Tag: Qatar

  • Wold Cup Dispatch(UPDATE): The Quarterfinals, Day 1

    After a couple of days off, we are back with the first round of the Quarterfinals! It’s a pretty exciting group of teams. You got six former champions, one finalist at the last Cup, and a Cinderella. You have players at the twilight of their careers with one last chance for Cup glory, cementing their status in the Pantheon of legends. You have long standing rivalries, historical conflicts, and one team representing an entire continent and region.

    Drama! Drama! Drama!

    And I do really despise that I’m enjoying this Cup, which is being presented by a corrupt organization, in an authoritarian nation. I feel the evil Caesars of history are asking me, “Are you not entertained?!?”

    Yes, but love is love, and women’s rights are human rights. And I do hope the 2026 Cup puts Rainbow flags on every thing!

    As for the matches, I don’t think Croatia can stop Brazil, who is dancing their way to the semifinals. Netherland v Argentina is a pretty even match up, but I’m going with team Messi on this one. Morocco v Portugal is going to be the heartbreaker match. I love the underdog, but with the way Portugal played last match, I don’t see them losing. And that gets to the match I am really looking forward to: England v France. This one is like a heavyweight fight; two teams slugging it out! Both have superstar goal scorers and deep benches. What I would hate to see is it go to penalties, because France will win. Ung…. C’mon England!

    Alright, let’s have some fun today!

    UPDATE: so… I got that whole “dancing their way to the semifinals” thing with Brazil totally wrong.

    (And, if I may ask; have you enjoyed my nonprofessional perspective and slightly humorous post? If the answer is yes, or an ironic “meh” then feel free to give the blog a like. So, you know, whatever…)

  • World Cup Dispatch(UPDATE): Today’s Matches 12/6/ 22

    I still feel bad for Korea. Man, Brazil is out to punish anyone who gets in their way.

    Anyway, today’s matches… Morocco v Spain, and Portugal v Switzerland. So, I’m still feeling pretty sick, and my wife is now under the weather as well, so I haven’t had any time to read up on these games. All I got is gut feeling so here we go…

    I’m going with Spain, as they have looked solid when I watched them in the group stage, and since my uncle lived in Madrid, I feel a connection, and uhh… there you go.

    Portugal v Switzerland should be really exciting, but I’m going to go with Portugal on this one. Not a fan of Ronaldo, but like Messi, this could be his last Cup, and as such, I see him digging deep to win.

    Which sets up The Battle for the Iberian!

    Best of luck, everyone.

    UPDATE: I feel good that Morocco won that match! I like it when the underdogs prevail! And that Morocco squad looked like the most confident group of players I’ve ever seen handling Penalties. They weren’t cocky, just confident like they knew they would win. That was awesome!

    (I have a blog and if you read this far you hate it too much. Be a pal, and give it a like. It will help me get over my cold.)

  • World Cup Dispatch: Today’s Matches 12/2/22

    We are entering into the final day of the group stage, and I’m a little sad to see it come to an end. The matches over the last couple of days have been exciting, dramatic and decisive.

    In Group G, the always good Brazil is guaranteed to move on, so I don’t see them playing Cameroon too hard. Serbia v Switzerland could be exciting as the winner of that match should advance.

    Group H is pretty much in the same situation, with Portugal having already secured advancement. I was pulling for South Korea, and they have a chance, but to advance they have to beat Portugal. Yesterday, I would have said that was impossible… but… my honest gut feeling is that Ghana will take second in the group.

    I’m ready to be proved wrong, though, on all accounts. That’s what makes this fun!

    (You know what else is fun? You reading this blog. And if that’s true, please, give it a like.)

  • World Cup Dispatch (UPDATE): Today’s Matches 12/1/22

    The Belgians are out! I really didn’t see that coming. I don’t think anyone on the planet saw that coming.

    And did anyone pick Morocco to win the group?

    Group F was just nuts. I thought Belgium and Croatia would easily take the group, with Canada making a good showing. This one proves that not only do I have no idea what I am talking about, but so does everyone else.

    As for the late matches, I’m watching Japan rally from being down a goal against Spain, to being up a goal, in the span of ten minutes. The tides of a match can sway in the matter of seconds. Spain looked relaxed and in control, and now they are panicked and reeling. I would love, nothing more for Japan to win, but a draw that helps them advance is an outcome I would also accept.

    Then there is Germany against Costa Rica. And I just looked down at my phone and the score is now tied. If Germany goes down, in flames, at the bottom of this group, that will be two Cups in a row that they haven’t made it out of the Group Stage. I hate to say it, but could this be the start of Germany becoming the new Italy?

    Looks like we have another exciting day of football!

    UPDATE: That was a tense second half for the Spain v Japan match. Spain had a couple of good chances to score, and I don’t think anyone will ever doubt their ability to pass the ball, but Japan’s defense was tight and solid. Nothing was getting through, and I might also add that Japan looked really relaxed in their defensive lines. They weren’t rattled at all. Japan deserves to be top of the Group.

    And thus Germany is gone.

  • World Cup Dispatch (UPDATE): Today’s Matches

    Shame on me for not taking the two early matches seriously. Sure, France didn’t have to win today, but I thought even their backbenchers could take care of Tunisia. And then I was like, there is no way Denmark is leaving the World Cup without a win. Thus proving, yet again, that I have no idea what I am talking about.

    But as for watching these two matches – Man! These were awesome!

    There is a very good chance that France will win this whole thing, and if that happens, Tunisia will have to honor of saying they handed the French their only loss.

    As for the Socceroos – They sure did dash Denmark’s dreams. And I am a big fan of Christian Eriksen, which just made me feel horrible for the guy, but Australia played like they wanted it more.

    Now we get to the matches I was looking forward to. Poland v Argentina, and Mexico v Saudi Arabia. Drama! Drama all over the place. No one in this group is out of it, so everyone is playing for the win. Mexico is one of my favorite teams, but they do have their work cut out for them, and they also need a helping hand from the Football Gods. The whole world will be watching to see what happens to Messi today, and understandably so. I agree, I would like to see Messi get to the Knockout Round, and if he is going to lose, at least get out of the Group Stage.

    My Uneducated Prediction: Argentina and Mexico advance. Just a gut feeling. And having said that… Poland and Saudi Arabia will advance in Group C.

    UPDATE: Man, I was wrong on all accounts. Argentina and Poland move to the next round. Now, that was pretty fun there when Mexico had to score one more goal, or Argentina had to score another goal, for Mexico to advance. I was flipping between the two matches, seeing who would score next. Nope, Saudi Arabia got a goal, and Mexico’s dreams were dashed.

    I said there would be drama, and that was drama!

    (And if you are enjoying this little blog, then please, give a like, and help out. I would appreciate it.)