Futbol

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Group A
Norway
Nigeria
Go Nigeria! Nothing against Norway, but there are enough Europeans already and Nigeria is Africa's last hope.

Nigeria 0-1 < France
Korea Republic 1-2 < Norway
Norway (2-1) advances. Not sure if Nigeria (1-2) has a shot with only 3 points and a -2 goal differential.

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Japan, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Canada have a qualified with a game to spare.
https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/groups/
Still alive. Too complicated for me to figure out which 4 non 1st or 2nd in their group teams can still qualify. Could be that all 6 of these teams get in plus just 1 other.

Group C
Brazil
Australia
Go Australia, more likely, Oceania represent! But, nothing awful about Latin America having a sole rep.

Jamaica 1-4 < Australia
Italy 0-1 < Brazil
Italy, Australia & Brazil all 2-1, all have 6 points - I think they said 1st time that's ever happened. All 3 qualify - Italy #1 on goal differential, Australia #2 on goals for with its +3 goal differential being the same as Brazil's.

Qualified:
#1 France
#1 Germany
#1 Italy
#1 or #2 Netherlands
#1 or #2 Canada
#1 or #2 Sweden
#1 or #2 USA
#1 or #2 England
#1, #2 or #3 Japan
#2 Australia
#2 Norway
#2 Spain
#3 Brazil
#3 China PR

2 slots left
#3 Nigeria has 3 points.
Argentina (1 point) and Scotland (0 points) play each other 19 June. Argentina qualifies with a win, could take #2 from Japan.
Cameroon (0 points) and New Zealand (0 points) play each other 20 June.
Thailand (0 points) and Chile (0 points) play each other 20 June.

I'm rooting for, in order, no relation to actual odds:
Cameroon (if not, Nigeria)
New Zealand
Thailand
Chile
Nigeria
Argentina
Scotland

Out of the WC:
Korea Republic
South Africa
Jamaica

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2 slots left
#3 Nigeria has 3 points.
Argentina (1 point) and Scotland (0 points) play each other 19 June. Argentina qualifies with a win, could take #2 from Japan.
Cameroon (0 points) and New Zealand (0 points) play each other 20 June.
Thailand (0 points) and Chile (0 points) play each other 20 June.

I'm rooting for, in order, no relation to actual odds:
Cameroon (if not, Nigeria)
New Zealand
Thailand
Chile
Nigeria
Argentina
Scotland

Out of the WC:
Korea Republic
South Africa
Jamaica

A terrible VAR (Video Assistant Referee) decision eliminated Scotland from the Women’s World Cup

Does seem pretty ticky-tack to me.

3-3. I think Argentina (2 points) is out unless both of today's games are draws, in which case it and Nigeria qualify. If I'm correct, funny that my 2 least favorites got knocked out out on this one call.

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Cameroon 2-1 > New Zealand on a goal with seconds left in injury time, qualifies.
Cameroon and Nigeria tie with a -2 goal differential, but Cameroon has 3 'goals for' to Nigeria's 2.
Argentina is out.
Nigeria is in if Thailand and Chile draw. Game begins at 1500 T.
Thailand does not have a chance to beat Nigeria or the final spot thanks to the obscene 0-13 loss to the USA.
Chile will have to beat Thailand by 3 or more to qualify over Nigeria. I'm sadly rooting for that rout.

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Chile 2-0 > Thailand. Bummer, Chile even missed a PK. Oh well, nothing awful about Nigeria qualifying. Good for Africa that 2 teams are still alive.

Go (all EDT):

22 June
#3 Nigeria > #1 Germany, 11:30
#2 Australia > #2 Norway, 15:00, but I don't hate Norway.

23 June
#3 Cameroon > #1 England, 11:30
#3 Brazil vs #1 France, 15:00, no preference now that Brazil swung rightwing.

24 June
#2 Spain > #1 USA, 12:00
#2 Canada > #2 Sweden, 15:00, but I don't hate Sweden.

25 June
#1 Italy > #3 China PR, 12:00
#1 Netherlands vs #2 Japan, 15:00, no preference. My heart wants Netherlands, but a Japan win will be good for the sport.

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#3 Nigeria, #3 Cameroon and #2 Spain are underdog wishes, with Nigeria, and Cameroon being especially unlikely.

#2 Australia, #2 Canada and #1 Italy are favorite wishes with Italy being especially likely.

#1 Netherlands is a favorite and #1 France is a heavy favorite.

Odds of winning the tourney:
https://www.sportbet.com/news/odds/Socc ... 9-Futures/
For example, a $1 bet on USA gets you back just $2.65.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/soccer/odds/futures/

Game by game odds:
https://www.sportbet.com/news/odds/Socc ... rnational/

[O Really]

So what are you basing your picks on?

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So what are you basing your picks on?

As always unless there's money on the line and no spread, pure whim. Above, in no particular order:
Desire to see Africa and Oceania finally break into the big time;
Bored with Euro domination;
Nation I've visited and liked;
Politics;
Underdogs;
Pissed off this year with USA over what they did to Thailand and their defense of it;
Wish to see Canada own North America in something other than politeness . . . and basketball ;
Not a fan of China's repression. Free Tibet!
Take all these plus intangibles and I get a "feeling".

