Bench World Cup 2018

[Jakusotsu]

18 minutes ago, Achiyama said:

Received lineups from Chishafuwaku and Benihana.

Still awaiting lineups from Jakusotsu  and Kuroelwin. 

I sent you my lineup 37 hours ago.

Resent now.

[Achiyama]

48 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

I sent you my lineup 37 hours ago.

Resent now.

Got it! Thanks

[Chijanofuji]

On 7/9/2018 at 02:08, Jejima said:

Actually, you have (R) always as your [1st] Belgium - this does not have to be the case.

This is also okay...

1. France [ET],  2. France [2nd], 3. France [1st], 4, Belgium [1st], 5. Belgium (R) [2nd], 6. Belgium [ET]

and so is this...

1. France [1st], 2 Belgium [1st], 3. France [2nd], 4. Belgium [2nd], 5. France [ET], 6. Belgium (R) [ET]

Thanks, yes I know, the placing of the R with Belgium for the 1st half every time in the examples I gave was unintentional.

[Chijanofuji]

13 hours ago, Jejima said:

@Atenzan  @Chijanofuji

Select your penalty takers for the finals!

Only waiting for entries from:  Chijanofuji and Kuroelwin.

Get your entries in, and then I can relax.... 

 

I'll start thinking about this only after the Sumo and the Tour de France are over later today, so don't be alarmed if you only receive my penalty takers 1 or 2 hours before the deadline...

[Chijanofuji]

12 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Still awaiting lineups from Nantonoyama, Chijanofuji and Achiyama. 28 hours to go.

Same here. I haven't even thought about my semi-finals line-up yet. I will in about 13 hours from now....

[Jejima]

7 minutes ago, Chijanofuji said:

I'll start thinking about this only after the Sumo and the Tour de France are over later today, so don't be alarmed if you only receive my penalty takers 1 or 2 hours before the deadline...

I am hoping to be asleep by then! 

(Kick-off for the semi-finals is 2 am here in Hong Kong.  I plan to get an early night tonight, and watch the highlights of the Belgium vs France in the morning.  So I am refreshed for the England vs Croatia match.)

[Nekonishiki Banji]

Refioji Nekonishiki - Semi-final matches:

BWCS2 Match 2
Pitinosato (Croatia) vs  Jejima (Costa Rica)

Pitinosato gave us a long interview, see it right after the introduction of the teams. :)
Jejima's comment: This is really difficult to select, as Pitinosato has the bigger squad, and I think that Belgium will defeat France - but my best chance of victory is for France to beat Belgium - or to get lucky with my (C) selection for England.... 

BWSS1 Match 7
Tanetakahiro (Nigeria) vs  Fujiko (Tunisia)

Tanetakahiro: I am lucky to have 3 teams left. Did I place them in a right order?
Fujiko: It's coming home!

Fortunately there were quite enough permutations to avoid the same "teams" in the slots. :)

 

And this is what Pitinosato said to our reporter before the match:

I really reached the Semi-Finals ?!?
I can't believe it !
Must depend on my cement-defense and a good pre-basho-performance.

Sometimes it is really funny: I took the best Ozeki, the best Sekiwake and the best Komusubi (my R-Team !) Perfect choices
But out of 4 Yokozunae I had 3 choices (including Subs), and the only one I didn't choose was the only who made it in the Tournaments Semi-Finals  
But all 4 Teams, that would be an Affront 

3 Teams against 2, looks good...

... but only on paper !?

If the one with the two has France in his Team.
And has still his C-Team who is favourised as well.
If France gets their expected win, it will be very difficult to beat Jejima.
But if they lose, it will get really intresting.

This time I won't lay my fate in the Hands of my R-Team.
Will this be a good move ?
Can I neutralize Jejimas C-Team ??
Can Belgium beat the next Favourite ???
Can I go to the big finale ????

Good luck Jezz !

Edited July 10, 2018 by Nekonishiki Banji
Emoji are added, interpreted to their closest SumoForum equivalents :)

[Pandaazuma]

BWPS1 Match 3
Nekonishiki (Russia)
vs 
Krisachiyama (Brazil) 

Nekonishiki:

1. Belgium (2)

2. Belgium (1)

3. Belgium (ET)

Comment: There are not too many variations left for me.

Krisachiyama:

1. England 1st

2. England ET

3. France (S2) 1st

4. England 2nd

5. France ET

6. France 2nd

Comments: Belgium or France? This will be a decisive match. Let's get lucky!

[Jejima]

Hi everyone!

I am now going to allocate the roles of refiojis for the five matches of the 'finals' (including the Cup's 3rd/4th place play-off) BEFORE the real semi-finals start. 

