With the minor games out the way the fun moves into the play off games.
Here the top of the other divisions get a change to kick some of the Blue Division teams out of the finals.
Top two teams in Blue Div, USA and Canada, get the day off to sit with their feet on the chairs and sip cocktails... or whatever they do on their days off, probably 4 hours of ground ball drills and 2km sprints, while Japan (3rd in the Division) plays the Dutch at 4:30 with Scotland having a go at Australia in the 7:30 game.
Winner of Japan and Holland play the USA in tomorrow's late game while the better of Scotland and Australia will take on Canada at 4:30. Winner and losers from those two game then square up on Saturday for the metal games.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
German outclassed
In Australia's final game in the Blue Division round robin came out and solidly defeated Germany.
This game would have produced a minor dilemma for Australia. While firm favourites, this is also a game where an upset loss would effectively end Australia's Championship, while a close game or a powerhouse domination leads to risk of injuries for the more important later games. Also in the back of many people's minds would be the need to answer the question of 'Is Australia still a top three nation?'
Australia, to my mind, came out solidly and kept Germany scoreless until just before the half time (13-1). There were a few periods of brain freezing for Australia (the German goal right after half time being a prime example) as well as a few German surprises but generally by then Australia had the game well under control and the entire stadium knew it.
What then seemed to come out from a few minor parts of the crowd was an ugly attempt to heckle and harass the umpires. This was largely uncalled for and slightly embarrassing to be even remotely associated with. Sorry Mister German fan, but that umpire's call wasn't THAT bad and when your team is 12 goals down I am really sure that your team losing possession for that push REALLY cost you the game.
End score 22-4
This game would have produced a minor dilemma for Australia. While firm favourites, this is also a game where an upset loss would effectively end Australia's Championship, while a close game or a powerhouse domination leads to risk of injuries for the more important later games. Also in the back of many people's minds would be the need to answer the question of 'Is Australia still a top three nation?'
Australia, to my mind, came out solidly and kept Germany scoreless until just before the half time (13-1). There were a few periods of brain freezing for Australia (the German goal right after half time being a prime example) as well as a few German surprises but generally by then Australia had the game well under control and the entire stadium knew it.
What then seemed to come out from a few minor parts of the crowd was an ugly attempt to heckle and harass the umpires. This was largely uncalled for and slightly embarrassing to be even remotely associated with. Sorry Mister German fan, but that umpire's call wasn't THAT bad and when your team is 12 goals down I am really sure that your team losing possession for that push REALLY cost you the game.
End score 22-4
Monday, July 19, 2010
Australia v Japan
Twitter answer...
Japan by 2. History made. Sucks it was us. They deserved it. Japan played V well.
(a blog answer would go on to say how Japan were a very aggressive, fast, and confident side who played over the 80 mins a more disciplined game. While I think more commentators would agree that Australia is the more 'skilled' side, that dosen't could for much unless you can display that skill for 80 solid minutes. Australia let Japan take a 4 goal lead and then tried to play catch up. Big question from the people at home - how did this happen?
World Lacrosse - make mistakes and teams will take them. Moral of the story? Don't make mistakes.)
So, rambling aside, where does that leave us in the rankings??
Well, England beat Japan, Japan beat Australia and Australia beat Japan. Assuming of course that German goes winless in the division when Australia play them tomorrow and USA and Canada do what everyone expects them to do (ie. WIN) then Japan, Australia and England will all finish on two wins.
In case of tie breakers for placings, the games against each other, and those games only, could for goals for and against.
So it doesn't matter that Team A defeated Team C 4000 to nil when Team B only won by two, it matters what Team A defeated Team B by. So, as it currently stands, as long as Australia do NOT screw up against Germany and the Japan v USA and Canada v England games both go North American, then Australia will finish (slightly) higher on goal differences, finish in top 4, and still be in the running for the metal games.
Japan by 2. History made. Sucks it was us. They deserved it. Japan played V well.
(a blog answer would go on to say how Japan were a very aggressive, fast, and confident side who played over the 80 mins a more disciplined game. While I think more commentators would agree that Australia is the more 'skilled' side, that dosen't could for much unless you can display that skill for 80 solid minutes. Australia let Japan take a 4 goal lead and then tried to play catch up. Big question from the people at home - how did this happen?
World Lacrosse - make mistakes and teams will take them. Moral of the story? Don't make mistakes.)
So, rambling aside, where does that leave us in the rankings??
Well, England beat Japan, Japan beat Australia and Australia beat Japan. Assuming of course that German goes winless in the division when Australia play them tomorrow and USA and Canada do what everyone expects them to do (ie. WIN) then Japan, Australia and England will all finish on two wins.