22 June
#3 Nigeria > #1 Germany, 11:30

Germany 3-0 > Nigeria, but not a surprise.

Go #2 Canada or #2 Sweden > #1 Germany

[O Really]

I guess that makes more sense than picking from mascot or uniform colors.

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Does it? Thanks.

Go (all EDT):

22 June
#2 Australia > #2 Norway, 15:00, but I don't hate Norway.

#2 Australia (is a) favorite

Evenly matched. 1-1 in regular time, scoreless OTs, 4-1 Norway on PKs. Plays the winner of the 23 June #3 Cameroon - #1 England game.

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Go (all EDT):

23 June
#3 Cameroon > #1 England, 11:30

#3 Cameroon and ... are underdog wishes, with ... Cameroon being especially unlikely.

Desire to see Africa ... finally break into the big time;
Bored with Euro domination;

Cameroon 0, England 3
Was closer than the score, somewhat controversial. No African team has ever reached the quarterfinals. Maybe in 2023.

Go #2 Norway > #1 England on 27 June.

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23 June
#3 Brazil vs #1 France, 15:00, no preference now that Brazil swung rightwing.

France is favored. After 3 Euro wins, I find myself rooting for Brazil. Legit for me to switch - it's 1-1 at the 80" mark.

[O Really]

No African team has ever reached the quarterfinals. Maybe in 2023.

Maybe all their fastest athletes become runners? (6 of top 10 women finishers in Boston Marathon were African)

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Maybe all their fastest athletes become runners? (6 of top 10 women finishers in Boston Marathon were African)

Futbol is about more than speed and endurance, but you may have a point. Poor nations, and training for running is lots cheaper than training for futbol. I'm sure there's enough money for the elite, but not for developing and finding the elite from a young age. There sure are plenty of players with African heritage on non-African teams.

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France is favored. After 3 Euro wins, I find myself rooting for Brazil. Legit for me to switch - it's 1-1 at the 80" mark.

My support is the kiss of death. France scores in 2OT, wins 2-1. I'm 0-4 in the Round of 16. France plays the #2 Spain - #1 USA winner.

[O Really]

There sure are plenty of players with African heritage on non-African teams.

Yes, but they must have actually immigrated there, whether or not just for sport.
Rule 24 1.(a) says "All players shall hold the nationality of their country..."

But there may be "passport bartering" and such as happens for Olympic teams.

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Yes, but they must have actually immigrated there, whether or not just for sport.
Rule 24 1.(a) says "All players shall hold the nationality of their country..."

Agreed. Whether new immigrants or in these nations for many generations, my point was just that they play at elite levels on elite teams when given the opportunities that come with being in richer nations. In poorer nations the support from an early age tips more towards the cheaper running.

But there may be "passport bartering" and such as happens for Olympic teams.

Maybe not as much as with runners. Unlike track and field, the real futbol money is in the pro leagues, not playing for national teams. If good enough, one can get rich and famous without changing citizenship.


"USA has not conceded a goal in the last 639 minutes (7 shutouts) of play."
Literally within seconds - beautiful Spain goal, 1-1.

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Go (all EDT):

24 June
#2 Spain > #1 USA, 12:00

Spain 1, USA 2, both PKs with the 2nd call being iffy. I'm 0-5.

Go #1 France > #1 USA 28 June.

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Go (all EDT):

24 June
#2 Canada > #2 Sweden, 15:00, but I don't hate Sweden.

Sweden 1-0 > Canada.

I'm 0-6 in the Round of 16. I've even lost when I picked favorites - #2 Australia & #2 Canada.

Go #2 Sweden > #1 Germany on 29 June.

5 Euros and the US through. Africa, Oceania and all other W. Hemisphere teams knocked out. 2 Asian teams play 2 Euros tomorrow. I'm switching to:

Go :

25 June
#1 Italy > #3 China PR, 12:00, no preference
#2 Japan > #1 Netherlands, 15:00

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“I’m not going to the fucking White House."
-- Megan Rapinoe

... I'm switching to:

Go :

25 June
#1 Italy > #3 China PR, 12:00, no preference
#2 Japan > #1 Netherlands, 15:00

I knew that switching would doom the teams.
China PR played better than the 2-0 it lost by, could have won.
Netherlands 2-1 > Japan, with their 2nd goal coming at 90' on a questionable handball in the box call against Japan.

I finish 0-7-1 in the Round of 16.

Quarterfinals, go (all EDT):

Norway > England, 27 June - 15:00
France > USA, 28 June - 15:00
Netherlands > Italy, 29 June - 09:00
Sweden > Germany, 29 June - 12:30

Netherlands to win it all.

Odds of winning the tourney, descending order:
https://www.sportbet.com/news/odds/Socc ... 9-Futures/
USA
France
Germany
England
Netherlands
Sweden
Norway
Italy

http://www.vegasinsider.com/soccer/odds/futures/
USA 1/1
France 5/1
Germany 6/1
England 8/1
Netherlands 10/1
Sweden 20/1
Italy 25/1
Norway 40/1

Game by game odds:
https://www.sportbet.com/news/odds/Socc ... rnational/

England > Norway
Netherlands > Italy
Germany > Sweden
USA > France