Copa Mundial. It’s game time for the US

[BlackBart]

We just got out-skilled I think. Fast, big, decisive, one-touch, airtight defense. But good effort by the youngest remaining team in the tourney.

[abscate]

Japan and Spain. Two of the worst displays of penalty kicks in history. Missed first three.

12 yards from keeper, you just blaśt it. 95% probability of scoring

[BlackBart]

Exactly - at Spain’s level, you don’t miss two in a row.

Portugal scoots through easily, without the help of Sir Ronaldo. They look pretty damn good, I may have the wrong team winning the final!

[abscate]

Exactly - at Spain’s level, you don’t miss two in a row.

Portugal scoots through easily, without the help of Sir Ronaldo. They look pretty damn good, I may have the wrong team winning the final!

Brazil looks unstoppable, except in the back where Alison and Ederson stop everything

France England will be a great game to watch

Who can’t cheer for Morocco?

[BlackBart]

So...Croatia-Brazil.....wow. That blew my bracket completely, but I found myself switching allegiances as it went on! Crazy showdown.

Brazil seemed to think they deserved it after scoring on a Croatia slip-up. Modric and Croatia kept hustling and tied it up. I've watched Modric play in MLS. He really stuck out with his skill and hustle.

I HATE to agree with Lalas on ANYTHING, but he's right - PKs are part of the game, they're strategy, skill, execution. The Croat hit it perfectly inside the post, the Brazilian HIT the post. The Croat keeper made amazing, consistent saves all game and overtime.

A non-futbal friend watching just compared it to a big league pitcher locating precise pitches under pressure. I said, good comparison - You throw that perfect pitch with bases loaded in the 9th, or you don't.

[abscate]

Having taken a lot of PKs in my long ago career….you really should not miss. There are roughly 5 zones , middle and hi/low on each side. If you hit with pace and the GK chooses the right zone s/he has less than a 50% chance if stopping it. So, basically 9/10 go in.

What goes wrong is these guys try to guess the keeper and go the other way. The right strategy is pick one of the 5 zones and slam it hard without looking at the keeper

[abscate]

I cheered for little Morocco but France was too strong, and luck turned their way. Easily could have been the other result. Great game , I pick France to send Messi home, los otros.

Giroud to score the winner

Lloris with a clean sheet

[abscate]

Well it’s 2-2 in extended time.

Someone score and save us from penalty kicks !!

France fought back from 0-2 and ARG is buckling

[BlackBart]

WHAT

A

GAME

!!!!

[abscate]

Fantastic World Cup. And congrats to Messi for ending the “who’s better ?” Debate

Messi gets the cup, Ronaldo the Bib

I thought Mbappe deserved the man of the match, that tying 2 goal was incredibly cool placement.