FIFA WORLD CUP RANKINGS

The first round of the Knockout Stage is completed, and below is the rankings of the final 16 teams.  The top 8 are the quarterfinalists, and the next 8 is how the losers in the knockout stage have played in the tournament.  The ranking of the top 8 includes how they have played in all four games to date, with weight given to how the teams looked in the knockout state - round 1.

1.  Colombia
2.  France
3.  Brazil
4.  Belgium
5. Germany
6.  Netherlands
7.  Argentina
8.  Costa Rica

This would lead to a projected final four of:  Colombia v. France; and Netherlands v. Belgium

FIFA WORLD CUP RANKINGS

Here are the rankings after Round 2 of Group Play in the FIFA World Cup.  These rankings are based simply on how the teams have played, not by how many points the have earned or how many goals they have scored.  It is possible, therefore, for 3 teams in the same group be ranked above another group if that is how they have looked on the pitch.  Yesterday's games are not accounted for in this rendition of the rankings.  You can check the previous post to see how things have changed from the first game to the second.

Rankings

1. France
2. Mexico
3. Netherlands
4. Germany
5. Costa Rica
6. Colombia
7.  Chile
8.  Brazil
9.  United States
10.  Argentina
11.  Ghana
12.  Croatia
13.  Italy
14.  Uruguay
15. Cote d' Ivoire
16.  Belgium
17.  England
18.  Portugal
19.  Australia
20.  Ecuador
21.  Algeria
22.  Nigeria
23.  Switzerland
24.  Bosnia-Herzegovina
25.  Iran
26.  Russia
27.  Spain
28.  Honduras
29.  Japan
30.  Greece
31.  South Korea
32.  Cameroon

FIFA Fever

Each country that qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2014 has now completed at least 1 of their 3 group games.  Below is my rankings of the teams based upon their first game only.  Please note that for the rankings all victorious teams are ranked ahead of those that tied and lost, in order of which teams I feel played the best.  As we move through rounds 2 and 3, the records of the teams become less consequential (meaning a team with 1 win and 1 draw could be ranked ahead of a team with 2 wins).

Game 1 Rankings

1.  Germany
2.  Netherlands
3.  France
4.  Italy
5.  Mexico
6.  Costa Rica
7.  Colombia
8.  Switzerland
9.  Chile
10.  Brazil
11.  Argentina
12.  Belgium
13.  United States
14.  Ivory Coast
15.  Russia
16.  South Korea
17.  Iran
18.  Nigeria
19.  England
20.  Ghana
21.  Croatia
22.  Bosnia-Herzegovina
23.  Algeria
24.  Australia
25.  Uruguay
26.  Ecuador
27.  Japan
28.  Spain
29.  Honduras
30.  Portugal
31.  Cameroon
32.  Greece

NCAA Tournament Pool

Final Standings!!!

The University of Connecticut defeated the Kentucky Wildcats last night, and by picking the Huskies, J.C. Carralero is our champion.  He jumps from 4th to 1st place, making Barkley Sosa slide back to 2nd, Cesar Gonzalez moves to 3rd and Your Tournament Host finishes just out of the money in 4th.  Steve Usma gets his money back for finishing in last place.

I have been delinquent in getting the PayPal information out, because apparently it is much simpler than I thought.  If you are paying via PayPal - all you need is my e-mail address, sosalaw@yahoo.com.  Make sure you hit the friends and family selection so that PayPal will not take fees out of the total.

A great tournament everybody.  Would hope you all come back into the pool again next year!

Your Tournament Host!

NCAA Tournament Pool

NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL STANDINGS

Championship Monday

WOW - this tournament has definitely taken another unexpected turn as we lost another potential champion when overall number 1 seed and overwhelming favorite Florida lost to Connecticut.  In the other half, eighth seeded Kentucky beat 2 seed Wisconsin, meaning that we have the highest seeds to ever collectively play in the NCAA Championship game (15).  The picks of the day go to Barkley Sosa and JC Carralero, for selecting Kentucky and Connecticut respectively.  Although a few (very few) of the other entries had Kentucky or Connecticut, Barkley and JC put themselves right into the championship picture, especially since Barkley is now the tournament leader!  

For those of you STILL waiting for PayPal information - I am a complete idiot.  I have never used PayPal before, and I set up an account.  However, I do not know what information that I am supposed to give you to know into what account you should pay.  I have searched and searched, but apparently - as I said before - I am an idiot.  If someone can e-mail me at sosalaw@yahoo.com to let me know what information other than the e-mail address that I need to give you that will be greatly appreciated!

