica seem like a real threat and, as the English have well learned, it is a mistake to count them out because they are not a "traditional" World Cup nation.

On to watching Switzerland vs. France which has the makings of being a very entertaining game and later Honduras vs. Ecuador. Who knows who will win since many of my predictions have proven false in this unexpected World Cup.

Ushering in a New Era

I have already written about my reactions to today's games but I thought I should talk more about what I see as the future for Spanish soccer.

1. Vicente Del Bosque is out the door. The Man from La Mancha has had an amazing run as a coach and it cannot be disputed that the Tiki Taka Spain has used to dismantle opponents is due in large part to his management. It also cannot be argued that he has done an incredible job of uniting a team made up of players who normally hate each other. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona players were able to put aside their El Clasico rivalry and instead play for their country. The respect he has for his players though seems to have become his kryptonite. Case in point keeping in Iker Casillas in goal in today's match. It might be a bitter pill to swallow but he is no longer the Saint he once was. Now he is simply old, sloppy and one of the major reasons behind Spain's crippling defeat. It is time to usher in the new generation and Del Bosque's lack of substitutions today is proof that many of these players have reached the end of their international careers.

2. It is time for retirement. It finally dawned on me that this is probably the last time that the world will get to see Iniesta and Xavi play together. Xavi is making a random move to Qatar this coming season (He must be making a lot of money or why else would you want to live there?) and will no longer be running Barcelona and Spain's midfield. It cannot be denied that he and Iniesta's expert passing and creativity was a main reason behind why both Spain and Barcelona have been so successful. In some respects it is sad that Spain's success has declined in line with the decline of their individual players. However, it also makes you realize just how truly great these players are. Iniesta is my favorite player and looking at all that he has been able to do for Barcelona and Spain is proof that he is one of the best midfielders to have played the game.

3. What's next for Spain? I think it is obvious that in the coming years Spain's National team will be undergoing a lot of changes. Many of these older players will soon retire. However this should not impact the success of the Spain of the future. Spain has been successful in their youth national teams and have many players who will carry on the Tiki Taka legacy.

4. Ones to Watch:

Koke: A young Iniesta, this 22 year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder is coming off of a great season for his club. Appearing as a half-time sub in today's game, Koke has been influential in many of Spain's U-21 World Cup wins, the last one being in 2013. Koke works really hard in midfield and is adept at picking out the inch perfect past much like Xavi and Iniesta. It is sure that he will fill in the space left by these midfield giants.

David De Gea has been the number one goalie at Manchester United since 2011. Though being known for sometimes making the random error, De Gea has grown a lot as a goalkeeper even though he is only 23. A part of the U-21 team who won the World Cup, competed in the Olympics and the ManU team that competes in the Champions League, De Gea is not short on experience. This was the first year that he was called up to the senior squad but he is sure to be the go-to keeper in the future.

Gerard Deulofeu, is a product of the famed Barcelona La Masia, has become a threatening winger for his club teams. Recently called up to Barcelona's first team after on loan at Everton, Deulofeu is posed to make a huge splash on the European soccer scene. Deulofeu is quick and has a killer shot on goal. It is no wonder that he is a nightmare for defenses, getting behind central defenders and opening up play. Deulofeu has had great success on Spain's youth teams but was dropped at the 23 man cut for this World Cup. At only 20 years-old it will be no surprise that he becomes Spain's future super star.

Alvaro Morata is a frequent addition to Real Madrid's attack off the bench. He has had a good run in both Spain's youth teams and in Real Madrid's recent Champions League campaign. Both good in the air (he's 6'3!! That's a giant in Spanish soccer terms) and keeping possession of the ball, Morata (21) is sure to be a great striking option for Spain in the future.

There a lot more young Spaniards who are sure to feature for Spain in the years to come. Just looking at their U-18, 19, and 21 squads as well as the great youth academies of Spain, it is clear that Spain will be able to bounce back from this atrocious showing, though it is the end of a truly great era in soccer.

The Changing of the Guard

I have to say that I am handling Spain's defeat very well. If you were with me while I was watching the game you would have seen me freaking out and imposing an embargo on the use of my cell phone. I was focused on seeing what the defending champions would do. It became clear that the precise passing that we have become accustomed to with Spain was just not working. Coupled with more goal keeping errors by Casillas, the task of winning was just too insurmountable for the Spaniards. I have to say that I was incredibly impressed with the Chileans. They played incredibly well and pressed the Spaniards for the entire game. I loved that they were not intimidated by the Spanish and had fun while playing.

