[Scott's Pool Updates]

Sunday, July 4, 2021  ***HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY***
Issue # 6.2.2 "We Will Not Vanish Without a Fight!"
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[Dailies: July 2-3]

UNDERDOGS FIGHT WAY INTO SEMIS
Avenger #3
takes lead and is guaranteed at least a tie for 4th; 11 entries still alive

SemifinalsDIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, CA (smt) - 2E-Spain were being written off after lackluster ties to start the tournament but then scored 5 goals in consecutive matches before running into a stubborn 3A-Switzerland team.  1A-Italy had an easy group but outshone the #1 team in the world in #1B-Belgium.  2B-Denmark nearly lost a player in the field and lost the first two matches before fighting back to become the first team to qualify after losing the first two and needed to hold off 3D-Czech Republic.  Only #1D-England had an easy path the the semis despite playing away from Wembley Stadium for the first time.

ESP's only goal was an early own goal and took 27 shots (17 in extra time) with no goals to head into the penalty shootout with SUI tied at 1-1.  SUI, which rallied again to tie, scored their first PSO kick (6 straight) but missed the next three which gave ESP the 3-1 PSO win.  ITA outplayed BEL in winning 2-1, and if not for a PK before the first half ended, BEL would've been shut out.  DEN continued to score early and play well in beating back CZE, 2-1.  ENG didn't waste any time, scoring in the 4' en route to a 4-0 rout of 3C-Ukraine.

ENG and ITA are the only group winners remaining.  But despite all the turmoil, the 3rd (ENG), 5th (ESP), 6th (ITA), and 7th (DEN) best UEFA teams made the semis.  ENG now host the semifinals and final and have not allowed a goal in the tournament.  

Three (Avenger #3 (1st, 102 pts), Footballsack (3rd, 99), and Glory to the Heroes (7th-T, 94)) got 3 of 4 semifinalists while 12 got none.  21 had ENG, 14 had ITA, 9 had DEN, and 8 had ESP making the semis.  Avenger #3 is now in the lead and is guaranteed to win at least a tie for 4th place.  Footballsack has a 7 in 8 chance of landing money.  Overall, 5 still have a chance to win the pool while 11 entries are alive to finish in the top 4.  The 8 scenarios are:

If ITALY beats ENGLAND in Final…
         Gli Azzurri 122 points 
        Footballsack 115 
          Avenger #3 110 
    FrankfromSeattle 108 
If ENGLAND beats ITALY in Final…
        Footballsack 127 points 
          Avenger #3 122 
              Slyelf 116 
             Fantasy 115 
If ITALY beats DENMARK in Final…
         Gli Azzurri 114 points 
        Footballsack 107 
  Kona Coast Facui's 104 
          Avenger #3 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 4th
               Cloak 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 4th
If DENMARK beats ITALY in Final…
        Footballsack 107 points 
          Avenger #3 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 2nd/3rd
         Gli Azzurri 102 Tie: 7.5 Tied for 2nd/3rd
          Forza Roma 101 
If SPAIN beats ENGLAND in Final…
          Avenger #3 110 points 
    FrankfromSeattle 108 
        Footballsack 107 
           Rich-inho 106 
If ENGLAND beats SPAIN in Final…
          Avenger #3 122 points 
        Footballsack 119 
              Slyelf 116 
             Fantasy 115 
If SPAIN beats DENMARK in Final…
           Rich-inho 106 points 
           Carseroni 104 
          Avenger #3 102 
    FrankfromSeattle 100 
If DENMARK beats SPAIN in Final…
           Carseroni 104 points 
          Avenger #3 102 
    FrankfromSeattle 100 
        Footballsack  99 

[Twitter]We are now on Twitter (@HWCI_Pools) and Discord for discussion or questions.  Please follow!  I will post using #hwcincaa mini-updates during the day so you can follow without being on Twitter (and if you are, please use #hwcincaa).  Please join our Facebook HWCI Soccer Pool Group or post comments on our blog

I'll be doing daily matchday updates on our Blog and re-posted on Twitter.  These updates will be every few days and emailed out.  Everyone can view their pick and bracket by clicking the "Pick" link in the standings next to their nickname or the picks page. If you want to know who everyone is, the Who's Who in the Pool is now available.

