Pool Standings: Round 5 - The Finals

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The cup has been raised, and the champions celebrate their spoils!

Hearty congratulations go to Night Rider for an epic battle of wits and stamina that saw him ride a pool-high 26 correct picks to the century mark. The team stuck in second place made a powerful last-minute move to climb to the top of the tables and secure victory. Claret & Blue, the front-runner for so long, chose to live and die with his England pick. Tonight we honor and respect the "win or go home" play that, sadly, saw him go home.

In his stead Real Marin re-emerged as prize winners; a fervent support of La Furia Roja carried them into the winner's circle. And the no longer Clueless in Denver outsmarted an experienced stable of soccer buffs and swiped an England jersey for her wardrobe.

It was great fun, and we salute the Spaniards for their difficult double, capturing consecutive Euro and World Cup hardware. But the real winners were the young Haitian footballers who so greatly need a reason to play. We look forward to many great tournaments to come, and we'll hope jv is re-energized for another blogscapade during next season's Champions League. Let's all take a moment to recognize all of the hard work he and lizzie put in to making this such a special session of the Friends Pool. I'm blowing my vuvuzela right now. Hear it?

See you next time!

¡¡Campeones Del Mundo!!

Spain lifts its first ever World Cup.

Netherlands 0-1 Spain
In a hyper-tense and chippy final Spain produced the one decisive move in extra time that was needed to secure the World Cup. Andres Iniesta capped off a great tournament by controlling and burying a nifty pass from Cesc Fabregas on the right side of the box. The goal handed Spain its first ever World Cup title and, having already won Euro 2008, cemented its place in the history books. It was a tightly, and many would say brutally contested match, but aside from the most die-hard Dutch fans, it is widely agreed that the best side won.

As the most important single sporting event in the world, with over 700 million viewers, the match is being picked over with a fine-toothed comb. With a record 15 yellow cards there is universal agreement that the final was nothing close to beautiful and that Dutch holding midfielder (and noted hatchet man) Nigel De Jong should have been sent off in the first half for his outrageous kung-fu kick spikes-up into the chest of Xabi Alonso. Van Bommel also could have been sent off in the first half for a nasty tackle on Iniesta. It is suggested that referee Howard Webb didn't want to have undue influence on the result by sending someone off that early, and to be fair, the Dutch made it very difficult for him. The Spanish are also being cited for diving, which certainly happened but was a natural consequence of Holland's dirty tactics. One only need look at the Spain v. Germany semifinal to know that there's a different and much more noble way to play a WC match.

As for those who say Spain's tiki-taka possession game of short passes has become tiresome to watch, I say this is because, after two years of international dominance, every one of their opponents is shifting into a highly defensive mode. No one is even attempting to play with them lest they be sliced and diced in the back. The only team to take an offensive approach to Spain in the WC was Chile and they ended up losing 2-0... and it could've been more. Spain's prowess is no longer a surprise and the result is these suffocating matches. In my eyes this does nothing to take away from their offensive brilliance and defensively they didn't allow a goal in the seven matches following their 1-0 loss to the Swiss. To those who say Germany are more exciting to watch because of the goals, I say maybe, but I'd like to see how many goals they would score if teams played them as defensively as the opposition played Spain. Remember that Germany lost 1-0 to Serbia.

Regardless, big time congratulations to Spain and their long suffering fans! They absolutely deserve to be world champs for the next four years. With the emergence of Germany and the newly hardened Dutch, Euro 2012 promises to be another great tournament... but until then...

¡Viva Espana!

Germany takes Third

Germany's Tomas Müller finishes his first World Cup brilliantly.

Uruguay 2-3 Germany
True to its history, the Consolation (or Third Place) Match was a refreshingly wide-open and high scoring affair. The match has arguably the least amount of pressure on it of all the WC matches and the result was a much more free-flowing football display. Young German phenom Thomas Müller showed just how much Germany missed him against Spain by opening the scoring. Uruguayan captain Diego Forlan finished his world class WC performance with another amazing strike. Forlan just missed an opportunity to equalize on the last action of the game when his free kick rattled off the crossbar. Congrats to Germany and Uruguay as they both provided some of the most memorable footballing moments of the tournament!