In case of tie breakers for placings, the games against each other, and those games only, could for goals for and against.
So it doesn't matter that Team A defeated Team C 4000 to nil when Team B only won by two, it matters what Team A defeated Team B by. So, as it currently stands, as long as Australia do NOT screw up against Germany and the Japan v USA and Canada v England games both go North American, then Australia will finish (slightly) higher on goal differences, finish in top 4, and still be in the running for the metal games.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July 19 line up and predictions
In the Stadium three more Blue Division games to watch on the Monday.
First will be Germany v Canada. Safe money for most fans would be on a repeat of the Germany v USA game and a chance for Canada to give their second string some field time.
Next up in what should be game of the day, Australia plays Japan. Japan of 2010 is very fast, very aggressive and move the ball with a confidence they lacked four years ago in London. With the need to finish in the top 4 of the division for a chance at the medals, this game is vital for both nations. Australia probably favourites but this should be a close nail-biter.
Finally to close at 7:30, England play USA. Expect some tight passages of play but a reasonably comfortable win the US. 'Upset' very unlikely.
Which brings us to the other divisions who have finished their pool games and now move into the play in games. Division winners are Ireland, Czech Republic, Spain, Scotland, Wales and Finland.
Spain can probably be classed as slightly fortunate to have finished top. Germany was originally in their pool and before the Iroquois finally conceded it was completely inpractical to attend following the visa issues, this was where they would have been playing.
First will be Germany v Canada. Safe money for most fans would be on a repeat of the Germany v USA game and a chance for Canada to give their second string some field time.
Next up in what should be game of the day, Australia plays Japan. Japan of 2010 is very fast, very aggressive and move the ball with a confidence they lacked four years ago in London. With the need to finish in the top 4 of the division for a chance at the medals, this game is vital for both nations. Australia probably favourites but this should be a close nail-biter.
Finally to close at 7:30, England play USA. Expect some tight passages of play but a reasonably comfortable win the US. 'Upset' very unlikely.
Which brings us to the other divisions who have finished their pool games and now move into the play in games. Division winners are Ireland, Czech Republic, Spain, Scotland, Wales and Finland.
Spain can probably be classed as slightly fortunate to have finished top. Germany was originally in their pool and before the Iroquois finally conceded it was completely inpractical to attend following the visa issues, this was where they would have been playing.
Blame Canada, Blame Canada
Australia played Canada in the late game today.
Short answer? Canada is still undefeated.
Longer answer involves describing what was a deceptively hard game. The score ended up being 19 to 5 with Australia failing to score till the second quarter. (Although it should be also pointed out that the scores were still 0-0 for the first 10 mins. Goals in this game were earned by both sides.) This of course IS actually a reasonably comfortable margin for the North Americans and effectively shows what happens when you completely dominate the ball out of the center.
Canada, without being able to quote official stats, probably won 24 of the 28 or so faceoffs during the game and then used their possession to work for and eventually score their goals. At their level of skills, Canada do not make mistakes and Australia simply struggled to take the ball back from them.
Australia, I feel, did play a much better game then the previous two. There was none of the stunned shock opening that the US seemed to bring out against us or any of the casual ill-discipline that allowed England back into the second game. It was more a case that Canada consistently won themselves the ball and then used the time to work for and score goals.
Short answer? Canada is still undefeated.
Longer answer involves describing what was a deceptively hard game. The score ended up being 19 to 5 with Australia failing to score till the second quarter. (Although it should be also pointed out that the scores were still 0-0 for the first 10 mins. Goals in this game were earned by both sides.) This of course IS actually a reasonably comfortable margin for the North Americans and effectively shows what happens when you completely dominate the ball out of the center.
Canada, without being able to quote official stats, probably won 24 of the 28 or so faceoffs during the game and then used their possession to work for and eventually score their goals. At their level of skills, Canada do not make mistakes and Australia simply struggled to take the ball back from them.
Australia, I feel, did play a much better game then the previous two. There was none of the stunned shock opening that the US seemed to bring out against us or any of the casual ill-discipline that allowed England back into the second game. It was more a case that Canada consistently won themselves the ball and then used the time to work for and score goals.
Germany v USA
In a dream game that will have fans talking for years, massive underdog Germany dug deep against the powerhouse that is the USA. Pulling out a display of lacrosse few believed possible, the Germans briefly lead and then went goal for goal with the US for the next 79 mins. With scores level, star German faceoff player, Otto von Makingthisrubbishup, who was nearly knocked unconscious in the first quarter...
HA. Who am I kidding, none of that is true. Germany, despite some occasional surprises, was defeated by the USA who without much hassle shot regular goals the entire game in front of a small crowd who politely applauded. End score was 22 to 4, a safe comfortable win for the US who by the last half were probably just playing to avoid foolish injuries.
