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Post by bigbantacorbin on Jul 2, 2018 14:26:56 GMT
2022- QATAR
Group A
Qatar
Argentina
Denmark
Uruguay
Group B
South Africa
Ecuador
Sweden
Australia
Group C
Netherlands
Mexico
South Korea
Ghana
Group D
Ivory Coast
France
Germany
Iran
Group E
Nigeria
Cameroon
Italy
Portugal
Group F
Costa Rica
Spain
Brazil
Chile
Group G
China
United States
England
Croatia
Group H
Switzerland
Belgium
Colombia
Japan
Notes: Hullo again. I have a tendency of starting timelines then kinda losing interest in them. While I do know a lot of things about politics, it just can't keep my interest for whatever reason. However, sports has been my #1 hobby since I was probably a young human being, so here's a new timeline about future World Cups. I'll be using the 2010 FIFA World Cup video game (an oldie but goodie) to simulate results and the qualification stages. So if a country like the Faroe Islands make it, blame EA not me. The Group Stages I'll post just the scores, but knockout stages I'll do a detail summary of the game (mostly making things up as I go along since I can't watch the actual games.) So enjoy as usual.
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Post by bigbantacorbin on Jul 5, 2018 14:00:02 GMT
2022 WORLD CUP GROUP STAGES: Argentina 3 Qatar 2 Uruguay 3 Denmark 0 Qatar 3 Denmark 0 Uruguay 1 Argentina 1 Argentina 1 Denmark 1 Uruguay 1 Qatar 1
South Africa 1 Ecuador 0 Australia 2 Sweden 1 South Africa 0 Sweden 0 Australia 1 Ecuador 1 Sweden 1 Ecuador 0 Australia 1 South Africa 1
Netherlands 2 Mexico 2 Ghana 1 South Korea 0 Ghana 4 Mexico 1 Netherlands 3 South Korea 0 Netherlands 2 Ghana 0 Mexico 3 South Korea 0
France 2 Ivory Coast 0 Germany 4 Iran 0 Germany 2 Ivory Coast 1 France 6 Iran 1 Ivory Coast 1 Iran 0 France 4 Germany 3
Cameroon 1 Nigeria 0 Italy 0 Portugal 0 Nigeria 0 Italy 0 Cameroon 3 Portugal 0 Italy 1 Cameroon 0 Portugal 0 Nigeria 0
Spain 2 Costa Rica 0 Brazil 0 Chile 0 Brazil 2 Costa Rica 1 Spain 3 Chile 0 Spain 0 Brazil 0 Costa Rica 2 Chile 1
United States 5 China 1 Croatia 2 England 1 England 3 China 0 Croatia 2 United States 0 United States 2 England 0 Croatia 2 China 0
Switzerland 1 Belgium 0 Colombia 3 Japan 0 Colombia 1 Switzerland 0 Belgium 2 Japan 1 Colombia 1 Belgium 0 Switzerland 1 Japan 0
ROUND OF 16 South Africa 2 Uruguay 1 South Africa shouldn’t have made it to the knockout stage of the tournament, yet they still managed to get into the Round of 16. However, the match up with Uruguay had everyone picking their run end early. However, South Africa had different plans. They came out on fire, getting 5 shots in the first 15 minutes, 3 being on target. However, one off the post and two saves saw Uruguay keep it 0-0. A counter from Uruguay saw a long ball from the goalie to the attacking zone allowed Uruguay to get beyond the last line of defense and bury it into the bottom left corner. Uruguay was up 1-0 in the 19th minute, and that’s when it should’ve been game. However, Uruguay got to complacent sitting back defending and off a corner kick South Africa would get the equalizer when the ball deflected off a defender’s head into his own net, tying the score up 1-1 in the 32nd minute. The rest of the first half saw Uruguay push but to no luck. The halftime score would read 1-1 both sides.
