Welcome to our last Group A game. Let’s see how things stand.
Cameroon (managed by Chris) have QUALIFIED from the group with 5.5 points. Either they or Brazil will now top the group.
Brazil (managed by Matt DC) have 4.5 points. Anything other than last place in this game will mean they qualify no matter what other teams do.
Croatia (managed by intothefireuk) have 2 points. If they come first in this game and Brazil come last, they will qualify.
Mexico (managed by Steve M) have been ELIMINATED with 0 points.
Thanks to all the managers for some great tracks. As usual, poll below the cut, along with the nail-biting results from Group G.
CAMEROON: Reniss – “C’Est La Vie”
“Mighty/plucky Cameroon may have qualified for the knockout stages already, but we’re still playing for that top seed. I really like the dancing in this video (there is also a classic dudes-lowering-their-shades-at-the-singer moment).”
BRAZIL: Lei Di Dai – “Smoking Sensi”
“We may only need a point to qualify, but there are no easy games in this group and we can’t afford to be complacent. I’ve informed the players that anyone caught slacking off or giving less than 110% in this final game will be on the first plane home. One or two of them may have been on performance enhancing drugs, but since when was that illegal in pop football? We’re going all out to win it, with a formation that unashamedly copies Jamaican tactics and makes them our own. ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!”
Audio PlayerCROATIA: Pavel – “Cuvaj Me”
“Croatia are just hanging on by a thread in the group and with that in mind the team is in slightly sombre mood going into this last match. Still there is all to play for and as you know in football, anything is possible. If, however, the worst should happen this would act as a suitable soundtrack as the boys trudge off the pitch. Either way it’s been an absolute blast – may the best team win and thanks to Tom for making it all possible.”
MEXICO: Amandititita – “La Criada”
Sources close to the team have said the manager was ‘too upset’ to attend the pre-match press conference.
THE POLL:
A3: Which TWO Tracks Do You Pick? [ballot]
- CROATIA: Pavel 32%
- CAMEROON: Reniss 31%
- MEXICO: Amandititita 22%
- BRAZIL: Lei Di Dai 15%
Total Voters: 52
Poll closes: 31 Mar 2014 @ 12:00
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RESULTS: It’s squeaky bum time in Group G as Portugal’s decision to call in big names Buraka Som Sistema pays off – they take the 3 points, with USA getting 2 and Ghana 1. Which means that all three teams have 4 points and it’s a straight winner-takes all fight now. The only team not involved is poor Germany, whose second zero-point score leaves them with only honour to play for in the final game.
Hats off to that Cameroon performance, sometimes I think there is no more euphoric music in the world than modern African gospel bangers – I played one (Kefee & Timaya’s Kokoroko) in the last PWC. Like I love how you can take it as religious music or just as ridiculously uplifting devotional R&B.
I enjoyed Croatia and Mexico’s efforts to – the Mexican manager in particular does not deserve to be going home with zero points. Whoever qualifies, this has been an exceptionally tough group (possibly tougher even than Group G), excellent work all concerned.
Croatia really aren’t going out easily, and rally for a stirring finish that’s the highlight of the match. My second vote goes to celebratory Cameroon, euphoric is just about right.
Sorry Tom I was just upset by the tabloid back pages this morning showing my face Photoshopped onto a pinata captioned Arsene Van Marwijk amongst other less savoury things.
Croatia and Cameroon for me too. I was so glad Mexico offered up some pop-accordion to mark their farewell from the competition. In my mind it wouldn’t be a PWC without some accordion. Adios muchachos.
Ordinarily promotion of illegal drugs would be a red card however the Brazilian’s make it sound so much fun that they get my first vote. Of the other three teams Croatia and Mexico impress but ultimately, despite a slow start, Cameroon power through to get my second vote. I suspect this group is going to end up with a tied leaderboard.
Cameroon, unburdened by fears of losing, play with energy and freedom. They may lose the ball from time to time but they have faith they’ll pick it up again. C’est la vie!
Brazil are high on their own supply; throwing shapes and pulling poses. Their antics may disconcert at first, and their defence plays deep but more lucid teams may see through the smoke screen.
Croatia by contrast have no illusions. There’s a dignity and purpose to their play that wins respect and cuts through the showboating by the opposition.
Mexico are not going out quietly. They play with pace and confidence although bringing the keeper up for set pieces leaves them vulnerable to a counter attack.
All in all a pretty decent set of performances.
Mexico repeat themselves a little more than they ought, bobbing about midfield forever and not breaking out ever. A pity.
Close between second and third for me: Brazil have more aggression than you might expect from proponents of a game with this name, and it’s an attractive sort of aggression too. But they also start repeating themselves, getting stuck in the same pattern, and they’re tired by the time the second half begins.