HA. Who am I kidding, none of that is true. Germany, despite some occasional surprises, was defeated by the USA who without much hassle shot regular goals the entire game in front of a small crowd who politely applauded. End score was 22 to 4, a safe comfortable win for the US who by the last half were probably just playing to avoid foolish injuries.
More on Saturday's games
Getting back to some earlier games.
First Australia v England. As mentioned before we tried very hard to lose that game. It was only really in the last 8 minutes during extra time that Australia stepped up and showed the skill levels they should have been using all day to dominate that game.
Instead at best we controlled parts of it and allowed England to come back from 6 - 2 down at half time to force the game into extra time at 8 all.
This really does not bode well for the Australia Canada game later tonight. Against England, any mistakes normally resulted in a missed chance or a change in possession. Against a team like Canada, who we remember defeated USA in their Saturday game, an Australian mistake is going to be a Canadian goal.
BIG lift in match discipline required for tonights game if Australia want to be competitive.
(Speaking of competitive, USA is currently playing Germany. The score is pretty much what you would be expecting. More on that game later.)
Canada and USA. Big name game. Packed house. EXCELLENT lacrosse.
Close game the entire 80 mins with the biggest lead at any one time being 2 goals. I thought the Canadians had a little bit more luck on a couple of their goals at a time when the US couldn't buy a goal, but that is life in the big city. Sometimes the ball sticks in the goalie's stick and sometimes it gets backspin and flips out the corner to dribble between the legs in slow motion. Move on, get over it :)
USA I would have to class as the slightly better team. They were wonderful to watch, having that complete confidence with their passing in attack that only the VERY good have. The comparison with watching a team like USA in attack as compared to us lesser mortals is that when they have the ball, EVERY man at EVERY time looks like he is about 5 seconds from doing something very dangerous and scoring. Watch a lesser mortal in attack and every man looks about 2 passes from setting something up.
(or more cruelly, watching some teams in attack looks like every man is about 5 seconds away from turning the ball over but the MudCrab is a backman and likes to say that about attack strings :P )
An example of the USA skill level and mind set comes from one of their man up plays. Most teams and players would get the ball moving, try and collapse the zone and do all the normal funky things like set up a good outside shot, push a corner or fed into the crease man for an inside shot.
USA come in for the man up. They move the ball, get things happening, fed into the man on the crease... and then feed OUT of the crease to the man on the left side for him to take the shot.
Against Canada.
And at lacrosse level kids, that doesn't get much better.
First Australia v England. As mentioned before we tried very hard to lose that game. It was only really in the last 8 minutes during extra time that Australia stepped up and showed the skill levels they should have been using all day to dominate that game.
Instead at best we controlled parts of it and allowed England to come back from 6 - 2 down at half time to force the game into extra time at 8 all.
This really does not bode well for the Australia Canada game later tonight. Against England, any mistakes normally resulted in a missed chance or a change in possession. Against a team like Canada, who we remember defeated USA in their Saturday game, an Australian mistake is going to be a Canadian goal.
BIG lift in match discipline required for tonights game if Australia want to be competitive.
(Speaking of competitive, USA is currently playing Germany. The score is pretty much what you would be expecting. More on that game later.)
Canada and USA. Big name game. Packed house. EXCELLENT lacrosse.
Close game the entire 80 mins with the biggest lead at any one time being 2 goals. I thought the Canadians had a little bit more luck on a couple of their goals at a time when the US couldn't buy a goal, but that is life in the big city. Sometimes the ball sticks in the goalie's stick and sometimes it gets backspin and flips out the corner to dribble between the legs in slow motion. Move on, get over it :)
USA I would have to class as the slightly better team. They were wonderful to watch, having that complete confidence with their passing in attack that only the VERY good have. The comparison with watching a team like USA in attack as compared to us lesser mortals is that when they have the ball, EVERY man at EVERY time looks like he is about 5 seconds from doing something very dangerous and scoring. Watch a lesser mortal in attack and every man looks about 2 passes from setting something up.
(or more cruelly, watching some teams in attack looks like every man is about 5 seconds away from turning the ball over but the MudCrab is a backman and likes to say that about attack strings :P )
An example of the USA skill level and mind set comes from one of their man up plays. Most teams and players would get the ball moving, try and collapse the zone and do all the normal funky things like set up a good outside shot, push a corner or fed into the crease man for an inside shot.
USA come in for the man up. They move the ball, get things happening, fed into the man on the crease... and then feed OUT of the crease to the man on the left side for him to take the shot.
Against Canada.
And at lacrosse level kids, that doesn't get much better.
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