   Ins & Outs -  Goals (48 matches): 135 (2.81/match) [Own: 10 (1-TURvITA 53' {gw}, 10-POLvSVK 18', 12-GERvFRA 20' {gw}, 24-PORvGER 35', 24-PORvGER 39' {2}, 28-FINvBEL 74' {gw}, 33-SVKvESP 30' {gw}, 33-SVKvESP 71' {2} | 42-ESPvCRO 20', 45-SUIvESP 8'), Subs: 15 (4-BEL 27', 6-AUT 78', 6-AUT 89' (2), 16-BEL 70' (2), 33-ESP 67', 36-GER 84' | 37-ITA 95', 37-ITA 105' {gw} (2), 37-AUT 114' (3), 42-CRO 85', 42-CRO 90'+2 {gt} (2), 42-ESP 114' (2), 41-SUI 90' {gt}, 43-UKR 120'+1 {gw}, 48-ENG 63'), 90+/120+: 6 (11-POR +2, 13-WAL +5, 34-SWE +4 {gw} | 38-DEN +4, 42-CRO +2 {gt}, 43-UKR +1 (ET) {gw}), Extra Time: 6 (37-ITA 95', 37-ITA 105' {gw}, 37-AUT 114', 42-ESP 100' {gw}, 42-ESP 103'), 43-UKR 120'+1 {gw}]... Scoring First: 35-3-8 [2 Nil-Nil ties (9-ESPvSWE, 20-ENGvSCO | -); 16-DEN, 24-POR | 42-CRO]... Leading at Half: 23-1-6 (18 ties; 16-DEN | -)... Shutout: 27 [1-TUR, 2-DEN, 4-RUS, 7-CRO, 8-SCO, 9-ESP, 9-SWE, 11-HUN, 12-GER, 15-FIN, 13-TUR (2), 14-SUI, 17-AUT, 21-SVK, 20-ENG, 20-SCO (2), 26-WAL, 29-MKD, 30-UKR, 28-FIN (2), 32-CZE, 33-SVK (2) | 38-WAL, 40-NED, 39-POR, 44-GER (2), 48-UKR (2)]... PK: 9/16 [3-den (s) 74', 11-POR 87', 14-wal (h) 61', 18-mkd (s) 57', 18-ukr (s) 84', 17-NED 11', 21-SWE 77', 19-CZE, 22-esp (p) 58', 27-RUS 70', 33-esp (s) 12' {2}, 35-POR 31' {2}, 35-FRA 45'+2, 35-POR 60' {3} | 41-sui (s) 55', 46-BEL 45'+2]... Extra Time: 5 [37-ITAvAUT 2:1 (0:0), 42-CROvESP 3:5 (3:3), 41-FRAvSUI 3:3 (3:3), 43-SWEvUKR 2:1 (1:1), 45-SUIvESP 1:1 (1:1)]... PSO: 2 [41-SUI:FRA 5:4 (5.0 {GGGGG:GGGGs}), 43-ESP:SUI 3:1 (4.5 {pGsGG:Gssh}]... Red Card (GF/GA): 6 (10-POL 2Y (0/1) 62', 26-WAL R (0/0) 55' | 38-WAL R (0/1) 90' {2}, 40-NED R (0/2) 52', 43-SWE R (0/1) 98', 45-SUI R (0/0) 77')... Multiple Goals: 14 [Lukaku 2 (4-BEL), Schick 2 (8-CZE), Ronaldo 2 (11-POR), Locatelli 2 (14-ITA), Shaqiri 2 (25-SUI), Wijnaldum 2 (29-NED), Forsberg 2 (34-SWE), Lewandowski 2 (34-POL), Benzema 2 (35-FRA), Ronaldo 2 (35-POR) {2} | Dolberg 2 (38-DEN), Benzema 2 (41-FRA), Seferovic 2 (41-SUI), Kane 2 (48-ENG)]... Zero SOG (Shots): 5 [1-TUR (3), 9-SWE (4), 21-SVK (10), 33-SVK (3) {2} | 40-NED (7)]... Goal Line Tech: 1 (42-CRO 85')... VAR (-Reversal(Taken Away), +Reversal(Added), =Confirmed, xNo Call): 18 [3-SUI xOff+{g-} 85', 12-FRA xOff+{g-} 85', 15-FIN xOff+{g-} 3', 14-ITA xHB+{g-} 19', 18-MKD xHB+{pk+DEN} 80', 17-AUT xFoul+{pk+NED} 8', 19-CRO xFoul+{pk+CZE} 33', 22-ESP Off-{g+} 25', 22-POL xFoul+{pk+ESP} 55', 28-BEL xOff+{g-} 65', 33-SVK xFoul+{pk+ESP} 9', 35-FRA Off-{g+} 47' | 38-DEN Off-{g+} 90'+4, 37-AUT xOff+{g-} 65', 40-NED Y-{R+} 52', 41-FRA xFoul+{pk+SUI} 52', 43-SWE Y-{R+} 98', 46-ITA xOff+{g-} 13']... 63%+ Poss: 10 [3-DENvFIN (64) L, 5-NEDvUKR (63) W, 9-ESPvSWE (75) D, 11-PORvHUN (65) W, 22-ESPvPOL (69) D {2}, 26-ITAvWAL (64) W, 31-CROvSCO (64) W, 36-GERvHUN (70) | 42-ESPvCRO (64) W {3}, 45-ESPvSUI (66) D(W) {4}]... 20+ Shots (S/SOG/G)10 [1-ITAvTUR (24/8/2+og)) W, 3-DENvFIN (23/6/0) L, 16-DENvBEL (22/6/1) L {2}, 25-SUIvTUR (23/10/3) W, 26-ITAvWAL (23/6/1) W {2} | 37-ITAvAUT (27/6/2) {3}, 39-POR (24/5/0) L, 42-ESP (23/10/5) W, 41-FRA (26/8/3) D(L), 45-ESP (27/10/0+og) {2}]... Breaks (>30 min): 1 [3-DENvFIN (Injury) 43' (90 min) | -]... Home Teams: 14-7-4 [3-DEN, 4-RUS, 8-SCO, 11-HUN, 12-GER, 16-DEN (2), 31-SCO (2) | -]... Match Order of Play: [ 1 | 2-3-4 | 7-6-5 | 8-10-9 | 11-12 | 15-13-14 | 18-16-17 | 21-19-20 | 23-24-22 | 25/26 | 29/30-27/28 | 31/32 | 33/34-35/36 ] [ 38-37 | 40-39 | 42-41 | 44-43 ][ 45-46 | 47-48 ] [ 49 | 50 ] [ 51 ]...