For now, Barkley leads, but JC has a chance to win with a Connecticut victory Monday night!

On to the standings:

1.  Barkley Sosa – 118
2. Cesar Gonzalez – 111
3. Pepe Sosa – 108

4. J.C. Carralero 1 – 107  UCONN

5. Jason Spuhler – 106

6. Karen Katz – 101
7. Jane Reynolds – 100
8. Brent Bellinger – 99
Robert Tanen – 99
10. Steffan Alexander – 96
11. Alvaro Gonzalez – 96
Ava Manon Gonzalez – 96
13. Jacey Fowler I – 95
Michael Litsey – 95
15. Meredith Tanen – 94
16. Cheryl Spuhler – 93
17. Adam Jorgensen – 92
Mango Merchant – 92
19. Colleen Hamilton 1 – 91
Marc Rodney – 91
21. Kim Bancsi I – 90
22. Erin Devlin – 89
Abigail Sosa – 89
24. Debbie Igdaloff Nieman – 88
Train Zimmerman – 88
26. Willa Fearrington 2 – 86
Carolyn Fowler – 86
Carolyn Fowler and Jane Reynolds – 86
29. Kyle Henderson 1 – 85
Greg Kummerlan – 85
31. Trouble Kroesen – 84
32. Megan Kossove – 83
Anthony LaPira – 83
              Ashley Poer 1 – 83
35. Albert Harper III – 82
Melissa Lazaerchick – 82
37. Kyle Henderson 2 – 81
Rich Samuels - 81
39. Jacey Fowler II – 80
        Hershey Zdrowak – 80
Keith Zdrowak – 80
42. Silas Nichols – 79
Hannah Sosa – 79
44. J.C. Carralero 2 – 78
Allison Parker I – 78
Jonathan Wasserman I – 78
47. Ashley Poer 2 – 77
George Walks 1 – 77
Katie Zdrowak – 77
50. Matt Hopps – 76
51. Kim  Bancsi 2 – 75
         Stacia Wilkaitis – 75
Michael Williams 3 – 75
54. Jack Henderson – 74
Kyle Henderson 3 – 74
Philip Kroesen – 74
Antonio Marinucci – 74
Allison Parker 2 – 74
Jonathan Wasserman 2 – 74
60. Willa Fearrington 1 – 73
Martha Kroesen – 73
62. Sam Lozier – 72
Matt Nemo Nieman – 72
64. Kingfish Parham – 69
65. Sean McInerney 2 – 68
Michael Williams 2 – 68
67. Bridget Talley –67
Ryan Whitten – 67
69. Hilary Kroesen – 66
Mac Kroesen – 66
Katie Butler Litsey – 66
72. Eric Inge – 65
Ty Leatherman – 65
Alex Sotelo –
75. Griffey Parker – 64
76. Arlene Hopps – 63
George Walks 3 – 63
78. Bill Lazarchick – 62
Colin White – 62
            Day Yi – 62
81. Sean McInerney 1 – 61
Sasha Moon –  61
Justin Yung – 61
84. Colleen Hamilton 2 – 60
George Walks 5 – 60
86. Hilary Grace – 59
87. Amy Zdrowak – 58
Joshua Zdrowak – 58
89. Chris Kroesen – 57
Michael Williams 1 – 57
91. J.C. Carralero 3 – 54
Tanya Fresneda – 54
Christina Pagdilao – 54
94. George Walks 4 – 52
95. Kristen Bolton – 51
96. George Walks 2 – 48
97. Steven Usma – 39

NCAA Tournament Pool

NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL STANDINGS

Onto the Final Four

We lost another potential champion when Connecticut beat Michigan State.  The second game was just as important as several people had Michigan in the Final Four and a few hand them in the championship game.

The top of the charts tightened up as 89 people in the pool failed to earn any points yesterday.  That leaves only 8 who gained ground on everyone else, including Barkley Sosa, who picked Kentucky for the Final Four, and is the highest bracket with both teams in her championship game left in the tournament.  Barkley was joined in selecting Kentucky by Pepe Sosa, Mango Merchant and Kyle Henderson 1.

Not to be outdone, Connecticut had exactly four entries that thought the Huskies could get this far:  JC Carralero 1, Steffan Alexander, JC Carralero 2 and Alex Sotelo.

The Sosa and Carralero brackets just picked their favorite teams (although they likely actually thought their favorite teams had enough talent to advance this far), so the picks of the day go to Mango Merchant, Kyle Henderson 1, Steffan Alexander and Alex Sotelo.

