Re-Cupping The World Cup: Messi Shines Again, Swiss Push Through, Iran Chokes

We are going to do a short blog each weekday about the World Cup. There will be a little more on United States obviously, but when it comes to the other games, we will talk about the different games in short recaps like we used to do with the NBA. I am no expert, don't pretend to be, but I want to compile a blog featuring some tweets, GIFs, videos and a couple thoughts from yours truly. If you hate it, let me know or think you could do it better, you know where to find me @SnoTap12 

Argentina 3 Nigeria 2 - Easily, the best game of the day on what was sort of a boring day of soccer. Argentina held on in a hotly-contested match with Nigeria whom also advanced to the knockout stages and will face France.  Four of the five goals of the game happened in the first five minutes of both halves. Lionel Messi had two goals and continues to be a complete terror in this World Cup. He nailed a beautiful goal off a rebound, and then put it into the back corner of the net for a free kick. Ahmed Musa played at a high level as well for Nigeria knocking in two goals. Nigeria isn't going to go down swinging in the next round.

Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 Iran 1 - If Iran did enough, they could have slid into the knockout stages. I wouldn't want to say they puked all over their shoes, but they pretty much did. Bosnia wasn't like some of the winless teams in the World Cup as they play Argentina and Nigeria close, but still Iran could have capitalized here in a major way. They gave up only one goal in two games, and then find a way to give up three to Bosnia. The moment was too big for the boys.

Switzerland 3 Hondorus 0 - Big question here... Was Hondorus the worst World Cup team?  Like Hondorus... They showed up. Switzerland got the job done to send them on to the next round for a meeting with Messi. The Swiss got a hat trick from Xherdan Shaquiri to push them through to the knockout the stages. After their blowout loss to France, I have to give credit for Switzerland for bouncing back in a major way.

France 0 Ecuador 0 - I am not saying France mailed this one, but it had a feel of a Week 17 NFL game in this one for France. They just wanted to hang out and have a good time maybe have a little wine on the sidelines. I do think France is in a fight with Nigeria. I really do but I am no soccer expert by any means.

Charlie.

Re-Cupping The World Cup: France Flies High, Magical Messi and German Survival

We are going to do a short blog each weekday about the World Cup. There will be a little more on United States obviously, but when it comes to the other games, we will talk about the different games in short recaps like we used to do with the NBA. I am no expert, don't pretend to be, but I want to compile a blog featuring some tweets, GIFs, videos and a couple thoughts from yours truly. If you hate it, let me know or think you could do it better, you know where to find me @SnoTap12 

Friday
Costa Rica 1 Italy 0 - Currently, the Ticos are the most surprising team of the tournament for my money. They take down Uruguay and now put themselves through with a win against Italy. This is a big moment for CONCAF getting a win against a team like Italy. The goal by Bryan Ruiz defined the term "Ball Don't Lie" after being denied a penalty. Costa Rica winning Group D featuring England, Italy and Uruguay is wild.

France 5 Switzerland 2 - Les Blues might be playing the best soccer after two games. A team not expected to do much damage in the tournament could be on the verge of making a lot of noise. They played at such a high level against an upstart Switzerland getting five straight goals before allowing two late in the game. Oliver Giroud and Karim Benzema really played strong throughout the game leading to France's probable advancement to the Round of 16.

Ecuador 2 Honduras 1 - This was the Enner Valencia game with two huge goals in the game to complete the comeback against Honduras. Valencia had two great goals hanging around the net with a great finish with his foot and his head. It gave Ecuador a chance to advance in the World Cup with a win or a draw against France. This is a massive hill to climb given how well France played throughout the first two games of the World Cup, but we have seen some crazier things.



Saturday
Germany 2 Ghana 2 - Might have been the game of the weekend if Portugal and the United States didn't happen because it featured a possible chance Germany would drop a game in group stages something that didn't even seem possible during their drubbing of Portugal. Miroslav Klose saved the team with an equalizing goal in the 71st minute. Thomas Mueller took a big hit leading to blood everywhere around his facial area. Who knows if Mueller will play against the United States.



Argentina 1 Iran 0 - There are games where you know why Lionel Messi is better than everyone else in the world. This game was headed to an improbable tie before Messi made his move in stoppage time netting a goal to put Argentina ahead and through to the Round of 16. I mean Iran didn't screw up really honestly. They had a strong defense on him with not much space, but Messi found enough to put it home. Iran can still advance with a win plus some goal differential help.

Nigeria 1 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 - Oh man, I felt for Bosnia as they had a couple chances late in the game. They had a perfect opportunity at the very end, but the ball went off the post sending them home from Brazil. Nigeria does have to play Argentina, but they control their own destiny. They could lose and still be in if the goal differential doesn't get out of wack.

