Yeah, no chance of that.
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Yeah, no chance of that.
For Messi I think a lot will depend on who the manager is. He definitely did not get along with the current one though I doubt he has the job much longer.
Ronaldo I could see being an impact sub by 2022 and wouldn’t put it past him to still have some magic in his boots.
Mbappe really put down a marker moving forward and especially if Cavini is badly hurt could take France all the way. I’m still amazed there were no red cards between Uruguay and Portugal.
Very interested to see what Croatia and Spain look like today and whether more Russian collusion is in the works.
Take care all.
I am very glad I opted to miss this game in favour of enjoying the sunshine at the botanical gardens. What I'm reading about the game makes it sound awful to watch.
Stop having Iago Aspas take important set pieces!
Who needs collusion when you can have Spain passing about aimlessly for 120 minutes without trying to score
Indeed. I lost count of the number of times I saw their players just walking, walking, as they passed between themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Please let this be the last we ever see of Tiki Taka.
KARMA FOR SALAH.
Very conflicted right now because Russia just won me a lot of pools but this also means Putin is happy.
Take care all.
They should have brought Rodrigo on much earlier, he actually provided some pace. Awful strategy from the start. At least you expect Russia to be dull, they're a limited team. Spain have the talent to be much better.
And this means one of Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia or England will be in the World Cup final. Now that is smurfing exciting - not one of the usual suspects!
Calling it now, 1958 rerun.
Except this time, the star teenager who wins his team the World Cup is French
Everyone suddenly remembering that yesterday was the exception rather than the rule when it comes to the knockout stages
That was a classic. 18-1 shot Mr. What won by thirty lengths.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Spain had 120 minutes to win that game. I too hope this spells the end for Tiki Taka. Their sad devotion to that ancient religion didn’t help them conjure up a winning goal.
Croatia and Denmark has been pretty even. I feel like Croatia have been far, far less fluid in their attacks in this game. Good tactics by the Danes? Fatigue? Who knows.
How Denmark still have ten men on the pitch is beyond me. It shouldn't have even been a regular penalty, he was taken out with an open goal to tap into and Croatia should have had a penalty without a goalkeeper to shoot against. It's akin to "may as well hamdball any goal that's about to go in so it's a penalty instead of a goal." It makes me realise why rugby has penalty tries.
EDIT: No idea why I'm so annoyed but I really am! xD
EDITRA: Justice!
Wow, what absolute drama at the end! Two polar opposite shootouts too. De Gea had nothing on Schmeichel and Subasic.
Good points, but it wasn't the goalie that conceded the penalty.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Some shockingly bad penalties in that shootout.
Was that the most amount of kick saves in a non-hockey game? Wow.
Either Russia or Croatia in the semi-finals! Croatia looked very tight at times but sometimes you just have to find a way to win, looks be damned.
Take care all.
I didn't mean the goalkeeper should be sent off, but that if a player is taken down with nobody at all between him and goal then they should get a free shot at goal, rather than a defended penalty. The goalkeeper can re enter play after the goal is inevitably scored. The player who gives the foul should be sent off.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayiGood points, but it wasn't the goalie that conceded the penalty.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Some shockingly bad penalties in that shootout.
Hey, kick saves happen constantly in indoor soccer.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
I don't often care that much about diving but the rolling around by Neymar had me fooled and I thought something had legit happened, then I saw what actually happened and was so annoyed. At first it was because the BBC only showed an angle where it looked like the Mexican guy just picked up the ball and that was it, but then I saw a thing on YouTube showing the Mexican guy had literally planted his foot, studs and all, on top of the ankle of Neymar while picking up the ball which is absolutely bad news, but the way Neymar reacted made me disgusted with him regardless.
Gutted for Japan.
I don't care how much of a prat Neymar is, I hope Brazil crush Belgium in the quarter-final now!
Fellaini on a late charge for the golden boot
Belgium and Japan just played the most dignified game of football I may have ever seen in my life and it was awesome to watch. Both teams played excellently and there was no anger between players outside of maybe one brief moment of fuming by a Japanese player at the corner of the pitch and that's it. After the previous game with Neymar being generally pathetic throughout, it was a delight to watch.
I think it's a bit cheeky of Shearer and Klinsmann to criticise Neymar for his antics when they were both happy to cheat when they played! Klinsmann at least had the honesty to look embarrassed when asked about it.
charlie: I'm curious as to why you want Belgium to get crushed by Brazil. Because they beat Japan? Fairly? With dignity and respect given to Japan throughout? Genuinely baffled as to what you have against Belgium who were happy to offer hugs and arms over the shoulders of the Japanese players after the match and didn't cheat once, while Brazil - and particularly Neymar - have been diving left right and center.
As for the issues of theatrics, how do you solve it fairly? My opinion is that if someone shows excessive signs of pain such as Neymar did, they should be ordered off for treatment. The foul can still be given, perhaps even a red card, but if you're in that much pain you shouldn't be on the pitch, you clearly need medical attention - off the pitch - while the the rest of the players carry on without you until you are deemed okay. That should be at least two minutes off the pitch for you if you are rolling around like that and screaming in agony. If you can get fixed up faster than that then perhaps you should just stand up and shut up.
