12 Hours of Commercial-loaded Soccer Starts Now: World Cup, Saturday June 13
Hoo boy, how about that USMNT win yesterday?
About Last Night/Afternoon (and early this morning!)
Qatar 1, Switzerland 1
Kind of...: Switzerland dominated things, but this is futbol. Deep into stoppage time, Qatar scored on a Swiss own goal (looked like a header for Qatar, but has since been reclassified), and so Group B is fully level with each of the teams holding one point by virtue of a 1-1 draw. Whee!
MaximumSam: I can't believe I was still watching when Qatar tied it up.
Brazil 1, Morocco 1
Kind of...: Morocco struck first on a lovely chip shot and Brazil leveled things about 10 minutes later on a high quality goal from Vinicius Jr. Brazil had the better of the play in the second half, but a draw was a just result.
MaximumSam: Brazil continues their pattern of mixing incompetence and wizardry in the same ten minute stretch.
Scotland 1, Haiti 0
Kind of...: In the 28th minute, Scotland scored in a bit of a scramble situation as an umarked John McGinn powered it a shot from the top right of the box that deflected off a Haiti defender (but counts as McGinn's goal). Haiti was the better squad in the second half, but couldn't find an equalizer, missing an open header in the 84th minute.
Australia 2, Turkey 0
Kind of...: A stunning result (that I neither saw coming, nor saw, period, given the start time). Advanced stats suggest Turkey had a slight edge, but putting-the-ball-in-the-net stats say that you should take the time to find Nestory Irankunda's Usain Bolt imitation on Australia's first goal. The Aussies got some cushion midway through the second and earned their three points. Still, they won despite needing to make eight saves and having possession less than 30% of the time, so the USMNT should still feel confident going into their second group game.
Today's Schedule
Germany v Curacao
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas. 1:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM GTZ.
MaximumSam: Not nearly enough sauerkraut in Texas to satisfy the Germans, but they should be able to find a good sausage. I'm always on the fence when it comes to the BBQ sausage option. It's never bad, but also never quite hits the spot when I want some barbecue.
Kind of...: This should not be close. Germany has not made it out of group stage since 2014, and nobody expects them to win the even this year. But, it's still Germany. Against Curacao. This matchup simply doesn't happen in a 32-team World Cup.
AlmaOtter: Curacao manager Dick Advocaat. That is all.
Netherlands v Japan
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas. 4:00 ET, 3:00 GTZ.
MaximumSam: I wouldn't mind following a few Dutch tourists around Texas as they try to find Dallas-style stroopwafels. Probably not much herring around, either. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Japanese tourists watching someone baste their meat with a big mop.
Kind of...: This could be good. Japan is a popular choice to be this year's Cinderella. They lost in R16 in 2018 to eventual semifinalist Belgium in a really fun 3-2 match and in R16 in 2022 to eventual semifinalist Croatia in penalties. They're for real. But a bit banged up. Netherlands is the ultimate bridesmaid, dropping three World Cup Finals and still searching for their first title despite producing as much high-end scoring talented as any European nation. This isn't a top shelf Dutch side, but still the group favorite. Watch this match!
Ivory Coast v Ecuador
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 7:00 ET, 6:00 GTZ
MaximumSam: Will Philly fans show up to boo both of these teams?
Kind of...: Germany is the group favorite; Curacao the expected doormat. So this match will go a long way toward figuring out who takes second and who is sweating the third-place tiebreaker process. Vegas says Ecuador is favored and a tie more likely than an Ivory Coast win. But Ecuador is VERY defense heavy (in 18 qualifying matches their outscored their CONMEBOL opponents 14-5...ugh), so a getting-long-in-the-tooth Ivory Coast squad might only need to pounce on one mistake. Should be worth watching.
AlmaOtter: Some Irish pubs have been flipping their Ireland flags upside down to support the Ivory Coast. I love that. And their nickname is Les Elephants (which I will leave you to translate for yourself). Let's go Cote d'Ivor!
Sweden v Tunisia
Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico. 10:00 ET, 9:00 GTZ
Kind of...: Tunisia was convincing in the qualification campaign, but the expansion to 48 teams mean they only had to win a round-robin among Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Burundi, and Seychelles, so, um, none of us really know just what to expect. Sweden is far from a powerhouse by European standards, so this is expected to the match that decides third place. A draw would be deadly to both teams' chances.