There will be one match each for the five remaining active refiojis.  (Achiyama, Jakusotsu, Jejima, Nekonishiki and Pandaazuma)

However, there are still some restrictions regarding not being allowed to refioji your own match, or to refioji a match involving a family member or close friend.

We'll do it in reverse order of 'prestige'.

For the Bench World Saucer Finals, Achiyama (Tanetakahiro), Jakusotsu (Jakusotsu) and Jejima (Fujiko) are excused, so this one will be either Nekonishiki or Pandaazuma in charge...

Time to go to an Internet random name generator...

It's..

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Nekonishiki!

 

Refioji Nekonishiki will be in charge of the Bench Saucer Final.

 

Next, it is the Bench World Bowl Finals. Achiyama (Bozhanitakara) is again excused.  So between Jakusotsu, Jejima and Pandaazuma.  Back to the random generator.

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It's...

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Jakusotsu!

 

Refioji Jakusotsu will be in charge of the Bench Bowl Finals.

 

Onto the Plate.

No need to randomly select, as Jejima cannot be the refioji for either of the other two matches, so he gets this one.

Refioji Jejima will be in charge of the Bench World Plate.

 

So, Achiyama and Pandaazuma enter the randomiser.  First name out will get the 3rd/4th play-off.  The final name will be in charge of the Bench World Cup Finals.....

 

The Bench World Cup 3rd/4th place refioji is.

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Pandaazuma

 

Which means that the refioji for the finals is Achiyama (I think Achiyama might have been the refioji for the previous Bench World Cup Final too - so plenty of experience!)

 

Bench World Cup Finals
BWCF - Match 1
Winners of Nantonoyama (France)/Chijanofuji (Belgium) vs Pitinosato (Croatia)/Jejima (Costa Rica)
Refioji Achiyama

Bench World Cup 3rd/4th play-off

BWC 3rd/4th play-off - Match 2
Losers of Nantonoyama (France)/Chijanofuji (Belgium) vs Pitinosato (Croatia)/Jejima (Costa Rica) 
Refioji Pandaazuma

Bench World Plate Finals
BWPF -  Match 3
Winners of Nekonishiki (Russia)/Krisachiyama (Brazil) vs Furanohana (Uruguay)/Achiyama (Panama)
Refioji Jejima

Bench World Bowl Finals
BWBF - Match 4
Winners of chishafuwaku (Portugal)/Benihana (Sweden) vs Bozhanitakara (Australia)/Maeden (Colombia)
Refioji Jakusotsu

Bench World Saucer Finals
BWSF Match 5
Winners of Tanetakahiro (Nigeria)/Fujiko (Tunisia) vs Jakusotsu (Iceland)/Kuroelwin (Serbia)
Refioji Nekonishiki

[Pitinosato]

Direct duels on 4 and 5 tonight  cool  !!!

And Pitinosato seems to be a blabbermouth

Or the Reporter was very curious

 

Peter

[Pandaazuma]

Sorry...been ridiculously busy. Can I just clarify something...

When you say result of the second half, do you mean the goals scored by the two teams only in that half, or do we mean the score as it stands at 90 minutes (including any goals scored in the first half)?

[Nekonishiki Banji]

19 minutes ago, Pandaazuma said:

Sorry...been ridiculously busy. Can I just clarify something...

When you say result of the second half, do you mean the goals scored by the two teams only in that half, or do we mean the score as it stands at 90 minutes (including any goals scored in the first half)?

In that half only. So it can happen that the first half is a win for a team, the second half is a loss for example.

[Jejima]

1 hour ago, Nekonishiki Banji said:

In that half only. So it can happen that the first half is a win for a team, the second half is a loss for example.

As Nekonishiki says...

For example if Netherlands defeat Italy 5-2, with the score being 4-0 at half time, then although Netherlands gets a win for the first half (4-0), Italy actually gets the win for the second half (1-2)!  There is no extra time, and so that counts as draw, and any (R) and (C) teams nominated for ET would count as 'normal' teams, as extra time did not occur.