I do have to give some - but not much (and not pool related) - credit to Adam Jorgensen, who in December declared at lunch that the Big 10 would have 3 Final Four teams.  They didn't, but they did come awfully close.  Of course, Adam was referring at the time to Indiana and two out of Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State - so he wasn't that close.

Three of the four remaining teams are selected as potential champions, with nobody having Kentucky winning it all.  I will try, if I have time, to send out the final calculations of the final standings on the 8 different outcomes of the Final Four later in the week, so everybody will be 100% clear on where they stand.

For now, Cesar Gonzalez still leads, but the pack is charging up on him!

On to the standings:

1. Cesar Gonzalez – 111 Florida/Arizona
2. Barkley Sosa – 108  Florida/Kentucky
3. Jason Spuhler – 106  Florida/Louisville
4. Karen Katz – 101  Florida/Louisville
5. Jane Reynolds – 100  Iowa State/Wichita State
6. Brent Bellinger – 99  Michigan State/Louisville
Robert Tanen – 99  Louisville/Michigan State
8. Pepe Sosa – 98  Michigan State/Kentucky
9. J.C. Carralero 1 – 97  Connecticut/Louisville
10. Steffan Alexander – 96  Florida/Arizona
11. Alvaro Gonzalez – 96 Arizona/Florida
Ava Manon Gonzalez – 96 Florida/Arizona
13. Jacey Fowler I – 95  Michigan State/Louisville
Michael Litsey – 95  Florida/Louisville
15. Meredith Tanen – 94  Wichita State/Florida
16. Cheryl Spuhler – 93 Florida/Wisconsin
17. Adam Jorgensen – 92  Michigan State/Duke
Mango Merchant – 92  Michigan State/Baylor
19. Colleen Hamilton 1 – 91  Florida/Wichita State
Marc Rodney – 91  Florida/Louisville
21. Kim Bancsi I – 90  Michigan State/Louisville
22. Erin Devlin – 89  Florida/Arizona
Abigail Sosa – 89  Michigan State/Wichita State
24. Debbie Igdaloff Nieman – 88  Florida/Wisconsin
Train Zimmerman – 88  Arizona/Michigan State
26. Willa Fearrington 2 – 86  Florida/Louisville
Carolyn Fowler – 86  Florida/Louisville
Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds – 86  Wichita State/Michigan State
29. Kyle Henderson 1 – 85  Arizona/North Carolina
Greg Kummerlan – 85  Florida/Arizona
31. Trouble Kroesen – 84  Wichita State/Florida
32. Megan Kossove – 83  Florida/Louisville
Anthony LaPira – 83  Arizona/Michigan State
        Ashley Poer 1 – 83  Michigan State/Louisville
35. Albert Harper III – 82  Michigan State/Louisville
Melissa Lazaerchick – 82  Florida/Michigan
37. Kyle Henderson 2 – 81 Louisville/Michigan State
Rich Samuels – 81  Villanova/Duke
39. Jacey Fowler II – 80  Florida/Michigan
        Hershey Zdrowak – 80  Kansas/Arizona
Keith Zdrowak – 80  Florida/Michigan
42. Silas Nichols – 79  Michigan State/Duke
Hannah Sosa – 79  Florida/Wisconsin
44. J.C. Carralero 2 – 78  Louisville/Kansas
Allison Parker I – 78  Michigan State/Louisville
Jonathan Wasserman I – 78  Florida/Arizona
47. Ashley Poer 2 – 77  Wichita State/Florida
George Walks 1 – 77  Arizona/Florida
Katie Zdrowak – 77  Louisville/Florida
50. Matt Hopps – 76  Florida/Arizona
51. Kim  Bancsi 2 – 75  Michigan State/Arizona
         Stacia Wilkaitis – 75  Florida/Wisconsin
Michael Williams 3 – 75  Arizona/Virginia
54. Jack Henderson – 74  Florida/Wisconsin
Kyle Henderson 3 – 74  Florida/Louisville
Philip Kroesen – 74  Wichita State/Florida
Antonio Marinucci – 74  Florida/Louisville
Allison Parker 2 – 74  Virginia/Duke
Jonathan Wasserman 2 – 74  Michigan State/Duke
60. Willa Fearrington 1 – 73  Louisville/Florida
Martha Kroesen – 73  Villanova/Michigan
62. Sam Lozier – 72  Wisconsin/Kansas
Matt Nemo Nieman – 72  Arizona/Florida
64. Kingfish Parham – 69  Florida/Duke
65. Sean McInerney 2 – 68  Michigan State/Louisville
Michael Williams 2 – 68  Arizona/UCLA
67. Bridget Talley –67  Florida/Arizona
Ryan Whitten – 67  Arizona/Villanova
69. Hilary Kroesen – 66  Arizona/Kansas
Mac Kroesen – 66  Virginia/Arizona
Katie Butler Litsey – 66  Florida/Creighton
72. Eric Inge – 65  Syracuse/Arizona
Ty Leatherman – 65  Duke/Florida
Alex Sotelo – 65  Louisville/Kansas
75. Griffey Parker – 64  Michigan State/Wichita State
76. Arlene Hopps – 63  Massachusetts/Syracuse
George Walks 3 – 63  Florida/Duke
78. Bill Lazarchick – 62 Florida/Louisville
Colin White – 62  Virginia/Wisconsin
        Day Yi – 62  Florida/Wisconsin
81. Sean McInerney 1 – 61 Florida/Louisville
Sasha Moon –  61 Michigan State/Arizona
Justin Yung – 61  Duke/Virginia
84. Colleen Hamilton 2 – 60  Wichita State/Florida
George Walks 5 – 60  Kansas/Duke
86. Hilary Grace – 59  Louisville/Iowa State
87. Amy Zdrowak – 58  Virginia/Creighton
Joshua Zdrowak – 58  Michigan State/Arizona
89. Chris Kroesen – 57  Louisville/Virginia
Michael Williams 1 – 57  Florida/Arizona
91. J.C. Carralero 3 – 54  Kansas/Louisville
Tanya Fresneda – 54  Florida/Michigan
Christina Pagdilao – 54  Duke/Virginia
94. George Walks 4 – 52 Florida/Michigan
95. Kristen Bolton – 51  Duke/Florida
96. George Walks 2 – 48  Virginia/Creighton
97. Steven Usma – 39  Duke/Villanova