Cameroon have the upper hand here: their superior command of the rhythm, and structure too, wins the game for them: unashamedly good fun, skilfully put together and played.
But, above all, Croatia win me over with their restrained Balkan melancholy: a classy, refined performance (subtle nods towards losing Balkan entrants at Eurovision notwithstanding) that puts them out in front, and, hopefully, perhaps, into the next round…
This has been a really good group, I do hope Mexico get at least something from their last game, they deserved to still be in with a shout at least. I’ll withold individual comments for a couple of days as I honestly don’t know who I’ll be voting for.
1. Cameroon
2. Croatia
3. Brazil
4. Mexico
Really top flight game from all involved, huge hats off to everyone for bringing the heat in this, our final Group A round.
Cameroon play on that libation tip, the sign of surefire winners, and with a song like this, I have to be happy for them. Autotuned glossolalia, a dexterous beat, and a swell joie d’vivre prove that they’re riding on the beautiful wave of right now and not on games before. Exemplary top team play, one to remember.
If my respect could be quantified, packaged, and transferred via mail to Croatia’s manager, he’d have a lot to sign for, that’s for damn sure! Always fielding teams that exhibit his specific view of the beautiful game, yet still managing to appeal to the masses. As the underdogs of this group, they put in a very committed and moving performance that seems to both cry because its over and smile because it happened. I hope they find their way through, even though it seems the conditions of their victory are against them with
Brazil unwilling to let any opposition pass their ganj without a bit of disorientation and damage from synth stabs and low flying bass tackles whose cleanness can only be verified with a hair follicle test, samples drawn from their legs. With a perfect attack play such as this, it’s hard to think they’ll hit bottom here with
Mexico perhaps failing to be a sufficient enough spoiler for them, at least that’s what I’m getting from the commentary box so far. I did really like this song though. People are booing it for its repetition, but this is a committed and fun performance worthy of a final match, I feel. Worthy of points any other time, but in this final match, it’s clear that points are going to be hard to come by.
Multi-props to Matt DC for fielding a player called ‘Lei Di Dai’ in this week of weeks…
Violins. Accordions. This is what the Pop World Cup is all about. In this case the violin pips the accordion. In fact I would say Croatia has been by far my favourite team at this Pop World Cup thus far. A vote for me here.
Before this game I gave Croatia no hope but Brazil are taking a high-risk approach to secure the point they need. This approach was very successful for Portugal and Greece so but I’m not sure it can overcome the passion of the other three teams.
For their part this is the Mexico I was hoping would turn up. Quirky, upbeat and fun. It’s a sad loss but I am sure they are already looking forward to the Pop World Cup in 2018.
Which leaves Cameroon claiming top spot in the group with ease. This is their most joyful game so far and they have a great chance of going far in the knockout rounds.
#10 – I would be lying if I said that hadn’t entered my thinking.
I think the official mobile-optimised swipey-item-game provider of PWC2014 may be a little concerned by the subliminal advertising happening in the Mexico match.
Props to Brazil in their technological research, being able to field the first robot player with the talk box voice in the last bit of their song.
Amazing!
Oof! Well done Croatia. Didn’t vote for them (or Brazil for that matter) this round. But the PwC thrives on these kinds of upsets. Mexico robbed yet again :(
WHOA. Big ups to Croatia, topping the group in grand style, just a bit over Cameroon. Shout outs to Mexico as well, managing to sway the destiny board in Croatia’s favor with a good farewell performance. Sorry to Brazil — I really thought their track was pretty exemplary as far as the groups go (even though I didn’t vote for it), but I guess other people thought different. Always a shame to see the hosts go. That Luisa Maita track is definitely a tier 1 favorite of the groups. Moral of the story is don’t do drugs, I guess.
Živila, živila, živila Hrvatska!
Oof, and to think I had a safety-first option I chose not to play for fear of exactly this outcome. One solitary vote in the second group game would have made this match a formality.
Sad to be going out but each of my players can do so with their heads held high, and congratulations to Croatia on one of the all time great comebacks.
Shockwaves through the Pop World Cup…world…the champ’s done a Lippi :o And MX got a pride point :o
Unbelievable Geoff.
Congratulations to Croatia, I didn’t see that result coming.
Staggering! I’d almost given up all hope but the team have shown the right courage and spirit to get through this very difficult group. Thanks to everyone who voted. I might even let the lads have a night out on the town after this.
It’s a shame that Ronaldinho will never get a run-out in the Pop World Cup – we kept him on the bench, because, well, he’s not very good at singing, but have his enjoyably loopy samba rap collaboration anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK1T4Z9c17M