It is apparent that there is a recurring theme throughout this World Cup, underestimating teams. As has been seen, this is the World Cup for a new champion to rise and for many "underdog" teams to impress. People thought that the Australians were going to suck. I have to say that I was impressed by how well they played against the Dutch. Tim Cahill probably scored one of the best goals of the tournament thus far and they came out at the get-go pressing the Dutch and providing pressure. The Dutch's defeat of Spain was impressive but I was not really impressed with their performance today. They seemed slow and lacked creativity, surprising with the great midfield they have. It seemed that they were too confident and didn't really approach their opposition with respect. Luckily for them they didn't loose because of this. I think the game against Chile will be very entertaining. The Chileans will not be afraid to send their whole team forward and attack the Dutch with great energy and speed.

The Spanish loss is proof that it is time for a new Champion to be crowned. So far many teams have played like they deserve to win. Surprisingly, Brazil is not one of them. I think that the Germans could tear them a part and Messi could easily score 50 goals if he felt like it. What I do know is that I am happy that I have not chosen to gamble on any of games in this World Cup or I would be pretty broke. I will stick to having a heart attack every game and aging 20 years by the end of this thing. 

The USA's Guardian Angel

Yesterday's US game was a nail biter. Thank god for Dempsey's fast goal or I don't know how the US would have held on to their narrow victory. I have been smack talking with my Ghanaian friend Yasmine in the lead up to this game but I have to say that I can't really continue. Even though we won, Ghana played better than us. They were incredibly unlucky but they had a thousand chances to the US's three. The US were forced to defend the majority of the game and in their own half. The reason why the possession percentages were pretty even was the amount of defensive touches that they US made. That is sad.

The one bright spot in the game was Jermaine Jones. He covered the entire field and made many impressive defensive interceptions. He seemed to be the only US player motivated to get the ball back and hold on to their narrow lead. Uncharacteristically, Michael Bradley had a weak game. Usually known for his ability to spur the US attack and hold on to the ball, Bradley gave the ball away too many times for comfort. That was a characteristic of the majority of the team. There were many a time were the US had a chance to counter or to get the ball out of their half and they gave the ball away. It was incredibly frustrating to watch. It explains why I went crazy when Brooks made that late goal to win the game. I was expecting the US to narrowly hold on to a tie and the win was seriously out of left field.

The game proved that the US have a guardian angel somewhere looking out for them. However, it was kind of a bitter win over Ghana because I would prefer a team to be better and not just more lucky. If the Portugal vs Germany game is any indication, the US do have a chance of beating CR7 and co. Their game was just ugly much like the majority of the Portugal team and Pepe's head butt (ridiculous). The German's tore apart the Portuguese defense making it seem like they were playing against a high school soccer team. The Germans kind of scared me by just how easy it was for them to destroy the spirit of the country of Portugal. The Germans are a machine who will probably sail to an easy victory in Group G. The bright spot is that the US can join them. Without Pepe, and two other players out to injury, the US have a chance of beating Portugal. I'll keep on chanting "I believe that we will win" and pray that their guardian angel will see them through.

A World Cup Marathon Weekend

It has been a long weekend filled with a lot of soccer and some Father's Day thrown in there. Out of the seven games played this weekend what I have come away with is that watching a lot of soccer really can tire you out and that anything can happen in this World Cup. Though not on par with the travesty that was Spain's defeat, Uruguay's loss to Costa Rica was a HUGE upset. We all know that Luis Suarez was not able to play but a team that has Cavani and other great players should not loose to a team not of the same caliber (Sorry Costa Rican fans). Maybe Uruguay's defeat is another example of the ushering in of new national teams into the spotlight. Who knows? What is obvious from the game is that this will not be the last we see of the baby celebration and Joel Campbell. Besides being memorable for his celebration, I was thoroughly impressed with how well he played and how many problems he caused for the Uruguayan defense. I guess Arsene Wenger and Arsenal agree with me because Campbell will finally be returning to the Premiere League after being on loan for three seasons. Guess humiliating Uruguay was good for one thing.

