I think the 2AM factored in the west coast start time + length of game.
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Starts at midnight, ends around 2AM.
If I’m sleepy at 11PM, no need to power through, then I’ll wait until morning. I’m already recording it. And, I have to wait until 12:30AM to start watching, cuz the 30% faster mode is the perfect speed to watch soccer.
Japan looks formidable. USA could play in quarter’s (if come in 2nd) or semi’s (if come in 1st). Or, not at all (if fail to advance).
Just noticed that in the elimination brackets, the 1st and 2nd place teams in a Group are NOT placed in the bracket to potentially meet in the Final, as they are in the Men’s WC.
Another slight to girls, I guess.
Also fun: Groups E and G were playing Group matches in NZ, but their Round of 16 matches will be in Australia, then BACK to NZ for the quarters. (According to wiki, which might be wrong.) Meanwhile, Groups A and C stay in NZ for 16’s, quarters, and semi’s. So, another slight in building in an unfair advantage, cuz who cares, it’s girls.
Four-hour flight each way, plus unpacking and packing, Logistic issues that other team in quarters will not have.
Yeah, I just noticed that too. It reduces the number of potential matchups (like the two conferences/leagues in American major sports playoffs).
I have found reporting on the match times has been quite confusing. There have been times when this next match has been referred to as Monday and Tuesday. The ones that were at 9pm ET were a day ahead right? Like they actually were playing early in the day the next weekday?
Also, they did the group draw before the rather large play-offs were held, so, even though CONCACAF had six countries in, and there are eight Groups, Group F had two CONCACAF teams. Cuz girls.
Men’s WC had only four Confederations vying for two spots, and I think they configured the draw so that the confederations with teams in the play-offs were separated from teams in their confederations. So, if a group did not contain an AFC/CONMEBOL team when Pot 4 was about to be drawn, the placeholder for that play-off was put into that group and same for CONCACAF/OFC (though only one OFC team was ever going to be in). I think. I mean, that is what I would have done.
With WWC, girls so who cares. Yes it would have been impossible to do (one team from each Confederation), but that was caused by an impossible play-off structure.
Definitely don’t rely on Fox for times -
https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/1191006550/what-time-us-portugal-womens-world-cup-wwc
Yes, there is no need to watch sports live, especially if it occurs overnight. Always record it, then watch when you are awake. Just don’t look at your phone.
True story: I finished watching the British Open on Friday 7/28 not knowing the result. Had it been spoiled, I would not have been upset. This was an extreme case.
They are being truthy about it. Coverage does start at 1AM EDT. Same as Super Bowl Coverage starting 7 hours before kickoff.
I was actually surprised when Match #2 started exactly on time on my TiVo, as the pre-match coverage included the Nationalistic Anthems and the all-important coin toss.
The 9PM EDT ones were live on the date before the local date. The 3AM ones are played on the same date. I set recordings on My TiVo as soon as I could, so not too concerned, though for Round of 16, I will check wiki and do some math:
- I am on GMT - 8, and the Round of 16 are at GMT + 10 so I am 18 hours behind Noon (we win the Group), or 6PM the day before 8/6, which is 8/5.
- I am on GMT - 8, and the Round of 16 are at GMT + 10 so I am 18 hours behind 7PM (we runner-up the Group), or 1AM on the same the day of 8/6.
- I am on GMT - 8, and the Round of 16 are at GMT + 10, and I don’t watch any more (we are eliminated). (Probably start watching Japan, which is a completely different formula, all together.)
Then it’s back to NZ for quarters, and a whole new math.
Maybe Sweden. Very watchable for some unexplainable reason from deep in my penis…
FIFA used this format for the Men’s WC in 2002. Brazil played Turkey in Group C and in the semis. South Korea and Japan hosted in 2002. This format ensured that Japan and South Korea would have a home advantage all the way to the semifinals. Also, every team would remain in one country all the way to the semifinals. So you can think of the semifinals as the finals of two tournaments. Brazil won the tournament in Japan and Germany won the tournament in South Korea. The 2002 World Cup Final had the winners of the two tournaments.
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Cool. Only 21 years behind the Men. I guess this happens when two countries decide to host. Shouldn’t have to be 2000 miles away from each other, though.
This is not happening in the WWC 2023. Groups E and G go to AUS for their Round of 16 matches, and the winners then go back to NZ to play teams that did not have to fly to AUS and back.
And, actually I don’t mind the playing of elimination rounds in one country until the Finals, but if you don’t win your Group, tough shit on you and you are flying to the other country. THAT would be more equal than what they’re doing at the WWC 2023, cuz girls.
Okay.
Playing in the same country is not necessarily an advantage if you’re scheduled to play in Perth. Perth is 2040 miles from Sydney, whereas Auckland is only 1340 miles from Sydney.
I won’t comment on the USA match in case folks are trying to avoid spoilers. (I have my personal computer set up to automatically launch a browser with my most-frequently-visited websites loaded, when I log in in the morning. I forgot to avert my eyes. The USA result was a top WSJ story…)
But I will remark that I just realized YouTube TV is offering “multiview” for the simultaneous games at the end of the knockout rounds, making it possible to watch both simultaneously on the same screen.
(Don’t look too closely if you’re trying to avoid HAI-DEN or CHN-ENG spoilers. I don’t think the score line is clear, but…)
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We are recording all games and watching almost all of them. The simultaneous ones stink since they announce the other score constantly.
My thoughts
Disappointing.
Using old washed-up past stars instead of hungry youngsters on the bench.
NED had a mission today. USA didn’t capitalize in Match 1 and blow out Vietnam.
Mostly, the missed passes. Too far ahead, or were the old players not fast enough?
But, yay, on to Australia to try to beat Sweden!
I heard a good commentary on the US Women’s state of the game. In the past, they could go long balls frequently and utilize skill gaps. Focus has continued on college game where best players have an advantage where the mens game has shifted away from college to players going professional. Europe has had professional investments and elevated play for younger players. Those players adapt to the other team strategy. Our teams are not not as adept as recognizing and adjusting and neither is our coach who while being European has been more in tune with US style. Suggestion was our players are not able to pass effectively. I looked up the stats for the games we have played, and Netherlands and Portugal were well over 80% versus Vietnam, We were below. We also had less possession than either of the other squads. Our passing against Portugal and Dutch were 5-10 pts below other team although being a little below is expected if we concede majority of possession.
Not sure if focus and style is all true, the commentary on channel tends to be good and they do discuss the women’s game regularly.. I don’t watch too much of the women’s team outside of bigger events. Based on watching after listening to the discussion on Sirius, I would agree our team might be in for a tough 4-6 years to catch back up. If we play Japan, I am not sure we can win that one. I hope we do, but think it’s more likely to be 2-0 or 3-1 Japan. Unfortunately, I would expect Coach will be fired within a week of the Japan game.
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Being the defending champions just make their situation more difficult. Not going through the qualifiers gets you to the world cup without any real test for your team and enough times we see the defending champions just not going far enough to identify the best 11 they can field. On the other hand, every other team has spent the last few years dissecting your game and trying to find ways to counter your strengths. They have played the qualifiers and have had many opportunities to refine their game.
This is their real test in a bit. Hopefully, they will adapt and improve as they go along.