One Foot Still On the Line Sweet Jesus

Musical Accompaniment Courtesy Brewer and Shipley

Traveling in Maine this week.  I can report that you can still watch soccer but it's somewhat harder to do.  Not because they don't have TV but because there are so many other cool things to do - like eat lobster at every meal or gawk at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport.

I caught snippets of games here and there but did find a local pub to see Sweden - USA where at least three other patrons reacted to the US goals.  With limited viewing I'm forced to comment on highlights and random stuff.

Last minute drama looks to be a common theme.  Scotland were up 3-0 on Argentina but ended up with a 3-3 draw after surrendering a PK in stoppage time.  Chile had a chance to advance when they were awarded a PK in the 85th minute.  Unfortunately the shot clanged off the crossbar and the 2-0 final was not good enough to get a place in the knockout round.  In the Cameroon - New Zealand match either could advance with a win, both would go home with a draw.  With the match 1-1 late, both sides abandoned defense and Cameroon broke through in the 95th minute to get a spot in the knockout round.  We'll make it this week's YouTubeableMoment.


The Yankees Win

I'm left with two thoughts after the US comfortably beat Sweden 2-0.  First, the no offside call on Carli Lloyd seems to me consistent with the no call from the Australia - Brazil match.  People may not like the way the rule is being applied but everything I read says there is no offside on that play even though Lloyd was in an offside position. If she affected the ability of the defender to play the ball, you might have a call but not in this case.

Who's willing to tell Tobin Heath it's an own goal?

Second, I understand why Heath's goal was changed to an own goal except that I don't see it. Video here.  Yes, clearly the ball deflected off the Swedish defender.  But wasn't it likely to be on goal anyway?  Some argue it wasn't a shot but an attempted cross.  Hmm, maybe, but I'd still go with it as a shot that should be a goal for Heath.



VAR and PKs

By my count there have been three PK misses that were retaken because the keeper failed to keep at least one foot on the goal line.  Jamaica had to give one back earlier and in round three there were two more.  France's Fox Renard got a second chance and that was the goal that beat Nigeria 1-0.  Fortunately for the Super Eagles, results elsewhere allowed them to advance anyway.  Not so much for Scotland.  As we noted above, surrendering a PK in stoppage time meant no knockout round for them.  In every case, VAR has been correct, in that the keepers had clearly failed to keep at least one foot on the goal line before the ball was struck.  The problem is that this call can be somewhat simliar to holding in the NFL - you could call it on every PK.  Without VAR, referees could only spot the most egregious violations; VAR gets them all.  I like VAR but not sure this is the best use of it.  I also note that the EPL specifically noted this week that they will not be using it to determine keeper encroachment.


Knockout Phase

Four straight days with two matches per day, most of which look pretty good.  Also, no more of that concurrent match nonsense so you can watch them all.  Saturday has Germany - Nigeria and Norway - Australia.  At 538 they are saying a German win is 91% likely, while the Aussies are at 66%; not surprised at the former but thought Norway might have a better shot than that.  Sunday is England (85%) vs Cameroon and France (77%) vs Brazil.  Those seem about right.  Monday is Spain - US (78%) and Sweden - Canada (59%).  Thing wrap up on Tuesday with two pretty tight matches - Italy vs China (57%) and Netherlands (62%) vs Japan.


For the tournament, 538 has US with 24% chance of winning followed by France (19%) and Germany (15%).


Gold Cup

Saw the USMNT handle Guyana without much difficulty and Costa Rica struggle to beat Bermuda 2-1.  US play Trinidad and Tobago Saturday night which should be a bit more of a test.  Kind of hard to get real excited about this competition until the knockout rounds.


Silence on Tyneside

Every day I look at The Chronicle and every day the news is underwhelming.  Benitez's contract expires at the end of the month.  The sale may or may not be progressing.  Everything is still up in the air but the players report on 7/1 (I think).  Is this any way to run a football franchise?


Much Adu About Nothing

Jeff K sends along this article about the most ballyhooed US player ever.  Nothing worse than the burden of great potential someone once told me.  All I can remember from his Union tenure was the time he got a second yellow for simulation.  Kind of sums up his career.


Still on the road for the weekend so I'll be catching up via DVR and highlight videos.