Celebrating in style 

Next up we have the England vs Italy game. Can't lie I was kind of excited to see if England could actually impress on a world stage. I can't deny that they have some great players and have the best domestic soccer league, but England have failed to show up in recent World Cups. After hearing all the buzz about the team being filled with younger players I was excited to see a "new" England play. I pray that yesterday's team is not what Roy Hodgson considers to be new... It was plainly obvious that England were not able to keep up with Italy physically. While many of England's players fell pray to cramps in response to the crazy humidity of Manaus, Italy strolled around like it was a day in the park. And lets not forget that England's team was filled with relatively young players. Raheem Sterling, age 19, was one player who writhed around on the floor in pain. In comparison Andrea Pirlo, 35, looked like he could have stayed on that field all day. He demolished England's midfield and defense with passes that caught the team completely unaware and that saw him completely free and devoid of pressure. And the dummy he used to set up one of Italy's goals was insanely good. I can't talk about this game and not mention Rooney's blunder of a corner kick. It sums up much of what the last half of the game was like for England though Sturridge's goal was a beauty.

Yup... pretty much sums up the last half

Today's games once again brought many goals. I was happy that Switzerland was able to get the last minute winner but my heart goes out to Honduras. Watching a team that is clearly out matched struggle after going down to 10 men is heartbreaking. I hope they are at least able to score one goal during their World Cup campaign. What made it all better was watching Messi score a great goal. I've watched him play hundreds of times and every time I am awed by how good he is. I have to say though that Bosnia were still impressive and I honestly see them as being a dark horse in this World Cup. I think they will go pretty far and do some damage to other teams.

And... Happy Father's Day Padre! Messi's goal was my gift to you!

A Flood Of Rain and A Flood Of Goals

Though today's line up of games is not technically over (Chile vs. Australia will be kicking off soon) it is safe to say that most people will not be paying attention to that game... at all. Before I tackle the biggest news item I wanted to briefly (emphasize briefly) talk about the Cameroon vs Mexico game. The game was not pretty. The stadium looked like it was going to become the next Noah's arc and the Cameroon jerseys were skin tight. I mean they were like a second skin! Again it seems that referee's calls are going to have a huge impact on the World Cup, like they always do. But I am happy that Mexico were able to get at least one goal that could be allowed. However, I still do think that Croatia and Brazil will be coming out of the group.

Now on to the big news... Spain's 5-1 defeat to the Dutch. At first I was a little torn up about this defeat. If you didn't know I am Spain fan but I have to give credit where credit is due. Van Gaal, at first, seemed to be a little crazy in implementing this back three and in the first half it seemed to be vulnerable at times. The formation however favors their counter-attacking prowess. Arjen Robben is a magician with his left foot and even if were to loose his right leg I think it would make no deference. I was not surprised that Van Persie was able to come up with two great goals. Having watched him in the Premiere League I know that he is a great finisher and a major nuisance to opposing sides goalies (Come one Casillas!). Though most talk about the following two along with Schnedier being the best part of the Dutch team, I thought that their third best player today was Daley Blind.

Before the game I actually stumbled upon Blind on Instagram. I thought he was adorable so I subsequently stalked him on the internet. His cross to set up Van Persie's amazing header was superb and I thought the pressure he put in Spain's midfield during the second half contributed to the Dutch's domination.

Clearly you can understand his attractiveness in this photo
but even with his shirt on he is cute! 

Now on to Spain. What can I say. I along with the rest of the world had high expectations for the defending champions. But simply put they sucked. We are used to seeing a possession heavy Spanish national team with them often finding it difficult to create that final goal. The introduction of Diego Costa was intended to solve this problem with him being the intended target for Spain's talented midfield. Besides winning an arguable penalty and head butting a player Costa was lackluster. It seems that his pissing off the entire Brazilian nation by being a "turncoat" (their words not mine) was to no avail. I don't think he'll be going back to his home anytime soon. Spain's biggest problem was their defense.

Spain's defense is always suspect. They try to play a high line to catch people off sides but this time it did not work. Spain's defense was slow and poorly organized. They completely lost sight of the ball and were beaten by the quickness of Robben and Van Persie. What killed the Spanish and the main reason for two of the Dutch goals were the mistakes of Iker Casillas. Am I surprised? Not really. Casillas has had a pretty bad year and a half. He has not played goalie for his club team Real Madrid regularly since having returned from a hand injury. He made a crucial error in last month's Champions League final and was the reason why I was flipping out for 120 minutes! This dip in form was evident today. He got caught out of goal and made some horrible decisions that further added salt to his side's wounds.

I think it is too soon to completely count out the Spanish. It will be important to see how they recover against the speediness and almost craziness of Chile next week. Most importantly the team needs to stop looking so defeated. The last 15 minutes of this game was painful to watch. Spain completely lost their shape and discipline. Iker Casillas can not be the starting goalie. I honestly think they should maybe put in De Gea who could practically be Casillas' son. They must touch on all the youth they have on the bench. Xavi is ancient and Torres should retire already (I can't stand him!). Koke and David Villa had great seasons with Atletico and should be started! Maybe, Del Bosque will google translate my blog and follow my great advice.

