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     FRENCH BLOW OPPORTUNITY, HOSTS' COMBACK FALLS SHORT
Spermicidal WFC remains in first but loses champ Canada; Thecomebacker guaranteed money

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- Wide Left.  That will be what 1F-France remembers as they bookended the match vs 1B-Germany with wide open misses wide left from the lovely and humbled Louisa Necib in the first minute and a Wondo! (a shot that is ten times harder to miss than make) by Gaetane Thiney three minutes from the end of extra time (117').  Necib's slightly deflected shot gave FRA the lead in the 64' and they tried to hold on but a GER cross in the box inadvertently touched the arm of Amel Majri in the 83' (really, tough but correct call, while in the 29' FRA did not get the benefit of a two-breasted handball like CHN got vs NZL).  Celia Sasic converted GER's 13th consecutive PK (spoiler: it won't be broken today) to send the match into extra time.  In the first PK shootout this year, both teams converted on their first four PKs.  Sasic then converted GER's 5th PK (and the team's 18th straight, incredible) but sub Claire Lavogez, who when you saw her take a really deep breath was never a good sign, weak shot was saved by GER's captain Nadine Angerer and GER wins the first battle of the titans with a match vs titan 1D-USA next.

The rematch of the '99 Final (2A-China) was supposed to be no contest, but if you saw the match, you saw USA players running into each other, promising attacks that fizzled, and heard Abby Wamback f-bomb to try to kickstart the team before the 2nd half kickoff.  The goal was a thing of beauty and what we hoped to see more of the team, as a cross vertically into the box (so awesome) was headed perfectly by Carly Lloyd in the 51' and that was all the USA would need.  Again.  Just enough.  It is hard to believe USA has not given up a goal in 423 minutes though it does feel like USA has only scored 4 goals in the last 372 minutes.

1C-Japan also has trouble scoring, especially against teams who have never been to a WWC (SUI, CMR, ECU, NED) or had never won a knockout match before this year (2D-Australia), but for some reason, it always seems like this is what they wanted, a controlling textbook-style play which resulted in JPN's fifth straight one-goal win.  This time, instead of scoring early, Mana Iwabuchi's opportunistic pounce in the 87' eliminated AUS 1-0.  JPN had an 8-0 edge on corners and used the last one to set up the score.  They will face 2F-England who scored twice in three minutes (11', 14') to put the hosts (1A-Canada) on their heels and although they got one back just before the break, their 54,027 strong at BC Place could not help CAN find the equalizer, even after ENG's starting goalkeeper had some type of allergic reaction in the eyes and had to come out in the 52'.

Spermicidal WFC, D.R. was one of 8 to get 3 of 4 semifinalists correct but the one he didn't get, CAN, was his champion.  He remains in first with 109 pts but Thecomebacker moves to 2nd (107) and is guaranteed money.  BigRedMessi and Sepp 'N Turf are tied for 3rd (104) but the latter lost FRA as his champ (those two along with Bailo Con Hope Solo (12th-Tied, 98) were the only 3 to get ENG).  Four only got 1 of 4 correct including Soccerhorn (15th, 96) and Frankfromseattle (16th, 93) who were two of five entries eliminated this round.  18 thought CAN would make the semis while 8 thought FRA would (and two each lost their champ).  21 picked USA, 13 picked GER, and 11 picked JPN.  Only four can win the pool as Ponytail Houligans (GER his champ) (7th-T, 100) and YellowCard (JPN her champ) (7th-T) join the current leader and the guaranteed money entry as possible winners of our first HWCI Women's World Cup pool.  11 can still win money though and you can see who wins in what scenario now.

Speaking of money, here is the official breakdown of prize money.  With 22 entries, the $220 will be split as follows:

1st Place:  $110

2nd Place: $ 55

3rd Place: $ 35

4th Place: $ 20

    Bits 'N Bobs:  Goals: 133 (2.77/match, 48 matches) (4 own goals (8-NGA, 18-ECU (2), 35-MEX), 17 goals by subs (3-GER (2), 8-SWE, 16-CIV, 16-THA, 16-CRC, 23-COL, 24-ENG, 24-MEX, 25-NED, 27-GER(2), 30-CMR, 31-NGA, 39-GER, 41-AUS, 42-NED, 47-JPN))... Shutouts: 28 (1-CHN, 2-NZL, 3-CIV, 4-THA, 5-SUI, 6-ECU, 9-KOR, 11-ENG, 13-CAN, 13-NZL, 14-NED, 17-NGA, 19-USA, 19-SWE, 21-ESP, 23-FRA, 27-THA, 29-ECU, 31-NGA, 33-CRC, 35-MEX, 37-CMR, 38-COL, 40-KOR, 41-BRA, 44-SUI, 45-CHN, 47-AUS)... PSO: 1 (46-GERvFRA (5-4, 5.0 Rounds)... Hat Tricks: 5 (Anja Mittag (3-GER), Celia Sasic (3-GER), Gaelle Enganamouit (6-CMR), Fabienna Humm (18-SUI), Ramona Bachmann (18-SUI))... PK: 14/17 (1-CAN, 4-NOR(x-SV), 5-JPN, 6-CMR, 6-CMR, 6-CMR, 9-BRA, 13-NZL(x-CB), 18-SUI, 18-ECU, 22-KOR, 26-CHN, 36-ENG, 38-USA (x-WL), 38-USA, 39-GER, 46-GER)... 90'+ goals: 6 (1-CAN 92', 6-CMR 94', 14-CHN 91', 24-MEX 91', 36-COL 94', 42-NED 92')... Leading at Half: 24-2-6 (16 ties, L: 30-SUI, 34-ESP)... Scoring 1st Goal: 33-4-9 (2 0-0 ties, L: 16-CIV, 30-SUI, 34-ESP, 43-NOR)... Red Cards (goals for/against): 3 (6-ECU 66' (0/3), 31-NGA 69' (0/0), 8-COL 47' (0/2))...  FRA only had 49% possession after having 58% or more possession in all previous 4 matches (58%, 60%, 61%, 62%)... GER now has a +17 GD (20-3) and has taken an incredible 136 shots, 46 on goal, getting at least 25 shots (at least 8 on goal) in each of the first four matches (29-15, 27-8, 36-16, 25-11) and 17 last match (4 on goal)... ENG has twice allowed goals in the 90+ minute so CAN had a chance... JPN-AUS saw each team commit only 8 fouls each while ENG (21), GER (20), and FRA (19) all had 19 or more... Soccerhorn is the only entry that can't pick up any more points (had a FRA-JPN final)... Melis and Vivisdaddy are tied for last with 78 pts... ten entries have reached 100 pts...

Great, kid. Don’t get cocky. – Han Solo, V:ANH....
Scott