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General Discussion => Beer and Queso => Topic started by: Col. Sphinx Drummond on June 11, 2018, 07:02:46 pm
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I'm going to start out rooting my ass off for Panama. I don't think it will do any good. Some tough first round matches for the teams I might be likely to gravitate towards, like Portugal (Spain) or normally hated Mexico (Germany). England should get past Tunisia. France past Australia.
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Viva Espana!!!
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Thank you. We need all the help we can get. It could be worse, but we find ourselves in a group with Belgium, a team with a very real chance to win the whole thing. They played Costa Rica today, Costa Rica, the best team in CONCACAF, and Belgium casually spanked them 4-1. I live in terror that Belgium will give my guys a sickening World Cup welcome (we play them first in group stage) that will leave the team paralyzed going forward and result in total disaster in the other two games.
You never know, though. We turned in perfectly respectable games for the most part against Argentina and Chile two years ago, so I guess anything's possible. But I don't see it. Belgium is going to win the group with nine points and a goal differential of 15, maybe more.
Our team is a weird mix of a core of guys in their mid to late 30's with 100 caps each and an assortment of young guys, some very young, with limited to virtually no international experience at all.
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Colombia has a fun and talented team and I'm looking forward to watching them. It would be a shame if they didn't make it out of their group considering their competition is Senegal and Poland.
Group G will be interesting but Panama has a tough row to hoe. Belgium are obviously world class and the younger, deeper England team seems better constructed to not flame out in the traditional manner.
It should be a fun tournament until the Germany-Brazil final again.
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Colombia has a fun and talented team and I'm looking forward to watching them. It would be a shame if they didn't make it out of their group considering their competition is Senegal and Poland.
Ugryź mnie
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Panama may get a gift if England slips on the banana skin that is its opening fixture against Tunisia (something England has a storied history of doing at international finals tournaments). If Tunisia wins that game, it blows the whole group wide open for everyone. Belgium is very, very good.
The Portugal / Spain / Iran / Morocco group is the closest we have to a “Group of Death” this time around. Iran and Morocco purport to be hard to break down, so the one of the big two might take out the other in their head to head if they fail to put the minnows to the sword.
VAR is likely to be a disaster as it’s been a disaster already and many of the match officials at the tournament have never used it in a live game. The VAR officials in the booth in Moscow - the Varistas? - will be wearing full kit, however, so that’ll help.
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Teams I'm cheering for, in order:
Argentina
Iceland
England
Belgium
None of those four are going to win, but Argentina or Belgium could make a run.
Meanwhile Panama will get stomped in all three games and that will really take the sting out of the US not qualifying. Sigh.
Great resource for brushing up on some of the guys you may not know, especially if, like me, you really just watch EPL and Champions League.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/jun/05/world-cup-2018-complete-guide-players-ratings-goals-caps
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I invite everyone to spend a few minutes watching this, especially anyone with an interest in English football.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2018/jun/08/the-former-millwall-coach-behind-panamas-journey-to-the-world-cup-video
It's funny that Stempel says that going from Milwall in the '80s to Panama was 'natural.'
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Vamos las Polakas!
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Vamos las Polakas!
chodź polaky
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Spain cans their manager a day before the tournament.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/)
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Spain cans their manager a day before the tournament.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/)
This is seriously crazy. And I say this as a fan of Crystal Palace, who has made a habit of such things.
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Spain cans their manager a day before the tournament.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/13/spain-julen-lopetegui-fired-world-cup/697166002/)
#JurgenParaEspana
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Christiano Ronaldo is pretty good. Two goals so far today. Portugal leads Spain 2-1 at the half.
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Spain scores 2 early in the second half to take a 3 to 2 lead.
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Christiano Ronaldo curves a penalty kick into the goal for a hat trick and a tie game.
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And it finishes as a tie game.
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Christiano Ronaldo is pretty good. Two goals so far today. Portugal leads Spain 2-1 at the half.
Ronaldo 3 Spain 3
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Hello! My name is Cristiano Ronaldo. You fined me $22M. Prepare to die!
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Hello! My name is Cristiano Ronaldo. You fined me $22M. Prepare to die!
