Blog Topics

Thought I would throw my 2cents in on a couple topics on the blog here.

1. Might as well start with this. What's up with the name calling? I am not sure if people thinks it funny or witty or both but it's mostly childish and pathetic. It's okay to have a differing opinion with another blogger but lets try to use out big boy words to express that. Don't make me have to stop allowing posts. I don't want it to get there.

2. Can anyone play defense and forward? Absolutely not. Maybe in the round robin where half the teams are even enough that it blocks out certain deficiencies but those deficiencies will be exposed against good teams. Playing upfront may actually be the toughest position because you have someone on your back all game and a bunch of refs who won't call fouls.

3. Josip as the most prolific striker is Saskatchewan? That might be a stretch. However, even though he might me a complete nut bar, he can score goals. And a few I saw the other night were absolute beauties.... no matter who you play against.

4. Would he score 3 times as many if he played in Regina league. No. Oh and Julio I out scored him in that the Saskatoon WCP. Where's my props!

5. Could a Regina all star team beat a Saskatoon all star team? Absolutely not. It's pitiful I know but we have done this in PSL and only once in the 10 years I have played have we come out on top.

6. Regina could very well have a better, more supportive soccer community, though you wouldn't know it from this blog! But the soccer itself is in disarray. We have substantially worse facilities, are constantly arguing with our soccer association and a lot of leagues are faltering. For example, we can no longer field a PSL team due to lack of commitment. There is also currently only 1 team registered in our top mens division. That's pitiful.

7. Why is our top men's division Div 2? Just shows how pitiful it is.

8. As I was saying Regina soccer has a better friendlier soccer community in my opinion. Everyone supports the WCP Cup, more so than in Saskatoon, and I don't see some of the petty stuff, fights, arguments, red cards that I see in Saskatoon. There seems to be a general respect for one another and a passion for the game. Now we just need to transition that passion onto the field itself.

9. Ok I just read this comment "Regina only lost to Saskatoon in PSL because the quality players either didn't because it takes a lot of time or weren't in town". Part of playing soccer at a high level is training. Outdoor is not indoor where everyone can play a whole game. Plus last year for PSL the commitment was one weekend? Why no team then. What you refer to as "takes a lot of time" a call laziness.

10. Nate not a good player? Leads the tournament in goalscoring. Must be doing something right?

11. POLSKA POLSKA

Tonight's Games.

Another night of games that unfortunately have little bearing on the overall outcome of this tournament.

Girls

6:30 pm USA vs Germany

Womens

7:30 pm Canada vs ROI

Mens 

8:30 pm Colombia vs N. Ireland
9:30 pm Italy vs Greece

Yesterdays Scores

Youth Boys

Scotland 3 - Italy 3

Womens

Poland 4 - Italy 1

Mens

Scotland 5 - Botswana 2

Serbia 7 - Somalia 4

Tuesday's Games

6:30 pm Boys Scotland vs Italy

7:30 pm Womens Italy vs Poland

8:30 pm Mens Scotland vs Botswana

9:30 pm Mens Serbia vs Somalia

Potential Quarterfinals

Decided to look into my crystal ball here a bit and take a look at potential quartefinal match ups? Who would you guys like to see play? Who would teams not like to get?

ROI vs Germany/Nigeria

I think Germany would give ROI a better run for their money than Nigeria. Nigeria have a lot of speed and a couple really nice players. Just don't think they have enough depth to put in a real challenge. Germany looked solid against Poland and that's tough to do think it would make for a better game.

France vs Canada/Afghan/Jamaica

If you are France which of these 3 do you want to play? Like I said before I really don't think it will be Jamaica. So Afghan or Canada. I think both teams could give the a game but at the same time both could be flops. What do you guys think?

Laos vs ES/Norway

At this point Laos must be drooling over these potential matches. I think both of these teams offer less than 3 of the teams Laos has to play in their pool. It only takes one game but I cant see Laos losing this one. Looks like they will be off to the semis as usual.

Poland vs Sudan

Yumm.... this is the only quarterfinal that looks like it is a sure thing and it is a beauty. I think this is the game a lot of people want to see and we are going to see it early. Two great sets of fans along with one good and one unbelievably good team would make for a cracking game. I want to see this.

Big Games Left

So here are the dates and times of the big remaining games.

Friday April 13

9:30 pm Laos vs Jamaica
10:30 pm France vs Greece

Saturday April 14th

8:00pm Afghanistan vs Canada
9:00pm Germany vs Nigeria
10:00pm France vs ES

Sunday April 15th

8:00pm Laos vs Canada
9:00pm El Salvador vs Norway

A lot of big games left to play this week. Looks like the schedule makes really got it right. Nice Work!

Where We Stand.

Alright better get something up here so I can stop taking son much abuse. (Most notably from Nate.)

Group A.
This group is pretty much sealed up as far as I am concerned. It would take something shocking like Colombia beating Sudan like last year for anything to change. But there are no teams in this pool that are nearly as good as Colombia is. ROI could afford to lose one of their last 2 and they would still go through.

1. ROI
2. Sudan

Group B

Here is the interesting group that still has so much to play for. Laos are coming out of this group. Yes, i know they have 2 tough games left but I can't see them doing any worse than losing one. That'll be enough to get them through comfortably. Jamaica's tie against N. Ireland is going to be a killer for them. I still don't know how it happened but I don't see Jamaica beating Laos to recover. That leaves Afghanistan vs Canada on Saturday as a huge match I can't say for sure which Afghanistan team shows up so I will take Canada. Which leaves us with:

1. Laos
2. Canada

Group C

Poland is going through. We have all known that for awhile. It just took their easy win over Germany to confirm it. So that's established then it comes down to Germany vs Nigeria. This is not an easy one for me to pick. I have said before that I didn't have a ton of confidence in Nigeria and that still holds true. Germany on the other hand looked good even in defeat to Poland. I will take them.

