LDOG

5 - 1 USA wasn't as bad as the score suggests but they simply have no decent PC routines. Impossible to compete at this level like that.

That is for sports in which you qualify by reaching a certain mark, doesn't matter which competition it is achieved as long as it's achieved. Basically, this is only for athletics and swimming.

Yes I am. I voted at the last second.

Think all 14 home teams will qualify now. Next weekend the only even series IMO are NZL-KOR men and IRL-CAN women.

What part of my criteria are you talking about?

[hide] Knockout Round October 19th - November 2nd, 2019 8 Nations, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third Place Match and Final Third Place Match Date & Time (GMT +9) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 1st 2019, h. 18:00 New Zealand 17 Wales Final Date & Time (GMT +9) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 2nd 2019, h. 18:00 England 12 South Africa [/hide]

What exactly are you calling "resources"? Just oil or something else? The geography of Venezuela/Colombia has nothing to do with Argentina or Chile's. Saying "south america" is an inmense generalization in this aspect.

Oof don't know what to say then, I don't have enough knowledge to know what should be called if that was what happened. Most rules in this sport are very against the defenders (basically they have to be extremely clean in every situation), but I don't know about this. As for Canada at the games... clearly their aspiration would be to beat the weakest teams (Japan/SA) and that's it. This was their gold medal. Wouldn't have been any different for Ireland, both teams have almost exactly the same level (I predicted 51/49 for Canada in fact).

I'm sorry for the irish here but this whole sequence of events was absolutely the "diving" stroke in the last second, the 3-1 penalty lead blown and finally the irish player crashing the ball into his own foot in the most decisive penalty. It's just too much.

Camera is too far away to really tell if stick touched the leg of canadian player, IMO ref just went by "instinct". I'd have called nothing but oh well...

Result first leg 3 - 5

Ireland is missing the starting keeper due to injury and of course the substitute allowed two relatively soft PCs in. Luck of the irish.

Likely South korean authorities don't give a crap about this sport. They have same mentality as the chinese (no medal chances = we don't care). Also I'd guess it would be just 2 or 3 northern girls. All the sports they selected to be combined are sports they can't hope to win medals in. Of course they wouldn't agree to an unified archery team for example.

Korea women will miss the olympic games for the first time since 1984. A pity considering it was agreed recently that they would present an unified team with N. Korea in this sport for Tokyo. Still, they have a small hope to qualify if South Africa withdraws and all the higher ranked teams win their play-offs.

No, Egypt is not ranked 20 anymore. They dropped to 21 in the latest ranking. I think Ben is asking for France, but unfortunately French rank 12 and for sure there will be at least one better ranked team that will lose their play-off (likely the loser of GB-Malaysia). So, France doesn't have any more chance. Anyway, I think like you said that South Africa will take the men's quota.

Too bad. I think France would have qualified vs New Zealand, Canada or maybe even GB. 2024 it will be.

Nope. That's why you see players doing like a circle movement to pass the ball sometimes, unlike ice hockey where they just dribble the puck however they want. The field hockey stick has a flat side and curved side, only the flat side can touch the ball.

I see, I thought they called an stick tackle. Still, a lot of those backstick calls are usually doubtful to me, but unlike the ref I'm only watching from far away so... fine.

That last PC was bullshit from the referee. Too bad, all that effort from my paki boys to come with just a draw at the end

Yes, the northerners (as in, 6 nations teams) are pedantic as fuck. They think they rule all rugby through their clubs and economic power. It was a big hit back in 2015 when all 4 semifinalists were the teams from The Rugby Championship.

Pakistan had a good preparation as always, with injuries, visa problems, 6-something losses in friendlies and a rando coach that probably manages some school team back in the homeland.

Yes, Argentina bad + southern hemisphere bad + England winning is always the worst combination for me. Reminds me to 2003 WC.

Meh the english will take the title, what a terrible world cup.

Heywoodu comment next week: "I finally watched the final of the 2010 world cup, wow can't believe the chance Robben missed and that the dutch lost another final."