Recapping Day 12:
Both the Netherlands and Chile were without arguably their best player, so if they cancel each other out, this was another impressive performance from the Dutch. There were a lot of Dutch Doubters coming into this tournament, but only France has rivaled them in impressiveness so far.
Mexico would have to be another team at least in the conversation for most impressive, after a defeat of Cameroon (that really should’ve been 3-0 instead of 1-0), a draw with Brazil, and then a 3-1 defeat of Croatia yesterday. The only goal they surrendered in the group stage was a meaningless one with a 3-0 lead late in yesterday’s game. They’ll match up with that daunting Netherlands team in their first knockout game, while Chile will meet their South American rivals, Brazil, in the first knockout game of the tourney, on Saturday.
Today’s Games:
Noon: Italy vs. Uruguay and Costa Rica vs. England
4PM: Colombia vs. Japan and Ivory Coast vs. Greece
Today’s Drink:
Samuel Smith’s India Ale. Yesterday we said goodbye to the Spanish with a Spanish brew, and today bid farewell to the Brits with this traditional India Ale. The nearest team to where this is brewed is Leeds United, which is a good representative of English footballing downfall and demise. A former top team in England, having won the Prem League title in 1992, Leeds has wallowed in the Championship (English AAA) for years, having finished near the bottom of that league this past season. At the same time, this brew, as an India Ale, is a representative of a time when England was the preeminent world power. It’s all over England. You’ve left your mark around the world, with football and good beers, but now it’s time to move aside and let others do those things better than you’re able.
What’s At Stake:
Italy vs. Uruguay is a straight knockout game, with Italy able to advance with a draw. Uruguay’s #2 threat, Edinson Cavani, played for a number of years in the Italian league, so he’s familiar with his opponents today. Will that help him in some way, especially considering the Italian defense will be (rightfully) focused on Suarez?
If this is Italy’s swan song in the tournament, it would also figure to be Andrea Pirlo’s final World Cup contest. Watch the 35-year-old with the flowing locks and beard trot around the center of the pitch like a guy playing a pickup game with friends, yet somehow also controlling the whole game for Italy.
In the Group C games, at 4PM, every team is still alive. But, Colombia is already through and the Ivory Coast control their own destiny, as they would advance with a win and would most likely advance with a draw, as well. Greece, needing a win, will have to come on the attack, which is uncomfortable for them. Also, they’ll be without their captain, Kostas Katsouranis, after his red card in the last game. If they do pull it off, they’ll likely need Colombia to beat Japan, as well. That wouldn’t be a surprise, since Colombia are rolling and the Japanese couldn’t even put in a goal against 10 Greeks in over 50 minutes of having a man advantage.
