Okay, I'll be honest: I have no idea what the Nations League tournament is, but this is a brilliant final four, so I'll take it. This is an in-between World Cups filler event, I suppose? Doesn't really seem necessary as all the continents have tourneys in the interval, but whatever, more top level soccer is fine with me. Two great games, looking forward to two more.
Italy 1-2 Spain
Both teams started off this match in full-on defensive mode, felt like not much was gonna happen. But that dissipated pretty quick when a beautiful cross (breathtaking! Kelly to Reed, Aikman to Irvin, Brady to Moss kinda shit!) found the goal and it was on. Spain connected once more in a lovely series of passes that ended with a killer header back across the goal right before halftime. I thought Italy kinda dominated after halftime but they were only able to cut the lead in half (on a killer breakaway). Hey, man, great game, glad I stumbled on to this.
Belgium 2-3 France
Unlike the first game, this one was wide open chaos from the get-go. Belgium found the goal first when the keeper got caught leaning the wrong way (like a baserunner getting picked off of first). Belgium connected again right before halftime on a nifty move by Lukaku to get himself open at the goal. (One could argue that the keeper probably should've saved both goals but I'd say the first one caught him off guard and the second one had some serious power on it at point blank range, neither of them were as easy as they may have looked sitting on your couch at home) Mbappe came alive in the 2nd half and found Benzema in the box, who had a perfect off-balance lefty touch in traffic, to get on the board. Then Mbappe scored the PK that tied it up (gotta say: didn't look like foul to me at first but the replay was clear that it was the right call). Lukaku had a goal waived off for off-side late (brilliant finish but he had a step on the defender, didn't he?), then Pogba doinked one off the crossbar soon after, then after all that France found the goal with a nice run up the right side leading to a cross to the other side of the field, which caught the defense all out of shape and that led to the game winner. Started crazy, ended c
Fun game! The danger here was that either Colombia would mail it in or that Peru just wouldn't be up to putting on a show. Neither of those scenarios came to pass, although it took Colombia a while to get going. Peru was up 1-0 at halftime because they were able to stretch Colombia's defense out of shape and took advantage with a sick strike the keeper couldn't get to. Colombia, on the other hand, could not find its way through Peru's defense in the 1st half, but stepped up their game after halftime. They tied it up early on a sweet free kick from about 25 yards out (just snuck through the wall, man) and took the lead after a brilliant kick out pass from goalie to forward. Peru snuck in a corner late, felt like PK's were coming. But Colombia connected on a brilliant rip from outside the box in extra time, to steal the W. Great finish to a really fun game. The 2nd half was non-stop action, lot of good rips on goal, some good saves, too.
Argentina 1-0 Brazil
Compared to the 3rd place game, the Championship seemed rather subdued. Both teams played well but both defenses really kept the danger at bay. Except for one play, when the Brazilian defense got beat over the top by DiMaria, who had way too much time and space to leisurely float it over the keeper, neither team really came close to cracking the backline. Oh, a moment or two here and there (Brazil had a goal taken off for offside--the correct call--and Messi had a wide open look late that he just fell asleep on), but considering the sheer amount of hall of famers on the field, there was surprisingly little danger and it never really felt like anyone was gonna take control of the match. Not surprised that one goal is all it took, but the play itself was a weird brain fart of the Brazilian D, in an otherwise air-tight match.
England 1-2 (PKs) Italy
Wow! What an opener for the English, barely even settled into their seats and they score on their first possession, while the Italian defense is still getting warmed up. The rest of the 1st half was a bit of a snooze, England kept trying to establish control, Italy had a coupla so-so chances. England scoring so quick, though, pushed Italy into hero ball much earlier than they had anticipated, which I thought made the 2nd half kinda exciting. England didn't attack much, Harry Kane, for example, I thought was mostly invisible. That could be because the Italian back line was outstanding (long a wall of Draymond Greens!) or it could be because England was just half-assing their way to OT. The PK's did not go well for England, but that's just how PK's go, man, the trick is to not be in the situation. Both teams played well throughout the tourney and the Final was a good one. Great win for Italy!
I thought Peru kinda sucked, a little surprised Brazil was only able to score once on them. And I thought the ref was favoring Brazil, too, so it was a strangely amazing performance for Peru to not get slaughtered. Brazil is better at every position, this was never really much of a match.
Italy 2-1 (PKs) Spain
I thought Spain was generally the better team, more dangerous around the goal and seemed more comfortable in possession. Italy's goal was a nice one, caught the keeper in no man's land and punished him, but even then I figured Spain would still score and they did. Once it goes to PK's, it's anybody's game and Italy is moving on.
Argentina 2-1 (PKs) Colombia
Fun match. I was impressed with Colombia, they did not shy away from the Argentines and really seemed to enjoy taking the physical game right at them, even though Argentina scored quick and seemed to secure the game right away. Both teams had good chances, though Argentina missed on a couple that would've really haunted them if they failed to move on. But Argentina is moving on, so no harm done.
Denmark 1-2 (OT) England
I thought England was the better squad and this was the right result. But Denmark had their chances and that game-winning goal was a rebound off a saved PK--inches away from Denmark making it to penalty kicks. Good match, Denmark hung in there but I thought England was the stronger attacking side.
Good weekend of soccer ahead--and the Gold Cup starts Saturday!
Peru v Colombia
I gotta take Colombia. This could be one of the classic trap games: Colombia left it all on the field against Argentina and doesn't care about 3rd place, while Peru feels like they underperformed against Brazil and wants to make the most of their remaining shot at a South America power. (You see that in college football all the time: a team thinks they've got a shot at a championship, suffers a bad loss late, then mails it against New Mexico State in the Car Care Bowl and everyone forgets that they actually had a good season) But I don't see it here. I think Colombia is really much better than Peru, wouldn't be surprised to see a decisive scoreline in this one.
Argentina v Brazil
(Man, who would've guessed...?) This is a classic Brazil side in that they are so wildly talented that they don't even seem all that interested in winning. This Argentina side, on the other hand, seems kinda old to me, like it's gonna take all they got to get past Brazil. This should be a good one simply because I think Argentina is gonna be fighting til the last second and Brazil is so casually awesome that they still might previal. I was gonna go with Brazil, but I think I just talked myself into Argentina. They don't do extra time in the Copa, would not be at all surprised to see this go to penalty kicks--and to be a super exciting shootout at that.
Italy v England
The English are the home favorites and they have generally looked better than everyone they've played so far. Italy is the sneaky underdog--not a place the Italians often find themselves--that outplayed the #1 Belgium but then looked lackluster against a rather overrated Spain. I think Italy plays a good game, keeps it interesting throughout, but I'll stick with England to pull it out late. This'll be another good one!
