Can certainty look it up but only two teams have been eliminated with the final games to come. It comes across as pretty low.

I can quickly recall Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Panama, Tunisia and Poland already being eliminated last time. 

Didn't see the whole game. From what I saw, Korea were on top in general play, whilst Ghana were more clinical around goal.

Doesn't matter who they play, Uruguay are always competitive.

Even though Portugal won,  Uruguay as usual were competitive. I'm surprised whenever Uruguay  fails to qualify directly from South America. They're always a team that exhibits mental strength and a never say die attitude.

Thought Ronaldo would have taken the penalty that resulted in the Portuguese second goal.

Substituted players are not able to take penalties.

the first 20 it was all SK, camped in their half.
You could say stout defending at the same time SK wasn't testing Ghana's GK much.
Couple of counters clincally taken game on its head for Ghana.
Got to say the Ayew brothers go hard and skilful, heart and soul for Ghana.
I've watched younger Jordan in the EPL alot for Palace, he's got a game but so hot and cold there whereas in these games he's far more dominant and creative, both first 2 goals were his nice assists. (his elder bro Andre plays for AlSadd a key forward, strong and damaging player. The parents must be tickled pink.
SK had to come out 2nd and go for it, Ghana sat back too much allowing them to build up, great headed goals from 58th min.
Overall game for Son I expected alot more but he was MIA many times for me for a player of his stature.
When Ghana keep the ball at their feet and movement they can play very good football, they deserved the win glad they got the winner.

Apart from the underdogs getting their scalps this WC, the two most glaring trends that have stood out for me is counter-attacking football and individual moments of brilliance. 

This is in stark contrast to previous WC editions of recent memory where systematic football with high %'s of possession have been the dominant force. 

Ta, LFC.

Thanks for the match round up.

I probably won't watch the entire full game play.

Interesting?

I haven't seen enough full games to comment on a predominance of counter attacking football.  

That coupled with only 3 teams having maximum points (France, Brazil ans Portugal) suggests this WC has had a levelling effect on performance. Really a pity that the next WC is that 48 team format. Makes a mockery of the group stage. As we have seen with the WC, a bad first game is not disastrous for the prospects of getting out of the group. Having only 2 games really makes the first game an imperative not to lose, and will be played far more conservatively.

game has moved on fast - one you could say Pep/Klopp have influenced the style of game today the last 4/5yrs that many NT's apply depending on their recruits but its abvious, high press, high backlines.
Counters there for the taking and seeing many occur and some clincal finishing.
The 1touch football in tight situations is beautiful viewing as well might I add.
Be curious what ever company takes in all these stats I'd like to see the conversion rate from corners ? for I don't recall seeing many.
Another is set pieces out of the box, in the sense of hitting the top corners for a wonderful goal, I watched so many damn matches I can't remember any ????lol.....

I managed to watch all 4 games overnight, first time I've succeeded this WC.
Went to bed at 7 and got a couple of hours sleep, asked my family to wake me up.
Then I went to bed again at around 11:15, got up again (just by accident, hadn't planned it) and probably missed the first 10 min of Sth Korea v Ghana, and watched the rest of it - so already that was 2 killer games I had watched.
I then fell asleep on the couch after that game, and once again, woke up about 10 min into the next game, Brazil vs Switzerland, which was a good game as well, even if a bit different to the first two, but to watch Brazil trying to break down a well organised outfit was worthwhile, who were also capable of threatening the Brazil goal.
And then I managed to stay awake for the last one till the end, and I found that to be a good game as well, pretty even for the most part I thought, wasn't sure about the pen Portugal won late in the game.
A great night of WC watching!

Respect!!!!

yer big haul bettega good on ya, it is intoxicating but like you I watch the Serb/Cam game that was great and wife went to bed in prep of her Port and I said I'll watch 1st half of SK/Ghana that I couldn't walk away from - 11 goals those 2 games ffs rippa.
Went to get some Zzzzz's alarm for 5.45 for robbos and my wife's CR7 fapping its my goal its my goal haha
We all knew it wasn't and I'm giggling when the ground announcer said Fernandes, hoots he wasn't on the pen, robbos this is why I don't like the p (plus played for United) but obviously can't deny the achievements but find it hard to gravitate with Port because of him but obviously I say nothing at home :), well I have at times but have learnt to shutup lol.....
What did you think of the game ?
It could have gone either way, if Suarez put that one away would have been a different ball game.

LFC, we all have our pet hates, my wife is English (the food yuk).
As for Ronaldo, again I didn't see him flapping about, Ronaldo when he scores does his special celebration siuuuuu, but after todays' goal he raced over & hugged Fernandes.
Plus remember Portugal scored & without him being there the keeper would've saved it easily, so he played a big part & hence celebrating the goal was within his rights.
I don't understand the haters.

Talk about other pet hates, lots of mates are Liverpool fans & yes they play beautiful football but;
Klopp (better spelling?) whining about Man City money, I'm a Derby supporter & only reason Liverpool better then Derby is because they have more money, Methinks Klopp forgets he  is no longer at Dortmund, but with one of the biggest (richest) clubs in the world.

Yeah, it was Gomez, not Suarez who hit the post.
Portugal controlled a lot of the game but after goal, Uruguay clicked into gear & Portugal went to sleep & very unlucky not to equalise, but then Portugal got back control & was fairly comfortable. Very disappointed (well maybe not disappointed) with Valverde, seen him with Real Madrid & he's a special player, did nothing today.
Bruno was excellent & Silva does the Mooy job very well, probably better then Mooy in calming the play down by keeping the ball.

 I've had had a look at a few more games, RL.

