Johnny's got limited time but luckily not limited enthusiasm for today's matches.
Brazil vs Mexico
No work is getting done in the tri-state (el-Tri state?) between 10-12 today as two very very popular teams around these parts clash. Johnny would imagine the Ironbound neighborhood in Newark was up all night before this one.
It's be easier to think Mexico was going to give Brazil a run today if they hadn't looked so BAD vs Sweden (3-0 loss) in the group stage. They'd been playing so well, it looked like a completely different team than had won the first two matches including against Germany, though that win looks tempered now with Germanys crash out. So, has Mexico righted the ship? Can they take on an unconvincing side that still has five stars over their team crest.? To win Mexico will have to do the unthinkable, challenge Brazil to a horse race. Marcelo, a player who always seems to have a hand in Brazil's goals and a steadying hand on the till at others, is on the bench to start. Neymar Jr. seems to have physical issues beyond what is being reported. If Brazil is going to win, Coutinho is going to have to be the big player for Brazil. He'll have to pick up the slack. A lot is being asked of him. Can Mexico's Chicarito have an impact? He does it in two ways, on the attack and being the conscience of the team on the pitch, pulling them forward and leading by example.
Johnny's thinking upset here, he truly is, he thinks Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa keeps it close and Mexico win late. Upset special!
Mexico 2
Brazil 1
Belgium vs Japan
A mismatch on paper but Belgium should not expect to throw their jerseys on the field and win. Sure Hazard and Lukaku should run riot through and over the Japanese defenses. However Japan is a ball possession team. Belgium isn't going to always have the ball and will probably see 20% less possession than they usually do meaning they'll have to take advantage of their opportunities. Teams like Japan that don't beat themselves with rash play and stupid challenges are very tough come knockout stages. In order to win Japan must score first. They can't chase this game around or they'll be ripped apart by Hazard's incisive passing. Johnny thinks this one starts slowly but over the full 90 minutes Belgium's class will carry them through,
Belgium 2
Japan 0
Showing posts with label neymar jr.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neymar jr.. Show all posts
Monday, July 2, 2018
Sunday, June 7, 2015
An FC Barcelona love letter
Johnny's feeling the Barcelona tonight. With Mrs. Johnny's blessing (She said wear it) Johnny wore his retro Barca jersey out to dinner tonight and gave the fist bump of victory to a few fellow Blaugrana fans in NYC. In 11 years this club has won the league title 7 times and the Champions League 4 times. A treble is a league title, a Copa Del Ray (all nations have these national cups, in England it's the FA Cup) and a Champions League title. They became the only team to ever win two of those. Today was their 60th game and Neymar finished off their 50th win with this clincher sending Las Rablas into a din.
The experts said the 2011 Barcelona team (With NYCFC's David Villa riding shotgun to Lionel Messi) was the best club team ever. Until tonight. In the Champions League this year FC Barcelona beat the champions of Holland, the champions of England, the Champions of France, the champions of Germany and today they beat the champions of Italy. They didn't draw any other league's second or third best. A dynasty of the highest order. A 25th trophy for the magnificent Xavi.
Neymar is 23, Suarez is 28 and Messi is 27. If Suarez doesn't bite anybody anytime soon Johnny's gonna bust out the 'It's a Barcelona world we just live in it' speech.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
World Cup Today -- Day 27
The hour grows late in World Cup 2014, here we are at the semi-finals already. Today we have quite a treat as two of the all-time powers in soccer, Germany and Brazil, clash for amazingly, only the second time ever in the WC, only meeting in the 2002 Final won by Brazil. Many "experts" are saying that this shapes up to be the real World Cup Final as the winner should go on and beat either the Netherlands or Argentina. Johnny's not on board with that but it is a matchup of giants.
Germany looking stronger every match with their stalling, take the air out of the ball, kick around the park when we get a lead has been devastating. This is not the wide-open offense we saw in the first two games of group stage. They have become tight on the back end and sure int he middle. With Khedira and Schweinsteiger dropping back in front of the back four Germany has been lights out on defense. Not only are Khedira and Schweinsteiger helping make the defense in essence a back 5 or 6 they are linking well with Ozil and Lahm further up to keep Germany's attacks running. Germany it can be said is peaking at the right time.