The second half saw Uruguay come out on the offensive side of things. A shot would ring off the post, then a save by the African goalie with just his fingertips. The ensuing corner saw a bad delivery that would lead to a South African counter and a few passes later saw them bury the ball into the net from roughly around the penalty spot. They would lead the heavy favorites 2-1 in the 53rd minute. Then the game got chippy. A late foul by a Uruguayan defender to stop another counter, saw both sides get into a shoving match where the initial foul would receive a Yellow Card, then a South African player would get one for starting the pushing. The free kick after the fiasco saw a glancing header only for it to be saved. Uruguay would pound the net to get the equalizer and off a corner it appeared a South African defender would smack the ball away with his hand. VAR would confirm it happened, and he received a yellow card while a penalty would be awarded to Uruguay. The 76th minute saw the sure equalizer. However, the goalie dove to the left and the shot was to the left. He stopped it to keep the team’s lead. The next 17 minutes saw South Africa hang on by the skin of their teeth, and they’d get the upset win, moving onto the Quarterfinals and sending home a disappointed Uruguay side.
Netherlands 3 Germany 3 (3-4 pen.) Both teams came into the tournament as favorites but one of them had to go home early. The game started off as a slow slug fest. Germany trying to play their methodical possession game, while the Netherlands just tried to get the ball pried away from them. The first shot of the game would come in the 19th minute, just outside the box by Germany but it’d skim past the crossbar and the score would remain 0-0. The Netherlands would get into the game and begin to attack the German net. A few missed shots would result in disappointment for them, and off a goal kick the Germans would get a quick counter and a one timer off a cross would see the ball end up in the Dutch net, and the Germans would lead 1-0 in the 30th minute. However, a quick forced corner saw the Netherlands head in the equalizer just 2 minutes later, and the game would be tied 1-1 in the 32nd minute. The Germans would slow down the pace to play out the first half, the score being 1-1 going into the break.
The Dutch would shock the Germans coming out of the locker room, by scoring in the half’s first 50 seconds to take the 2-1 lead. However, the old joke of Germany finding a way isn’t said for fun. Off a corner in the 62nd minute saw the Dutch goalie come out and miss the punching clearance, and left a wide open net for the equalizer to blow past him. 2-2 in the 62nd minute. Both teams would trade chances, having them either miss or be saved for the score to remain tied after the end of regulation. The first Extra time game would be just the second game of the Knockout Stage. The 98th minute saw the Netherlands panic off a counter, and a clear goal impeding foul by their central back saw the side fall to 10 men after a red card. The free kick being just outside the box was a dangerous place, and the Germans would make the Dutch pay by blasting it over the wall and into the net. The game was now 3-2 in favor of Germany with only 20 minutes remaining. The next 19 minutes would see the Germans take advantage of the man advantage and play keep away to wear down the clock, however just as the indication for the 1 minute of stoppage time would come up, a crucial turnover saw the Netherlands get a break away and the equalizer. 3-3 would be the final score, and the tournament’s first penalty shootout.
The Germans would be first, and they’d slot it in to a wide open left side. 1-0. Netherlands would get the equalizer with the safe shot down the middle past a diving goalie. 1-1. Germany would go to the right this time, just inches above the goalie’s outstretched hand. 2-1. A shot left and a dive right saw the Netherlands knot it back up at 2-2. Paying the Netherlands back, Germany would get the third shot to go in by going right down the middle. 3-2. A shot off the crossbar would bounce straight back down just over the line in a near miss for the Dutch, but it was knotted at 3-3 again. Germans shot right, goalie dives left. 4-3. The Netherlands would again go down the middle, but the goalie would manage to kick it away while diving to the left! 4-3 still. The Game Winning kick rested on the shoulders of the fifth kicker, and he’d put it off the post! A lifeline for the Dutch. 4-3. Do or die would see the Dutch shoot right, and the German goalie dives right and smacks it out! The Germans win 4-3!
Brazil 4 Cameroon 1 Heavy favorites and defending Champions (Will change this if they don’t win this year, but probably just jinxed them LOL) Brazil would face a weaker Cameroon side. The FIFA rankings would see a 41 spot difference, Brazil being 1st and Cameroon 42nd. The favorites would put any doubts or nerves to bed, netting in a long shot from roughly 36 yards out in the second minute to put them up 1-0. They wouldn’t let up and in the 10th minute a corner would see one of their player’s head net the ball into the goal again. Up 2-0 in 11 minutes, the game was all wrapped up surely. However, a free kick for Cameroon would see a perfect placement into the box and a header would go into the Brazilian net. 2-1 in the 17th minute. The game wasn’t close to being over yet, but in the 34th minute a free kick for Brazil off a Yellow Card foul by Cameroon saw the kick be placed under the jumping wall and past the goalie, giving the favorites another 2 goal lead, 3-1 in the 35th minute. Cameroon would get two more shots on goal, but both stopped by the woodwork would keep the score at a surely impossible 3-1 lead for the African side.