If by counter attacking you mean sitting deep, playing a Half Press or Partial Press in BPO, with languid Squeezing in the opposition Defensive Half, and waiting  for  an opponent to make a mistake closer to the halfway line, or forcing a mistake from increasing the intensity of the Squeeze in one's own half,  I haven't seen a preference for  counter attacking  in the games I've seen most of.

That is both Socceroo games, playing France and Tunisia. So I've viewed two teams other  than  Aus.

Just looking at Brazil v Switzerland and whoever Brazil  beat 2-0 in the first round, then I have not seen that style of counter attacking.

I did view part of Ghana v South Korea too.

I think most teams have been keener to maintain possession of the ball, building up systematically and slowly - not preferring  to cede the opposition  possession of the ball, and only really trying to force a turnover towards the half way line and launch an  accelerated attack.

There has been an element of geger pressing, or counter pressing, where some teams have Squeezed intensively in a Full Press. They've hoped to disturb an opposition build up  deep in their Defensive Third or Half off the pitch, then launch an accelerated attack, with the opposition having to  defend  running towards their own goal.

It definitely isn't traditional Italian style counter attacking though.

Another phenomenon watching Brazil, who I love watching, is many of their flashy dribbling techniques, also used in futsal, have not been on show in Qatar.

Years ago, I acquired a Brazilian Soccer Schools video and learnt a lot of the flashy Brazilian dribbling techniques. I've imparted them to a lot  of players I've coached.

Techniques like  Brazilian outside step overs, inside step overs, Brazilian drags ( rolling the ball sideways or diagonally with the sole of the foot), combinations of these three techniques plus shoulder feints, Elasticos ( could never do them properly), reverse  Elasticos, Brazilian Chops ( like Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos used to do) have not been on show in Qatar by Brazil.

We've seen Matthews' Cuts, Cuts, shoulder feints/body swerves used by the Brazilians, and La Croquetas, but  a paucity of the  spectacular, flashy Brazilian techniques that Denilson, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and Cristiano Ronaldo used to perform. You will see  many of these techniques used in any highlights reel of the aforementioned players  dribbling.

At the same time we've seen wonderful skills in shoelace passing,  outside of the foot passing, outside of the foot receive/passes, outside of the foot receiving and  lobs, with  virtually all  Brazilians  demonstrating exquisite first touch, handling speed, close ball control  that Brazilian players have always  been famous for.

yes bud that we do, obviously the english wife has many good qualities for yes their food sucks haha....I'm sure you have influenced her palate.
Sure he does his siuuuuuu but it looked like he made out it was his watching and commentry quoted it as such by his actions - yes if he wasn't running towards the keeper he wouldn't been in 2nd thoughts. When Fernandes scores at United he's running like mad like most scorers do, he wasn't sure but ran to Ronny to embrace, it wasn't the same but that my pov.
I get you don't understand it for he's yours, same with my inlaws, he's can do no wrong despite what he has and behaves.
Blinded imo, yes I know what he does at home and elsewhere - christ he couldn't count the $ good luck to him.

Glad to see you mix with wannabee scousers like me lol, oh I agree stfu, it is what it is, mind game.
K knows where he is he rattles on too much and its their way of getting in the heads of their opposing manager and in other ways deflection, Chosen 1 the same.
Some are just dirty rotten scoundrals.

Gomez hit post yes but after Suarez was on he had a golden chance in the 6yard box from a free, ball bounced off his quad terrible angle he sent wide.
Yes it had its high and lows of dominating, Uruguay can't get enough rhythm, look dis jointed then suddenly string together 5 pass's and get in the danger zone.
Nunez was hopeless and when you have a old Cavani then Suarez and lacking ball easy for you guys but struggled as well.
Your mob should have wiped them imo.

Oh yes forgot about that Suarez chance, yes, close.
Portugal has all the players, but rarely play like Brazil or France (who have been the best looking teams so far o the bigger teams).
Even the year they won the Euros, they limped along before putting masterclass against France in final.
Betting man those Brazil & France are my teams, heart is all Australia then Portugal.

The wife's cooking very good, yes I have influenced her palate quite a lot. It's the brother/sister in laws in England I like ribbing.
Ronaldo, we agree he's a great player, that's good enough for me. Media makes him out being bad guy, if it was Ronaldo & not Messi with Mexican shirt, it would be front page news everywhere, all great rivalries needs good guy v bad guy.

As for Scousers, they fair dinkum ones living here (still have season ticket holders at Anfield, from the Werrell, posh part of liverpool), they hate Ronaldo too.

that mexican boxer wants to beat Messi up lol - I think its got alot coverage, they both get it just yours is very active on SM, he asks for it like most on SM, no care what the media say its how I read him and behaviour but yep he's been a great player, messie keeps low profile, he's done his dirty deeds just not exposed as much.
Ah true ones, tell em I luv em YNWA and you know why we don't like him ;):P

Qatar quite active to begin vs The Netherlands. Interesting now the pressure is off. 

1:0 Netherlands. Gapko having a blinder of a tournament. Big clubs will be lining up for him if they weren't already. 

Crucial 1:0 lead for Senegal. 

All one-way traffic in the game so far. I expect Ecuador to push a lot more in the second.

Goal Ecuador. 1:1. Ecuador advancing as it stands. Within 90 seconds Senegal make it 2:1!

Ecuador's joy lasted one minute.
Kouilibaly gets Senegal back in front.

Senegal advance. Rough way for Ecuador to go out. Qatar and utter shambles with no opponent needing to exert themselves to win.

Footage of Iran at WC 98. Sigh.