Thursday, August 1st, 2024

[Dave]

Hello all.

Another taken on July 4 2024...

   

It was the clean colors and the various shapes & forms that caught  my interest.

I enjoyed the women's soccer yesterday. My thoughts on the group play and my projections follow/

In Group play, several teams didn't live up to their World Rankings: France sure didn't play like #2; Spain won all 3 group games but didn't the way World $1 should have.

I think USA played better than their #5 ranking. Canada (#8) had to win all 3 group games for a slim chance of advancing after having 6 points deducted for their cheating scandal, but they managed to advance.

Colombia (#22) made it to the quarter finals by overachieving (lost by just one goal to both France and Canada.

Australia tried gamely but just missed advancing (sorry MFI).

So in the quarter finals we have:
  MATCH 19  #2 France vs #9 Brazil
  I pick France, but give Brazil a 30% chance to win.

  MATCH 20  #5 USA vs #7 Japan
  I pick USA, but Japan gives USA trouble (hustle and swarming defense)

  MATCH 21  #1 Spain vs #22 Colombia
  I pick Spain #1 vs #22 means Colombia's fine tournament ends

  MATCH 22  #4 Canada vs $4 Germany
  I pick Canada because they are playing better, but I hope I'm wrong because cheaters shouldn't prosper

If my picks above are right we have in the semi finals:
  MATCH 23  MATCH 21 winner (Spain) vs MATCH 19 winner (France)
  I pick Spain because France has not played up to their ranking.

  MATCH 24  MATCH 20 winner (USA) vs MATCH 22 winner (Canada)
  I pick USA in a tough, physical game.

  Bronze Medal match:
  MATCH 23 loser (France) vs MATCH 24 loser (Germany)
  I pick France because it;s time then to play like World #2

  Gold Medal match:
  MATCH 23 winner (Spain) vs MATCH 24 winner (USA)
  I pick USA because they've played the best, and because of speed and talent of their young stars