Sunday
Algeria 4 South Korea 2 - Honestly, how bad is the defending by South Korea? They looked horrible on Sunday with Algeria attacking the goal consistently. They went up three goals in the first 40 minutes of the game. Algeria looked much more improved from their first game against Belgium. Algeria could get through with a win against Russia and a draw against Russia would probably do the trick as well unless Korea blows out Belgium.

Belgium 1 Russia 0 - The 'dark horse' continues their push into the Round of 16 even if they are not playing the best soccer. I am curious to see how different the results would be for Belgium if they were in a group with stiffer competition. They got a pure goal at the 88th minute, but this game did not leave anything for people to get on the bandwagon for this Belgium team.

Charlie.

Re-Cupping The World Cup: Dutch Surprise, Super Mario, Magical Messi

We are going to do a short blog each weekday about the World Cup. There will be a little more on United States obviously, but when it comes to the other games, we will talk about the different games in short recaps like we used to do with the NBA. I am no expert, don't pretend to be, but I want to compile a blog featuring some tweets, GIFs, videos and a couple thoughts from yours truly. If you hate it, let me know or think you could do it better, you know where to find me @SnoTap12 

Friday
Netherlands 5 Spain 1 - Even though this was a couple days later, Holland's beatdown of the defending World Cup champs on Friday is the biggest news of the World Cup this far. Arjen Robben added two goals with a beauty for the fifth goal of the night plus Robin Van Persie's first goal is one that will be on the montage at the end of the World Cup.

Mexico 1 Cameroon 0 - El Tri is one of the more talked about teams given the way they backed into the World Cup, but they played world class defense against an attacking Cameroon in a driving rain. Mexico had two goals called off with offside calls, but Orbie Peralta put one home in the 61st minute. Mexico needed this one badly before their showdown with Brazil.

Chile 3 Australia 1 - Chile came out fast and furious with two goals in the first 15 minutes of the game with Alexis Sanchez in the 12th minute and Jorge Valdivia 14th minute.  Tim Cahill did add a goal for the Socceroos at the 35th minute splitting the lead in half before we even reached halftime. Chile held on as Australia tried to equalize throughout the second half of the game. Finally in the extra period, Jean Beausejour gave Chile the dagger.

Saturday
Italy 2 England 1 - This was a really fun game of high level football.  Italy got the scoring started with a beautiful strike from Claudio Marchisio in the 35th minute including a great dummy run by the legend Andrea Pirlo. Daniel Sturridge came right back with a quick equalizing goal in 37th minute with a great dance afterwards which is featured below. Mario Balotelli had the game-winner in the 50th minute with a wonderful header. Wayne Rooney had a chance to equalize again for England but pulled the ball wide. Both teams look very dangerous moving forward.

Costa Rica 3 Uruguay 1 - TICOOOOOOOOS. As someone whom put many eggs in the Uruguay basket, this was a nightmare scenario. Edinson Cavini got an early goal, but after that it was all downhill like that New Found Glory song. Costa Rica had three second half goals including two in three minutes changing the course of this game. To add insult to the injury of the opening loss, Uruguay's Maxi Pereira was sent off with a straight red in extra time meaning he will miss at least the next game against

Ivory Coast 2 Japan 1 - LES ELEPHANTS. I need myself a 1000 percent Elephants scarf by Cote D'Ivore's next game honestly. This whole game changed on a dime when Didier Drogba came into this game. It really did seem to open things up leading to second half goals from Wilfred Brony and Gervinho. Japan really didn't have an answer for them.

Colombia 3 Greece 0 - Arguably the strongest statement by a team not named Netherlands was Colombia. They are without their star player Radamel Falcao, but it didn't phase them with a quick goal in the fifth minute from Pablo Armero. Colombia had control of the entire game adding another goal in the 58th minute along with one in the extra time. Greece didn't really have any sort of chance against the Colombians

Sunday
Argentina 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 - MESSI MESSI MESSI. Everyone wondered if the pressure was getting to Lionel Messi, and he responded with a 'Hi haters' moment with a beautiful goal in the second period putting Argentina up two. Bosnia-Herzegovina didn't play too poorly, but the early own goal hurt their chances in a major way.

Switzerland 2 Ecuador 1 - Many people thought the Swiss were overrated with them being sixth in the FIFA rankings. Many people thought they would be comparable to their famous cheese with lots of holes. The critics seemed right early with Enner Valencia adding an early goal, but the Switzerland battled back with an early second half equalizing goal from Admir Mehmedi and then Haris Seferovic gets a goal in the final 30 seconds of extra time for the incredible win. Big time three points.

France 3 Honduras 0 - The story could be about how goal line technology still didn't look like it did its job despite what ESPN might tell you. The story could also be how Honduras played with 10 players most of the game. But what it's about is Karim Benzema's two goals and causing an own goal. Benzema started to wash away the bad taste South Africa gave Les Blues.

Charlie.