Saturday, July 5, 2014 
Issue #7.3.1 "The Usual Suspects : WC Glory Days"
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SOCCER SUPERPOWERS DOMINATE FINAL FOUR
No change at the top; just 4 can win title

CERRITOS, CA (smt) -- The 3 traditional soccer superpowers (10 titles) took early 1st half leads and held on to advance while always the bridesmaid 1B-Netherlands needed the penalty kick shootout (PSO) to advance to the semifinals.  3-time champion 1G-Germany used a 13' goal by Mats Hummells to quell 1E-France, 1-0, to advance to their 4th straight semifinals.  Five-time champion 1A-Brazil used a 7' goal by Thiago Silva to hold off their 2nd straight South American opponent, 1C-Colombia, 2-1, to advance to their 1st semifinal since 2002.  Two-time champion 1F-Argentina used a 8' goal by Gonzalo Higuain to then frustrated 1H-Belgium, 1-0, to make the semifinals for the first time since 1990 (really, no ARG since we started our pool 16 years ago?).  Three superpowers used the early goal to get comfortable and relatively easily held on (ARG went a lot of the 2nd half without a shot on goal until Lionel Messi's stoppage time attempt that was saved).  However, BRA lost Neymar to injury for the rest of the WC and Silva picked up a silly yellow card and will miss the semifinal.

In the most interesting match, three-time runners-up 1B-Netherlands could not break the 1D-Costa Rica last line of defense, getting caught offsides a WC-high 13 times and hit the woodwork at least three times in 0-0 tie after regulation and extra time.  Interestingly, the extra time did not feature two teams trying to get to PKs as it was an up-and-down affair with both teams hustling and pushing the ball into attacking zone.  The Dutch had the better of the opportunities but CRC had a couple of chances to score in a frantic last 15 minutes of extra time.  Then, in the 120'+1 NED replaced their GK just for the PKs.  Gutsy.  And it worked as Tim Krul saved 2 of CRC's 5 PKs while NED hit all four of theirs for a 4-3 PK win to send the Dutch to their 3rd semifinal in their last 4 WCs (4th '98, 2nd '10 (DNQ '02)).

So we get four teams that have played in 21 of 38 finals and two classic Final rematches.  BRAvGER will be rematch of the '02 Final where BRA won 2-0 and ARGvNED would be a rematch of the '78 Final where host ARG won 3-1.

And with 3 of the top teams still alive (68 picked BRA, 62 GER 56 ARG), 15 are still alive to win one of the top 4 spots.  But only The Mighty Mobelfakta, EEChick1400, TheSpecialOneLA, and Chiquillos can win the record $345 1st place prize.  The former 3 are tied for first (109 pts) while Chiquillos is 4th-Tied (108) with Futbol Fabone Five and Gailpants.  Chiquillos was the only person get all 4 semifinalists to move from 25th to 4th.  3 only got 1 of 4 correct including Belgium Craft Beer who is alone in last (62).  Rounding out the $750 pot, 2nd place will get $180, 3rd place will get $115, and 4th place will get $70.  And the remaining $40 will go towards the Bonus (detailed later but a hint below (new stat addition) in Sides 'N Kicks).

This is probably the tightest pool race we've seen which has mirrored the exciting WC thus far.  With the champ worth 14 pts, 37 entries are within 14 pts of the leaders.  But there's still the Bonus!  More details to come... Check here if you forgot who you picked.

This year, Sammy is once again provide biting commentary (the once Landon lover and now a hater) with his daily matchday "PANDO! or GORDO?" newsletters (his 3rd straight pool doing it).  Also, following his successful HWCI EURO Pool newsletter, Eric's "Foster's Football Brew" is back and he is coming back home from Brazil.  If anyone else wants to contribute, let me know.  Anyone else going to Brazil and want to send pictures or mini-reports?

The best way to keep up with the pool is to follow @HWCI_Pools on Twitter or visit the #HWCIwc hashtag (you don't need Twitter account to view) often for daily updates.  Less often will be our Facebook group page (post comments or organize viewing parties) and then these newsletters every 4 days or so.  But I intend to update the standings at the end of every matchday.