[Nekonishiki Banji]

I have recruited a new player for the Euros 2020 

[Jakusotsu]

Bench World Cup Semifinals - Match 1:

Nantonoyama (France)
1. France (2nd), 2. England (2nd), 3. England (ET), 4. England (1st), 5. France (ET), 6. France ® (1st)
Comment: At this point, gambling on the R power is more and more dangerous... Lots of draws in 45min... Nevertheless ALLEZ LES BLEUS
vs.
Chijanofuji (Belgium)
1. France (2nd), 2. France (1st), 3. Belgium ® (1st), 4. Belgium (2nd), 5. France (ET), 6. Belgium (ET)
Comment: My best hope in my semi-finals match vs Nantonoyama lies in Croatia reaching the finals by beating England and doing so by leading after the 1st half and the 2nd half (so no extra time in that one), as that would take out 3 of my aite's potential slots.
If Belgium should also beat France the same way that would probably be good for me, but I cannot rely on that, not in the least because even though I hope Belgium will win, I do not actually favor them to win. France seem to have the better team where defense, speed and organization are concerned even though Belgium are displaying more frivolity and unpredictability.
Statistics also favor France. ""Les Bleus"" (The Blues) and ""De Rode Duivels/Les Diables Rouges"" (The Red Devils) have met no less than 73 times in total (their first match was played on the 1st of May 1904 in Brussels and ended in a 3-3 draw), with 30 wins for Belgium, 24 wins for France and 19 draws, but the vast majority of those were friendly matches. If we only count matches with something at stake, we see a different pattern emerge: 11 matches played, with 5 wins for France, 3 wins for Belgium and 3 draws, and a goal difference of 24 goals scored by France and 15 by Belgium.
Having said all that - it's anyone's game isn't it?

Refyoji comment: For the second time in a row, Chijanofuji takes part in a mirror match of the real representatives. To make it three in a row Belgium would have to meet Croatia (Pitinosato) next, and they sure hope it won't be for 3rd place.

 

 

Bench World Plate Semifinals - Match 2:

Furanohana (Uruguay)
1. France (1st), 2. France (2nd), 3. France (ET)
Comment: OK, as my opponent as only France left too, I think this could go in PK…
vs.
Achiyama (Panama)
1. France (S2) (1st), 2. France (S2) (ET), 3. France (S2) (2nd)
Comment: My opponent and I have only France left. Is the match gonna be decided by PKs? Maybe.

Refyoji comment: Both are expecting PKs, and looking at their low-variance lineups they might be right. One thing's for certain, though: This match will be over very soon - stay tuned!

[Achiyama]

Sorry for being a little bit late with posting the lineups. I was waiting for Kuroelwin's lineup, but it turned out that he is droning.

Here are the lineups:

World Bowl:
BWBS1  Match 5

CHISHAFUWAKU (Portugal):

1.) Croatia 1st, 2.) Croatia 2nd, 3.) Croatia ET

Comments:

vs.

BENIHANA (Sweden):

1.) England (S2) 1st, 2.) England 2nd, 3.) England ET

Comments:  Thank you :)

 

Saucer match:
BWSS2  Match 8

JAKUSOTSU (Iceland):

 

1.) France (S1) ET, 2.) Croatia (C ) 1st, 3.) France 1st, 4.) France 2nd, 5.) Croatia 2nd, 6.) Croatia ET.

 

Comments: I am still alive? Amazing!

 

vs.
 .

KUROELWIN (Serbia) (Droning):

 

1.) England 1st, 2.) England 2nd, 3.) England ET

 

Comments:

 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY!

Achiyama

[Jejima]

Half-time report....

BWBS2 Match 6
Bozhanitakara (Australia)
Bozhanitakara:  1. France [1st], 2. England (S2) [1st], 3. France [ET], 4. France [2nd], 5. England [2nd], 6. England [ET]
vs 
Maeden (Colombia)
Maeden: 1. France (S2) [2nd], 2. England [1st], 3. France [1st], 4. England [2nd], 5. England [ET], 6. France [ET]

Jejima:  GOAL!!!!!!  Maeden scores an early goal.  But Bozhanitakara's chain is not broken - and their is a potential equaliser in the fourth slot.  It is by no means certain , but I would still suggest that this game looks like it is going to go to extra time and to penalties....

[Nekonishiki Banji]

Refioji Nekonishiki - Semi-final matches:

BWCS2 Match 2
Pitinosato (Croatia) vs  Jejima (Costa Rica)

BWSS1 Match 7
Tanetakahiro (Nigeria) vs  Fujiko (Tunisia)

It is too early to call. Everybody is waiting for England. The two winning slots of France (2) are almost at the end of the line-ups, I wonder if they will be useful for Jejima and Tanetakahiro.
Not hopeless, though. Pitinosato's chain will definitely break, if not earlier than in Slot #5.

[Jakusotsu]

Halftime report:

Bench World Cup Semifinals - Match 1:

Nantonoyama          0:0     Chijanofuji
(France)                     (Belgium)
                             
France (2nd)      W  Ø:Ø  W  France (2nd)
England (2nd)         :0  D  France (1st)
England (ET)          :0  D  Belgium ® (1st)
England (1st)         :0  L  Belgium (2nd)
France (ET)       D  Ø:Ø  D  France (ET)
France ® (1st)    D  0:0  D  Belgium (ET)

With his only chance nullified in slot 1 it is certain already that Chijanofuji won't be scoring any goals in this match. Now Nantonoyama only needs England winning any of the three remaining slots to avoid penalty kicks.

