I will skip the 40 kilos of ice, cabalas must not be altered when they are working and also I don’t want to die of hypothermia.
Scoreless at the end of the third quarter second-half hydration break.
Seems to be a fairly open game - no real field tilt in favor of one side or the other.
I thought that before the game even started, that they’re probably playing on the same level and all chances are off.
I thought I might share my experience of seeing a World Cup match in person. I won’t talk much about the game because I was grumbling from minute 1 about what I saw on the pitch, but more the rest of it.
Good: I mean, I’ve always wanted to see the German men’s team in person, and it was delightful to do so, despite the results. Our seats were in the 13th row, roughly even with the top of the box, at the same end as the German regional fan groups (picture below). Getting there was easy given where I live - we pulled out of the driveway at 2PM and got to our seats at 2:35 PM (but didn’t sit down, just reconnoitered). And the two fans directly in front of us were great - knowledgeable, and amenable to high-fives.
Not good: I’ll just say it: it’s a largely tourist fan base. I got my first glimmer when I ran into a former co-worker in Germany kit, and he told me he didn’t know anything about soccer but liked the colors. Once we were in our seats, other than the two guys in front of us, it was pretty silly…there were the four Japanese tourists to our left who cheered every goal. The guy in the Germany kit across the aisle from us who celebrated the Paraguay goal. The number of people who stood in front of us for selfies despite the ushers trying to clear them. The rather handsome guy doing short videos (tiktok?) where he stood with his back to the pitch and unfurled the flag he carried behind him, blocking our view. The flag? North Macedonia.
On the whole it was important to spend time like that with my son, who shares my love of soccer, and I’m glad I did it once, but I wouldn’t do it again in the US.
Still 0-0 with sui, col. +5 to the end of regular time.
This is a proper snore fest. As is too often the case when Switzerland are involved.
On to the 15 minute overtime.
So much flopping around.
Help out another “every 4 years” football fan.
I’ve watched the Switzerland v Columbia game from start to (not quite) finish, and it has shown me every reason I dislike watching football. It’s boring, both teams seem content to go to penalties, and the flopping/writhing on the ground in massive pain has been ridiculous.
Am I missing an impressive defensive battle? Are these teams both amazing and I just don’t appreciate it?
That said, most of the other matches have been amazing, and this has been a great series. It’s just this game.
The crossbar gets Switzerland’s “save of the day” on a Colombia header off a corner.
Switzerland do this in the Euros too.
Always qualify.
Always make it out of the group. But not with any excitement.
Then they don’t last much longer.
First extra time over. On to the next 15.
You’re not missing an impressive defensive battle.
More you’re watching a war of attrition where neither team wants to take risks and are in effect being able to cancel each other out. Switzerland don’t have great forward players. Never have. Colombia has players who can do things (Luis Diaz the left winger is world class) but the rest a bit over the hill or average.
Yeah, not every game’s a gem and the knockout stage can lead to teams playing tentative, afraid to make a mistake. This is one of those games that needs a goal to get teams to open up and it just hasn’t come.
C’mon Colombia you can do it.
Great chance for Colombia there.
On to the kick off.
Finally some goals.
Crossbar delivers again for Switzerland.
Miss for Colombia.
In for sui.
In for col.
Miss for Swiss.