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Bet they wish they’d jailed him now.
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Trump's trying to figure out how to pardon him.
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Iceland! 1-1 draw with Argentina.
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Iceland! 1-1 draw with Argentina.
[Golf Viking Clap]
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Iceland! 1-1 draw with Argentina.
I love it. I hope Iceland makes it through the group
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I love it. I hope Iceland makes it through the group
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It's amazing that a country with the population of greater Corpus Christi can put together a world class team.
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It's amazing that a country with the population of greater Corpus Christi can put together a world class team.
Intriguing. I chose that exact city for the exact same comparison earlier today.
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I'm making paella and sangria in honor of the old country.
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I'm making paella and sangria in honor of the old country.
Poland?
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Mexico just beat Germany. I cant believe that just happened
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Mexico just beat Germany. I cant believe that just happened
Germany looked slow against the Mexico counter. If Mexico could finish they would have had three or four goals. Neither team showed very good finishing skills.
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Some years the group matches are real snoozers, but we've been treated to some really entertaining matches so far.
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Some years the group matches are real snoozers, but we've been treated to some really entertaining matches so far.
And then you'll have tomorrow's games.
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Switzerland-Brazil tie is a shocker too. South America is reeling.
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Intriguing. I chose that exact city for the exact same comparison earlier today.
Arlington is a more accurate, but less evocative, comparison.
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I was not at all shocked by the draw today. In fact, I half expected a Swiss win.
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I was not at all shocked by the draw today. In fact, I half expected a Swiss win.
Well, the Swiss do have a better flag, which is a big plus.
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Well, the Swiss do have a better flag, which is a big plus.
That's an under-appreciated element of this entire spectacle. I bought a cheap string of the flags of all the participating nations. They're everywhere here, these little packets of flags, and ubiquitously displayed. I've noticed that oddly the flags are arranged in a totally random manner. That is, the one I bought has a sequence totally unlike any other one I have ever seen. I brought it home and immediately went about stringing it across the living room. As I was doing so the cat decided to attack it and my son immediately went to the Panamanian flag and began inspecting it closely.
It's been useful to me because some of the flags are confusing to distinguish. Iceland from Denmark, for example, and Serbia from Croatia. You'd think that some of these countries would go to some length to differentiate themselves symbolically from their neighbors but apparently that was not a primary concern of the Balkan Betsy Rosses.
Yes, the Brazilian flag is pretty shit. But I do like that it contains the words Ordem e Progresso. Ordem is not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when I think of Brazil.
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Chuck, I'm wearing my Club Deportivo Centenario jersey for the Panama vs Belgium match up since it's the closest thing I have to a Panama team jersey.
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... Ordem is not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when I think of Brazil.
But "progresso" is??
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Chuck, I'm wearing my Club Deportivo Centenario jersey for the Panama vs Belgium match up since it's the closest thing I have to a Panama team jersey.
I'm proud to know it. If I'd known you were going to ride this train I would have made arrangements to have your kit more up to date.
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It's amazing that a country with the population of greater Corpus Christi can put together a world class team.
Does every single person in Iceland have a last name ending in "SON", or is that just a requirement to play on their national team?
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Does every single person in Iceland have a last name ending in "SON", or is that just a requirement to play on their national team?
According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patronymic) - "In Iceland, patronymics or matronymics are still used as last names and this is in fact compulsory by law, with a handful of exceptions."
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Does every single person in Iceland have a last name ending in "SON", or is that just a requirement to play on their national team?
Not every person, just every male. Females' names end in "dottir"
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Just son or dottir, ey? Retro!
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I was sort of half rooting for Iceland since they're the other WC debutantes but if they don't guarantee patronymic equality for the non binary community, fuck them.
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Harry Kane came up big for the Brits today.
I know they were only playing Panama (a team that qualified over the US, of course) but Belgium looked sensational. I am surprised that they didn't put 3-4 more goals on the board. KDB is one of my favorites so I'd love to see them make a deep run.
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Well, the Swiss do have a better flag, which is a big plus.
Seriously, no one sees what I did there?
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Seriously, no one sees what I did there?
