World Cup and New Extended part deux.

Part 1

First, an amendment to part 1.  There is no way that Argentina the third favorites should have been represented by a deck as bad as Boat Brew.  I'm going to upgrade them to UWr combo reveillark, a deck that contains a centerpiece, but has a game plan that is actually real and can win by value or by combo.



June 28th, 10am EDT Netherlands vs. Slovakia

Netherlands- Inventors of total football, a revolutionary system where players play multiple roles comboing out in beautiful goals in the 70s, this dutch team is slightly more conventional yet still having attacking flare.  Never quite getting over the hump, the dutch have looked good in the first few rounds, one shall see where it takes them.  One can match them to another deck that will undergo a style change from a combo deck to more of an aggro style.

Scapeshift


Slovakia- By eliminating the always hate-inspiring Italians, the Slovaks have done a huge favor to everyone's joy of watching this World Cup.  They play a pretty standard 4-2-3-1 (the most popular formation of this cup) and have mostly gotten by on organization rather than raw quality.  They can be compared to a deck that probably won't make a showing, but always seems to pop up in formats when you least expect them.

GB Elves


June 28th, 2:30  Brazil vs. Chile

Brazil- Ah finally to a real power.  Brazil this year is playing a much different style to classic teams of the past; Dunga has adopted more of a defend and counter strategy against good teams while still overpowering the weaker ones.  Many games their opposition doesn't feel like they are playing the same game as them.  Brazil is the menace of this cup, the team to beat, the quality, and the substance.

Faeries


Chile- A solid attacking side, probably doesn't have the stuff to beat Brazil but will try it's hardest.  Not quite sure how it is going to be put together, but probably has the tools to be trouble.

RG aggro


June 29th, 10:00 Japan vs. Paraguay

Japan- Quite the surprise of the first round, the Blue Samurai systematically destroyed Denmark on free kicks then quality attacking play.  I have them pegged as a nice sleeper that can maybe give Brazil trouble if they make the next round (by maybe I mean like 5% more than most other teams, so not very much).  So there is always one deck that traditionally gives the menace trouble and happens to be blue and walks islands.

Merfolk


Paraguay- Won their group over Italy, played a reasonable attacking style with solid defense.  All these South American teams run together to me.  I'll put them as another aggro deck that potentially could make noise.

BW Tokens


June 29th, 2:30 Portugal vs. Spain

Portugal- Like Argentina they are lead by an elite player:  Cristiano Ronaldo.  Unlike Argentina, they back him up with a drab defensive shell and negative tactics.  Also huge drama queens, they leave no contact undiven.  We can compare this to a more controlling talisman deck that just may make bigger noise than it's flashier counterpart.

UW Control Lark

Spain- Now we come to the second favorites of the tournament.  Spain is chock full of world class defenders and attackers.  They are great at playing any game plan they want and are adept at just overpowering teams with their talent.  Teams think they are in the game, then boom Xavi or David Villa flip the field and scoreboard upside down.  Upset in their first game, they have risen to the challenge to get back on their typical form and look poised to make a run at the title.  They are the other menace of this tournament.

Jund


Finally, I must write a postscript for some decks that I had great comparisons to teams that got eliminated.  Italy was going to be Reflecting Pool Control due to their slow. methodical, and defensive style.  Switzerland were going to be Teachings Control, the soccer version of a deck that requires 20 turns to win every game.  Finally, the third talisman deck which could be Boat Brew was Ivory Coast which could not live up to the billing of it's star, Didier Drogba (Drogba sounds kind of like Droge like the only person on this site that thinks Boat Brew is a real deck).

And so concludes my first magic and sports post.  Expect these whenever I get inspiration from a sports season and magic format.  As always comments are appreciated.