Holland v. Spain... All in the Family?

Holland's most famous footballer, Johan Cruyff, at FC Barcelona

While the most important story line of today's final is that neither side have won a World Cup, a compelling side story is that, in terms of the football family tree, this year's edition of Spain is a direct descendant of the widely-admired attacking sides of 1970's Holland.

In the late 60's at the famous Amsterdamn club Ajax, coach Rinus Michels and budding superstar Johan Cruyff developed the 'Total Football' style of play they revealed to the world in the form of the much celebrated Holland side of 1974. Leaving Ajax, they both migrated this system to FC Barcelona as coach and player in the 70's and Cruyff further cemented it as the club style as coach of the Barca 'Dream Team' sides of 1988-96. Since then Barcelona have had two other Dutch coaches (Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard) and their current coach, Pep Guardiola was the captain of Cruyff's Dream Teams. In a very real way, Barcelona have carried on and evolved Dutch Total Football into the 21st century. Add to this that of the starting XI of today's Spain seven play club football at Barcelona and you will see why Spain are widely considered to play more Dutch style than the Dutch.

Regardless of who wins there will be irony. If Holland wins: the tactical style of Michels and Cruyff will for a third time falter at the final hurdle but this time against their motherland. If Spain wins: Holland will have lost to a country who beat them with the tactics that put Dutch football on the map.

And if you're still trying to figure out who plays more Dutch, Spain or Holland, you need not go further than Johann Cruyff himself. When asked who he tips to win today's final he explained that in Spain he "sees the most of me" and that the Spanish play the better brand of football. I guess football bloodlines can run deeper than actual bloodlines when it comes to one's legacy.

Searching for Something

Did anyone else do a Google search this morning?

Haiti Hearts the World Cup

Ever-resourceful Haitians find a way to follow their beloved Brazil during WC 2010

One of the best sideshows of WC 2010 has been the passion it stirs in fans. For utter exuberance, it's hard to rival Haitians -- a country whose team hasn't qualified for the tournament in 36 years. All of Haiti, it seems, roots for the Seleção, thanks to a long-standing friendship between the countries and Brazil's critical role in peace-keeping efforts. Check out this video from 2004, when the Brazilian national team played a "Game for Peace" organized by the Brazil-led UN mission in Port-au-Prince when the country was torn in pieces over the Aristide coup. Does soccer diplomacy get any better?

As the country struggles to rebuild after the devastating earthquake, foutbòl has taken on even greater meaning. The WC games have been broadcast live on every TV channel and the UN set up 17 large-screen TVs in tent camps and public areas. Not surprisingly, Brazil was the first country to donate to the relief effort.

Happily, half the pool's spoils are headed to L'Athletique D'Haiti, a sports and education program that works with 1,500 youth and their families in the Cité de Soleil slum of Port-au-Prince. In addition to soccer training, the students receive meals and a basic education. The program was founded by Boby Duval, a former soccer star, political prisoner and human rights activist. After the earthquake, more than 2,000 people took refuge in tents on LADH's fields.

Thanks, WC 2010 Poolers, for your contributions. Win or lose, we're all contributing in a small way to the rebuilding efforts and the joy of fellow soccer fans in Haiti.

Round 5: Consolation Match (Sat. 7/10/10, 11:30AM PT)

Uruguay

v.

Germany

Round 5: Final (Sun. 7/11/10, 11:30AM PT)

Netherlands

v.

Spain

Pool Standings: Round 4 - Semifinals

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Only two picks this time around, but the Netherlands were a near unanimous winner; little changed in the first game. But the Spain/Germany tussle proved to be a real table-turner. Ten teams selected the Spaniards; ten teams favored the German boys (one team just couldn't decide). The four teams at the head of the standings went Spain...which meant a skyrocket ride to new heights, or a close little crew of about ten teams awaiting the final two games.

The young Germans were finally undone, though, and the Claret & Blue, Night Rider and Clueless in Denver still top the charts with 80-plus points each. Nine other teams are hanging around, looking up from the 70's and hoping for some poor picks from the leaders. We shall see.