Happy father's day.
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Seriously, no one sees what I did there?
[Standing ovation]
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Seriously, no one sees what I did there?
I was too busy trying to figure out why the Brazilian flag was so damn awful.
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I know they were only playing Panama (a team that qualified over the US, of course) but Belgium looked sensational. I am surprised that they didn't put 3-4 more goals on the board. KDB is one of my favorites so I'd love to see them make a deep run.
If you want to narrow it to one team, it was Honduras that qualified in the stead of the US.
Our first half was about as good as you could have hoped for, and I'd like to think that the performance will inspire some confidence going forward. In the second half we made a couple of costly mistakes and Belgium's overwhelming superiority finally took hold. Their roster arguably has more elite players than any other in the tournament. Cast an eye over where their guys play club football and where our guys play and you'll wonder a) How did Panama keep this anywhere on the horizon of respectable? and b) Where the fuck is Bucaramanga?
There is no sane person on planet Earth that thought we could win this game. Ideally, it would have been a 2-1 final, something like that. And a 2-1 sort of game was well within reach. I was seriously concerned that we'd suffer a legendary beatdown, and to walk out of there with our heads up was great.
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Poland just got screwed with their pants on.
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Poland just got screwed with their pants on.
Senegal is pretty good at that.
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Senegal is pretty good at that.
Well, not so much "that." but they are pretty good. Poland needs to score for 'that' to matter beyond goal differential.
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Well, not so much "that." but they are pretty good. Poland needs to score for 'that' to matter beyond goal differential.
And boom, there it is.
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Poland just got screwed with their pants on.
Just got home, what happened?
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Just got home, what happened?
A harmonic convergence of questionable officiating and serendipitous timing for Senegal. The refs allowed a Senegal substitution just as the Poland team was kicking the ball back to their goalie, presumably to restart their attack. The Senegalese player ran on to the field just in time to intercept the ball, side step the onrushing goalie and kick the ball in to the goal for an easy open netter.
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A harmonic convergence of questionable officiating and serendipitous timing for Senegal. The refs allowed a Senegal substitution just as the Poland team was kicking the ball back to their goalie, presumably to restart their attack. The Senegalese player ran on to the field just in time to intercept the ball, side step the onrushing goalie and kick the ball in to the goal for an easy open netter.
Well that shit ain't right.
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Does the USA 2026 Cup come with as easy a draw as Russia got?
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Does the USA 2026 Cup come with as easy a draw as Russia got?
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For which country?
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Does the USA 2026 Cup come with as easy a draw as Russia got?
Uruguay is good and Egypt was supposed to be better than Russia.
Saudi Arabia sucks. And they're, you know, fasting.
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A harmonic convergence of questionable officiating and serendipitous timing for Senegal. The refs allowed a Senegal substitution just as the Poland team was kicking the ball back to their goalie, presumably to restart their attack. The Senegalese player ran on to the field just in time to intercept the ball, side step the onrushing goalie and kick the ball in to the goal for an easy open netter.
That sucks.
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To be fair to the Senegalese guy, he covered a lot of ground. It's not like he just popped out from behind the goal line where no one was looking.
Still, it was a bit reckless of the 4th official to send him in right then.
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To be fair to the Senegalese guy, he covered a lot of ground. It's not like he just popped out from behind the goal line where no one was looking.
Still, it was a bit reckless of the 4th official to send him in right then.
Referee waived him on. He owns the cluster.
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Referee waived him on. He owns the cluster.
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Yeah, the goalie was already way out by that time.
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No credit for the back who kicked the blind, half-assed pass back in the direction of the keeper? That was pretty weak.
I'm wondering how the far-right white-nationalist faction of the Polish fandom is wearing the loss.
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Referee waived him on. He owns the cluster.
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Exactly.
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I'm wondering how the far-right white-nationalist faction of the Polish fandom is wearing the loss.
That is a foul and deserves at least a yellow card.
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I'm wondering how the far-right white-nationalist faction of the Polish fandom is wearing the loss.
"Womp womp"
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That is a foul and deserves at least a yellow card.
