OK< so I took the time to figure out what needs to happen for the US to advance on Thursday. Do note that the Draw lots tiebreak is in full effect here regarding Portugal and the US:
US Wins: US advances as Group G Winner, faces Group H Runner Up
US and Germany Draws OR Portugal and Ghana Draw: US Advances as Group G Runner up, faces Group H winner
If we do lose though, we can still advance as group G Runner up if any of the below happens:
USA loses by 1: Portugal needs to win by 5 or Ghana needs to win by 2 to eliminate the US (If Portugal wins by 4 OR we go to drawing lots to determine who advances)
US Loses by 2: Portugal needs to win by 4 or Ghana needs to win to eliminate the US (If Portugal wins by 3 we go to drawing lots to determine who advances)
US loses by 3: Portugal needs to win by 3 or Ghana needs to win to Eliminate the US (If Portugal wins by 2 we go to drawing lots to determine who advances)
This tiebreaker info is false.
To make it clear here's the scenario from a USA perspective. Some of your info is correct so it will look like I'm re-hashing it but I just want it all there.
USA Wins, Into Round of 16 as Group winner.
USA draws, Into Round of 16 as Group Runner-Up.
USA Loses but Ghana/Portugal draw, USA advances as Runner-Up.
USA Loses and Ghana wins, with any combination of more than 2 goal difference (i.e. Germany wins by more than 1 or Ghana wins by more than 1 goal.) Ghana advances on goal differential.
If Ghana wins and both games are 1 goal margins, than USA advances on head-to-head (No drawing pots.)
If USA loses and Portugal wins (The better outcome of a USA loss/Gha/Por non draw) The total of goal difference of the two games would have to be at least 5 for Portugal to advance.
Spain's era of dominance is officially over today.
What a run they had (2008-2013):
2008 EURO Champion, 2010 World Cup Champion, 2012 EURO Champion
FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Most consecutive games undefeated ever: 35 (2007-2009) Most consecutive competitive matches undefeated ever: 29 (2010-2013) Most consecutive wins including friendlies: 15 (2008-2009)
2008-2009 Competitive Match Record: 19-1-1 (The 1 loss was to USA 2:0 in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup) 2010-2013 Competitive Match Record: 27-2-5 (Only losses to Switzerland in the 2010 World Cup Group Stage 1:0, and to Brazil in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final 3:0)
From about the 45 minute to 65 minute mark Mexico did more and actually dominated the game IMO. I didn't know what Brazil team I was watching. Certainly Brazil haven't shown me anything close to a team that could challenge a Dutch or German squad if they get deep into the tournament.
USA! USA! USA! Got the 3 points that were so badly needed. Revenge is a dish best served cold to Ghana. The Pepe red card helps in the next match, but no Altidore really hurts team USA. Parking the bus worked for 82 minutes today but is a training drill compared to parking in front of CR7. Praying for a 0-0 draw and then see what happens in the match day 3. USA have had a knack for the "magic" over recent years however. I can never count out this team under Klinsmann.
Group C, while on paper one of the more evenly matched, may oddly be going according to plan more than any other group. It could be argued if you had to pick, most would have picked a Ivory Coast/Colombia pair to advance.
On a mostly non-related note, I can watch Adriana Lima tell me "this is futbol" all day...what is she selling again?
14 minutes into the match it looked like Chile was as advertised. A team full of fire-power ready to destroy the Socceroos with it. However, credit to the Aussies they battled all 90 minutes and proved they belonged on the world stage albeit a notch or two below Chile in class. The Spain-Chile match really decides everything can't wait for it.
Maybe we witnessed the official end of Spain's 2008-2014 reign atop the world today? I don't know I'm interested to see how they respond, since this core group has never really been in the position before.
Croatia totally out played Brazil. Too bad the ref had to give Brazil the jolt of life they needed. Neymar (under-kicked) and Oscar (toe-poke) goals should or could have been saved. 2:1 Croatia would have been an earned result, at least 1:1 really. Brazil plays like that and they won't have to wait for Uruguay to destroy their dreams on Brazilian soil again; they'll be out long before that.
So excited for tomorrow! International Football is a passion for me and this is the ultimate commencement of the 4 years of following continental finals, qualifiers, and even friendlies. Even getting to take June 20-29 off from work and dedicate it to every game during that span.
Anybody playing in Manaus, Fortaleza, or Recife are the only ones who are going to have issues. It's not "South American" climate in general. Any other sites in Brazil will have a dry comfortable climate. The three places I mentioned will be the most humid, tropical locations. Unfortunately my USA team will be in Manaus one match. It's doesn't matter where the team originates from that kind of climate will drain all equally and it will come down to overall conditioning.
Also in a side note, my rankings that got so much negative attention earlier in this thread will be changed starting July. Thanks to everyone's input (which I appreciate whole-heartedly) I will value matches 1-4 years ago twice as much as matches 5-8 years ago and 4 times as much as 8-12 years ago. I still want my 12 year capture of games. However I agree with many points on placing importance on recent matches and love when others give me their opinion so I can improve my hobby.
For me it's got to be Daze. I was using it long before it became competitive. There is nothing like being tapped out and still being safe with more than just a force.
Brazil 1:2 Chile (a.e.t.)
70' Arturo Vidal (CHI)
76' Thiago Silva (BRA)
120' Alexis Sánchez (CHI)
Netherlands 2:0 Mexico
56' Robin van Persie
61' Robin van Persie
This tiebreaker info is false.
To make it clear here's the scenario from a USA perspective. Some of your info is correct so it will look like I'm re-hashing it but I just want it all there.
USA Wins, Into Round of 16 as Group winner.
USA draws, Into Round of 16 as Group Runner-Up.
USA Loses but Ghana/Portugal draw, USA advances as Runner-Up.
USA Loses and Ghana wins, with any combination of more than 2 goal difference (i.e. Germany wins by more than 1 or Ghana wins by more than 1 goal.) Ghana advances on goal differential.
If Ghana wins and both games are 1 goal margins, than USA advances on head-to-head (No drawing pots.)
If USA loses and Portugal wins (The better outcome of a USA loss/Gha/Por non draw) The total of goal difference of the two games would have to be at least 5 for Portugal to advance.
Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen
You lost all credibility the first time I read Bezoozle or Bazopple.
What a run they had (2008-2013):
2008 EURO Champion, 2010 World Cup Champion, 2012 EURO Champion
FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Most consecutive games undefeated ever: 35 (2007-2009)
Most consecutive competitive matches undefeated ever: 29 (2010-2013)
Most consecutive wins including friendlies: 15 (2008-2009)
2008-2009 Competitive Match Record: 19-1-1 (The 1 loss was to USA 2:0 in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup)
2010-2013 Competitive Match Record: 27-2-5 (Only losses to Switzerland in the 2010 World Cup Group Stage 1:0, and to Brazil in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final 3:0)
On a mostly non-related note, I can watch Adriana Lima tell me "this is futbol" all day...what is she selling again?
After 7 games it's 2014 with 25 goals and 2010 with 9 goals. Such a fun tournament to watch so far!
Maybe we witnessed the official end of Spain's 2008-2014 reign atop the world today? I don't know I'm interested to see how they respond, since this core group has never really been in the position before.
Also in a side note, my rankings that got so much negative attention earlier in this thread will be changed starting July. Thanks to everyone's input (which I appreciate whole-heartedly) I will value matches 1-4 years ago twice as much as matches 5-8 years ago and 4 times as much as 8-12 years ago. I still want my 12 year capture of games. However I agree with many points on placing importance on recent matches and love when others give me their opinion so I can improve my hobby.