Don’t forget, Nigeria played a great match against Argentina. They got a bad call that many say should have resulted in a penalty kick. I wonder how that match would have been different if the call went differently?
1
Even with VAR or maybe because of it, didn't Senegal get shortchanged in their last match?
1
Quite right: Morocco, Iran, even Senegal and probably Tunisia and Nigeria.
What hard luck! And what great soccer!
Better luck next time. But you surely gave us a show this time. Thank you.
This is a World Cup of good news and focus on the games. May it remain that and may its fun and joy and tension continue. And continue to thrill and whirl our emotions.
7
I’ve jumped on Mexico’s bandwagon. Mainly because one of life’s great pleasures is a plate of cheese enchiladas and a bottle of Tecate.
5
Those are great pleasures, but I'd argue that a good feijoada, caipirinha and a "roda de samba" are even better. Get behind Brazil.
3
I love watching the World Cup and suspect that without Italy present the rest of the world is making a grand effort of anarchic compensation to let the competition run wild.
As regards the kind democratic spirit of the article, it’s also wise to remember Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges’ take on the game, especially in these uber-nationalistic times: “Soccer is popular because stupidity is popular.”
Algerian-French writer Albert Camus, who played as a goalkeeper, was much less condescending. He said, “Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football (soccer).”
He also noted, “…that the ball never came to you where you expected it,” so true and in keeping with this exhilarating World Cup.
6
Football’s Coming Home!
4
Very good chronicle, worthy of a Nelso Rodrigues.
2
When Germany is out, Italy and the Netherlands staying at home, Argentina scraping through and Brazil so-so then something is definitely afoot. Japan’s first World Cup was in 1998 - now they’re being spoken of as a challenge (and much respect to them). We live in interesting times.
4
I'm guessing Brazil vs Croatia for the final.
7
Exactly my prediction too.
Well I hope the fluidity and creativity of the S American teams is in full display. The England - Belgium match was boring and full of "set plays" and lots of time wasting passes in own half.
Also I hope they call more fouls on the European teams when they hack, trip, clobber Neymar, Messi, Saurez and other playmakers and strikers.
3
It is hardly fair to pick on the England-Belgium game, as both teams had already qualified for the knockout rounds and made whole-sale changes in their sides. That ruined both their incentive and their consistency.
As for asking the Europeans to hold off on the fouling, that's pretty rich coming from a CONCACAF nation. Several of our peer countries continued to play the way they do during our qualifying rounds--without a CONCACAF ref tolerating it, thankfully.
3
I'm surprised there's no mention about how physical these World Cup matches have been. It's almost like survival of the fittest on the pitch.
2
Yes, particularly Mexico v. Sweden! Every other game has looked like a slow-mo replay to me after that.
Is football the most boring sport in the World? In the 48 games of the first round there were an average of 757 passes per game to score an average of 2.5 points per game. That means 302 passes per goal! Why, then, is it popular?
1)everybody can play it. No skills needed. 2) It’s part of the psychological need of belonging, having something our own. 3) it’s an escape from daily routines. 4)All media need something that will bring in advertising. media developed techniques about football to create excitement where there isn’t any. Can other sports teach FIFA something? ? The game needs more action and goals. Here are some of the changes FIFA can make to make the game more fun: 1) Two referees per game. 2)Play 60 minutes in 4 quarters of 15 minutes of actual play. Presently games last 90 minutes plus overtime, .but actual playing time is about 45 minutes. 3) Allow free substitution of players. 4) Apply the offside rule only in the goal area. 5) 15 seconds to get the ball into the opponent’s side of the field. 6 ) 25 seconds to shoot at the goal or lose the ball. 7)Apart from red-card fouls or two yellow card fouls, leave the game for 5 minutes for rough play, speaking to the referee, or unsporting behavior . 8)When play is stopped because of an injured player, that player must be substituted for five minutes. 9)Only the team captain can speak to the referee. 10)If the game is tied five minutes from the end, the goal keeper cannot touch the ball with his hands.
2
Soccer is just as much a brain game as a technical and physical game. If you don’t know that, you likely don’t understand
Goals for the sake of goals is not the objective. Don’t turn soccer into a mostly predictable basketball game. When you score 100 points odds are the better team will win 99% of the time.
What makes soccer special is the psychology of the game, the tactical planning, the off-ball plays. Most of the 700 passes are done around midfield with the objective of bringing opponent players from weaker teams into your own half to open spaces near the goal.
When Phillipe Coutinho attracts three defenders, as was the case in the game between Brazil and Serbia, other players get open.
How often you see in other sports power houses like Germany fall to Korea, or Iran almost knocking out Spain or Portugal? Hardly ever.
13
A major difference between soccer and football is that almost everybody who watches soccer has played soccer. Which means you don't need a goal to enjoy it--every piece of skill is appreciated. And the goals are that much more exciting for being further apart. A 1-0 game can be drab, but it can also be incredibly exciting. The pleasure depends on the skill of the players, not the final score.
