The round of 16 ended with America bowing out to Belgium in extra time. Argentina also moved on in the last day, sending Switzerland back home in a match that required an extra 30 minutes to determine a winner. That leaves eight countries standing and three rounds to go until the World Cup is awarded on July 13th. In the BISERGS Brian Markwood had the biggest day, as the owner of both Belgium and Argentina. He jumped up to 12th place with 7.25 points on the day and looks ready to move into the top ten in the next round. Krista and Rachel reentered the top 10 forcing both Sharleen and Annika off the list. Doug jumped from 8th into a tie for 3rd with Rick, the exact place they ended the group stages. With the loss of Switzerland and the USA, the BISERGS must say goodbye to James, Colinsboys and Josh.
Greg's 11 points were the most scored by anyone in the round of 16, followed by Rodrigo who was just 1/4 point behind for the 8 matches. Matt S. and Krista each scored 8.5 points in their attempt to keep pace with the leaders. Only Greg and Rodrigo have 3 teams remaining, while 10 BISERGSers have 2 teams left.
Tomorrow the World Cup restarts again with two quarterfinal matches. The first is an all European clash between France and Germany, which is followed by a South American battle between Brazil and Colombia. In the BISERGS, the matches are now worth 50% more than the previous rounds, so a win will earn 4.5 points and a goal .75 points. The points will increase further in the next two rounds, meaning there is still going to be plenty of movement on the BISERGS leader board. Greg and Rodrigo meet head to head in both matches, so it is a big day for the BISERGS. The following day will feature Argentina against Belgium and The Netherlands vs. Costa Rica.
How much will be deducted from a gol en contra in the round and the next ones?
ReplyDeleteI meant to write "this" round, not "the" round, and I was referring to quartos de final.
DeleteI was sort of on Colombia's side, just because of BISERGS competition, but after that ugly foul on Neymar (Zuñiga kneeing him in the middle of his back), I switched to cheering for Brazil.
ReplyDeleteZuñiga didn't even get a card.
ReplyDeleteNeymar's injury sounds very serious--fractured vertebrae. "There were 54 fouls called in the game, the highest total of any match in the tournament. Scolari acknowledged that both teams probably played with too much physicality, but he said the referee, Velasco Carballo, did not do enough to control the tenor of the game." I totally agree about the ref.
ReplyDeleteI watched the match and from the very beginning I said that the ref had lost control of the match. There was a free kick for Columbia when they rushed off the wall (it was Neymar that was guilty I think) way too early and the ref didn't stop it and call it back. His unwillingness to blow the whistle or give cards in the first half made the players push the limits further and further. Then in the second half, he tried to reign it in and it made the match so boring because most of the 54 fouls were called in what seemed like a 20 minute stretch and there was no flow to the game. The injury to Neymar is the ultimate consequence and the rest of the World Cup will be worse without him.
DeleteI know you have challenges with no Internet where you are staying, but we are suffering because of the lack of your good commentaries and posting of scores.
ReplyDeleteCan't figure out the scores by myself since quarter finals, because I don't know how much to deduct for goles en contra--not that there have been many goals. The Netherlands-Costa Rica game was not very fun to watch. A lot of defending, not many shots on goals, poor exhausted Robben getting fouled over and over--really taking a beating. Yet he made a few good moves, a few bursts of speed and good foot work. Van Perse and Sneijder not shining.
ReplyDeleteSorry, the scores get updated pretty much automatically for every BISERGSer once I enter the match results, but I accidentally gave the win to Spain instead of the Netherlands. I set it up by group and they were in the same group. I noticed soon after the mistake, but this is the first time I've been able to get online. Sorry for the confusion.
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