The final will be worth a whopping eight points; the consolation carries five. Don't count out Cantona...Cosmos...or KC/DC...there's still much action ahead.

Good luck to all.

Firsts all around. For Africa, Netherlands or Spain. Well played all!

Semifinals Results: Day 2

Carles Puyol wills in the winner.

Germany 0-1 Spain
It was a match played as cleanly as you'll ever see. There were hardly any late or hard tackles, there was no diving, there were no elbows or slaps to the face, no shouting at the refs. Just two sides with immense talent and respect -- both for each other and the game.

Spain's precision possession game largely kept Germany at bay, but ultimately it was an act of shear will power -- a leaping header from Carles Puyol on a corner -- that decided it. As C&B has commented, this was really the WC Final. The Dutch may end up winning the tournament, but for those who've watched the bulk of the matches the high-scoring Germans and the one-touch maestro Spaniards have clearly been the best two sides in South Africa.

Semifinals Results: Day 1

Dutch captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst unleashes an absolute scorcher to open the scoring.

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands
Lady Luck continues to show up in oranje as the Dutch benefit from a borderline offside goal and hang on to beat a resilient Uruguay. Despite missing their potent second striker Luis Suarez, captain Nicolas Lodeiro, and fullback Jorge Fucile, the Uruguayans gave Holland everything they could handle. Forlan turned in another brilliant performance. Again the Netherlands do just enough to win and advance to the WC Final for the first time since 1978. They are 6-0-0 in the tournament yet one gets a sense they will have to raise their game if they're to beat Spain or Germany to lift the cup.

Third Prize

Thanks to a generous donation from Night Rider, third prize will be this sweet brand new 2007-09 England Home shirt, size L. The three lions will roar again!

Round 4: Semifinal (Tue. 7/06/10, 11:30 PT)

Uruguay

v.

Netherlands

Round 4: Semifinal (Wed. 7/7/10, 11:30 PT)

Germany

v.

Spain

Pool Standings: Round 3 - The Semifinals

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This round belonged to the Claret & Blue, whose four correct picks drove him into sole possession of first place in the standings. NewYorkCosmos also had a solid 4-for-4 round and made a nice move up the table. They and Crown City FC were the only teams to have gained all 16 points. Most teams lost points on either Brazil or Argentina, and 10 teams selected both to advance.

Now only the Claret & Blue and Night Rider stand above the 70-point mark, but nine other teams are holding steady near the top with between 64 and 68 points. And with semifinal matches worth six points apiece, anything can happen.

Hang on to your hoeds...we're down to the final four!

Good luck to all.

Quarterfinals Results: Day 2

Maravilla!

Paraguay 0-1 Spain
In a rollercoaster ride that saw two consecutive missed penalties, Spain break through the stingy Paraguay defense and hang on for a late game winner.

Germany look awfully good - will this be a fourth?

Quarterfinals Results: Day 2

Das Onslaught!

Argentina 0-4 Germany
So much for the much anticipated matchup of football giants. The Germans make it look easy again with their lightning quick counter attack. Argentina can't string anything together and are quite simply outclassed in every way by Die Mannschaft.Germany scores 4 goals for the third time in WC2010.

Grudge Match

Argentina attacks Germany after losing the penalty shootout in 2006.

There's a long and contentious history between these two soccer powers. They played each other for the title in 1986 and 1990 (which they split). And the infamous fight after penalties in the last WC is still fresh in the players' minds. The smack talk has been going back and forth leading up to this match. Should be a cracker.

Uruguay wins in 1930, 1950 - 2010?

Quarterfinals Results: Day 1

You couldn't script it worse for Ghana.

Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (4-2 penalties)
With a chance to win it on a penalty at the very end of extra time, Asamoah Gyan bangs it off the crossbar. The Black Stars proceed to miss two penalties in the shootout and Uruguay goes through. Heartbreak in Africa.

The Oranje!!!

Quarterfinals Results: Day 1

SHOCKER: Julio Cesar's mishandling of a Wesley Sneidjer cross leads to an own goal that hands the momentum decisively to the Dutch.

Netherlands 2-1 Brazil