Gotta admit, you know they're having "fun" with all the far-right assholes from all the other European countries. It's a real shame the Hungarians aren't there in force.
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"Womp womp"
There's a lot of shit that people do that although I myself would never do it, I can more or less understand why others do. And then there's shit that people do that I absolutely cannot penetrate.
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The Argentina goalie just put the ball on a tee for Coatia and Croat Rebic says, thank you and gives his team a 1-0 lead 13 minutes in to the second half. Major dickstepping.
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Argentina quit trying at the 80 minute mark. Croatia now leads 2-0/
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3-0 Now. Argintine fans in the stands are crying. Maradona is crying.
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3-0 Now. Argintine fans in the stands are crying. Maradona is crying.
He's got a lot of emotion, you have to hand it to him.
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I've been a fan of Modric since he was with Spurs. Most fans are familiar with him, but he still doesn't get the pub he probably should. Dynamite midfielder.
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No credit for the back who kicked the blind, half-assed pass back in the direction of the keeper? That was pretty weak.
I'm wondering how the far-right white-nationalist faction of the Polish fandom is wearing the loss.
Probably celebrating with the Croatian branch of the organization.
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3-0 Now. Argintine fans in the stands are crying. Maradona is crying.
Sorry I missed that. Fuck that stumpy cheat.
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Probably celebrating with the Croatian branch of the organization.
Don't think the Croats have one. They're happy not having to share a country with Serbs and Bosnians.
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Shameful performance from Argentina. Croatia has a good team but Argentina half-assed it and then pretty much quit late in the game.
Also, even speaking as a City fan, Otomendi can be a little bit of a bitch.
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Mexico scored early and leads S. Korea at the half 1-0.
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Chichirito scores a goal at the 66 minute mark, to give Mexico a 2-0 lead. His 50th for the Mex Ntl Team. It was a knuckler, not a solid shot.
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S Korea scores two minutes in to the added extra 5.
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Mexico hangs on to win 2-1 over S Korea.
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Mexico hangs on to win 2-1 over S Korea.
What a great start for El Tri.
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And now El Tri has to beat/tie Sweden to advance. What an entertaining group. Fuck El Tri
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So I’m team Belgium. One of my best friends is from there, I have visited his family there, and they love beer.
Got up at 545 am to make it to the bar at for their match. This is a really enjoyable team to root for. So.id keeper, and three legit attacking guys, KDB, Hazard, Lukaku. Stinks that Panama is in the same group, cause for Chuck reasons, I’m rooting for them too.
Heading to a polish place in Spring Branch to watch Poland tomorrow. I love the World Cup.
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I'm trying to figure out whether I should go to sleep for an hour or so or just ride it out.
Belgium is no joke. They might win it all. In fact, I hope they do.
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I'm rooting for Panama. Sorry Limey, I naturally go for the underdog.
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Well shit, now it 2-0 England.
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And now El Tri has to beat/tie Sweden to advance. What an entertaining group. Fuck El Tri
Or Germany lose or tie S Korea.... I normally hate El Tri but this is a little different with no USA team. I have foound myself rooting for Mexico. I've got a lot of Mexican friends.
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Well shit, now it 2-0 England.
On a set piece and a penalty kick.
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Oh man...3-0 England.
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Jeez...
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The Panama defense is completely unorganized. Uncovered attackers everywhere you look.
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Wow. 4-0
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And...5-0
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I’m sorry for Chuck that this is unfolding the way it is, but Panama’s tactics have been Neanderthal and ugly.
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Throw the damn towel, Panama.
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Just saw a replay of the sixth goal. That pretty much sums up the match.
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Go fuck yourselves, both of you.
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Gol de Baloy, bien merecido. Chupalo bien duro, papa, ustedes son unos imbeciles. Uno es un pajon total que dice maricadas a cualquier oportunidad, el otro es un ahuevado que ve pero no entiende, chucha.
Miren a la emocion en las gradas tras de un gol solo. Y ustedes quieren criticar y hablar paja.
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I'm watching interviews with Panamanians leaving the stadium and all of them are ecstatic for the experience, for the goal that we eventually scored, for the way that we played and for the possibility of success in the next and final game.
