Summer Breeze: Notes From June 24
Croatia, Brazil Fit to be Tied; Dodgers Bats Still Quiet Outside Colorado
Day Three of this new format. Thanks to all of you who have been reading along.
MONDAY AT THE EURO’S
*Italy (-0.2 goals) scored very late in added time to forge a 1-1 tie with Croatia. Italy was more impressive in stats than the score suggested (particularly when they were down 1-0 late), winning possession 53-47% and corner kicks 11-2. Croatia won shots on goal 4-3. Italy advances to the knockout round to face Switzerland. Croatia only managed 2 points in Group Play (tying Albania and Italy), which makes it hard to advance as one of only four third place teams. A lot of media coverage of the Croatia’s misery Monday at “losing” its berth so late in the game. But, if it hadn’t tied a very poor Albania team the other day, a spot was likely safe. That was the crippling result. You don’t really deserve a knockout spot if you can’t win straight up as one-goal favorites over Albania.