The second half saw the questionable play by the Brazilians irk many fans. Taking any contact as a chance to fall to the ground to get a foul called, would slow down the game immensely as the African frustrations would grow by the soft calls being awarded. The 69th minute saw a corner for Cameroon fail, but after a Brazilian defender would go flying to the ground with minimal contact, a Cameroon player would come over and headbutt the player on the ground (shades of Pepe in 2014). An obvious Red Card would see him sent off, and both sides take more time off the clock shouting at the ref, the sideline officials and each other. Now down a man while being down 2 goals surely wrapped the game up. The Brazilians would keep possession with them, out possessing the Africans 80-20% in the second half. 65-35% in the entire game, saw them net one last goal in the 89th minute and the game would be wrapped up at 4-1 Brazil.
Croatia 3 Switzerland 1 Two European powerhouses would meet in the Round of 16, Croatia wanting to make it to the Quarterfinals for the second straight tournament, while Switzerland looks to make a deeper run this time around. The start of the match saw both teams take shots but neither could get the ball into the net. Croatia would slow the game down, keeping possession with them they’d play a long cross into the box in the 29th minute that would be met with a perfect one timer header, to put them up 1-0 in the 30th minute. However, that didn’t affect Switzerland and they’d respond in stoppage time with a corner placed header to tie the game up 1-1 going into the break.
The second half saw a quick break by the Swiss be stopped by a diving save, and the Croatians would boot the ball deep off a clearance and a midfield header saw them place the ball near the box and a beautiful shot would be buried into the left corner to put them back up 2-1 in the 47th minute. This seem to deflate the Swiss as they struggled to get the ball back, let alone into the Croatian box. They’d get only two more shots off after the go ahead goal, one being saved and the other going way over the goal. A corner header in the 82nd minute saw Croatia put the game away at 3-1, moving onto their second straight Quarterfinals.
Australia 4 Argentina 3 The new generation Argentinans faced a surprise Australian side, making their first knockout round since 2006. The Australians would get a quick goal in the 6th minute after a deflection from the free kick wall to put the underdogs up 1-0. However, Argentina’s speed would begin to get them advantages in the box and eventually net the equalizer in the 22nd minute with a breakaway being buried into the upper right corner. Stoppage time for the first half would see Argentina play a corner short and then a pass outside the box for the shot would bend into the upper left corner on an absolutely beautiful shot to put them up 2-1 going into the break.
The second half saw Argentina try to play the keep away game to hold onto the one goal advantage, but a risky pass back would be intercepted by Australia and a clear foul in the box by the panicked Argentinian defender would see a yellow card and a penalty for the possible equalizer in the 53rd minute. A shot in the upper right corner was no chance for the goalie and the game would be tied back up at 2-2. The goal would give the Australians a breath of life and they’d keep harassing the Argentinian net, and would get the go ahead goal in the 72nd minute off a save rebound be buried to make the game 3-2 advantage for Australia. With their life on the line, Argentina would be the ones to blast shot after shot at the net, and after a long ball bounced off the post for a rebound one timer, they’d tie the game in the 86th minute at 3-3. The game seemed evident for the Extra time period, but the 93rd minute (4 minutes being the added time) saw a terrible foul be committed by Argentina and Australia would play it short where it was blasted towards the net. It’d slip past the goalie’s hand for the game winning goal with only 10 seconds remaining. The upset was made official when Argentina would quickly turn the ball over off the kickoff and a ball booted deep heard the ref’s whistle be blown.
France 5 Ghana 2 The 3rd place runner ups from the previous tournament France would take on Ghana, who would be in their first knockout stage since 2010. However, the French side would show why they were the better side between the two. A corner in the 13th minute saw the tie be broken with a one timer getting into the back of the net to put the French up 1-0. Ghana would try to get an equalizer, but a counter by the French would saw the lead double to 2-0 just 4 minutes later. Another counter would see Ghana bring down the attacker in the 24th minute, just outside the box to avoid the dreaded penalty. A yellow card would come out and the shot would bend over the wall and just on the inside of the right post, making the game 3-0 in the 26th minute. Another yellow card foul by the Ghanaians would put a free kick just on the left of the box, and a cross would hit a Ghanaian defender in the back and bounce into the net. The lead was now 4-0 in the 31st minute, shades of Germany-Brazil in 2014. The halftime break saw the score be the unmountable 4-0 lead for France.
