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Salvador sets up Belgium-USA for high-scoring World Cup matchup
yahoo sports ^ | June 30, 2014 | Martin Rogers

Posted on 07/01/2014 2:40:34 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

SALVADOR, Brazil – The eyes of two nations will be glued to it no matter what happens, but statistical history from this World Cup suggests that the United States' round-of-16 showdown with Belgium on Tuesday could turn into a high-scoring classic.

Because if you want to see goals galore, you'll see them in Salvador.

The previous line was more than a terrible attempt at rhyming. A genuine trend has seen 21 goals rattled in over the course of just four games at Arena Fonte Nova. Forwards such as U.S. captain Clint Dempsey, who has already struck twice in the tournament, and Belgium's Eden Hazard, who has yet to score, will be licking their lips.

Not since 1958 has a World Cup venue averaged so many goals per game, leaving soccer experts baffled. Scoring has been up in general at this tournament, but Salvador has been the epicenter of the goal glut.

"It is quite unprecedented in modern times," said John Ley, a soccer statistics expert for the Daily Telegraph in London. "Football was very different going back half a century or more and there was a higher number of goals in general. For there to be so many in Salvador is remarkable."

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: soccer; worldcup2014
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To: BeadCounter

Some World Cup betting is only on the result after 90 minutes, not even the A.E.T., added extra time.

The announcers said the Swiss did very badly in their shootout vs. Ukraine in one of the recent World Cups. Be good to see someone win this straight up.


41 posted on 07/01/2014 11:20:37 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: kevkrom

Is that the Swiss National team or the Albanian National Team?


42 posted on 07/01/2014 11:22:51 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BeadCounter

Looks like you’re going to get your wish.


43 posted on 07/01/2014 11:27:14 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: kevkrom

Vintage Messi.


44 posted on 07/01/2014 11:28:49 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: kevkrom

How did he miss that!


45 posted on 07/01/2014 11:31:04 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: kevkrom

What a heartbreak that the Swiss hit the left goalpost with the header.

Okay, good game Argentina and Switzerland.


46 posted on 07/01/2014 11:36:01 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: Dagnabitt

You have to figure one Second-Place finisher is going to win, might as well be us.


47 posted on 07/01/2014 11:37:28 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Might as well play the “underdog” card to the max.


48 posted on 07/01/2014 11:38:35 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: kevkrom

Tell you what, if we do win today, Argentina doesn’t scare me.


49 posted on 07/01/2014 11:39:43 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BeadCounter

I sympathize that Argentina was against the crowd there in Brazil, most cheering against them.

We should be able to take on Argentina. Whomever wins should be able to barring missing significant personnell. Great effort by the Swiss.

Now we will see how good Belgium is.

It took Argentina 118 minutes to do that.


50 posted on 07/01/2014 11:40:47 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: dfwgator

They don’t scare me, but they’ve done just enough to win so far, so they can’t be taken lightly, especially with our own knack of not maintaining form until the final whistle.


51 posted on 07/01/2014 11:42:49 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: dfwgator

Mick

Jagger


52 posted on 07/01/2014 11:44:14 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: kevkrom

Actually this is probably the most wide open World Cup ever.

Any one of the remaining teams, even Costa Rica, could wind up at least in the semis.


53 posted on 07/01/2014 11:46:58 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

I’d love to see USA vs. Costa Rica in the semis.


54 posted on 07/01/2014 11:47:27 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: BeadCounter

Of course, those who watch the Premier League know about Januszaj. He’s on the bench for Belgium but I don’t think we will see him come in and make a real effect. You never know, some people were swooning over Januszaj. It may be too early in his career to really have an effect though.


55 posted on 07/01/2014 11:49:52 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: BeadCounter

Fellaini is the guy I think the US will have trouble with....But he tends to disappear at times....Hopefully today will be one of those days.


56 posted on 07/01/2014 11:50:53 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BeadCounter

And several Belgium players have Everton ties, so you know Tim Howard will have some good insight on them.


57 posted on 07/01/2014 11:52:28 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Berlin_Freeper

This should get us ready for the game.

Monty Python - Belgians

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrvXoin9NcA


58 posted on 07/01/2014 12:04:05 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator
This may be true but Januszaj is mentioned in a way that he could be a fierce offensive threat and game-changer. There was a big deal in the news about him possibly being able to play for England. That kind of fanfare doesn't follow many players.

Kompany misses today, I think he plays for Manchester City.


59 posted on 07/01/2014 12:18:00 PM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: BeadCounter
Correction, KOMPANY will play today , that has just been reported minutes ago. So a lot of this with injuries is probably just a mind-game.
60 posted on 07/01/2014 12:20:04 PM PDT by BeadCounter
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