1. Poland
2. Germany

Group D

Well it didn't take long for Greece to make an exit from this tournament. Two immediate defeats pretty much ruled them out. If they could've won 1 of those games we would have an even more exciting group. As it is France looks like they will come through although they do still have to play Greece and ES they too can afford to lose one of those games. So pencil them in. So Sunday night will be ES and Norway. ES has not looked very strong but neither has Norway. Both sides seem to be underachieving but ES looks to be getting better while Norway has begun to look worse. I will take ES. But who knows.

1. France
2. ES 

Fan of the Week!

Thanks Mike for all of your support. Maybe one day you'll be good enough to play for us, but i doubt it. - Love Awesome Poland

Last Night's Games

Nigeria 4 - Hungary 3
No one saw this one coming. Hungary showed up to play and they deserve credit here. I would like to say it was a certain strategy but they really just played a solid game. Nigeria may not be as good as they have shown but they managed to get the job done. A positive sign for them.

Poland 3 - Germany 2
This was a foregone conclusion but Poland set about it in unorthodox fashion. They played possum allowing Germany to control the game and buried their chances. I have a few beefs with this game that I'll air now. 1. Has Germany never had to defend a set piece. All 3 goals came off set pieces. Got to be a lot better than that.  2. Why was David Patterson not on at the end of the game when Germany needed a goal? No DPat but you have your back up keeper on? Get him out there. 3. Aleks. Wow. He could have been sent off 3-4 times. Bad tackles, swearing, encroachment, kicking the ball away and that's all while on a yellow. Get it done ref. 4. You know in football when that offensive lineman scores a touchdown and over celebrates it like crazy. That's Poland. If you do get to the "endzone" act like you've been there before.

Jamaica 1 - Canada 0
Consider this my formal retraction of my previous prediction. Jamaica came out and Canada'd Canada. They sat back and made Canada carry the game which is something they are apparently unable to do. Jamaica, inspired by my lack of belief in them, finally showed up looking like the Jamaica we have all been expecting them to be. Hustled, moved the ball well and looked the better team. If they continue to play like that they will go far.

Today's Games

Womens
Chile vs England
2 years ago this would have been a big game. But its really not anymore. It may decide who comes how of their group but I can't say with any real conviction that I think either of these teams could beat Ukraine or Germany. 4-3 England.

Mens
Italy  vs South Korea
Italy are clearly not as good as everyone made them out to be. That being said they are much much much  better than S. Korea. 7-1

Scotland vs Sudan
Scotland is very small. Sudan is very big. Do you see where I am going with this? I fully expect Sudan's aerial attack to be going from the get go. Lets go 7-1 Sudan.

ROI vs Serbia
ROI will be missing a few guys but I don't think that's going to make a difference. Expect to see a lot of this

(Photo Courtesy Ken Hoff)

Jamaica vs Afghanistan

Well after last night I don't think I can ever doubt Jamaica again. Afganistan players seem to not want to show up for their team plus they had a cabaret last night = rough shape. I am going 3-1 Jamaica

Poland vs Portugal
I accurately predicted Poland obliterating Germany and they continue their march to the final against Portugal. Portugal are a middle of the pack team. Nothing more, nothing less. Expect a win here for Poland. Hopefully this time they act like they've done it before. 10-0 Poland.

France vs Norway
This should be a good one. France is amazing but this is thier first real test so it will be interesting to see how they do against a battle tested Norway team. Both teams still need to win this game so it should be a feisty affair. Norway won't be able to move the ball around like they did against Greece but if they keep their shape they should be able to repel the waves of french attacks. I don't think it will be enough though. France are back on the top with Poland. 4-2 France.

Fantasy Update

Tonight's Games

Botswana vs Serbia

Really this is just a battle to see who will finish 3rd in Group A. I honestly have no idea who will win this game so I am not even going to predict a score.

Nigeria vs Hungary

I smell a beatdown.  Nigeria is fast, strong and have a couple really nice players. I don't think Hungary is any of those things. Look for Nigerias goal scoring tear to continue. 8-2 Nigeria.

Poland vs Germany

A lot of hype in the build up to this game. Germany are a good side. They have all their Saskatoon players coming, Patterson Twins included and will certainly put up a fight for the first five minutes.  However I have know idea who their other Saskatoon players are and to be honest I am not sure they do either. But lets be real even without Brett Levis (my understanding is he won't be there) Poland are just way too good for any team in this tournament. I see Jay and Devin both getting 3 goals in this game and when Devin gets tired Dustin coming on to get 1 or 2. Germany will will probably get one as Poland pushes forward looking for their 10th. 9-1 Poland cruises.

Jamaica vs Canada

I was actually pretty undecided on who I was going to choose going into this game. I figured the x-factor would be Holness' play but he's out. I just haven't been impressed with Jamaica, they don't have that cutting edge going forward, have struggled at the back and they have little depth. Canada on the other hand 20 players all of the exact same skill level with the exception of maybe Tavis and Jarvis. They work hard and as unit. I can't see them conceding more than a goal. So that begs the question do I think Canada can score more than one? I do. 3-1 Canada.