   Group Standings (5-24):

 # Gp Tm  W-L-D Pt   GD GF  Gp Stage Head-to-Head [=Tie/1st/2nd/3rd] {DP}
--------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
   1A ITA 5-0-0 15 ( +9 11)
   1D ENG 4-0-1 13 ( +8  8)
   2E ESP 2-0-3  9 ( +7 12)
   2B DEN 3-2-0  9 ( +6 11) [1-1-0 (+2 4)] FIN-RUS [1]
---
 5 1B BEL 4-1-0 12 ( +6  9)
 6 3D CZE 2-2-1  7 ( +2  6) [0-0-1 ( 0 1)] CRO [=] (GF 3) [2]
 7 3A SUI 1-1-3  6 ( -1  8) [0-0-1 ( 0 1)] WAL [=] (GD -1) [2]
 8 3C UKR 2-3-0  6 ( -4  6)
---
 9 1C NED 3-1-0  9 ( +4  8)
10 1E SWE 2-1-1  7 ( +1  5)
11 1F FRA 1-0-3  6 ( +1  7)
12 2C AUT 2-2-0  6 (  0  5)
13 3F POR 1-2-1  4 (  0  7) [0-1-0 (-2 2)] GER [2]
14 2D CRO 1-2-1  4 ( -1  7) [0-0-1 ( 0 1)] CZE [=] (GF 4) [1]
15 2F GER 1-2-1  4 ( -1  6) [1-0-0 (+2 4)] POR [1]
16 2A WAL 1-2-1  4 ( -3  3) [0-0-1 ( 0 1)] SUI [=] (GD +1) [1]
---
17 3B FIN 1-2-0  3 ( -2  1) [1-1-0 ( 0 1)] DEN-RUS [2]
18 4B RUS 1-2-0  3 ( -5  2) [1-1-0 (-2 2)] DEN-FIN [3] {5}
19 3E SVK 1-2-0  3 ( -5  2) {6}
20 4F HUN 0-1-2  2 ( -3  3)
21 4E POL 0-2-1  1 ( -2  4)
22 4D SCO 0-2-1  1 ( -4  1)
23 4C MKD 0-3-0  0 ( -6  2)
24 4A TUR 0-3-0  0 ( -7  1)