   SIDES 'N KICKS:  [56 matches] Goals: 159 (2.65/match) (Own: 5 (1-CROvBRA, 10-HONvFRA, 11-BIHvARG, 46-GHAvPOR, 53-NGAvFRA); Subs: 30)... Scoring First: 40-8-6 (6 0-0 tie; 1-CRO, 3-ESP, 6-JPN, 7-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG, 26-HON, 51-MEX)... Lead at Half: 23-4-2 (31 ties; 6-JPN, 8-URU, 9-ECU, 15-ALG)... Shutout: 32 (2-CMR, 5-GRE, 10-HON, 12-IRN, 12-NGA, 13-POR, 17-BRA, 17-MEX, 18-CMR, 19-ESP, 22-JPN, 22-GRE, 24-ITA, 27-IRN, 28-BIH, 31-RUS, 35-AUS, 36-CHI, 39-ITA, 40-CRC, 40-ENG, 41-HON, 42-ECU, 42-FRA, 46-USA, 47-KOR, 50-URU, 53-NGA, 55-SUI, 58-FRA, 59-NED, 59-CRC, 60-BEL)... ET (GF/GA): 6 (49-BRAvCHI (0/o), 52-CRCvGRE (0/0), 54-GERvALG (2/1), 55-ARGvSUI (1/0), 56-BELvUSA (2/1), 59-NEDvCRC (0/0))...  PSO: 3 (49-BRAvCHI (3/2[5]), 52-CRCvGRE (5/3[4.5]), 59-NEDvCRC (4/3[4.5])... PK: 11/12 (1-BRA, 3-ESP, 7-URU, 10-FRA, 13-GER, 15-ALG, 20-AUS, 25-fra, 37-COL, 38-GRE, 51-NED, 57-COL)... Red Card (Goals For/Against): 10 (8-URUvCRC (94+' 0/0), 10-HONvFRA (43' 2Y 0/3), 13-PORvGER (37' 0/2), 18-CMRvCRO (40' 0/3), 22-GREvJPN (38' 2Y 0/0), 34-CROvMEX (89' 0/0), 39-ITAvURU (59' 0/1), 42-ECUvFRA (50' 0/0), 47-BELvKOR (45' 1/0), 52-CRCvGRE (0/1))... Multiples: 13 (Neymar (2) 2G (1-BRA, 33-BRA), Robin Van Persie 2G (3-NED), Arjan Robben 2G (3-NED), Karim Benzema 2G (10-FRA), Thomas Müller 3G (14-GER), Mario Mandzukic 2G (18-CRO), Luis Suarez 2G (23-URU), Enner Valencia 2G (26-ECU), Jackson Martinez 2G (37-COL), Xherdan Shaqiri 3G (41-SUI), Lionel Messi 2G (43-ARG), James Rodriguez 2G (50-COL))... Goal line technology: FRA G (48')... Regions: UEFA (13 teams) 23-16-9, CONMEBOL (6) 16-4-4, CAF (5) 3-11-3, AFC (4) 0-9-3, CONCACAF (4) 5-6-5 ... Water Break (>89.6F, 30' each half):  2 (30-USAvPOR 39' @Manaus (unofficial), 50-NEDvMEX 30' & 75' @ Fortelaza)... Region Round of 16 winners: UEFA 6-4, CONMEBOL 5-3, CONCACAF 1-3, CAF 0-2... 5 R16 extra-time matches was the most ever and NEDvCRC was the 6th, also a record overall... CRC was the first Central American team to make Quarterfinals... NED had 11 CKs and CRC just one...  BEL GK Thibaut Courtois lost 1st match with BE 15-1-6... 1st time 2 South American teams in semis since 1970... just 4 picked NED into the semis...

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Where were you when USA didn't play in Quarters due to Wondo's miss?  At home (for once) on 64" Plasma...
Scott