American football sold its soul to appeal to people who have never donned pads. They have tweaked the rules to emphasize long passes, touchdowns, speed, and violent hits, because those are the things everybody can enjoy. It would actually be quite easy to reduce the concussion problems that football has, but those changes would take away exactly those elements that make it compelling TV for the unwashed masses. (Lighter pads, soft helmets, no face masks, only allow teams to suit up 20 players, max 30 seconds between plays with no clock stopping. )
17
Yes, how to improve soccer, by an American: 1) separate attack and defensive teams, 2) TV and team timeouts, 3) four quarters of 15 minutes, 4) shoulder pads and helmets, 5) cheerleaders, 6) half time shows, 7) more statistics, 8) coordinators allowed to call plays via headsets, blah blah blah.
Soccer is the worlds most popular sport because it has little in common with US pro sports, not because it has a lot.
9
Croatia and Mexico through to the finals. Not a surprise, they are playing well.
4
I am living in Bogota, Colombia just now.
Originally, I was to spend the whole month of the Cup in Russia, but then decided to stay back to take in atmosphere of group stage matches with Colombians.
Glad I changed my plans and leave for Moscow tomorrow.
Bogota has been a pure joy to watch Colombia games.
Never mind, one came at 7:00 am local time.
After its first loss, it was funeral atmosphere.
At end of each win, it was Mardi Gras, Brazil Carnival, the Super Bowl - all combined plus some more.
And at least in Colombia, they have a play by play announcer whose world record of 37 seconds non stop "g-oo-oo-oo-l" is amazing to hear.
He makes commentary with such speed and in such a high stattacto voice - that even Colombians wonder what he says or how he does it.
His rapid delivery is regardless of what is happening in the field - you would think he is describing Kentucky Derby - when it is barely a Westminster Dog walk.
Simply unbelievable.
31
great article; you did not considered the use of the VAR as being an unbiased tool that takes out the natural human biased calls in futbol. No more "manos de Dios;" this also account for the more democratic results. wish we had VAR for other areas
15
Americans miss out when it comes to the unifying thrill of international sporting contests, thanks to their unique roster of pro team sports. They really don’t know what it means for city streets to be deserted as the entire nation wills a team to victory, experiencing joy or despair together.
51
Nationalism may unify at a local level but the world needs more international mindedness.
1
The knock out rounds are where the big boys use their experience. The exuberance of the group games is tempered. If you're 1-0 up with 20 mins to go you see the game out.
1
By the knockout rounds, teams have solidified their starting lineups and worked out the tactical kinks. Players have become more familiar with each other, and the stronger nations are less likely to be caught unawares, as can happen in the early group phase.
5
This article seems to make claims of a quantitative nature — that knockout rounds produce fewer upsets than the group stage, and that team strength is now less concentrated among elite nations — without providing any quantitative basis. 14 of the 15 strongest teams advanced, according to 538. Hardly a “carnival” set of results, whatever that means.
Uruguay won the World Cup twice in the 20th century. Were they more elite then than they are now? Why would Portugal have anything to fear from “superpowers”, given that they have the best player in the world and hold the Euro Cup?
If the article is fluff, don’t make statements that sound fact-based. If it is supposed to be fact, provide evidence.
7
What the actually expertly does is to acknowledge the fact that, although anything can happen within a 90-minute game, we cannot dismiss that some teams are favorites for a reason. You are right saying that Portugal is blessed with Cristiano Ronaldo, but few others in the team are close to his level. The remaining powerhouses have a more distributed share of talent. As for Uruguay, their last World Cup title was a long time ago and yes, they were more elite then than they are now. What makes a world cup champion is a complex sum of factors, but we can have a good educated guess what they are
5
Wow, Joel, perhaps you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Quantitative? Fact based? jeeeeez. Yes Panama did not end up in the final 16, but in fact there were some stunning games, no need to reiterate them for you, I know you know them.
7
Relax, buddy. The author is not laying out a business plan for a Fortune 500 company. I love 538, but it seems to have liberated many a sports geek to become quite imperious lately...
Speaking of 538, yeah, 14 of the top teams advanced, but many of them by the thinnest of margins! You would have to have a truly blind faith in “sports analytics” to consider Argentina’s advancement a deeply over-determined outcome.
1
Whatever happens next is guaranteed to be better than yesterday’s England v. Belgium match. Those 93 or 94 minutes were worse than watching paint dry.
20
That was not a typical match. This year WC has
been great so far. I can only name one match, out
of so many, that was painful to watch (for me).
The level of soccer has also been very good (IMHO).
Spain-Portugal was a beautiful game. (Just to mention
one.)
3
Did you see the last 13 minutes of the Japan vs Poland game. That was beyond boring, it disgraceful...and I say that as someone who was pulling for Japan.
3
Great article. More than any other event, the World Cup brings the world together, and as the article suggests, more democratic. It is so inspiring to see these young men give their very best and leave everything on the field. I am not sure about the tie breakers based on the number of yellow cards, but that too is an attempt to encourage fair play. All in all, it truly is a world festival, and mankind wins.
20
I bet on Croatia as the two best squads in this World Cup. I don't know the brackets leading to the final stage but I say that for what was seen from the 32 teams in this initial phase, Croatia and Belgium deserve to make the final match.
4
Just don't bet all your money on that
10
I agree. Croatia is a brilliant team even if I'm Danish and we're playing them on Sunday.
4