Are You Not Entertained?

Russell Crowe could not have said it better.  A riveting Round of 16.  Five of the eight matches went to extra time and two of those went to kicks from the spot.  One of the three that didn't go to extra time was decided in stoppage time. Technically no upsets as all the group stage winners managed to move on to the quarter finals but some of the pre-tournament favorites were taken to the limit.

What Could Have Been

The following is no way intended to pin the US loss entirely on Chris Wondolowski, just to note the cruel irony of the timing.  At 91:44 Ian Darke said of Wondo, "Bet he's thinking,'Just show me one chance. One chance.'" At 92:21 that one chance came. At 92:40 Mackenzie said, "You had just one job. One job."


Of course there were other reasons we didn't advance.  Turnovers, inability to possess the ball, not putting shots on frame.  Some will lay/have laid the blame squarely at the feet of Klinsmann.  The argument goes that we would have done better if he did a better job of developing talent, picking the right personnel, employing more aggressive tactics on the pitch, etc.  And for all we know a bear can drive a car if we can only figure out how to give him instructions in "bear."


I had hoped to see more of the vision and skill that we saw in the qualifying and friendlies.  And some of the personnel decisions, on the margin, might have been better.  But we made it out of a tougher group than 2002 or 2010 - when the odds clearly suggested a less than 50/50 chance - and took one of the better sides in the world to extra time.  And, it's not Klinsmann's fault (at least not yet) that we can't replace an Altidore with a Lukaku.  Comparisons with other countries aren't relevant at this point, as long as the NBA and the NFL essentially get first dibs on talent.  If LeBron James was from Costa Rica, he would have been an attacking forward alright, just in a different sport - we'd know him as Lebron James (pronounced "HAM-ez").

Side note - maybe we need to focus on our physio staff.  About 20% of our roster had hamstring problems.  What's up with that.  Full disclosure - I tore my hamstring last fall but I am two or three times older than these guys and while I have a decent exercise regimen, I have to fit it in as best I can.  It's their job to be fit and the job of the physios to help keep them fit.



Arjen Robben, Patrick Stewart and the PK




Separated at birth?  That possibility is much more flattering for Stewart, aged 73 than for Robben, who is just 30.  Similarities go beyond looks.  They are both well-paid for their thespian activities.  There's also a football connection; Stewart is a life-long fan of Huddersfield Town (2nd division in English football).

While I agree that Robben totally embellished the play in the box late versus Mexico, I will also suggest that the two pictures below indicate that it was still a foul.



It was a careless challenge by Marquez with no chance of getting the ball; he stuck his leg out between Robben and the ball.  That Robben then executed a perfect swan dive doesn't negate the foul.  Herrera was furious with the referee but some would argue he took dos Santos out too early, sacrificing offense for defense and allowing the Dutch to attack relentlessly for the last half hour.


Cooling Breaks

Some seem offended by this.  Maybe they should be offended by FIFA's practice of scheduling games in hot weather climates and then, doubling down on the decision, playing them at the hottest part of the day.  I've allowed them a few times in intramural matches, especially when teams are low on subs.


Mark Geiger

Got an assignment in the Round of 16 (France vs Nigeria), first ever for an American.  I thought he did okay, maybe not as well as he did in his two earlier matches.  The Nigerian coach wasn't too pleased, feeling Geiger didn't whistle the French for several fouls. There was a hard foul by Matuidi that might have deserved a red instead of yellow card.   I haven't seen all the assignments for the quarter finals but wonder whether something like that will end his tournament, especially with so few matches left.


Most Valuable Fan Award  - Four Legged Division

Can show this now that the goal doesn't hurt so much.  Man's best friend indeed.



The Quarter Finals

Friday noon - France vs Germany (want France - Newcastle connection and all)
Friday 4 pm - Columbia vs Brazil (want Columbia - new blood in semis)
Saturday noon - Argentina vs Belgium (want Belgium - been following them for a couple of years now)
Saturday 4 pm - Netherlands vs Costa Rica (slight preference for Netherlands)


In Other News

The Union played well on the road with LeToux getting a brace of goals on the way to a 3-1 win over the Revolution.

And in case you haven't noticed, the EPL transfer window is open.  Diego Costa has moved from Atletico to Chelsea for a mere 35 million pounds.  Liverpool, adding, ahem, more teeth to their attack signed Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana.  Poor Southampton - coming off the club's best finish in club history - have lost their manager and several key players (Luke Shaw has gone to Man Utd).  No wonder the top six positions are impossible to crack. Newcastle added Siem de Jong (Luuk,I am your brother - no really, he is the older brother of Luuk de Jong, who underwhelmed in his loan stint with the Magpies in the second half of last season).



Chew on this conservative pundits - I'll be spending the Fourth of July watching football.  And you should too.