Posted on 06/24/2014 12:25:05 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
SAO PAULO, Brazil — The U.S. national soccer team will arrive at Arena Pernambuco in Recife for Thursday’s pivotal World Cup match against Germany after playing in Amazonian air as thick as hummus four days earlier. Germany will take the field for the Group G showdown with the benefit of 27 extra hours of recuperation and preparation after competing in another northeast coastal city, Fortaleza.
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6 Straight World Cups Mexico advances to the Round of 16, they are about where they always are at this time.
Mexico Argentina 2010, Round of 16, clear offside goal awarded to Argentina:
England’s defending was their achilles heel. Glad they are going with Luke Shaw today.
England should almost consider the clubs that play the most home-nation players over the top clubs.
At least the Saints seem to consistently play a majority of home-nations player. They should almost consider just sending the whole Southampton team. That may be excessive but that is the way the West Germans did it prior with Bayern Munich. Of course, there would be a few slots to still fill in, go with teams that play Brits (and Irish) like Palace too.
One of Australia’s top players, their penalty kicker was from Crystal Palace. Australia and England both played well but crashed out.
But I think they were more impressive this time, with two solid victories and a draw against the host country. If (when!) the US advances on Thursday, that will give CONCACAF 3 teams of the final 16 (ok, there’s a way, way, outside chance Honduras makes it too, but let’s not get that fanciful).
Is that enough to give CONCACAF 4 full slots for 2018, avoiding the need for a play-in game with the half-slot, and if so, at whose expense? Asia?
You have to admit, outside of Brazil, Mexico had one of the easiest groups to qualify from. Cameroon and Croatia, were not very good.
Using “who is most likely to advance” as the criteria, I see the South Americans (CONMEBOL) with 5, Europeans (UEFA) with 5, our own CONCACAF with 3, and Africa (CAF) with 3 of the final 16. Asia/Oceania (AFC/OFC) have some outside shots of getting in, but so far, have had a lousy tournament.
For the record, my assumptions for this include:
A1 BRAZIL
A2 MEXICO
B1 NETHERLANDS
B2 CHILE
splitting the two toss-ups (both CONMEBOL vs. UEFA) evenly between the confederations.
I can show 2 different places where I predicted Mexico to draw Brazil, here is one as Audax though I predicted 2-2 and not because Mexico is more impressive but because Mexico has a good history with Brazil in recent years. Brazil is the host nation but they were given what is seen by a lot of people a fluke penalty against Croatia. That match is very controversial. This is not the Brazil of Romario.
2012, Brazil 0 2 Mexico, 2007, Brazil 0 2 Mexico, 2005, Mexico 1 0 Brazil. 2003, 2 wins by Mexico over Brazil. One of those wins is in the Confederations Cup, I think Mexico also denied Brazil winning the Olympics, different teams but still, they make a big deal out of Brazil never winning the Olympic gold medal.
One can do Head 2 Head comparisons at Soccerway to see how clubs and national teams do against each other. Versus Argentina, not as good but they were playing them well in 2010.
I think generally Argentina is considered Mexico’s “bogey team” by the Mexican fans. I’ve always thought that they both play a similar style, with Argentina just having better players.
The Brazilians surrendered an early own goal before Neymar answered with a first-half equalizer, and a dive in the box from striker Fred led to the go-ahead goal in the second half on a Neymar penalty kick.
Oscar then added some security in extra time, and Brazil is back on track at the head of Group A.
It didn't seem that way early, though, as Croatia set the early pace, earning several chances but failing to capitalize. It appeared the Croatians ran out of gas late, and they certainly didn't get the benefit of the referee's whistle.
If Croatia is not very good, Brazil must not be that good either.
Brazil isn’t really that good. Not compared to past teams, at the very least. Still quite dangerous, and I certainly wouldn’t see them in my part of the draw if I could help it, but not the unbeatable giants they’re made out to be. Undisciplined defense and an offense that goes through a single choke point in Neymar. They’ve got skill, individually, but not a particularly good team.
Okay, most people in the media say Brazil was awarded a non-penalty, so you take that away, it is 1-1; it is 1-1 and Oscar scored his goal, good one at that I understand but he scores it in added extra time when Croatia has to try to fight to draw up a game in the crucial first game. So I think that game could have ended up a draw.
But still, Mexico were denied 2 goals vs. Cameroon, that was shocking too.
Croatia had to play for a victory vs. Mexico while Mexico could settle for a draw and nobody scored until the 72nd minute: http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/23/world/world-cup/croatia/mexico/1220075/?ICID=PL_MS_14
All that said, I’m for the host country with a great history in the sport doing well, they may have gotten through the doldrums and might be able to defeat Chile. I think they would have a good chance to defeat Chile, I’d call it about even.
In the end, despite people saying one group is strong or weak, on paper at least, they are probably comparable.
I’d say usually Mexico impresses. They always have the potential to turn it up a notch it appears. 2010 was actually a very good team.
Argentina defeats Mexico in 2010 but without that awarded goal, again, Mexico might have lost some composure but you wonder what could have happened nonetheless.
Of course, a team is awarded a fluke goal, we say the team should have tried to battle back more. I’m not sure the last time a fluke goal happened to the USA though in 2002, we probably were denied a goal or penalty kick on a handball which is probably a common occurence.
In 2010, Roberto Martinez did say Suarez did the right thing in hand-blocking the Ghana goal. I’m undecided on that, he was red carded and sent out and I believe Ghana given a penalty. I don’t know if that is cheating or just part of the rules of the game. It does seem to be outside the spirit of the game though.
Bit of dramatics going on in Italy, Uruguay. Draw gets Italy through, Uruguay would have to win.
I guess I have a harder time seeing Mexico as impressive when I look at their performances against USA. When’s the last time they beat us in a game NOT played in Mexico City? It’s been a while.
Gaston Ramirez for Uruguay, he plays for West Brom of all places.
Crazy Suarez
Uruguay Scores!!!!!
Italy in big trouble.
He’s back to his biting ways.
USA has problems in Mexico as well. August 2012, we won a friendly. I don't know if we have defeated them in a competitive game there yet, I thought we did. Mexico was going to World Cups many times before we finally went in 1990 after going last in 1934.
Looks like Mexico did defeat the USA June 25 at the Gold Cup in the USA, 4-2.
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