Brazil on the other hand is not. Thiago Silva, their best midfielder, one of the best in the world must sit out because of a petulant foul he made by running into the Columbian goalie who was simply going to attempt a given goal kick. But Silva had to run into the goalie for a reason known only to him and now he sits out. This selfish act might not have been so devastating if Neymar hadn't been clattered into and had a vertebrae broken. That's truly too bad as you want to see the world's best in the world's biggest matches. So, now Brazil must deal with Germany, a daunting task for any side, without their top scorer and playmaker. Imagine the Giants going into an NFC Championship Game without Eli Manning and say Victor Cruz. You can win the game but it's certainly less likely. Brazil is going to have to tighten things up to win this game.
Johnny's prediction? He'll say 2-1 Germany but if they get a lead the air is coming out of the ball. This game could well go 0-0 to extra time and that'd be kind of sad.
Brazil vs Germany 4pm
Germany looking stronger every match with their stalling, take the air out of the ball, kick around the park when we get a lead has been devastating. This is not the wide-open offense we saw in the first two games of group stage. They have become tight on the back end and sure int he middle. With Khedira and Schweinsteiger dropping back in front of the back four Germany has been lights out on defense. Not only are Khedira and Schweinsteiger helping make the defense in essence a back 5 or 6 they are linking well with Ozil and Lahm further up to keep Germany's attacks running. Germany it can be said is peaking at the right time.
Brazil on the other hand is not. Thiago Silva, their best midfielder, one of the best in the world must sit out because of a petulant foul he made by running into the Columbian goalie who was simply going to attempt a given goal kick. But Silva had to run into the goalie for a reason known only to him and now he sits out. This selfish act might not have been so devastating if Neymar hadn't been clattered into and had a vertebrae broken. That's truly too bad as you want to see the world's best in the world's biggest matches. So, now Brazil must deal with Germany, a daunting task for any side, without their top scorer and playmaker. Imagine the Giants going into an NFC Championship Game without Eli Manning and say Victor Cruz. You can win the game but it's certainly less likely. Brazil is going to have to tighten things up to win this game.
Johnny's prediction? He'll say 2-1 Germany but if they get a lead the air is coming out of the ball. This game could well go 0-0 to extra time and that'd be kind of sad.
Brazil vs Germany 4pm
Friday, July 4, 2014
World Cup Today -- Day 23
Thunderdome continues today as two teams enter the arena yet one team leaves with title aspirations intact. Today two of the pre-tournament favorites will have their mettle tested but top competition.
The early game brings Germany vs. France. The irresistible force meeting the immovable object. France has been a goal scoring machine through Karim Benzema. Paul Pogba has been right along side to help the French attack. So far nobody has kept them below two goals in a game. How will France handle the very forward attacking style of Germany and Mezut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger? How will the French defense handle the cutting German strikers, something they haven't had to deal a lot with this tournament because they have always been in the ascendency in attack. Johnny thinks if France were to get the first goal today it would see them through though they might indeed need two, something that has been no problem thus far. Johnny likes France in the upset.
The 4pm game is fitting because it's a firecracker on the 4th of July. Columbia, maybe the best and most consistent team thus far vs. pre-tourney favorite Brazil. South American style in a place where Brazil hasn't lost a home competitive match since 1975. Brazil, for Johnny's money has been whistling past the graveyard with their play. Today he thinks the Columbian Reaper comes to collect. Johnny's pick? Columbia 2 Brazil 0.
France vs Germany noon
Columbia vs Brazil 4pm
The early game brings Germany vs. France. The irresistible force meeting the immovable object. France has been a goal scoring machine through Karim Benzema. Paul Pogba has been right along side to help the French attack. So far nobody has kept them below two goals in a game. How will France handle the very forward attacking style of Germany and Mezut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger? How will the French defense handle the cutting German strikers, something they haven't had to deal a lot with this tournament because they have always been in the ascendency in attack. Johnny thinks if France were to get the first goal today it would see them through though they might indeed need two, something that has been no problem thus far. Johnny likes France in the upset.