Ghana would get their first goal in the 53rd minute off a corner that fell to their feet and the shot would blow past the sliding defender and diving goalie. France would respond with another breakthrough being buried over the goalie with a chip shot, their speed once again punishing the African side. 5-1 in the 66th minute, the game was all wrapped up. Ghana would push to try to get their second goal, and eventually it’d come in the 82nd minute after a second corner. The final would read 5-2 in favor of the French.
Italy 2 Spain 0 Both teams being heavily defensive focused had many pundits expecting a low scoring slugfest. They wouldn’t be wrong. Both teams offense wouldn’t find their way near the box, and they’d adapt taking longshots. The first shot on target coming in the 34th minute, which would be blocked away by Italy. The team’s would continue to break down any offensive chance by each other, and the halftime break would come with a 0-0 score. The official stat line would read a combined 4 shots by both teams, and only one being on net.
The game was brutal for fans to watch, unless you enjoy defense that is. But the Italians would finally break past the Spanish defense a 1-2 combo would see 4 passes between them to get to their first shot on net that’d blow past the goalie, giving them the 1-0 advantage in the 59th minute. The fans would cheer that the dreadlock would be broken and the Italians taking the lead. The Spanish offense seem to come alive with this, getting 4 shots on target in the next 20 minutes, but all 4 being saved or blocked out by the goalie. A counter by the Italians saw the Spanish defense panic and yank him down from behind. Luckily, a defender was in his way to save the red card chance. Unluckily, the free kick would deflect off the wall for an own goal, and the 2-0 lead for the Italians. The game would end with that scoreline, the Spanish going out in the first knockout round for the second straight World Cup.
United States 4 Colombia 3 Both teams had everything to lose coming into the matchup. The Americans trying to make up the disappointment of missing the 2018 tournament, while the Colombians wanted to avenge their shootout loss to the English, which many fans claim was all the refs fault. Early on into the match, it seemed the Americans were going to be at the mercy of the Colombian revenge. Hounding the American net, saw two goals come in the span of the first 19 minutes. One off a corner and the second coming off a longshot, nearly 40 yards out when the American goalie was caught backpedaling. It seemed like the game was over for the Americans, and their run would be a familiar disappointing Round of 16 loss. However, the 43rd minute saw an American free kick off a Yellow Card foul be buried past the wall to be saved, but the rebound was too easy to miss and the halftime break would read the score of 2-1 in favor of Colombia. The Americans would come out with energy to get the equalizer and a corner would be placed into the box, but American players would shout for a handball. The ref would stop play and go to the dreaded VAR review. It would show the ball hitting the Colombian defender directly in the hand, who then did a sweeping motion to try to clear it away. The ref would come out with a Red Card for the guilty, and would be surrounded by the Colombian side where they all would try to shout the innocence of the play. However, he wasn’t budging and eventually things would calm down for the American penalty. A safe shot straight down the middle would be missed by a few inches of the diving goalie’s feet. The game would be back at 2-2 in the 56th minute. The Americans would take advantage of the 11-10 advantage, and would slot in their first lead of the game just 4 minutes later after a save rebound attempt. 3-2 wouldn’t last long as again 4 minutes later they’d bury a shot to make it 4-2 in the 64th minute. The Colombians struggled to get the ball being down a man, but a counter from an American attack saw them make things interesting by blasting the ball past the goalie to make it 4-3 in the 71st minute. America would begin to park the bus, and Colombia would begin to take shot after shot to get the equalizer. However it would never come as the defense would step up throwing themselves in the way of the ball, or the goalie punching the ball away saw the Americans survive at 4-3.
QuarterFinals Germany 1 South Africa 0 South Africa faced the juggernaut Germans in the Quarterfinals, dawning an even bigger underdog role than the Uruguay game. The Germans seemed sluggish, probably due to their penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, and the Africans would try to take advantage being the aggressors on offense. However, they couldn’t find the early goal and a quick counter down the right hand of the field saw a perfect cross be headed into the net to give Germany the 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. One mistake by the Africans saw Germany make them pay for it. However, it didn’t stop the offense of the underdogs as they’d continue taking chances towards the nets, but still nothing finding its way in. An equalizer would find its way into the netting, but a quick whistle would show the offside flag up, and the review would confirm he was just two steps past the defender to keep the score at 1-0. A few German chances saw them try to press for the favorable second goal, however nothing would come through and the halftime break saw the same score at 1-0.
