Quarterfinals Game 4: Netherlands vs Costa Rica

One of these days, someone is going to explain to me why their uniforms are orange.

This was the quarterfinal I expected to be a blowout.  It's also a perfect example of why I should let my simulator make the predictions, as it is the only game this round that wasn't.  What's more, it is a game between two teams who do not have official roster names in FIFA 2002.

After 40 minutes of Los Ticos chasing orange jerseys around the field,  "No. 24" for Costa Rica stole the ball in the Dutch end and struck one past their keeper to give his team first blood. the Oranje played the rest of the game in desperation mode.  Surely, they didn't want to let their little brother Belgium show them up?

In the second half, the Netherlands took advantage of a smart corner to tie the game ("No. 1", '66).  They were desperate for the go-ahead goal, firing many shots off-target, but managed to find  what they were looking for late.  "No. 33" put them ahead on a breakaway at '79 and turned the pressure up for Los Ticos.

That stood up as the game winner when the clock struck '90.  Being that this Costa Rica group was the same team that did worse in simulation than in real life (my only incorrect prediction last round was their game against Greece), they did not have it in them to equalize.  I have to wonder if the real team can pull off the upset.  I guess we'll find out in a few hours.

Final result: 2 -1 Netherlands

Quarterfinals Game 3: Argentina vs Belgium

Maybe they're so good at sports because nobody ever seems to go to work?

Argentina is a good team.  No, I mean that.  Personal bias aside, the Albiceleste are one of the best teams in the world, and have been for some time.  In this match, they dominated possession.  Yet, as we have seen this tournament, that statistic apparently means nothing.

Both Argentina and Belgium had a lot of shots.  The difference: Belgians can hit the broad side of a barn.  The Argentine attackers managed only one shot on goal despite all their numerous chances, while the Red Devils managed a cool 80% of shots on target.  That is this entire game in a nutshell.

Final result: 1 - 5 Belgium

Quarterfinals Game 2: Brazil vs Colombia

Yay Colombia?

This scrappy team that beat out The Vampires Uruguay made it all the way to the quarterfinals.  Their reward?  Host team Brazil.

This game played out almost identical to Germany vs France (which is an insult to France, not a compliment to the Colombian squad).  Despite decent possession, Colombia had no answer for long passes to Brazil's Jardel, who scored a hat trick.  Again, just as in the other match, Brazil scored one more goal (Rivaldo, '80) and all Colombia could manage was to ruin the clean sheet (Castillo Cortes, '86).  Congratulations to Colombia for making it this far, but the buck stops here.  It will be up to Die Mannschaft to stop the Brazilian advance next round.

*This simulation was run after the real game was played.  4th of July and all that.

Final result: 4 -1 Brazil

Quarterfinals Game 1: France vs Germany

Ah yes, France vs Germany.  What a rivalry this is.  It goes beyond sports, beyond recent history, and even beyond reason.  This is a battle for the ages.

The French had the better possession this game, but grossly misused it.  Germany was quick on the ball and quick up the field, using long, precision passes to best the French defense.  Though most aspects of the game seemed fairly even, there was one factor in this match that could not be stopped: Germany's Asamoah.  He received four long passes on the right wing which he fired from just outside the box.  Three of them went in, giving him a hat trick, the game winner, and plenty more.  The French defense had absolutely no answer for that play.  Without him, this easily could have been a different game.

As always, Germany found a way around France's wall.  As a result, they invaded the French end of the pitch repeatedly and made them pay for it.  A late French goal on an intercepted pass by Vieira at '74 was their only consolation.  Germany wins again.

*This simulation was run after the real game was played.  4th of July and all that.

Final result: 1 - 4 Germany

Ro16 Game 8: Belgium vs USA

I swear, if someone calls Belgium a "dark horse" one more time, I'm going to bust a blood vein.  It happens every. single. tournament.

So yes, happy fun times are to be had here between teeny tiny, expert Belgium and big bad gun-totin' America.

The Red Devils got off to a good start, scoring just 7 minutes in (Englebert) and ending the first half with another by Mpenza ('35).  The American defense was generally unable to stop their passes, which left most of the heavy lifting to the US keeper, Brad Freidel.  He made some spectacular saves, punching and diving and trying to give the US a fighting chance.  He wouldn't have had to do so if the American defense had interrupted more Belgian set plays, but I digress...

Surprisingly, the Americans came out with the lion's share of possession at 59%.  Though they struggled to break out of their end and go on the attack, at the very least that possession meant Belgium didn't have the ball.  What little offense the Americans did have, at least, was fairly good.  Of their few shots, most were on goal and one, a beautiful, top-corner shot from Razor ('67), cut the Belgian lead in half with plenty of time left.

The nail in the coffin came at '78, when the American defense was unable to clear a corner kick.  After three spectacular saves by Freidel (all of which rebounded to Belgian players), the fourth shot from Mpenza went in, scoring his second goal and effectively putting the USA in the ground.  I suppose our luck could only last so long, and now the Red Devils can "dark horse" it up in their next match against Argentina.

Final result: 3-1 Belgium

Ro16 Game 7: Argentina vs Switzerland

I enjoyed this game, final score notwithstanding.  On one side of the pitch, things were very even.  On the other, they were decidedly not so.

The Swiss offense was very impressive, using clean, tight passes and perfectly placed crosses to generate opportunities. 75% of their shots were on goal, and when Sforza scored for Switzerland at '37, the goal was a beautiful set piece that had left him completely unmarked.

Unfortunately, that's all the praise that I can give the Swiss; beautiful play doesn't win games by itself.  The Argentine offense ripped them to shreds.    The game winner was scored at '21, and they never looked back.  Crespo scored a hat trick!

Almost every possession was a scoring opportunity for La Albiceleste, and the majority of them went in.  They were faster than the Swiss defense, their crosses were largely successful, and their powerful and accurate forwards gave the Swiss keeper almost no chance.  Argentina was on another level, and another South American side marches on.

Ro16 Game 6: Germany vs Algeria

So, there is no Algeria in FIFA 2002...but Tunisia is basically the same country, right?  They're both formerly part of Carthage, right?  Guys?

In any case, they play some Roman rump state, called "Germany" I think.  Such scrubs.

Yeah, no, Germany won this and had 17 shots.  AlgeriaTunisia didn't even manage one.  Do I need to expound?  Okay, fine, I'll give you the goal scorers:

Asamoah ('13)
Bierhoff ('48)
Asamoah ('57)
Bierhoff ('66)

They just took turns, really.

Final result: 4-0 Germany