Yeah, I just want them beaten because they came from 2-0 down to beat Japan in the last minute. I don't care if it was fair or not, I just feel bad for Japan. Plus I want to see a Brazil v France semi-final.
I mean you do you man, but I think it's pretty silly to cheer on a team known for cheating and deceit instead of a respectful but still attractive team to watch, just because the respectful team beat Japan.
If I were Japan, I'd want Belgium to win it. I'd always like to go on to say that the team who knocked me out of a tournament was the best one. If I lose to a team that loses the next round, it just makes me thing I wasn't good enough for the next round if the people that beat me weren't either.
Japan did great, and I'd love for them to have gone through, but now Belgium are probably the team I feel would be the best and most dignified winners, the kind that Japan would want to win. Most of the other teams left in the competition have something that irk me about them. Croatia, Belgium and England are the teams I'm cheering on at this point, and perhaps a little bit of support for France too. I hope Belgium win it. :D My ideal quarter final winners would be:
- France, because I don't like Suarez and I really like M'bappe. Pogba factor I suppose, too, but I'm not a massive cheerleader of him.
- Belgium, because I am more and more disgusted by Neymar the more I watch him, and because Belgium have such an incredible lineup that could actually win it for a relatively tiny nation.
- Croatia, because I like their team, style and work ethic. Although they were lacking a lot of that in the last match, which is concerning. Not really bothered about Russia. I don't like Putin's policies but I don't blame the players for that.
- Hopefully England for the other one because I want them to do well for the sake of the four (I think that's right) United players in the squad, plus I don't like the Swedish coach or the Swiss for bringing politics into football. If England goes out to Colombia, I'll go for Colombia, probably.
You were cheering for Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final then, were you? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
1-0 England.
There’s only one goal in this and I think we’ll get it.
Yeah, I'd agree. But this half of the draw is really awful in comparison to the France/Brazil/Belgium/Uruguay half at the moment.
...I wasn't even watching it. :shobon: But I do tend to go for any English team when they're in the final just because I want them to increase the English UEFA Coefficient because I want England to be rated higher than Spain xDQuote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticYou were cheering for Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final then, were you? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
I saw this coming once England started pissing about. They were doing well, then they started getting sloppy pretty quickly once they were in front. They were getting suckered into duels as well when they didn't need to, admittedly due to Colombia baiting them with awful aggressive and anti-sportsmanlike tactics.
That was an awful 90 minutes of football and I don't think I want to watch anything more with Colombia in it ever again in my life. That's not to say England have been outstanding either though. Ugh.
Let's see if I can get my trouts'n'giggles prediction correct. Not the 2-2 but England on penalties. I think they'll get knocked out honestly because I'm not confident about Pickford or even the likes of Lingard/Rashford for penalties but I still hold hope.
smurf off colombia!
one of Russia, Croatia, Sweden and England in the WORLD CUP FINAL. Mad!
Oh my god YES!
I tried to google anything about this regarding the Swedish coach but I wasn't able to find anything. What exactly did he do?Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Final redemption for Southgate
Honestly I just don't like his general angry nature, he gets into a rage over basically anything. A foul that was nothing? Get in the face of the fourth ref, spitting all over him while you shout your words in his face. There was also a ruckus over the Germans celebrating a goal against his team in the dying minutes, his camp took massive offence to it, not sure why. There's also... and I don't fall into this part of thinking because I have no evidence to it, for me it's just how angry he gets that makes me dislike him... a lot of talk of him being low key racist but personally wouldn't be surprised if that's just because he didn't pick Favourite Player #12345 for the World Cup squad. Allegedly there are really good strikers that could have been picked but he only picks "100% Swedish" players. Not 100% certain what that means but I guess it means there were immigrants that could have played for Sweden but he didn't select them.
I don't mean to make this personal, but do you not think your less-than-subtle jabs at the Kingdom of Sweden have arisen because you are from New Zealand and the acrimonious history your two nations share?
Just to be clear we're talking about the Sweden coach who was in favor of his team's open statement against the racism directed against one of his non-white players of a different ethnic background, right?
The one who was upset at a German celebration that the Germans themselves apologized for and for which multiple officials of theirs were banned from the field for the next game?
Alright, seems fine to me. He seems to have done alright picking players considering the obliterated Mexico, beat South Korea, won their group (which was a very tough group), and won their round of 16 match so far.
And they knocked out Holland and Italy in qualifying.
I don't doubt his ability as a coach at all. He's done amazingly well. I just don't like the guy. Wasn't aware the Germans apologised.
As for the racism thing, it's all hearsay for me, I just noticed it when I was checking out tweets about him after he was raging like an alcoholic at closing time at the ref. I've never seen the guy smile. Not my kinda guy. I don't have any real issue with the Swedish players, though - when watching their team in the matches I managed to watch, they didn't resonate with me on any level, so I only have my dislike of the coach to go on. :p
EDIT: Well, that and what Psy said. :D
I also thought it was interesting that you list Belgium's tiny size as one of the reasons for liking them, even though of the 7 other teams left, 3 have smaller populations than Belgium (a couple significantly smaller).
