Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger
Just for kicks I'm going to predict Paraguay vs Argentina in one Semi and US vs Brazil in other.
Have any pundits mentioned the fact that many SA countries play at high altitudes and many of the venues are at high altitudes? Maybe I'm out to lunch but the SA countries are doing extremely well and I'm curious if the altitudes they normally play at might be an advantage for them.
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Interesting but to me the high altitude SA countries aren't there like Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia.
Chile plays at a fairly high altitude but i think the others are at sea level.
Brazil and Argentina for example hate playing up in the mountains.
My theory is more to do with the ball. The SA countries play the ball more on the ground and with the ball flying into row Z when shot, they are controlling it better. SA teams stereotypically are short and have trouble defending high balls and crosses. But there haven't been many goals scored on crosses in this WC because the ball is uncontrollable so they have been able to avoid goals against.