The second half saw the Germans slow the game’s pace down, keeping the ball in midfield passing it between their players to keep the ball away, keeping the Africans away from the ball until the 54th minute. A quick shot from them after a turnover would just glance over the bar, to keep the equalizer away. A German dagger came in the 76th minute, looking like the game would be wrapped up at 2-0, but shouts for VAR would come from the opposition. The ref would stop things and check the review, which would show the defender being just a half step behind and the goal would be overturned. Staying at 1-0 seemed to give the Africans a lifeline, as they began to attack again to get the equalizer. In the 88th minute, a perfect dummy would see a shot be blasted towards the left corner, but the goalie would just be able to reach it with his fingertips to deflect it out of bounds. The ensuing corner would fall to the Germans, and they’d wear down the clock to survive 1-0 and advance to the SemiFinals.
Croatia 3 Brazil 2 Croatia would face Brazil in the Quarterfinals, many giving them a slim to no chance of the upset and expecting the Brazilians to face the Germans in a 2014 rematch. However, the European side had other plans. A perfect pass in the 3rd minute saw them slot home the opening goal to give them the quick 1-0 lead. It seem to take some air out of the Brazilians, as they seemed sluggish to get on offense and Croatia would keep attacking and a handball off a header from a corner would be confirmed by VAR as the yellow card would be handed out and the penalty would be slotted to the right while the goalie dove left. 2-0 in the 11th minute had Brazilian fans in silenced shock. Their team however, wouldn’t go lying down and they’d begin to attack the net and eventually their first goal would come in the 39th minute to cut the lead to 2-1. A few more shots wouldn’t go in but they’d go into the break taking the 2-1 score considering how the start of the match was for them.
The second half saw Brazil continue their first half attack and a shot would be saved but the rebound had no chance of missing, and they’d come back to tie the game 2-2 in the 49th minute, now Croatian fans being the shocked ones. The attack wouldn’t stop and a save would see the Croatian goalie throw it out to the left, then a longball through would go up the sidelines and a cross into the net would be buried with a header and just like that in the 53rd minute, Croatia would retake the lead 3-2, making all the work Brazil did mean nothing. It seemed like the team felt the same way, as the Croatians continue to attack trying to get the 4th goal but it wouldn’t come. The 75th minute saw absolute chaos. A breakthrough for the Brazilians would see a Croatian defender yank him down in the box, an obvious foul and he’d be given a yellow card for the foul. However, what should’ve been a simple penalty for the Brazilians saw the player who was fouled shoot up to his feet and shove the ref back a few feet thinking the simple yellow card wasn’t enough. Putting his hands on the ref would give him his own card, however a Red Card. More Brazilians would surround the ref yelling at him for the audacity to punish a player who put his hands on the ref, to the point their coaching staff would yank some players away to avoid another card. After all of the noise died down, Brazil was still awarded the penalty. A chance to put it back tied at 3-3 would be blasted off the crossbar and cleared away. Croatia held onto the 3-2 advantage, now having a man advantage. Brazil would have their last chance in the 86th minute, a header off a cross would be smacked over the bar and Croatia would hold onto the upset, getting to their second straight SemiFinal.
Australia 3 France 2 France’s beatdown of Ghana gave the team incredible confidence heading into the Quarterfinals. However, Australia had their own confidence after upsetting Argentina in the dying seconds. The game saw France come out firing trying to replicate the quick scoring offense that they had against Ghana, however nothing would find its way into the back of the net. Australia would try to set up a few counters, but the French defense would quell any ideas. A few more offensive chances would continue to be denied or miss, until the 44th minute where a shot from just outside the box would bend its way into the upper corner to give France that desirable 1-0 lead, the halftime score reading the same thing.
