emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

Both games level at the half.

ITA v RSA stats showing a fair reflection of the Italian dominance.

RSA's only chances have been from very long range and the own goal doesn't count as xG for RSA.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

Windy Wellington causing an issue with the corner kick...

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

VAR - possible penalty to ITA>

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

One of the best own goals I've seen by Italy.

The right back played it back blindly to her GK - and the GK wasn't expecting it.

1-1

image/png

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

And the next second RSA hits the woodwork.

Go figure!

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

20 mins & I didn't expect ITA to be ruining the game.

RSA's had one long range shot and that's about it.

MagentaRocks, 10 months ago to wwc

Good morning #WomensWorldCup fans. It is early, dark and #ITA has already scored!

#FIFAWWC @wwc

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

ITA 1-0

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

Penalty Italy.

image/png

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

Lineups:

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emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #RSA 🇿🇦 #ITA 🇮🇹

This is tricky. Do I watch ITA v RSA or SWE v ARG?

I think I'll put the ITA game on my main screen because, based on Italy's last outing, RSA has a better chance to knock them off as a hefty underdog.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

After watching so many low scoring or tight games in this tournament, one of the last teams I was expecting to get whacked was Italy.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Another close chance.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

"Same tactics, same outcome, same scorer."

SWE 4-0

image/png

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

"Nearly a Swedish 4th."

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹 #PrivateEye #Satire

Some of you have probably seen this by now. It's very well written.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Apart from the xG advantage, most of the stats are pretty even.

Not a surprise when all the damage inflicted by SWE came in a blitz at the end of the half.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

"The Azzurri are all over the place."

SWE 3-0

image/png
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emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Rinse & Repeat for Sweden.

Feed the target and see what happens.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

"That is an exceptional tackle. It was perfect."

image/png

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Sweden moved some tall timber in the box.

SWE 1-0

image/png

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Wow - not a foul!

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Naughty!

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Great block from the ITA defender.

I think that was the point where both sides throw out the possibility that their opponent is going to play for a draw.

emarktaylor, 10 months ago to soccer

⚽ #FIFAWWC #WWC2023 #MastodonFC #Soccer @wwc #SWE 🇸🇪 #ITA 🇮🇹

Tense and tight.

Another shot on target.

It's like watching Italy v Argentina in that Italy is solid & workmanlike, not flashy, & looking as if they'll be more upset if they concede a goal than score one.

I remember watching the men play England in a qualifier in the mid 90s and Italy went 1-0 up early in the first half and we looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders because we knew that was going to be the final score.