I am equally ecstatic.
Some of you who have commented in a negative manner, today and earlier - all of you can eat my dick. You either know nothing about international futbol despite talking a shit ton of bullshit about it, or you know nothing about anything, despite talking a shit ton of bullshit about everything.
So fuck you.
For those of you who have been helpfully supportive of a team that has no player in a decent league, thank you. I hope that we will turn in a decent performance in our final game, and I am quite sure that the team will play as hard as they can, and that the fans in the stadium and beyond will be loud and proud.
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I was happy that Panama scored a goal. They tied Belgium in the first half and England in the second half.
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Or Germany lose or tie S Korea.... I normally hate El Tri but this is a little different with no USA team. I have foound myself rooting for Mexico. I've got a lot of Mexican friends.
The wife is from mexico so I have no choice but to root for El Tri, unless I want sleep on the couch
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I hadn't noticed this before, but the jerseys have the match-up (e.g., SEN-JPN) embroidered/printed on the front up around the neck.
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Columbia now leads Poland 3-0. Also Carlos Valderrama and Rene Higuita haven't changed their hair styles in 28 years.
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So how would they break a tie in a group should two teams have the same record, having tied each other, the same number of goals scored, goals allowed and goal differential? I’m looking at Spain and Portugal in particular. I know they each have another group match, but what if they both win 1-0?
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So how would they break a tie in a group should two teams have the same record, having tied each other, the same number of goals scored, goals allowed and goal differential? I’m looking at Spain and Portugal in particular. I know they each have another group match, but what if they both win 1-0?
Apparently, it works its way down to yellow cards and red cards, and then to a random draw.
https://www.sbnation.com/2018/6/21/17484912/world-cup-tiebreakers-group-stage-goal-differential-fair-play-rule
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So how would they break a tie in a group should two teams have the same record, having tied each other, the same number of goals scored, goals allowed and goal differential? I’m looking at Spain and Portugal in particular. I know they each have another group match, but what if they both win 1-0?
Here's the full list of tie-breakers (https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/tie-breakers-for-russia-2018-groups), but after goal difference, goals scored etc., they look at the disciplinary records of the teams - which is why England top Ground G currently - and then draw lots if still tied.
In both the Spain-Portugal and England-Belgium situations, both teams have qualified for the knockout stages so it's all about seeding in the Round of 16. There's a debate that England might want to tank the Belgium game because they would thus avoid Brazil or Germany in the quarters (overlooking, of course, Colombia - probably - in the Rof16, which worked so well against Iceland in the Euros) but they way games are going, it's impossible to predict outcomes. The advantage for England and Belgium is that they play last of all the groups, so they will be able to strategize their match accordingly if they so choose.
I think you just win, baby, and let the chips fall where they may. Germany look beatable, Brazil look beatable and, avoiding them puts you in the bracket with Mexico, who look pretty fired up. Be careful who you wish for...
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In both the Spain-Portugal and England-Belgium situations, both teams have qualified for the knockout stages so it's all about seeding in the Round of 16. ...
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Iran is still in the mix in Group B, no? Neither Spain or Portugal have secured an advance yet. One of them has to, but neither are guaranteed.
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but Iran is still in the mix in Group B, no? Neither Spain or Portugal have secured an advance yet. One of them has to, but neither are guaranteed.
That is the way I read it. Iran would have to beat Portugal, though. Any other result leaves them out.
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Columbia sending Poland packing...
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That is the way I read it. Iran would have to beat Portugal, though. Any other result leaves them out.
Iran can qualify from Group B with a tie with Portugal, if Spain loses to Morocco. Unlikely, but still a permutation. To complicate it further, the Iran tie scenario also requires Spain to lose by 2 goals or, if it's only by 1, Iran has to score 3 goals more than Spain today. So, yeah, Iran has to beat Portugal.
In the other Group being decided today, Group A, there are two dead rubbers. Uruguay and Russia are both through, and play each other for the somewhat meaningless privilege of topping the group. They match up against the qualifiers from Group B (above), so they will play either Spain or Portugal, and they cannot tell who that will be as the order of that group won't be decided until later in the day. I.e. don't bother watching any of this morning's games.