NCAA Tournament Standings

NCAA TOURNAMENT POOL STANDINGS

Elite 8 Day 1

Half of the final four is set as overall number 1 seed – and overwhelming pool favorite – Florida cruised past Dayton.  The same cannot be said about finals favorite and number 1 seed Arizona, which fell in overtime to 2 seed Wisconsin.  As Arizona was selected by some entries to win, we have lost another potential champion.  Current leader Cesar Gonzalez also had Arizona to win the entire tournament, so things are now really interesting at the top.  Especially since Jason Spuhler had both winners from yesterday to soar up the standings to second place.  The same is true for Karen Katz, who has risen to third place.

Really big games today, as all four teams involved have been selected by entries to be in the final game.

On to the standings:

1.         Cesar Gonzalez – 111 Florida/Arizona  1

2.         Jason Spuhler – 106  Florida/Louisville 3

3.         Karen Katz – 101  Florida/Louisville 3

4.         Jane Reynolds – 100  Iowa State/Wichita State 1

            Barkley Sosa – 100  Florida/Kentucky 2

6.         Brent Bellinger – 99  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Robert Tanen – 99  Louisville/Michigan State 3

8.         Alvaro Gonzalez – 96 Arizona/Florida 2

            Ava Manon Gonzalez – 96 Florida/Arizona 2

10.       Jacey Fowler I – 95  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Michael Litsey – 95  Florida/Louisville 2

12.       Meredith Tanen – 94  Wichita State/Florida 2

13.       Cheryl Spuhler – 93 Florida/Wisconsin  2

14.       Adam Jorgensen – 92  Michigan State/Duke 2

15.       Colleen Hamilton 1 – 91  Florida/Wichita State 1

            Marc Rodney – 91  Florida/Louisville 3

17.       Kim Bancsi I – 90  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Pepe Sosa – 90  Michigan State/Kentucky 3

19.       J.C. Carralero 1 – 89  Connecticut/Louisville 2

            Erin Devlin – 89  Florida/Arizona 1

            Abigail Sosa – 89  Michigan State/Wichita State 2

22.       Steffan Alexander – 88  Florida/Arizona 2

            Debbie Igdaloff Nieman – 88  Florida/Wisconsin 3

            Train Zimmerman – 88  Arizona/Michigan State 2

25.       Willa Fearrington 2 – 86  Florida/Louisville 1

            Carolyn Fowler – 86  Florida/Louisville 1

            Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds – 86  Wichita State/Michigan State 2

