Illuminati-R-Us

USMNT isn't a world-class side by any means, and Canada is as good as they've ever been, but that game was still dreadful. We are fortunate that it wasn't worse than 2-0. The worst part of it is that this is probably the new normal for the US for the foreseeable future. Coach Gregg Berhalter isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and he doesn't seem interested in adopting a system better suited for these players.

I was reading about this and it does seem that the USMNT is going backwards.

0-2 against Canada? I don't know which multiverse you're from, but that's gotta hurt.

Meanwhile, in our neck of the woods, the Internationals break is over, and

SpVgg Greuther Fürth 2 - 0 Dynamo Dresden

is a very good start for the weekend, don't you think?

Played 56, won 33, drawn 7, lost 16

I know the MNT must stand for “mutant ninja turtles”, it what’s USMNT?

It's the You-Ass-A's national soccer team, guy department. I haven''t figured out if S stands for soccer or for States. The one our Jürgen Klinsmann coached until they thought they would rather prefer to take part in the World Cup in Russia and fired him - they didn't go to Russia anyway, but you know that'S besside the point.

For them, losing to Canada is what losing to Austria is for us.It, really, really shouldn't happen, and when it does, it's that feeling you get from having your balls kicked by Roberto Carlos when he was in his prime.

Lianachan wrote:I know the MNT must stand for “mutant ninja turtles”, it what’s USMNT?

My guess is “Men’s National Team”

Meanwhile, in the Rugby World Cup, it’s England 40 - 16 Australia in the first quarter-final.

England advance to the semi-finals, Australia are eliminated. Well, from the tournament. They still exist.

New Zealand are playing Ireland as I type.

It’s getting a bit one sided.

New Zealand 46 - 14 Ireland

New Zealand face England next week in the semi-finals; Ireland go home.

Wales v France and Japan v South Africa tomorrow.

Sellick 6 - 0 Ross County

Played 57, won 33, drawn 7, lost 17.

SV Werder Bremen 1 - 1 Hertha BSC

Played 58, won 33, drawn 8, lost 17

Wales 20 - 19 France

Wales advance, France are out. Too close for comfort.

Japan 3 - 5 South Africa at the half

Hearts 1 - 1 Rangers, we rarely seem to do well there.

Played 59, won 33, drawn 9, lost 17.

So, 5 out of 12 for the weekend, with SpVgg being the standard-bearer. Shall we call it half-shitty and be done with it?

I think so, draw a line under it and move on.

Japan 3 - 26 South Africa

Japan are out; South Africa face Wales in the semi-finals.

Wales were very ordinary on Saturday, the Saffers will try to outmuscle them in what may be a very tedious game. I think the all Blacks will win the other semi, even if they don't whoever wins that one should win the whole thing.

Мастер wrote:

Lianachan wrote:I know the MNT must stand for “mutant ninja turtles”, it what’s USMNT?

My guess is “Men’s National Team”

Yeah, that's it.

Porto 1 - 1 Rangers in the Wee European Cup

Played 60, won 33, drawn 10, lost 17.

In Berlin, about 1600 matches of football will not be played over the weekend.

Referees in the lower leagues have been subject to abuse, humiliation, and outright violence incresingly, over a number of years. They can't take it any longer and go on strike, from the lower leagues, where overzealous fathers are often the attackers, to the higher amateur leagues right below the professional football area.

I congratulate them.

England 19 - 7 New Zealand

England advance to the finals, and New Zealand go to the bronze final.

The other semi-final, Wales v South Africa, is tomorrow.

That seems to have been quite the surprise!

Elsewhere, it's the usual shit, with
Hertha BSC 2 - 3 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

We always lose against those it seems. Came back from two-nil down to receive the decider in short order, followed by a yellow-red which ended our hopes of equalizing. Move on, nothing to see here.

Played 61, won 33, drawn 10, lost 18.

That’s sucks. The refs are quite right to strike, they take far too much abuse.

Arneb wrote:That seems to have been quite the surprise!

New Zealand were ranked #1 in the world before this match, but England were #2. We’ll see what the new rankings are on Monday.

But, New Zealand have been in the semi-finals eight times, and won four times. On three of those occasions, they went on to win the final. In the four cases where they lost a semi-final, they won third place twice, and settled for fourth place once; we’ll know next week what the outcome is this year. So New Zealand have made the semi-finals every year but 2007, and have a 4-4 record in the semi-finals.

England have made the semi-finals five times, and won four times. The one time they lost, they also lost the bronze final, coming in fourth. When they have won the semi-final, they also won the final once, but lost and came in second twice. We don’t know yet what the outcome of the final is this year. So although England failed to reach the semi-finals in 1987, 1999, 2011, and 2015, they have a 4-1 record in the semi-finals.

So although New Zealand have a better track record getting to the semi-finals, England have a better record (on a percentage basis) winning them

The two teams have met 42 times; New Zealand have won 33 times, and England 8 times, with one draw. In a “neutral venue”, they are 1-1. This is the first time England have defeated New Zealand in any World Cup match. They’ve met twice in the pool stage, and twice in the semi-finals.

So I would have guessed New Zealand, but it’s not completely crazy that England won. England have been pretty good the last few years.

Only five teams have ever won the semi-finals: New Zealand, Australia, and England four times each, France three times, and South Africa twice. Of these, France is the only team never to win a final, and South Africa is the only team never to lose one. Of the eight previous finals, six of them were France or England against one of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The other two were between New Zealand and South Africa, and between New Zealand and Australia.

If South Africa win later today, the final will be between England and South Africa, which has happened before, and in any event, fits the typical pattern of a northern team (England or France) against a southern team (Australia or New Zealand or South Africa). But if Wales win, not only will they reach the final for the first time ever, but also for the first time ever, the final will be between two northern teams.