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Iran can qualify from Group B with a tie with Portugal, if Spain loses to Morocco. Unlikely, but still a permutation. To complicate it further, the Iran tie scenario also requires Spain to lose by 2 goals or, if it's only by 1, Iran has to score 3 goals more than Spain today. So, yeah, Iran has to beat Portugal.
In the other Group being decided today, Group A, there are two dead rubbers. Uruguay and Russia are both through, and play each other for the somewhat meaningless privilege of topping the group. They match up against the qualifiers from Group B (above), so they will play either Spain or Portugal, and they cannot tell who that will be as the order of that group won't be decided until later in the day. I.e. don't bother watching any of this morning's games.
I won't be watching. But I will be pulling for Spain. And I mean that non-euphemistically.
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Iran can qualify from Group B with a tie with Portugal, if Spain loses to Morocco. Unlikely, but still a permutation. To complicate it further, the Iran tie scenario also requires Spain to lose by 2 goals or, if it's only by 1, Iran has to score 3 goals more than Spain today. So, yeah, Iran has to beat Portugal.
Since Spain beat Iran head to head I thought that would settle it. They would both have 4 points while Portugal would have 5. What did I miss?
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Since Spain beat Iran head to head I thought that would settle it. They would both have 4 points while Portugal would have 5. What did I miss?
They look at goal difference and goals scored before they look at the head-to-head. Spain's GD is +1 while Iran's is 0, so if Spain lose by 2 goals, they will have 4 points while their GD drops to -1. If Iran ties Portugal, whatever the goal tally, they get to 4 points while their GD stays at 0, beating Spain on that measure.
If Spain loses by 1 goal, they will have 4 points and a GD of 0, same as Iran if Iran ties Portugal. So the next tie-breaker is goals scored, which Spain has 4 (plus whatever they score today) and Iran has 1. So, to win the goals scored tie-breaker, Iran will need to score 3 goals PLUS match Spain's tally today. So we're looking at a 3-3, 4-4 or more tie with Portugal, which is inconceivable; if they score that many goals they really should be winning that match (and the Portuguese should throw themselves into the Volga in shame).
Iran loses the next tie-breaker regardless (head-to-head) so, barring a major collapse by Spain against Morocco (who are better than their zero points suggest), Iran's goose is cooked.
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Russia appears to be suffering from a bad case of
roid rage the Mondays, as they implode against Uruguay, who are beating them 2-0 with Russia shortly thereafter reduced to 10 men. About an hour left to play.
Russia has qualified anyway, and being runner up they get to play their next game in Moscow against either Spain or Portugal, so it's not such a bad thing. The suspension of their first choice right back may hurt them, though, and they're also being shown perhaps to have flattered to deceive against Saudi and Egypt who, as it turns out, are both pants.
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The red-carded Russian was Smolnikov; which makes me want to have a bloody mary.
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Russia has thrown in the towel, subbing off their best player and letting Uruguay play keep-ball. Saudi Arabia has been awarded two penalties and has scored one, currently tied with Egypt who were given a 1-0 lead by Mo Salah.
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And would you believe it, Spain are losing!
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And would you believe it, Spain are losing!
And then they aren’t! 1-1 after a stonking goal by Isco.
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Don't think the Croats have one. They're happy not having to share a country with Serbs and Bosnians.
Speaking of Serbians, they seem like a group of charming individuals.
https://theintercept.com/2018/06/25/swiss-world-cup-stars-kosovo-roots-fined-celebrations-serbia/
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Don't think the Croats have one. They're happy not having to share a country with Serbs and Bosnians.
Oh they most certainly do.
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Oh they most certainly do.
Well, if you say so.
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Here's a handy primer on the group qualification permutations (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/25/group-permutations-how-teams-can-qualify-for-the-world-cup-last-16).
This morning, Australia could pip Denmark to the 2nd spot behind France who are already through, if they can beat Peru and hope that France can be bothered enough to beat Denmark.
