True, Franco is quick. Hernandez too – and far more deadly, imo.
Ah, it was only just, and not “resources-napping” at all, since she is European on her father’s side and somewhat European on her mother’s. You see, you had no right to keep her! It was cultural repatriation. 
Italy just went a goal down in their game with Slovakia. Another big European team in trouble. If they don’t get through they’ll have a VERY hard time when they go home. The Italians are a tad passionate about their football.
When was the last time neither World Cup finalist made the knock-out round of the next tournament?
Well, this answer is a pretty good summary:
Also, as ivan astikov suggested, in games where i have no strong feelings one way or the other, i like to support the underdog. In world soccer terms, the US is something of an underdog, which is why i like to see them do well. But so are most of the Afrcan teams.
Right now, i’m cheering strongly for New Zealand to make it through to the next round. Which is why this was such good news:
I’m switching back and forth between both games right now, and hoping the Kiwis can get a goal against Paraguay, and that Slovakia can put another one past the Azzurri.
And your scenarios for today’s games:
PARAGUAY goes through with a win or a draw. It also goes through with a loss if Slovakia beats Italy unless one or both games are a blowout (Slovakia needs to make up 4 goals difference, and loses the head-to-head).
ITALY goes through with a win, or a draw if New Zealand loses. If both New Zealand and Italy draw, whichever scores more goals in their draw goes through. If both draw on the same score, they draw lots.
NEW ZEALAND goes through with a win. In the case of a draw, they only go through if Italy and Slovakia also draw; see above for tiebreakers with Italy.
SLOVAKIA goes through with a win and a New Zealand loss or draw or else a blowout win that eliminates Paraguay.
For the other matches, it’s very simple: the Netherlands are in and Cameroon is out, regardless. The winner of the Japan-Denmark game goes through, and in the case of a draw, Japan goes through on goal differential (even vs. -1).
Actually, not good news from a narrow Kiwi perspective - the best result for them (in terms of qualifying) in Italy-Slovakia would have been a goalless draw (though I guess Italy losing would give them first place in the group if they won). But realistically, they need to win their match with Paraguay (and break South America’s dominance so far) to go through.
1966: Brazil failed to qualify from their group, and Czechoslovakia didn’t even make it to the World Cup. Wikipedia says they failed to qualify; whether or not that had anything to do with the Prague Spring, I’m not sure.
Of course, from 1970 on, there have only been two teams besides Brazil, Italy, Argentina and (West) Germany to make the final - France and the Netherlands.
Argentina didn’t make it out of the group stage in '94, despite winning their first two matches, but the Germans made it to the quarter finals.
True! I forgot about that. For some reason, i was thinking that Slovakia was on 0 points, but they are on 1 point.
Count me among those who want the African teams to do well, they are the hosts and they are struggling. Lived in Holland for a while and have Dutch friends, so glad they’re doing well too etc etc.
Actually, they did. They were knocked out in the second round by Romania, in perhaps the best game of the tournament.
Can I just say that I am surprised that people are still surprised when the US plays well. Before this tournament we were the last team to beat Spain, played Brazil touhg, made the final 8 in 2002. We are at least the equivalent of Mexico, yet for some reason folks never seem surprised when Mexico does well.
A tremendous game, one of the most skilful ever. And yet I managed to miss all but one of the goals, despite watching it from my living room.
2-0 Slovakia over Italy
2-0 Slovakia!
Well, the US’s improvement is a relatively recent thing. It wasn’t that long ago that you were true minnows. In 1990 it was a novelty to have the US in the World Cup finals at all, and the team duly lost all three games. 2002 is really the only time the US team has made an impact, until now.
Oops. Forgot that the top third-place teams qualified back then. :smack:
The US qualified from the group stage in 1994, remember. It was just their bad lucky that their second round opponent was Brazil.
Bye Bye Italia.
Maybe not. 2-1 with 7 minutes plus time added on.
2-1 … perhaps not bye bye yet