2018 World Cup Thread

[charliepanayi]

I remember the days when England always used to get Poland in qualifying

[Loony BoB]

Croatia should get past Russia fairly easily. I'm sorry, but the Russians are rubbish. Spain should have turned them over.
Aye, but Croatia really didn't look themselves in their last game, nothing on the first two games they played superbly. If Croatia play like they did in the last sixteen against Russia, I can see Russia getting a jammy defensive result as they did against Spain.

I genuinely think every game could go either way, this World Cup has thrown a lot of expectations out of the window, from the reliability of Germany to England's penalties to, well, every expectation of Russia.

[charliepanayi]

Russia weren't jammy against Spain because Spain barely bothered to attack them.

[Psychotic]

Russia weren't jammy against Spain because Spain barely bothered to attack them.That's true, but then it's also not like Russia bothered to do much attacking themselves either.

[Spuuky]

The new word on the street is Cavani is going to miss the game. That would be very unfortunate.

[The Captain]

The new word on the street is Cavani is going to miss the game. That would be very unfortunate.

No Cavini means we probably see a gameplan similar to Colombia against England. Lots of fouls, complaining and stoppages. Not how France like to play. But if they can hold their composure, they should find a way.

They still play a 3rd place game, right? Have a feeling that might factor into the Golden Boot.

Take care all.

[Loony BoB]

Russia weren't jammy against Spain because Spain barely bothered to attack them.
If Spain was toothless in attack, you could argue that is partially down to Russia playing with 10 men behind the ball at all times. If the attacks never came, you'd think most teams would start putting more pressure on the opposition to win the ball and attack back, but Russia didn't do much of that. They defended well, countering Spain's tactics to ensure they didn't get much to work with. I'm not praising Russia's tactics but they were effective at nullifying whatever Spain had using a 10 man defence. Croatia's win isn't secured yet.

[Cell]

Think either Begium or Brazil are favourites with Croatia and Uruguay behind them.

[Loony BoB]

Think either Begium or Brazil are favourites with Croatia and Uruguay behind them.
According to the bookies, the favourites order is...

Brazil
France
England
Croatia
Belgium
Uruguay
Russia
Sweden

I'd pretty much agree with that for the most part. I still imagine England will screw it up somewhere on the way but perhaps that's just me being used to them struggling at knockout stages since I started watching football around 2002-ish.

[Fox]

I would put France above Brazil. Uruguay would be higher for me if they weren't playing France next, who will destroy them.

[Psychotic]

I would put France above Brazil. Uruguay would be higher for me if they weren't playing France next, who will destroy them.Nobody is destroying Uruguay. They have the best defence in the competition. France may grind out a win in the end but Uruguay aren't Argentina. I think it might go to extra time or penalties and France might very well be on the losing side.

[charliepanayi]

France didn't destroy Argentina either in fairness. If Ottamendi wasn't a moron it might have ended up 4-4!

[Spuuky]

I would rate Sweden above Russia. I'd put Uruguay higher with Cavani; without him, I think that's about right, and I think they will lose 1-0 to France. They certainly have a shot though.

I'd also switch Croatia and England in that list.

[The Captain]

Very much laughed out loud watching this:

http://digg.com/video/kids-neymar-practice


It also begs the question, can someone repair their reputation after they've been a diver? Or no matter what, does that stay with them their whole career even if they seem to play more honorably as time goes on?

Take care all.

[Loony BoB]

Very much laughed out loud watching this:

http://digg.com/video/kids-neymar-practice


It also begs the question, can someone repair their reputation after they've been a diver? Or no matter what, does that stay with them their whole career even if they seem to play more honorably as time goes on?

Take care all.
I think it stays with you for the most part. The best example I can think of is Young, as when he was, er, young, he dived regularly. Whether or not people still think of him as a diver these days is what I'm unsure about. I'm a United fan and I don't recall him being a regular diver in the past season, but I'm sure opponents will have a better view of his current reputation and whether or not he "escaped" the diver reputation he earned by any degree.

[charliepanayi]

Very much laughed out loud watching this:

http://digg.com/video/kids-neymar-practice


It also begs the question, can someone repair their reputation after they've been a diver? Or no matter what, does that stay with them their whole career even if they seem to play more honorably as time goes on?

Take care all.

Everyone loves Bilic even though he got Laurent Blanc sent off in the World Cup semi-final. And though it's not the same as diving per se, Maradona and Thierry Henry are considered great footballers (except by idiots anyway).

