Posted on 07/01/2014 2:40:34 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
SALVADOR, Brazil The eyes of two nations will be glued to it no matter what happens, but statistical history from this World Cup suggests that the United States' round-of-16 showdown with Belgium on Tuesday could turn into a high-scoring classic.
Because if you want to see goals galore, you'll see them in Salvador.
The previous line was more than a terrible attempt at rhyming. A genuine trend has seen 21 goals rattled in over the course of just four games at Arena Fonte Nova. Forwards such as U.S. captain Clint Dempsey, who has already struck twice in the tournament, and Belgium's Eden Hazard, who has yet to score, will be licking their lips.
Not since 1958 has a World Cup venue averaged so many goals per game, leaving soccer experts baffled. Scoring has been up in general at this tournament, but Salvador has been the epicenter of the goal glut.
"It is quite unprecedented in modern times," said John Ley, a soccer statistics expert for the Daily Telegraph in London. "Football was very different going back half a century or more and there was a higher number of goals in general. For there to be so many in Salvador is remarkable."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
What’s a high scoring soccer game? 5 to 3?
- 2010: Jagger goes to Ghana - USA with Bill Clinton. USA lose.
- 2010: Jagger wears England scarf for England - Germany. England lose.
- 2010: Jagger's son wears Brazil jersey for Brazil - Netherlands. Brazil lose.
- 2014: Jagger says Portugal will make it. Portugal goes home after group stage.
- 2014: Jagger tweets support for England. England lose 2-0 agains Uruguay.
- 2014: Jagger roots for Italy in Rome. Italy go home after group stage.
- Saturday evening: Jagger roots for Belgium. Wears black-yellow-red during Sympathy for the Devil at Werchter (Be).
In the space of just seven days in Brazil, the patient, possession-oriented style of play that has dominated this sport for the last six years has given way to a breakneck brand of soccer that looks like it has been outfitted with a jet engine.
On the offhand chance we make it to the final and rematch against Germany, hopefully the field will be dry enough that we can push up the tempo and take advantage of the fact that their back four just simply can’t run fast enough.
France could probably manage it first, though, and the irony of them using a “blitzkrieg’ tactic against a German “Maignot line” would be hilarious.
The world has figured out that the best way to beat the Spanish style of endless passing is to force the action rather than sitting back in defense. The lack of overall team speed on the Spanish team was exposed.
The pressuring defenses has made for very entertaining soccer with end to end action.
Yes, all of these scores in the knockout rounds have been very low.
I understand that the World Cup at least in the group stage had the most goals scored in it since 1970. One TV pundit said maybe that is why it has been so good.
How many times did he play sweeper? Then, there was the time he raced out of goal to head the ball away.
The graphic of Neur's movements you linked tells how Germany won.
Switzerland has squandered some great opportunities.
France-Germany will be a war.
They did a poll in the 90s in France, about which German historical figure was the most hated in France.
It wasn’t who you thought it would be.....It was Harald Schumacher.
France may have had a significant number of collaborators with the occupying German army, but I bet they’ve never had any with respect to the German national team.
Knockout round has gotten a lot tighter than round-robin, understandably. Argentina and Switzerland 0-0 through normal time in what sounds like a fairly dull game from the vantage of my Twitter feed.
Switzerland trying mightily to break that pattern. Second place group finisher USA needs to also.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.