At least Spain has won according to Buzzfeed... for hotness. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattbellassai/reasons-the-spanish-world-cup-team-is-definitively-the-ho

1 Match Down, 63 To Go

The first game of this year's World Cup has come to a close. The lasting impression... Brazil kind of played like crap. Yes they won 3-1 but it was not impressive at all. The Brazilian defense was very unimpressive and they left huge gaps on the field for Modric and Co to exploit. What truly enraged me was the refereeing. What was that penalty call?! The defender did not even touch him. It kind of felt that the referee was feeling the pressure that came with Brazil playing and kind of favored them. However, the Croatian goal keeper was nothing to write home about. He should have blocked that penalty and Oscar's final toe poke goal. I was more impressed by Croatia's performance and really feel that leading up to this game they were not giving the respect they deserve. I thought they were more entertaining and their counter attacks were impressive. Brazil looked slow and reluctant to defend. David Luiz, who is not worth 30 million pounds to PSG, and Thiago Silva did not organize the defense well and that was evident with Marcelo's own goal. I thought that Neymar and Luka Modric were the two bright spots of the game. I also thought that Modric looked pretty good with his new hairstyle. Maybe loosing all that hair made him move faster?

The take away from this game, Brazil are not infallible and need to not play like that ever again or fear losing the World Cup and pissing off a lot of Brazilians. Now time to look forward to tomorrow's World Cup 2010 Final rematch. Obviously I want Spain to win but I haven't seen the Netherlands play since their disappointing 2012 Euro run so who knows. Maybe they have improved. I am just happy that I can now stop listening to announcers, turtles and octopi predict the winner and finally watch some football.

The Day Has Finally Arrived

The time has finally arrived! The World Cup is finally here and I cannot contain my excitement. I've decided to start a blog to make job hunting that much more enjoyable. And of course to share my feelings and insights into this year's World Cup. As we wait for Croatia vs. Brazil to begin I thought it would be important to talk about my conflicted feelings in regards to this year's game. Having written a paper on Brazil's preparations for the World Cup, it is evident that the protests occurring in Brazil are not unwarranted. Even today police had to stop rioters in Sao Paulo, where today's first game is taking place, who are upset about the government's use of $12 billion of public money to fund the most expensive of all World Cups thus far. John Oliver did a great piece on his conflicted feelings in regards to FIFA that I thought I would share. I agree with many of his feelings and cannot complain about seeing a hilarious clip of Sepp Blatter falling down.

As we anticipate the 1pm kickoff time, I will only briefly touch upon my predictions for the World Cup, since everyone has been speaking about them ad nauseum. I have to say that ESPN's cast of announcers all pale in comparison to beIN Sports' Ray Hudson. He is the most entertaining commentator I have ever heard and is so refreshing in comparison to the dull Alexi Lalas. Saying that my dream winner would be Spain. If La Furia Roja were to win it would make them the first team ever to win four major competitions in a row (2 European Championships and 2 World Cups) and the second team to win two World Cups back to back after Brazil in '58 and '62. However, the amount of great teams at this World Cup will make this a challenge and Spain's possession style football is not the behemoth it once was. Fingers crossed that Spain does not get stuck trying to find the perfect pass that they miss great goal scoring opportunities which has been the case in many of their past games. Though I think the addition of Diego Costa will create a new Spanish team different from the one we are used to seeing. 

Besides Spain, there are some other great teams that have a chance to vie for the trophy. The host country Brazil are one such team but they have a huge amount of pressure. Today's match against Croatia should be a good barometer of how well they can play especially since Croatia is a pretty good team which ESPN seems to be forgetting. As always the German's are a huge threat, but their preparation camp was kind of a mess. One of their young stars got injured, two players were involved in a car accident, they have an aging striker (Miroslav Klose is 35 which is ancient in striker terms,) and there star goalie is fresh off a shoulder injury. Then there's Argentina, who contrary to what people think actually have an amazing team outside of Messi. Di Maria is an incredible player and Sergio Kun Aguero is a world class striker in his own right. I should stop now because I can continue talking like this for every team in this year's World Cup. I will end saying that I believe that Belgium have a great shot to go really far in the tournament. I'll talk later on about my feelings in regards to my native country's chances in the World Cup but I will end with a shout out to Yasmine and say that the USA will kick her Ghana's butts!!