France would slow their pace down coming out of the locker room, and Australia would be the one full of energy. A quick breakthrough saw them blast the ball towards the net, only to be blocked to force a corner. The ensuing corner would be played short and then crossed in and headed in beautifully into the net to make the game back to being tied 1-1. This gave them the much needed energy to match France and a Yellow Card foul just to the right and outside of the box gave Australia the desirable position to put it on net. Doing just that, they’d take a low grounded shot that’d go under a jumping wall and into the net, giving them their first lead of the game at 2-1 in the 68th minute. This wouldn’t affect the French however, and they’d begin attacking with the familiar pace that was punishing the opposition throughout the tournament, and the equalizer would come in the 77th minute off a deflection by a sliding defender to throw the goalie off. A heartbreaking goal for the underdogs saw the French continue to attack the net and eventually they had a clear breakaway no defender in sight, the goalie would dive blocking the ball with his body before taking out the attacker. France would try to call for the penalty, which it was clear the ball was hit way before the player, and he’d throw the ball out and France would be caught with the counter burying a one timer into the net, in the 89th minute. Another dying minute go ahead goal saw the Australians upset another heavy favored team to make it to their first ever SemiFinal round.
United States 1 Italy 1 (3-0 pen.) The Italian defense would face off with the surprise Americans in Italy’s first Quarterfinals since 2006 and America’s first since 2002. The so called defensive Italians would be shocked when the Americans were able to put away a blasting strike from roughly 32 yards out to give them a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute. America would go nuts celebrating, thinking the game was already over but sadly that’s not how soccer works, and just a few minutes later a header from a perfect cross would tie the game back up at 1-1 in the 17th minute. Fans may have been deflated, but the team itself wasn’t as they’d begin to go on the attack again but they’d be met with the immovable defense from Italy. Clearances, deflections and saves glore would keep the score 1-1 going into the break.
The second half saw both teams be stalemated by the opposing defense, the Americans not being able to get the ball in the box and the Italians missing the net by inches on two separate occasions. Chance after chance would be denied for both teams and the game wouldn’t change after the 90 minutes, going into the extra time period still tied at 1-1. The first half of the extra 30 minutes saw the Americans get a quick breakaway only to be saved by the goalie’s extended foot and cleared away. Another chance would beat the goalie, but not the post from an angle and it’d remain 1-1 after 105 minutes. A few chances for Italy seem to be denied by God himself, a wide open net being missed off a corner, then a strike blasting off the upper left corner of the woodwork. The game would remain tied 1-1 after 120 minutes, going into the dreaded penalty shootout.
America’s first kick goes perfectly to the left, while the goalie dives right. 1-0. Italy’s first kick is kicked away to give the American’s a huge chance on their next kick. 1-0. A chip shot over the goalie who predicted rightly to the right side. 2-0. Italy’s kicker comes up and slips! The ball doesn’t go anywhere close as they miss their second kick! 2-0. America’s kick goes left again, while the goalie goes right for the third straight kick. 3-0. Italy’s last chance bounces off the corner of the woodwork, and America will be going on through! 3-0.
SemiFinals United States 2 Australia 0 The first SemiFinal was a matchup between two teams that shouldn’t have been there. Almost nobody had them going this far. The Americans in their first since the inaugural tournament in 1930 and Australia their first in history. The Australians came off back to back stunning wins over heavy favorites while the Americans came back against a Colombian side and survived a heavy defense in Italy. The start of the match saw Australia be the first ones to have a chance to score, a header that’d just miss the net by a few inches skimming the crossbar to go over. Both teams would try to set up chances only for the passes to miss, or the shots going way off target and the halftime score would stay at 0-0.
The first few minutes of the second half saw the Americans control the ball to begin setting up a chance down the right wing, and a cross into the box saw a one timer come off a chest and down to the feet for a shot to blow past the goalie, putting the Americans up 1-0 in the 60th minute, 30 minutes away from their first ever World Cup Final. The Australians wouldn’t go quietly and began to pressure the Americans, and a yellow card foul in the range of a shot would see the Australians have a perfect placement for a potential game tying shot. However, a cross into the box would be delivered perfectly but the header would send the ball up and over the net, keeping the score at 1-0. A corner in the 83rd minute saw another off target header go up and over, to keep the Americans ahead. The ensuing goal kick would be booted deep where a perfect passing header would find a breakaway and the dagger would be buried into the upper left hand corner, putting the Americans up 2-0 with only 6 minutes to go. They’d hold out to go to their first ever Final awaiting the winner of Croatia and Germany.