I, personally, want Belgium to lose because they have eliminated my primary rooting interest from each of the last two World Cups.
It might be recency bias but this really has been the most entertaining World Cup I can remember. We've had games of all sorts from a literal track meet in Argentina-France to the last goal wins wonderment of Belgium-Japan to the absolute rockfight that was England-Colombia.
I was fascinated by what Southgate said about practicing penalties, that he had his players TELL the goalie in training which way they were going to shoot ahead of time and then still had to make it. It really seemed like it paid off here. This group of relative underdogs might really have a chance to win this whole thing.
Neymar has always had a reputation of being about himself before the team and his theatrics definitely rankle. I watched the Brazil-Mexico game in a small bar that had no neutrals and even the Brazilian fans kind of smirked when Neymar "almost died" after being stepped on, on the sidelines. I may be biased but I only want Brazil to win it all if Bobby Firmino plays more. Otherwise, would not mind seeing another upset here.
Final four predictions?
Uruguay over France IF Cavani is healthy. If not, France wins a blowout, 3-1
Brazil over Belgium unless Roberto Martinez learns his lesson and plays two holding midfielders. 2-1
Croatia over Russia with the Putin caveat that anything can happen, 2-1
England over Sweden 1-0 in ET because England can't have it easy.
Do we think Harry Kane will end up with the Golden Boot?
Who do you think has been the player of the tournament so far? A lot of players to choice from.
Take care all.
France/Brazil/Croatia/England - though I'm most uneasy about the France prediction. Uruguay are pretty tough.
My gut says it's going to be France, Brazil, Russia, Sweden. I hope I'm wrong and Brazil get given a lesson in how to win while playing fair, Croatia rediscover their form from the group stage which went out the window for the last game, same for England.
I'm aware there are smaller nations than Belgium, but I have more than just the one reason for liking them. Affinity with players, liking their style of play, stuff like that goes a long way.
I think France will have too much for Uruguay who are a bit one dimensional. Brazil v Belgium could be a cracker and I would love it if the Belgians did a 7-1 on them, but they are the new Old Spain - massive chokers. Croatia should get past Russia fairly easily. I'm sorry, but the Russians are rubbish. Spain should have turned them over.
Why do England always seem to have a game against Sweden in major tournaments? I can't see them being tougher opposition than Colombia.
Though I am sticking with my France prediction I think Brazil will be very tough to beat, they're basically the 2002 side all over again.
It's the European version of Argentina v Nigeria. World Cup 2002 was the best, putting all four in the same group.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
I remember the days when England always used to get Poland in qualifying
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spuuky
They still play a 3rd place game, right? Have a feeling that might factor into the Golden Boot.
Take care all.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Think either Begium or Brazil are favourites with Croatia and Uruguay behind them.
According to the bookies, the favourites order is...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cell
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
France didn't destroy Argentina either in fairness. If Ottamendi wasn't a moron it might have ended up 4-4!
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
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).Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
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.
And of course Muslera would drop a bollock right after I said this. This World Cup has gone awfully for me and my predictions!Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticNobody 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
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.
Belgium living up to their potential? What?!
I was right to add them to the poll!
What a match.
EDIT: All European semi-finals! Didn't expect that.
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.
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...
Just put 1-0 on as a bet.
This will be awful... see you at 5pm for an England win with a Maguire header.
Remember when Psychotic said Lingard was troute?
I do
Remember when Bubba said Jordan Henderson was the tea boy of the England football team?
I do
I never said that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread....16#post3089716 (this was when I changed everyone's user names to be England players. Old Manus of course was Big Andy)Quote:
Originally Posted by BubbaI never said that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
A Psychotic never forgets. :aimkiss:
ps: roll out the welcome mat lads, it's coming home
Both these teams are troute. It's coming home (runner up).
But it is actually coming home.
OK but home is Uruguay and they're already out so
Russia v England would have been dreadful. Croatia v England might be marginally less dreadful.
Oh you tease. No more years of hurt!Quote:
Originally Posted by Spuuky
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Freya
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!
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.
Are those guys still around? Blimey.
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.
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!
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Technically that was a good half. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoBI mean, he does occasionally actually have good games for United. Did you see him against City?Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
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 :(
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.
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.
F
I should have known a team with so many Spurs players would bottle a semi-final
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.
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Take care all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubba
Ban me
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.
Just realised that England are playing Croatia twice this autumn as part of this new UEFA Nations League thing.
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.
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.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
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.
oh. oops. should've gone for England! ...or Panama.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
What a great World Cup, sad it's over.
Now back to rooting for Team Wellington in the Club World Cup in 5 months
23 months until Euro 2020.
8 years until the next summer World Cup =(
Qatar is a summer World Cup if you watch it from the southern hemisphere
Also lest I forget, RIP Cavani and your beautiful hair, finishing undefeated.