28.       Greg Kummerlan – 85  Florida/Arizona 1

29.       Trouble Kroesen – 84  Wichita State/Florida 2

            Mango Merchant – 84  Michigan State/Baylor  3

31.       Megan Kossove – 83  Florida/Louisville 2

            Anthony LaPira – 83  Arizona/Michigan State 1

Ashley Poer 1 – 83  Michigan State/Louisville 2

34.       Albert Harper III – 82  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Melissa Lazaerchick – 82  Florida/Michigan 3

36.       Kyle Henderson 2 – 81 Louisville/Michigan State 1

            Rich Samuels – 81  Villanova/Duke 1

38.       Jacey Fowler II – 80  Florida/Michigan 2

Hershey Zdrowak – 80  Kansas/Arizona 0

            Keith Zdrowak – 80  Florida/Michigan 3

41.       Silas Nichols – 79  Michigan State/Duke 2

            Hannah Sosa – 79  Florida/Wisconsin 2

43.       Allison Parker I – 78  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Jonathan Wasserman I – 78  Florida/Arizona 3

45.       Kyle Henderson 1 – 77  Arizona/North Carolina 1

            Ashley Poer 2 – 77  Wichita State/Florida 3

            George Walks 1 – 77  Arizona/Florida 2

            Katie Zdrowak – 77  Louisville/Florida 2

49.       Matt Hopps – 76  Florida/Arizona 2

50.       Kim  Bancsi 2 – 75  Michigan State/Arizona 2

Stacia Wilkaitis – 75  Florida/Wisconsin 2

            Michael Williams 3 – 75  Arizona/Virginia 2

53.       Jack Henderson – 74  Florida/Wisconsin 2

            Kyle Henderson 3 – 74  Florida/Louisville 1

            Philip Kroesen – 74  Wichita State/Florida 1

            Antonio Marinucci – 74  Florida/Louisville 2

            Allison Parker 2 – 74  Virginia/Duke 1

            Jonathan Wasserman 2 – 74  Michigan State/Duke 2

59.       Willa Fearrington 1 – 73  Louisville/Florida 1

            Martha Kroesen – 73  Villanova/Michigan 2

61.       Sam Lozier – 72  Wisconsin/Kansas 2

            Matt Nemo Nieman – 72  Arizona/Florida 2

63.       J.C. Carralero 2 – 70  Louisville/Kansas 2

64.       Kingfish Parham – 69  Florida/Duke 2

65.       Sean McInerney 2 – 68  Michigan State/Louisville 2

            Michael Williams 2 – 68  Arizona/UCLA 1

67.       Bridget Talley –67  Florida/Arizona 1

            Ryan Whitten – 67  Arizona/Villanova 1

69.       Hilary Kroesen – 66  Arizona/Kansas 1

            Mac Kroesen – 66  Virginia/Arizona 2

            Katie Butler Litsey – 66  Florida/Creighton 1

72.       Eric Inge – 65  Syracuse/Arizona  1

            Ty Leatherman – 65  Duke/Florida 1

74.       Griffey Parker – 64  Michigan State/Wichita State 1

75.       Arlene Hopps – 63  Massachusetts/Syracuse 1

            George Walks 3 – 63  Florida/Duke 1

77.       Bill Lazarchick – 62 Florida/Louisville 2

            Colin White – 62  Virginia/Wisconsin 1

Day Yi – 62  Florida/Wisconsin 2

80.       Sean McInerney 1 – 61 Florida/Louisville 2

            Sasha Moon –  61 Michigan State/Arizona 2

            Justin Yung – 61  Duke/Virginia 0

83.       Colleen Hamilton 2 – 60  Wichita State/Florida 1

            George Walks 5 – 60  Kansas/Duke 1

85.       Hilary Grace – 59  Louisville/Iowa State 0

86.       Amy Zdrowak – 58  Virginia/Creighton 0

            Joshua Zdrowak – 58  Michigan State/Arizona 1

88.       Chris Kroesen – 57  Louisville/Virginia 1

            Alex Sotelo – 57  Louisville/Kansas 1

            Michael Williams 1 – 57  Florida/Arizona 1

91.       J.C. Carralero 3 – 54  Kansas/Louisville 0

            Tanya Fresneda – 54  Florida/Michigan 2

            Christina Pagdilao – 54  Duke/Virginia 0

94.       George Walks 4 – 52  Florida/Michigan 2

95.       Kristen Bolton – 51  Duke/Florida 1

96.       George Walks 2 – 48  Virginia/Creighton 0

97.       Steven Usma – 39  Duke/Villanova 0