Re-Cupping The World Cup: Bite Heard Round The World, Rodriguez Sparkles, Greece? Greece!!!

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 

Uruguay 1 Italy 0 - No one really wants to talk about the fact another European soccer club has been eliminated from this year's World Cup. No one really wants to talk about Italy's coach quitting immediately after the game. Everyone wants to talk about Luis Suarez taking a bite from Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder. It set Twitter on fire. Everyone is pissed off at Suarez again calling it unprofessional and things of that nature. I don't know why people are so upset. I guess biting a guy isn't a good thing to do per say, but people are acting like Suarez punched Chiellieni in the face and the balls. Let's settle down a bit boys.

Greece 2 Ivory Coast 1- HOW DO YOU LET THIS HAPPEN LES ELEPHANTS?!?!?! Seriously. I thought we were done with Greece, and now somehow we get another team from Europe in the knockout stages. I have some Greek friends, but man oh man, this is boring soccer. They would run the Greek tapes when they talk about why people hate the game in America. Georgios Samaras hit the penalty kick when it mattered in extra time with an obvious penalty occurring to draw the shot. Greece moves on to face Costa Rica in game that will feature two teams no one probably expected to still be here.

Colombia 4 Japan 1 - Colombia keeps the machine moving as they dominated Japan in all facets of the match in the second half. Japan tied the match right before the half, but the second half, it was all about James Rodriguez, one of the biggest stars of this World Cup thus far. Rodriguez had two assists setting up Jackson Martinez whose been struggling of late and then he added a goal of his own right around stoppage time with a glorious chip-in. Just how dangerous is Colombia? They will play Uruguay in the next round whom will be missing Suarez likely and then a probable showdown with Brazil. (H/T The Big Lead) 

Costa Rica 0 England 0 - Not much from this game honestly, but Group D is the reason we love the World Cup. They feature Italy, England, Uruguay and Costa Rica, no one expected Costa Rica to win the group unless you actually live there. Add to the fact, Italy and England are now eliminated too is absolutely wild. Group D isn't the Group of the Death, but it's damn near close.

Charlie.

Re-Cupping The World Cup: Suarez Ends England & Colombian Team Celebrations!

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 

Uruguay 2 England 1 - In Uruguay's first game in a loss against Costa Rica, Luis Suarez could not play because he had knee surgery three weeks ago. Suarez said he thought it was possible to give it a go, but Uruguayan coaches decided against it. Suarez came back to the pitch and delivered like one of the best players in the world. He had the first goal of the game and the last one basically sending England home. Suarez is playing at such a high level right now.  We are a week into the tournament and possibly England and Spain not making the round of 16. I'm not shocked about England though. Big time game for Costa Rica this afternoon. (H/T South Dublin & @FlyByKite)

Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1 - One of the best matches of the tournament thus far. It did not feature any scoring for the first 63 minutes and then next 10 minutes, things went HAM.  James Rodriguez, one of the stars of the tournament thus far, nailed a beautiful header to put Colombia up 1-0 and had an ESPN announcer say he was more popular Colombian figure than Shakira. Six minutes later, Juan Quintero had a breakaway after a Ivory Coast turnover leading to their second goal. Gervinho had a stunning goal to pull Ivory Coast closer, but it wasn't close enough. Ivory Coast will likely advance given the other two teams in their group. Colombia is practically through to the next round. (H/T @StoolPresidente) 





Japan 0 Greece 0 - BOOOOOOORIIIIING.  I don't know how people support Greece. Bless their hearts. I have a couple Greek friends and Giannis.  But the fact is they play a boring brand of soccer. Greece's captain Konstantinos Katsouranis received two quick yellow cards leading to his dismissal by the 38th minute. Greece played with 10 men for the rest of the game, and with their defensive nature, Greece held on with the only real chance coming from Japan in the 68th minute. Both teams still have a chance to win, but they need to actually score goals.

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.