Croatia 2 Germany 0 a.e.t Croatia and Germany would come into a SemiFinal that had some history behind it. Croatia wanting to avenge their SemiFinal loss to England from 4 years ago (again, probably another jinx) and the German side still holding a grudge from their matchup in the 1998 World Cup where Croatia sent them home with a 3-0 victory. As sluggish and fatigued the German side looked in their Quarterfinal matchup with South Africa, they came out on fire in this game. Chance after chance would have one little miscue to keep the score at 0-0, a botched pass or a hesitant shot would keep Croatia in it. The 23rd minute saw Croatia open up the right wing and their first shot on goal would come from a 1-2 cross shot combo, only for it to ring off the left hand post. Still 0-0 both teams would try to push to break the deadlock, but it’d be the same score going into the halftime break.
Croatia would try to catch the Germans off guard, using the second half kickoff to press forward and nearly catch them napping with a shot that would again be denied by the post. The Germans would use the chance to work a counter attack but they’d be denied by the crossbar off a header to keep either team from scoring early on. Germany would keep the pressure on as in the span of the next 10 minutes, they’d be awarded 5 corners but all of them would end in the same way of no goals. Croatia would begin to slow the pace down, wanting to wear down the Germans as they do to their opponents. A few minutes of keep away ball saw them try to catch the surprise run up the right wing, however the offside flag would come up as it was an obvious 3 steps ahead. The free kick would be booted deep, just outside the box where a header back would see a very long range shot be denied by the Croatian goalie to keep it deadlocked at 0-0. A few more chances wouldn’t go in for either team and at the end of 90 minutes, extra time would be needed to get the game’s first goal, still tied 0-0.
The first extra 15 minutes saw Croatia finally breakthrough the German wall, a free kick would deflect back out off the wall and a second shot would be buried into the net. Making it 1-0 Croatia in the 103rd minute. All they had to do was hold on for 17 more minutes and they’d meet the United States in their first ever World Cup Final as well. However, Germany doesn’t usually go quietly. The last 15 minutes saw the Germans basically have 95% possession during the time frame, getting 7 shots off, 4 on target all being denied by the goalkeeper. A corner in the 120th minute saw the Germans call up their goalie, wanting the extra man in the box to try to get the tying goal. A bad delivery would see Croatia boot the ball deep to the empty net, something normally seen in hockey, but a few lucky bounces later it’d end up in the net to put the dagger into the hearts of the Germans and win the game for Croatia 2-0.
3rd Place Playoff Germany 5 Australia 0 The loser bracket saw the Germans play in yet another third place playoff, a familiar sight from 2006 and 2010. Australia had all the reason to be there, their Cinderella run capturing the heart of millions all they needed to do was upset Germany just as Croatia had done. However, it soon turn into Australia being the German punching bag. Wasting no time, their first shot on target would be buried from about 20 yards out in the 6th minute saw the Germans get an early 1-0 edge. Australia would try to push, but it wouldn’t last long when the Germans got their second goal in the 14th minute off a screamer from outside the box to make it 2-0. The 20th minute saw the onslaught continue, a header nailed would make it 3-0. A counter in the 28th minute would see a 1-2 combo be buried to make it 4-0. Then the 8th German corner of the game in the 44th minute would make it 5-0. The rest of the game saw the Germans take their foot off the throat and Australia would try to get the gentlemen’s goal throughout the second half, but it’d remain 5-0 for the final score, Germany taking third place and Australia being the surprise fourth place.
2022 WORLD CUP FINAL Croatia 2 United States 1 a.e.t The 2022 World Cup Final would be between two teams who shouldn’t have been there. Croatia was always a decent team, but not expected to go far into the tournament for the second straight World Cup. Then the Americans went from not qualifying to ending up in the final. That’s the beauty of soccer isn’t it? A rematch from the group stages, where Croatia would take home the 3 points from a 2-0 victory. Both having incredible runs, it was a tough game to predict who would hoist the trophy in the end. Croatia would come out as the aggressors, having the first shot of the game miss by a few inches in the third minute to get the quick 1-0 lead. America would come back, having their own chance miss by a few inches as well. Both teams would trade close calls and failed corners, until the 34th minute when a Croatian cross would miss the target, but bounce off the ground would find its way into the net when the goalie committed to the player instead of the ball. A weird goal would put the Croatians up 1-0, only 55 minutes away from winning the World Cup. However, the Americans wouldn’t be bothered by the goal and would hound the net and would end up tying the game in stoppage time of the first half at the 46th minute, when a screamer would find its way into the upper left corner off a rebound. Tied up 1-1 going into the halftime break, both teams had to score only one more goal in the next 45 minutes to win their first ever World Cup.