The 4pm game is fitting because it's a firecracker on the 4th of July. Columbia, maybe the best and most consistent team thus far vs. pre-tourney favorite Brazil. South American style in a place where Brazil hasn't lost a home competitive match since 1975. Brazil, for Johnny's money has been whistling past the graveyard with their play. Today he thinks the Columbian Reaper comes to collect. Johnny's pick? Columbia 2 Brazil 0.
France vs Germany noon
Columbia vs Brazil 4pm
Monday, June 23, 2014
World Cup Today -- Day 12
FUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.
Much better now thanks for asking. Sorry to those who aren't in the habit of seeing that word here. It IS however justified. What an effort by the USA vs. the #4 team in the world. The heat, the humidity, needing to take water breaks, coming back from behind and then keeping a nation on edge before giving Cristiano Ronaldo one chance to show why he's one of the best who have ever played. Players at his level, and it's maybe four or five who can play at that stratospheric level, show why they are the best. As bummed as you may feel today that was the perfect pass and it took just that to ruin our party. The biggest issue facing USA? How much is left in the tank. They have one less day to prepare than mighty Germany and are drained. A win gets USA the victory in the Group of Death. A tie gets the USA through but so would scoring a couple goals and not losing by say, more than two. Portugal is realistically out unless they win something like 7-0 over Ghana and the USA gets waxed by Germany. The scenario to look out for Yank fans, is that Portugal is drained from yesterday's game, and they allow Ghana to run up a 3-0 win. Then you can start worrying. If Germany is up 2-0 against the USA at halftime you can start worrying. Until then the good number crunchers at fivethirtyeight.com still say the USA has a 74% chance to go through, up 10% from this time yesterday.
Today brings importante matches but done a bit differently. Because of this debacle match in 1982 in Spain when Germany was basically allowed to score on Austria as long as they didn't score more than once and both teams went to the knockouts, the final games in the groups start simultaneously. It is supposed to prevent something like the Germans and Americans kicking off, sitting down with a few bags of Bavarian pretzels, a few steins of beer, and then going home knowing both teams would move on.
Australia and Spain play out the tournament in a meaningless game unless one enjoys gallows humor. The Socceroos will be without Tim Cahill their all-time World Cup scoring leader on yellow cards. See, what's not to love about this match? Maybe that one of the best matches of the tournament, the Netherlands and Chile, will be played at the exact same time. Winner wins the group, the Dutch win all ties. Why does it matter? The loser gets Brazil most likely in their next game, the winner might get...
...Mexico and Croatia lock horns in a very vital match to decide who gets out of the group and who goes home. Let's go out on a limb and predict Brazil somehow magically finds a way to beat Cameroon they'd have 7 points. Mexico has 4 points while Croatia has 3. Mexico goes through with a tie or win. A big win though doubtful could vault them over Brazil though unlikely. Mexico is playing stronger than expected yet have shown some weakness on 50/50 balls and have shown sloppy stretches in the midfield, somewhere Croatia is strong. A first goal would be huge for Mexico because if the Croatians get it that doomed feeling starts to creep in.
Netherlands and Chile, just sit back and enjoy. That's all you need to do. Futbol done right.
Australia vs Spain noon
Netherlands vs Chile noon
Croatia vs Mexico 4pm
Brazil vs Cameroon 4pm
Much better now thanks for asking. Sorry to those who aren't in the habit of seeing that word here. It IS however justified. What an effort by the USA vs. the #4 team in the world. The heat, the humidity, needing to take water breaks, coming back from behind and then keeping a nation on edge before giving Cristiano Ronaldo one chance to show why he's one of the best who have ever played. Players at his level, and it's maybe four or five who can play at that stratospheric level, show why they are the best. As bummed as you may feel today that was the perfect pass and it took just that to ruin our party. The biggest issue facing USA? How much is left in the tank. They have one less day to prepare than mighty Germany and are drained. A win gets USA the victory in the Group of Death. A tie gets the USA through but so would scoring a couple goals and not losing by say, more than two. Portugal is realistically out unless they win something like 7-0 over Ghana and the USA gets waxed by Germany. The scenario to look out for Yank fans, is that Portugal is drained from yesterday's game, and they allow Ghana to run up a 3-0 win. Then you can start worrying. If Germany is up 2-0 against the USA at halftime you can start worrying. Until then the good number crunchers at fivethirtyeight.com still say the USA has a 74% chance to go through, up 10% from this time yesterday.