[Loony BoB]

Should be noted being a diver and a great footballer aren't mutually exclusive. You can be known as a great footballer from the start of your career through to the end of it and still be known as a diver the entire time. I think Cap'n's more interested if you can "lose" the diver tag regardless of how good you are as a footballer.

I think most of footballer's greats are also widely regarded as divers, very much including Ronaldo. I've not seen nearly as much as Messi as I have Ronaldo but it seems calling Messi a diver gets a lot of people into a hot debate over whether he was and/or is a diver. As far as I'm concerned, diving is bad, but trying to get a player sent off through feigning injury is the worse. I grumble at diving but I genuinely hate feigning injury.

[Psychotic]

I would put France above Brazil. Uruguay would be higher for me if they weren't playing France next, who will destroy them.Nobody is destroying Uruguay. They have the best defence in the competition. France may grind out a win in the end but Uruguay aren't Argentina. I think it might go to extra time or penalties and France might very well be on the losing side.And of course Muslera would drop a bollock right after I said this. This World Cup has gone awfully for me and my predictions!

[charliepanayi]

I was not expecting that. Brazil missed two great chances at 2-1, didn't even hit the target! Asterix v Tintin SF it is then.

[Psychotic]

Belgium living up to their potential? What?!

I was right to add them to the poll!

[Loony BoB]

What a match.

EDIT: All European semi-finals! Didn't expect that.

[Bubba]

That’s gonna be a cracking semi-final. France and Belgium have been the two best teams so far.

Tomorrow should be interesting too in the Europa League side of the draw.

[Bubba]

After seeing Japan v Belgium & Belgium v Brazil... I can see Sweden getting an early two-goal lead. They are set up in a way that it can really happen.

Just thought I’d post this because my predictions have been (close! But...)bad...

[Bubba]

Just put 1-0 on as a bet.

This will be awful... see you at 5pm for an England win with a Maguire header.

[Bubba]

Remember when Psychotic said Lingard was shite?

I do

[Psychotic]

Remember when Bubba said Jordan Henderson was the tea boy of the England football team?

I do

[Bubba]

Remember when Bubba said Jordan Henderson was the tea boy of the England football team?

I do

I never said that.

[Psychotic]

Remember when Bubba said Jordan Henderson was the tea boy of the England football team?

I do

I never said that.http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/142812-Euro-2012-Thread?p=3089716#post3089716 (this was when I changed everyone's user names to be England players. Old Manus of course was Big Andy)

A Psychotic never forgets. :aimkiss:

[Psychotic]

ps: roll out the welcome mat lads, it's coming home

[Old Manus]

Both these teams are shite. It's coming home (runner up).

[Crop]

But it is actually coming home.

[Spuuky]

OK but home is Uruguay and they're already out so

[charliepanayi]

Russia v England would have been dreadful. Croatia v England might be marginally less dreadful.

[Crop]

OK but home is Uruguay and they're already out so

Oh you tease. No more years of hurt!

[The Captain]

Genuinely glad to see 4 teams still left that aren't among the real powerhouses. You have one perennial underachiever in Belgium finally coming good, maybe shades of Spain 2010; France which blows hot and cold but seems white hot right now; England, in what would probably be the most English thing to do by winning a World Cup when no one picked them and Croatia, which seems to find ways to just eke out results after surviving back to back shootouts.

Final prediction?

I think Belgium beats France 3-2 and England outlast Croatia, who may be out of gas, 2-1, setting up what almost amounts to a Premier League World Cup Final. Maybe the EPL is back on the rise?

Take care all.

[Freya]

Why is the "it's coming home" thing a thing? PLease explain

(Good job England, I knew you could do it one day, dad)

[Psychotic]

Why is the "it's coming home" thing a thing? PLease explain

(Good job England, I knew you could do it one day, dad)Association football was invented in England, thus England is the sport's home. It's coming home was a song that was created for the 1996 European Championships that were hosted in England, and so football was coming home.

The song itself was self depreciating about the English mentality and culture, how our football team always lets us down but we still believe anyway, a sort of defiance in the face of inevitable defeat. The phrase is now used to sum up those feelings. We know this can't last but smurf it, until the party stops football is coming home!

[Bubba]

Weirdly, I could actually see a Belgium v England final.

It’ll give us a chance to play each other properly after the non-event that was our final group match.

[Spuuky]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2wu1s7tRa4

[Old Manus]

Are those guys still around? Blimey.

