barring something amazing, i do think we are headed for the lowest scoring cup ever. right now we sit on about 2.1 a game lower then the 2.21 average of italia 90. the last 2 world cup didnt even average 2 goals a game in the knockout rounds, and i dont expect that to change. i did think the group stage was very competitive though, with only the dutch and argentines winning all 3 matches and cameroon and north korea going home empty handed. time for a short review.
best team (for now) -- argentina. looked unstoppable against a weak group, i still have massive doubts that it will continue.
worst team -- north korea. dont think this was even debatable.
biggest quitters -- france. what a disgusting display.
best in the clutch -- usa. turned 1 point into 4 points in the late minutes (probably shoulda turned 1 into 6).
biggest disappointment -- africa (the whole continent). 1 outta 6 teams make the knockouts, brings me to...
luckiest team -- ghana. 2 goals both on pks, also were benefited by 2 red cards, couldnt beat australia with a 1 man advantage for more then 60 minutes. i dont think this was a bad team, but this was a tough group and they needed some breaks to get out.
best spirit -- australia. could have went home with their tail between their legs after the 4-0 thrashing but end up losing out to ghana on gd. also fought super hard in that game against the ghanians.
team i overestimated -- serbia. in the end, i just dont think this team was very good. plenty of big names on paper, but i looked past some questionable results going into this tournament and gave them too much credit for winning the qualifying group that included france.
team i underestimated -- japan. looked like a clear 2nd place in group e. also looked very dangerous against the netherlands.
i shouldnt be shocked, but im really not -- italy. team looked ragged in euro 08, bad in confederation cup last year and was the only team without a win at the world cup this calendar year. if it was any other group, i would have been expecting an early exit.
most improved team -- new zealand. going home with 3 points, which would have been laughable if you said that after the confederations cup last year.
biggest disappointment (team) -- ivory coast. thought they were overrated, but they were basically playing for pride in their last game today. 2 straight cups a lot of hype and 0 result. to be fair, they had a tough draw both times.
that about does it looking forward the rest of the way!!
best team (for now) -- argentina. looked unstoppable against a weak group, i still have massive doubts that it will continue.
worst team -- north korea. dont think this was even debatable.
biggest quitters -- france. what a disgusting display.
best in the clutch -- usa. turned 1 point into 4 points in the late minutes (probably shoulda turned 1 into 6).
biggest disappointment -- africa (the whole continent). 1 outta 6 teams make the knockouts, brings me to...
luckiest team -- ghana. 2 goals both on pks, also were benefited by 2 red cards, couldnt beat australia with a 1 man advantage for more then 60 minutes. i dont think this was a bad team, but this was a tough group and they needed some breaks to get out.
best spirit -- australia. could have went home with their tail between their legs after the 4-0 thrashing but end up losing out to ghana on gd. also fought super hard in that game against the ghanians.
team i overestimated -- serbia. in the end, i just dont think this team was very good. plenty of big names on paper, but i looked past some questionable results going into this tournament and gave them too much credit for winning the qualifying group that included france.
team i underestimated -- japan. looked like a clear 2nd place in group e. also looked very dangerous against the netherlands.
i shouldnt be shocked, but im really not -- italy. team looked ragged in euro 08, bad in confederation cup last year and was the only team without a win at the world cup this calendar year. if it was any other group, i would have been expecting an early exit.
most improved team -- new zealand. going home with 3 points, which would have been laughable if you said that after the confederations cup last year.
biggest disappointment (team) -- ivory coast. thought they were overrated, but they were basically playing for pride in their last game today. 2 straight cups a lot of hype and 0 result. to be fair, they had a tough draw both times.
that about does it looking forward the rest of the way!!
