PUTY’S WORLD CUP REVIEW & PREVIEW – June 20/21
Sam’s Safe Space for Soccer Stoolies
Hi haters™,
As promised, we’ll do a quick recap of Wednesday’s games followed by an even quicker rundown of Thursday’s matchups (with iron clad lock of the century predictions) intended to help everybody stay abreast of what’s what in Puty’s World Cup…
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Recap – June 20
We are now balls deep in the second round of games at this point, meaning that some teams Groups A & B have already been officially eliminated from contention (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco – note: rough couple days for our African friends) and others have successfully punched their ticket to the knockout rounds (Russia and Uruguay).
Scores from yesterday’s slate of games include:
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PORTUGAL (1) – (0) MOROCCO
CONCLUSION: Pretty tame affair in which Morocco appeared to be the better team for much of the game and managed to scrounge a few looks at net but was not able to make any of them count. Also, you guys are never going to believe this but (1) a game involving Ronny was decided by Ronny and (2) it was decided by a set piece. I know, crazy, right?
What did we learn about Portugal?
Absolutely nothing. They are not on the level of other teams popularly thought of as “contenders”… but then again, none of them have Ronny.
What did we learn about Morocco?
Two games, zero goals for Morocco this tournament. It’s almost as if their offense isn’t very good, but obviously that couldn’t possibly be true based on how many commenters said I didn’t know what I was talking about in saying Morocco’s offense isn’t very good. Huh. I’m not good at math, is no goals good? Huh. Funny how that works sometimes. I saw some people talking about how “Morocco was the best team not to score a goal in the World Cup”… ummm, should they say thanks? Also, how soon we forget how trash the team was in their first game against Iran where both teams had trouble stringing two passes in a row. Anyway, farewell sweet North African princes.
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URUGUAY (1) – (0) SAUDI ARABIA
CONCLUSION: Uruguay managed to grab an early lead on a – wait for it – yep, a set piece after the Saudi goalkeeper came off his line and completely whiffed on the ball. Whoops. Luis Suarez has not been all that good this tournament but proved he can still be deadly from six inches in front of an empty net… something that opposing defenses should perhaps keep in mind going forward.
What did we learn about Uruguay?
Full disclosure: I put way too much money on Uruguay as my darkhorse to win the tournament thinking that they would be a tough team to beat thanks to a stingy defense and opportunistic offense (led by oftentimes deadly finishers Suarez and Edinson Cavani up top). The team has now reeled off two straight wins and advanced to the knockout rounds… and suffice to say my poop-meter is hovering between high and very high based on the lack of quality they have shown so far. Perhaps they will “grow into the tournament” like a lot of teams have done in the past (Germany in 2014 and Italy in 2006 come to mind), and suffice to say they sure as shit would need to if they are going to do any real damage because the two performances to date were not at all impressive (though can’t knock “surviving and advancing” too much in a tournament where the only thing that really matters is “surviving and advancing”).
What did we learn about Saudi Arabia?
Bounced back from the howler against Russia – which definitely in no way had anything to do with any backroom deals between Putin and the Crown Prince, no sir, definitely not – to look relatively proficient in the game of soccer such that they largely held Uruguay at bay and even created a few chances of their own. So they’ll be able to tell all their friends about that next week… while sitting on the couch watching the rest of the World Cup, which is nice.
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IRAN (0) – (1) SPAIN
CONCLUSION: Solid performance from Iran (all the more surprising given their last outing against Morocco, which was probably the least watchable World Cup game I have seen in many years) while Spain looked far less sharp than they did against Portugal. Only goal of the game was scored by Diego Costa… kind of.
What did we learn about Iran?
They are not nearly as bad as they looked in the Morocco game, and managed while pressing to equalize late in the game to put some serious pressure on Spain for certain stretches, but was unable to capitalize on the handful of half-looks they got. At least looked good enough to – when combined with Portugal’s lack of impressiveness against Morocco – make for an interesting win-or-go-home scenario in the last group game.
What did we learn about Spain?
That they are not necessarily as good as the performance against Portugal may have suggested, but they certainly have a certain level of grit – call it the “Costa Factor” – that they clearly lacked in 2014.
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PREVIEW – June 21
Yesterday’s games were on paper all relatively poor matchups… the same can’t be said about today where we have some extremely interesting games on deck.
The games involve teams from Group C & D, which look like this at the moment:
Reminder: if you want more detailed explanations for my thinking behind the picks, check out the group previews that were the past week – links at the bottom. But here is a quick and dirty run-through and some shot-in-the dark predictions…
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Denmark (+100)
Australia (+275)
Draw (+220)
Australia – aside from being the beneficiary of one of the stupidest plays of the tournament when France’s Umtiti reached up and grabbed the ball in his own box for no good reason – has not shown a lot of offensive prowess so far, but part of that was a function of needing to pack it in on defense against a talented France team. Denmark was not at all impressive in beating Peru last time out. Part of me thinks that it’d make sense for the Danes to pull off yet another unimpressive win and somehow punch their ticket to the next round (leaving some fortunate Group D team licking their lips)… but I’ll give the gritty Aussies a little credit and say they do come out and play and don’t get the short end of the stick from technology two games in a row. Gimme a 1-1 draw.
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France (-200)
Peru (+500)
Draw (+290)
France has been underwhelming over the last couple of weeks, while Peru deserved better from its critical opener against Denmark. On paper the Frenchies oughta have plenty of firepower, especially against a Peru team that didn’t meet a brilliant opportunity it couldn’t find a way to squander against last game… but I really think Peru will find a way to squeeze out of this group, and at least a point in this one would make that a lot more likely. Gimme a highly entertaining 2-2 draw.
Maybe Peru’s coach will “switch it up” and play Peru’s best player this game… fingers crossed!
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Argentina (+110)
Croatia (+290)
Draw (+230)
A lot of people are nervous about Argentina right now. They are right to be. This team has been out of sorts for months (if not years going back to when Messi skied a penalty – not the first or last time the wee genius has missed from the spot – as Argentina lost yet another tournament final, this one being the 2016 Copa America)
and there just seems to be too many holes and question marks for it to be a situation where they suddenly start clicking. I’m not saying they don’t have the talent to make it to, say, a quarterfinal or so… but it strikes me as equally likely that they could crash out at the group stage. This game will be a good test of what Argentina are really made of. Croatia is a strong, experienced team that isn’t going to bunker the way Iceland did and have a stacked midfield that will make it hard on Argentina. Will the Albiceleste fold? Entirely possible. They could also show some unexpected backbone and put the Croats in their place. I’m guessing it will be somewhere in the middle. [Note: The haters are saying I wouldn’t pick three draws in three games. Suck it haters.] I’ll say 1-1 draw.
Food for thought, Argentina – just sayin
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So there we have it. The fact I struggled so much with predictions for today’s games means they should be mucho exciting. See ya for kickoff in a couple hours.
Programming note: the next episode of PUTY’S WORLD CUP PODCAST is now available with myself being joined by Big Cat and special guest (USMNT great turned soccer content creator) Jimmy Conrad… I’m hoping to do a quick standalone blog on it later this morning but don’t let that stop you from downloading, subscribing, reviewing (etc etc) early and often! [Links below]
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Holler,
Samuel Army