Recent Comments
Soccer would benefit from using Hockeys penalty box system rather than just free kicks
How do you make a water bed more bouncy?
Use spring water.
They have a point. Too bad Duke's Mayo Classic is paying us a mid 7 figure amount to give up the home game. Money also then doesnt flow to all the businesses in and around Blacksburg that benefit from home games.
SET THE TONE!
|
2 weeks 9 hours
# | USA's Alex Freeman, Son of Hokie Legend Antonio Freeman, Scores His First World Cup Goal What a rube.
Same boat
Uzbekistan - lost their first game
Jordan - lost to Austria, but did score a goal
Iraq - lost to Norway (scored a goal)
Bosnia&Herzegovina - Drew a point from Canada
Cape Verde - 2 points from two games, both against probably the strongest teams in the group (Spain, Uruguay)
Congo - drew a point from Portugal
Ghana - won their first match against Panama
Curacao - got a point from Ecuador and their keeper had an absolute day in the process (15 saves)
Haiti - lost first two matches, have not scored a goal yet
New Zealand - drew a point from Iran before getting pretty well dispatched by Egypt
Overall, these ten teams have acquitted themselves fairly well, considering they "benefitted from the expanded field". 5/10 lost their first match, which I suppose would be expected. The rest of them at least drew against better teams or, in Ghana's case, won a match. I think it's hard to argue that these additional teams have "watered down" the tournament appreciably.
On that note, I do still think there is a group of death. In fact, I think you could argue there are two. I think Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia) is a very formidable group. Group I is also very strong (France, Norway, Senegal, Iraq). France and Netherlands are among the top teams in the whole tournament. Sweden and Norway both have impressive star power (Gyokeres, Haaland), and most teams form Europe are going to be tough for anyone anyway. Japan is a scrappy and well drilled team, and have been for a couple tournaments now. Ghana is arguably the best team from Africa. Iraq and Tunisia are weaker teams but every group of death has one weak team.
Ours is a one day...and we play the forward tees. The super did put some pins in places I've never seen on that course. The last 2 years 67 and 68 won the gross, but 73 won it this year.
Agree that's a lot of golf, especially with the dinners and company stuff. On a trip, maybe, but "at home"...meh.
Great job hanging in there, particularly with those three birdies! Is your Senior a 2-day event like ours? A 78 both days would have won ours last year.
I have won a few low net trophies for the Club and Senior Championships, but those don't get your name on the wall in the clubhouse. As it turns out, my Senior is this weekend (I had my dates wrong), but my boss planned a "home & home" challenge with a few guys, one round at his course on Friday and one at mine on Saturday, then a one-day MG at his course on Monday. I'm tempted to still play in the Senior, but that would mean 54 holes in 24 hours (18 on Fri, 36 on Sat), 18 (final of Senior) on Sunday, then the 18 MG on Monday. That's a lot of golf, plus there is some big wine dinners each night, so if I play the Senior, I'm thinking of moving up to the hybrids & playing in the "Super Senior" division. I've been eligible to play in that division for the last 8 years, but I'm not sure I am ready to give in to age yet. Ha ha. Plus, I don't play from those tees regularly. The early forecast is for rain, and if that's the case, I probably will sit out the Senior this year.
Here we go now, boys!
I hate rooting for UNC, but I really want an ACC school to win it all and rub it in the SEC's face.
16 extra teams this year...
These are (in general) the ones that benefitted from the expanded field:
Uzbekistan 50
Jordan 63
Iraq 57
Bosnia & Herzegovina 64
Cape Verde 67
Congo 46
Ghana 73
Curacao 82
Haiti 83
New Zealand 85
And that means expanded groups, that are also "watered down." No more true groups of death like we've seen previously.
Played Friday am in the rain. Been a bit since I played a full round with jacket, bucket hat, and rain gloves, but we troopered thru. Hit it meh, but got some shady breaks. Then Saturday in the Sr Championship couldn't get out of my own way with the wedges and 9 iron. Couldn't score, make a putt, or gain traction. Until the last 4 holes where I birdied 3 of them. After 12 holes was 6 behind one of my playing partners, and ended up beating him by one. Was lowest in my foursome but figured I had no shot at 78. Came in 3rd, but was good enough for first net. No trophy for that, but got my money back for the entry! Good enough...and stuck it out to go -3 on the last 4 holes.
Gotta bring these back:
Granted, a few 3rd group stage games have been played...
But South Africa has been a shocker in a good way so far. Ranked 60th and last in group, finishing second.
Bosnia and Herzegovina sliding into third in their group is a punching-above-their-weight result.
The United States showing up in the manner they have has been a pleasant surprise.
Egypt leading their group thru 2 games, with Iran and Belgium is an uptick. Only team with a W in their group.
Argentina...while the defending champs, look amazing, again.
-Ecuador only getting 1 point from Curacao and Ivory Coast, now having to face Germany has to be disappointing. And they were unbeaten in 19 matches leading up to the start of the World Cup.
-Belgium Winless thru 2, being ranked #9 in the world, huge let down.
-Senegal winless thru 2. Granted the 2 losses were against Haaland and Mbappe, but you have to get a point!
-Portugal has to be disappointed. A draw against Congo. WC nerves? Too much hub bub around CR7?
-England, doing England things. Looks like worlds best in game 1. Looks like their name is Jeff in game 2.
-Spain laying an egg in their first game was something...
To me, the best part has been the games where one team simply dominated, but walked with a single point. AND, the same day show of Messi/Mbappe/Haaland....chef's kiss.
They've had better kits before but they are good. Croatia often has great kits. Lots of good kits in this WC.
Its like watching Woody and Buzz Lightyear interact, trying to explain physics.
I would be totally here for that.
...and one of Paraguay or Australia lose...
This is where I started to jump in and say, "one of them will lose," until I realized that this is soccer, and ties draws are possible. One of the reasons why I find it hard to get into this sport (and hockey).
The point is ND goes to the playoffs if they played citadel instead of A&M. Bad wins are still better than good losses.
Yeah, I guess I'm just not used to Big Dog status and all that kinda stuff that goes with it. I got some larnin' to do, obviously.
🧦🧦🧦🧦
...I think
JMMFJMFF coming to VT...
FTFY.
I had the best seats of my life at that game. Row Y (21 rows up) on the pressbox side, right on the 50 yard line. Picked it up from a scalper.
Gameday in town, top 5 matchup, great seats, tailgate all day, was just an absolutely great day until kickoff.
What could've been. /sigh
The rankings are watered down. In 2022 the lowest ranked team in Pot 3 was at 35th. in 2026 the highest ranked team in Pot 3 is 29th.
All of this lends itself to the change from goal differential. If you played the lowest ranked team in your last game (when you've already clinched) no need to try to embarrass them with a 7-nil drubbing just because another team beat them 5-nil in their opener. The other 2 teams should be judged head to head. And with the expanded tournament and an extra round to be played in the middle of summer in the US, there should be a chance to rest (as a reward for winning the first 2 group games) to prep for the potential 5 games ahead.