   Bits 'n Bobs -  I noticed an error in Excel (from converting the convoluted MLS is Back to normal 24/32 team tourney) which affected a few entries who wouldn't get ENG in semis (if they make it) (a $ sign in equation that for some reason didn't carry across the last several columns) -- bottom line is Fantasy takes over my Glory to the Heroes as 4th place hope (so I'm eliminated) and Spermicidal FC is eliminated as well, leaving 11 instead of the original 12... ESP had 66% possession, their 4th match with 63%+... ESP had 17 shots (8 on goal) in just the Extra Time (SUI had zero shots in ET)... ESP is 6-0-7 in their last 13 matches... SUI is now 0-4 in major QFs (WC34, WC38, WC54)... ITA is 27-0-5 in last 32 matches (last loss Sept 2018 vPOR), a national record... ITA have won 13 straight matches (36 RF/2 GA)... including Euro qualifying, ITA has won 15 straight Euro qualifying/tournament matches (new Euro record - both ITA and BEL were tied with GER ('10-'12) with 14)... ITA has won 5 straight Euro matches (ties FRA '84, NED '88-'92, and CZE '00-'04)... BEL has scored in 35 straight matches but had no shots on goal in the 2nd half... BEL's 13 match unbeaten streak was snapped (was 11-0-2)... DEN had 13 more shots giving them 90 thus far (18.0/match) and 3-0 with <=16 shots and 0-2 with 22+ shots... DEN makes it's first SF since '92... despite losing their first two matches, DEN has led in more minutes then any other team (thanks to their early goals - 2' vBEL, 27' vWAL, 5' vCZE)... CZE's Patrik Schick scored his 5th goal (but Ronaldo edges him with his one assist for Top Scorer)... ENG have not allowed a goal yet (662 min overall in last 8 matches)... ENG won on road for first time and return home for SF and possibly Final... UKR has allowed a goal in their last 11 matches... ENG doubled their goal total in UKR match (4->8) after doubling it last match (2->4)... 135 goals (2.81/match) (with 3 matches left) smashes previous record of 108 in '16 (best goals/match is 2.74 in '00)... the 10 own goals are more than the combined total of all previous Euro tourneys (9)... entries averaged 4.3 wins for QF matches... great golazos as 17 have been scored outside the box but we have yet to have a direct free kick goal... FrankfromSeattle is 2nd but can't win the pool while Rich-inho is tied for 18th (86) but can win the pool... my Glory to the Heroes is tied for 7th but is eliminated while Cloak is tied for 33rd (82) but can still finish 4th... 11 lost BEL as their champ (16 had them in the final and 37 in the semis)...

On Friday, 8 picked ESP eliminating 3 for money (22 can win money); 14 picked ITA which eliminated 7 from winning pool (6 left) and 9 from money (13 left); Carseroni in 1st with 96 pts as 1 of 3 (Footballsack and Saharm17 (29th-T, 83) were the other 2) who got both correct; 30 went 0-2; BigRedMessi 1 clinched last with 68 pts (while my Futbol Fabone Twelf (47th-T) will be stuck on 69 pts forever).... on Saturday, DEN was picked by 9 eliminating no one; 21 picked ENG eliminating 2 (leaving 11) and eliminating Forza Roma (9th, 93) from winning pool, leaving 5 contenders; 5 got both right while 24 went 0-2...

Problem with watching Independence Day is that you want to watch the sequel and that's a bad idea...
Scott


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