Bench World Plate Semifinals - Match 2:

Furanohana           1:1     Achiyama
(Uruguay)                    (Panama)
                             
France (1st)      D  Ø:Ø  D  France (S2) (1st)
France (2nd)      W  1:0  D  France (S2) (ET)
France (ET)       D  0:1  W  France (S2) (2nd)

Both players anticipated it in their comments, and it became reality: this match will be decided by penalty kicks as soon as Rijicho Jejima wakes up again.

[Jejima]

3 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Halftime report:

Bench World Cup Semifinals - Match 1:

Nantonoyama          0:0     Chijanofuji
(France)                     (Belgium)
                             
France (2nd)      W  Ø:Ø  W  France (2nd)
England (2nd)         :0  D  France (1st)
England (ET)          :0  D  Belgium ® (1st)
England (1st)         :0  L  Belgium (2nd)
France (ET)       D  Ø:Ø  D  France (ET)
France ® (1st)    D  0:0  D  Belgium (ET)

With his only chance nullified in slot 1 it is certain already that Chijanofuji won't be scoring any goals in this match. Now Nantonoyama only needs England winning any of the three remaining slots to avoid penalty kicks.

Bench World Plate Semifinals - Match 2:

Furanohana           1:1     Achiyama
(Uruguay)                    (Panama)
                             
France (1st)      D  Ø:Ø  D  France (S2) (1st)
France (2nd)      W  1:0  D  France (S2) (ET)
France (ET)       D  0:1  W  France (S2) (2nd)

Both players anticipated it in their comments, and it became reality: this match will be decided by penalty kicks as soon as Rijicho Jejima wakes up again.

Penalty kicks will be done in about 4 or 5 hours time - when I reawake!

[Pandaazuma]

BWPS1 Match 3
Nekonishiki (Russia)
vs 
Krisachiyama (Brazil) 

Nekonishiki:

1. Belgium (2)

2. Belgium (1)

3. Belgium (ET)

Krisachiyama:

1. England 1st

2. England ET

3. France (S2) 1st

4. England 2nd

5. France ET

6. France 2nd

Nekonishiki - Krisachiyama:

1. L - ?

2. D - ?

3. D - D (0-0)

4. L - ?

5. L - D (0-0) [Nekonishiki's chain broken]

6. L - W (0-1)

Forgive me if I make an error here as I am not so up on the semi-final rules, but it looks to me as if Nekonishiki's only chance is for England to lose in both the first half and also in extra time. And even if this occurs, it would then only be a scoreless draw.

Note...I have assumed that Nekonishiki's 4-6 slots are losses as he has no teams there, and that a lack of extra time in the Belgium game means ET is counted as a draw.

[Jejima]

Checking the different rules for the semi-finals.....

If the team reaches the finals, it scores the equivalent of two penalties. If it loses in the semi-finals, it is just one penalty. The sudden-death element of the penalty shoot-out starts from the fourth selection onward.

Furanohana first....

It's France!  That's trhe equivalent of two penalties being converted!

Achiyama responds with...

 

Brazil!

 

A big miss.

Furanohana OO
Achiyama X?

Furanohana next goes with.....

Croatia!

Oh...  We will have to wait another 20 hours or so to see if that one goes in or not!  

 

The game is not over!  Stay tuned.

[Nekonishiki Banji]

Congratulations to Krisachiyama.

[Nekonishiki Banji]

Jejima scores a goal! Pitinosato's chain is broken right in Slot #1. If England wins the extra time, Jejima will score a second goal in #5.

In the Saucer match there are still no goals.

[Jakusotsu]

Update on

Bench World Cup Semifinals - Match 1:

Nantonoyama          0:0     Chijanofuji
(France)                     (Belgium)
                             
France (2nd)      W  Ø:Ø  W  France (2nd)
England (2nd)     L  x:0  D  France (1st)
England (ET)         x:0  D  Belgium ® (1st)
England (1st)     W  x:x  L  Belgium (2nd)
France (ET)       D  Ø:Ø  D  France (ET)
France ® (1st)    D  x:x  D  Belgium (ET)

What drama! Nantonoyama laid the foundation for the win with Englands first half, but aligned that slot behind the second half which went the other way round. So Chijanofuji can take a deep breath before Jejima will handle the penalty kicks. (While I take a deep breath before extra time in the real match...)