The second half saw a slow down pace from both teams, as Croatia would try to play the possession game while the Americans seemed hesitant on trying to playing the ball into the box. Both teams would have misses, especially in the 58th minute where Croatia would have a breakaway and the shot would be sent into the stands to keep the game at 1-1. America would copy the shot, having a wide open net after a poor play by the goalie from a corner would miss the frame and end up into the stands. Both teams would continue the trend of not being able to find the back of the net, and eventually the full 90 minutes would play out with both teams tied at 1-1, going into the extra time period being the 4th tournament to do so in the past 5.
The Americans would be the offensive power in the first 15 minutes, having 4 shots be on target which 3 would be saved and 1 would ring off the post. They had the Croatians on their heels and just as they were setting up another attack the whistle would blow to signal the end of the first extra period. The second 15 minutes would continue with the American attack, however they left themselves up for a picture perfect counter by Croatia would see them bury the shot into the bottom right corner, past the goalie’s extended hand to take the 2-1 lead in the 113th minute. They’d stun the Americans with the quick shot, and as aggressive as they had looked, the goal seem to deflate any hope they had in winning and in the last 7 minutes, they’d only have one shot on target, being an easy save. After 120 minutes, the whistle would blow and Croatia would be the shocked winners of the World Cup winning their first ever over the Americans.
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Post by lordroel on Jul 5, 2018 18:18:53 GMT
Netherlands 3 Germany 3 (3-4 pen.)
Both teams came into the tournament as favorites but one of them had to go home early. The game started off as a slow slug fest. Germany trying to play their methodical possession game, while the Netherlands just tried to get the ball pried away from them. The first shot of the game would come in the 19th minute, just outside the box by Germany but it’d skim past the crossbar and the score would remain 0-0. The Netherlands would get into the game and begin to attack the German net. A few missed shots would result in disappointment for them, and off a goal kick the Germans would get a quick counter and a one timer off a cross would see the ball end up in the Dutch net, and the Germans would lead 1-0 in the 30th minute. However, a quick forced corner saw the Netherlands head in the equalizer just 2 minutes later, and the game would be tied 1-1 in the 32nd minute. The Germans would slow down the pace to play out the first half, the score being 1-1 going into the break. The Dutch would shock the Germans coming out of the locker room, by scoring in the half’s first 50 seconds to take the 2-1 lead. However, the old joke of Germany finding a way isn’t said for fun. Off a corner in the 62nd minute saw the Dutch goalie come out and miss the punching clearance, and left a wide open net for the equalizer to blow past him. 2-2 in the 62nd minute. Both teams would trade chances, having them either miss or be saved for the score to remain tied after the end of regulation. The first Extra time game would be just the second game of the Knockout Stage. The 98th minute saw the Netherlands panic off a counter, and a clear goal impeding foul by their central back saw the side fall to 10 men after a red card. The free kick being just outside the box was a dangerous place, and the Germans would make the Dutch pay by blasting it over the wall and into the net. The game was now 3-2 in favor of Germany with only 20 minutes remaining. The next 19 minutes would see the Germans take advantage of the man advantage and play keep away to wear down the clock, however just as the indication for the 1 minute of stoppage time would come up, a crucial turnover saw the Netherlands get a break away and the equalizer. 3-3 would be the final score, and the tournament’s first penalty shootout. The Germans would be first, and they’d slot it in to a wide open left side. 1-0. Netherlands would get the equalizer with the safe shot down the middle past a diving goalie. 1-1. Germany would go to the right this time, just inches above the goalie’s outstretched hand. 2-1. A shot left and a dive right saw the Netherlands knot it back up at 2-2. Paying the Netherlands back, Germany would get the third shot to go in by going right down the middle. 3-2. A shot off the crossbar would bounce straight back down just over the line in a near miss for the Dutch, but it was knotted at 3-3 again. Germans shot right, goalie dives left. 4-3. The Netherlands would again go down the middle, but the goalie would manage to kick it away while diving to the left! 4-3 still. The Game Winning kick rested on the shoulders of the fifth kicker, and he’d put it off the post! A lifeline for the Dutch. 4-3. Do or die would see the Dutch shoot right, and the German goalie dives right and smacks it out! The Germans win 4-3! Nice synopses of a game i would like to watch, Netherlands-German matches are always big in my country.
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