Round of 16, have at it.... But don't forget to read the Mod Warning. And don't forget, there will be results discussed, so if you want to watch the match later, but maintain the suspense, please don't read this thread until later.
At least, as long as supporters of the eliminated teams remain on board and don't leave after their team goes out! If interests remains high, we can keep having both: general round of 16's, quarter finals', semifinals' threads and single matches' PBP threads. A good point could be if a "general" trhread for the final has to exist as separated from the PBP thread: after all, we're talking about a single match. But we could anyway have a "finals" thread, since the third-place match will be played.
OK, here's the link for the knockout challenge (opens tomorrow at 23:30 CET): https://bracketchallenge.fifa.com/en/knockoutstage And here's the thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/wwc-2019-predictor.2103694/#post-37893195
with Italy's winning their group, it will mean two other powerful teams(Australia & Brazil?) will also be moving over to the all ready stronger half of the bracket's. Mankes wonder if Japan isn't a little happy that they lost today(as they move to the easier half)
Here's the bracket view: I expect USA will face Spain on the top half of the bracket. Tomorrow will be interesting for Group E, with Canada vs the Dutch. In either case, both teams will end up on the bottom half of the bracket with Japan. Might not be that easy for Japan after all, having to face off the winner of group E in their first knockout round.
Japan knows a thing or two about winning in playoffs. Their higher ranked if they face Holland, then in the quarters; Italy might just be fluke(they don't got the playoff experience), so I see it for either Japan, Holland or Canada as a very easy route into at least the semis.
Likelihoods atm: France to face 75% Brazil 25% Cameroon Germany to face 50% Nigeria 25% Brazil 25% Argentina Italy to face 75% China 25% Nigeria England to face 50% Chile/Thailand 25% Cameroon/New Zealand 25% China
Joking aside, I know some former players were discussing that, but everyone agreed that there is no way in hell that the players would do that. The only way that happens is if the coaches choose it by starting a lineup that has had very minimal time playing together. Again, I doubt it would ever happen. Of course, the USA could lose because Sweden is that good and seems to always play the USA well. Who knows, but it'll be a fun ride, for certain.
if Sofia Jakobsson ever gets prescription glasses! lol. But the Swedes actually have an excellent/winning record vs the US this decade in tournaments(WC/Olympics) win at 2011 WC tie at 2015 WC win at 2016 OL their problem though this time is they got to win(as a tie would give the US 1st place) and their back line is aging with the CB combo, Fisher(34 years old) & Sembrandt(32) the GK, Lindahl(36) who lost her starting spot this year over at Chelsea. If Jill Ellis was smart, then this time she would bunker(Sweden's weapon last time at the OL)thus neutralizing the speed of world's fastest player(Sofia). Then you got to figure; why would Sweden want to win either? as they get the easier route as well as a 2nd place finisher blissett, noticing that our thrilling. compatriot posters, prefer talking aobut VAR instead of the games itself(as the ENG/JA game threat lacked any deep analysis) , was wondering, in your opnion why Japan lost the game? why not start the peroxide fwd(dunno her name) in front of the atrociuoulsy as bad as my spelling. Yokohama? what ever happned to Momiki?(thinking she was J's #1 striker) why play Nakajima as mid when she's so good at the wing? my deep thought analysis of the game; Rachel Daly is God, whenever she starts, only good things happen! But why does England keep on starting the terrible defender, Millie Bright(who the peroxide gal would of eventually scored against if alloted a full 90 min.) is about as puzzling as how could Shepard pie & mushy peas could be that country's main food staple! remember, Canada needs to win for 1st place in group(a tie gives it to the Dutch). So Holland can go back to their bread n butter game of staying back & long balling it over the top to their speedy fwds(but maybe ther'll give their runners a rest this game?). I like the way Canada plays, they've snubbed their southern neighbor's 'direct ball' approach, for a more sophisticated, clincal style of a central Euro coach(which they obviously got in Moser) I would say despite not being a goal scorer, Ashley Lawrence is the most underrated the player in the whole tournament, as she simply dominates the space in front of her. But playing a more passing game, slows you a bit down from scoring, which despite winning two games rather impressively, leaves them in the predicament which they find themselves now(as I do think they would want to win this game for the easier route to the semis, loose & they'll play the tougher, #2 Germans by the quarters)
Not sure who are you referring to: the only Japanese blonde-tinted FW that I can think of right now is Nagasato, but you should very well know that she wasn't called and she's now in NWSL, ready to play with Chicago Red Stars this week-end. If you mean Sugasawa (the one always munching a chewing-gum while she plays), well, it couldn't have been a better starting choice than Yokoyama, but in fact she had her share of wasted chances too in the half hour she ended playing. Some Japanese newspapers reported that Momiki is traning apart from the rest of the group, because she apparently picked up an injury, but no news about how serious it is and if she has any chance to see the pitch later. This was beyond me, actually, and few people on the Nadeshiko Japan thread understood this choice. Nakajima has played as central midfield this season with INAC Kobe Leonessa, but she's primarily a winger and that's where she should play in NT. Not a case that Japan was slightly more dangerous when this situation was corrected in the last half-hour of the England match.
Pretty much! According to 538, three of the eight matches have the UEFA team favored to win by more than 67%. Only one other match (USAvESP) has a team favored at more than 2/3. Of the four middling matches, only one (NEDvJPN) has the UEFA team favored.
Look at all the teams on the left side... @soccernutter Can we change the thread title to "Europe vs the rest of the world"?
If form holds, it will be Europe vs. the United States, as the latter will face, first, Spain, followed by France, England and in the final either The Netherlands or Germany.
Quarters AUS v ENG FRA v USA SWE v GER NED v ITA Semis ENG v USA GER v NED Final USA v GER Winner USA 2nd GER 3rd ENG 4th NED