Today brings importante matches but done a bit differently. Because of this debacle match in 1982 in Spain when Germany was basically allowed to score on Austria as long as they didn't score more than once and both teams went to the knockouts, the final games in the groups start simultaneously. It is supposed to prevent something like the Germans and Americans kicking off, sitting down with a few bags of Bavarian pretzels, a few steins of beer, and then going home knowing both teams would move on.
Australia and Spain play out the tournament in a meaningless game unless one enjoys gallows humor. The Socceroos will be without Tim Cahill their all-time World Cup scoring leader on yellow cards. See, what's not to love about this match? Maybe that one of the best matches of the tournament, the Netherlands and Chile, will be played at the exact same time. Winner wins the group, the Dutch win all ties. Why does it matter? The loser gets Brazil most likely in their next game, the winner might get...
...Mexico and Croatia lock horns in a very vital match to decide who gets out of the group and who goes home. Let's go out on a limb and predict Brazil somehow magically finds a way to beat Cameroon they'd have 7 points. Mexico has 4 points while Croatia has 3. Mexico goes through with a tie or win. A big win though doubtful could vault them over Brazil though unlikely. Mexico is playing stronger than expected yet have shown some weakness on 50/50 balls and have shown sloppy stretches in the midfield, somewhere Croatia is strong. A first goal would be huge for Mexico because if the Croatians get it that doomed feeling starts to creep in.
Netherlands and Chile, just sit back and enjoy. That's all you need to do. Futbol done right.
Australia vs Spain noon
Netherlands vs Chile noon
Croatia vs Mexico 4pm
Brazil vs Cameroon 4pm
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
World Cup Today -- Day 6
Well wasn't that USA win last night a good feeling to wake up to?
We've got three games today, with Group H starting today. Belgium is the favorite and shouldn't have too much trouble today against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. The middle game is Mexico and host Brazil, what a great afternoon matinee! Later South Korea will tangle with an up-tempo Russian side.
Belgium vs Algeria noon
Mexico vs Brazil 3pm
South Korea vs. Russia 6pm
We've got three games today, with Group H starting today. Belgium is the favorite and shouldn't have too much trouble today against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. The middle game is Mexico and host Brazil, what a great afternoon matinee! Later South Korea will tangle with an up-tempo Russian side.
Belgium vs Algeria noon
Mexico vs Brazil 3pm
South Korea vs. Russia 6pm
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Over the next few weeks we're going to try something new
Johnny is a huge fan of the World Cup and soccer in general. He knows there are a lot of you soccer fans out there as well who are very very excited for tomorrow's Brazil vs Croatia kickoff to World Cup 2014. Because Johnny's excited here's where the changes come in.
Each day we're going to have an open thread dedicated to the World Cup and the games being played. If you're a fan of Italy or England or the Ivory Coast or whomever, please drop by and share your thoughts. Johnny is going to try and make the Jersey City Desk World Cup Central for us locals. Feel free to discuss the matches, the players, the officiating, ANY of that which encompasses the World Cup (including possible riots from the Brazilian people) we want to hear from you. Do it signed in, do it anonymously, we're just interested in good soccer discussion.
Tomorrow Johnny will give you his tops in the group stage predictions in our first installment of World Cup Today...
Each day we're going to have an open thread dedicated to the World Cup and the games being played. If you're a fan of Italy or England or the Ivory Coast or whomever, please drop by and share your thoughts. Johnny is going to try and make the Jersey City Desk World Cup Central for us locals. Feel free to discuss the matches, the players, the officiating, ANY of that which encompasses the World Cup (including possible riots from the Brazilian people) we want to hear from you. Do it signed in, do it anonymously, we're just interested in good soccer discussion.
Tomorrow Johnny will give you his tops in the group stage predictions in our first installment of World Cup Today...
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