[Loony BoB]

RIP the dream. Lukaku went missing in that game, Pogba had Fellaini in his back pocket, De Bruyne was never able to do anything and Hazard - despite his best efforts - couldn't make the difference. Not a massive fan of the French team but I respect how good they are, and good job on making the final.

[Psychotic]

Belgium went back to their pre-Japan comeback mode. Maybe that's a little harsh as a lot of it was France nullifying them. Mbappe (apart from the trouthouse time wasting) Varane and Kante were great, and that's the Pogba who got so much hype. Hopefully that Pogba does not show up in the Premier League!

[charliepanayi]

He won't show up in the Premier League while he's playing for Mourinho. France deserve to win the World Cup so will probably bottle the final now.

[Loony BoB]

He won't show up in the Premier League while he's playing for Mourinho. France deserve to win the World Cup so will probably bottle the final now.
I mean, he does occasionally actually have good games for United. Did you see him against City?

[Psychotic]

He won't show up in the Premier League while he's playing for Mourinho. France deserve to win the World Cup so will probably bottle the final now.
I mean, he does occasionally actually have good games for United. Did you see him against City?Technically that was a good half. :p

[Bubba]

I still can’t shake the feeling that we’re due to meet Belgium again this World Cup.

That doesnt bode bode well for a good result tomorrow night :(

[Crop]

I quite fancy it tomorrow. I think the back to back 120 minutes will really take its toll in the second half. If we can keep from going down until then I think we'll nick it.

[Psychotic]

It was a dream. A really, really nice dream that I still can't quite believe actually happened. The past few weeks have been such a surprisingly delightful blur. But it's over, now. Time to get up and get ready to go to work ughhhh just 5 more minutes please I don't want it to end

Thanks Gareth and the boys. I never thought it'd be you, but you made me believe again.

[Shauna]

F

[charliepanayi]

I should have known a team with so many Spurs players would bottle a semi-final

[The Captain]

Boy, what kind of legs will Croatia have left for Sunday? 3 STRAIGHT Extra time games, plus 2 penalty shoot-outs! They've basically played an extra match compared to France. Still, there is something about this team.

France are obvious favorites but I think Croatia are on a mission here.

As for the third place game, do you think both teams play all reserves or do they go for it?

Take care all.

[charliepanayi]

Nobody ever cares about third-place playoffs, though they do end up being miles more entertaining than the final and can help decide the Golden Boot winner sometimes.

[The Captain]

Nobody ever cares about third-place playoffs, though they do end up being miles more entertaining than the final and can help decide the Golden Boot winner sometimes.

So that means Harry Kane will claim every goal even from the bench?

Take care all.

[Bubba]

I still can’t shake the feeling that we’re due to meet Belgium again this World Cup.

That doesnt bode bode well for a good result tomorrow night :(

[Bubba]

Ban me

[Crop]

Living in Wales I took the train to Bristol to watch the game. Just got home. The trip to, during and coming back were the best I've ever had as a football fan. Thank you Gareth, thank you England. I can't wait until next time.

[charliepanayi]

Just realised that England are playing Croatia twice this autumn as part of this new UEFA Nations League thing.

[Bubba]

I feel better now.

England did very well and thankfully the Premier League starts again soon. I should be ok to watch football again by that time.

[Old Manus]

In heartwarming news, Andy Carroll has done his ACL by falling off his hotel balcony while pissed. Presumably he was drunkenly warbling Fog on the Tyne at the time.

[Psychotic]

In heartwarming news, Andy Carroll has done his ACL by falling off his hotel balcony while pissed. Presumably he was drunkenly warbling Fog on the Tyne at the time.https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bdYTpINYAnU/maxresdefault.jpg

[charliepanayi]

Hey, my prediction before this tournament was correct! Well done France who have an excellent team, but commiserations to Croatia, great performance and they kept trying until the end. Best World Cup final by far since 1986.

[Psychotic]

France comfortably have the best squad so I've voted for them. Those of you who were here for the 2014 World Cup will know this is the kiss of death.oh. oops. should've gone for England! ...or Panama.

What a great World Cup, sad it's over.

[Spuuky]

Now back to rooting for Team Wellington in the Club World Cup in 5 months

[charliepanayi]

23 months until Euro 2020.
8 years until the next summer World Cup =(

[Spuuky]

Qatar is a summer World Cup if you watch it from the southern hemisphere

[Bubba]

75566

[Spuuky]

Also lest I forget, RIP Cavani and your beautiful hair, finishing undefeated.