This afternoon is much more interesting. Croatia, on the back of their 3-0 thumping of Argentina, have qualified, while the other three teams are in the hunt for the other spot. Nigeria appears to be in the driver's seat, needing a mere point, but I'll quote the above-linked primer to explain the chaos:
A draw against Argentina will be enough for Nigeria, provided that Iceland don’t beat Croatia. Iceland need Argentina and Nigeria to draw, and then if they can beat Croatia by two goals or more they can just about edge out Nigeria. Argentina need to win, and hope Iceland don’t beat Croatia. If Iceland and Argentina both win, it would come down to goal difference between the pair. Get the abacus out.
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This morning, Australia could pip Denmark to the 2nd spot behind France who are already through, if they can beat Peru and hope that France can be bothered enough to beat Denmark.
No dramas this morning: France and Denmark played to the tournament's first 0-0 draw, which confirmed them both through, while Australia made that moot by losing 2-0 to Peru.
Interestingly, France may have just booked themselves a Rof16 date with Argentina, which may or may not be a good thing depending on which (and if) Argentina shows up. We will find out later today...
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Iceland went down to Croatia, meaning that the 2nd slot was down to the Nigerians and Argentinians. Could Nigeria avoid its 5th successive World Cup defeat to Argentina? No.
In a wild game, in which Argentina played with passion and their boots on the wrong feet, while Nigeria were full of running and woeful finishing (save Moses' ice cold penalty), it ended 2-1 Argentina, with Rojo sealing the win with a blast of a volley as the clock ticked towards full time.
Nigeria got one penalty, could have had a few more, but really only have themselves to blame as they missed a boat load of opportunities. Argentina got a moment of sheer brilliance from Messi for their first goal and a fine finish against an absent defense for the winner.
#drama
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I was watching both games and really wanted Iceland to get the second goal and boot Argentina from the tournament but it just wasn't to be. Croatia still looks like one of the best teams at the tournament. Argentina will be playing France in the knockouts and I cant see them getting past the French, I'd predict 3-1. Croatia will now play Denmark, I think it'll be a tight croatia win, I could see a 1-0 here
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I was watching both games and really wanted Iceland to get the second goal and boot Argentina from the tournament but it just wasn't to be. Croatia still looks like one of the best teams at the tournament. Argentina will be playing France in the knockouts and I cant see them getting past the French, I'd predict 3-1. Croatia will now play Denmark, I think it'll be a tight croatia win, I could see a 1-0 here.
Yeah, even if Argentina get their shit together, I still think France will be too strong. Denmark was the best of three second choice teams in that group (or the one second choice with two third choice teams), and really don't look to have the chops to handle Croatia.
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Yeah, even if Argentina get their shit together, I still think France will be too strong. Denmark was the best of three second choice teams in that group (or the one second choice with two third choice teams), and really don't look to have the chops to handle Croatia.
I feel like Argentina is a team of great players that don't fit very well together, France wont have that problem. As far as croatia Denmark, Croatias depth will play a role I think, Croatia has the benefit of being able to bring impact players on off the bench. Denmark is a good team but I think croatia will wear them down over the course of 90 minutes
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Mexico is choking on Sweden's cock. 0-3
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Mexico is choking on Sweden's cock. 0-3
They need South Korea to hang on against the Germans, which they are doing (desperately) as I type. As it stands, Mexico are still in and Germany (and South Korea - who cannot go through now) are out; a German goal flips that.
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That German coach creeps me out.
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5 mins (plus stoppages) to play; Germany look likely to score at anytime, but also likely to concede one on the break. Everyone looks dead on their feet.
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That German coach creeps me out.
In which orifice is he jamming his fingers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmfbPA_qE30) today?
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That. Is. A. Goal!
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And now it's 1-0 in favor of S Korea.
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Amazing!
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And now it's 1-0 in favor of S Korea.
VAR to the rescue; the video replay rightly reversed the offside call as the ball was played through to the Korean by a German.
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Germany pulls their goalie and S Korea subsequently scores an empty netter.
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Germany "pull" the goalie - pushing Nueur up front - and get caught. Son with the tap in for 2-0.
The reigning champs are out, Mexico go on.
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Germany "pull" the goalie - pushing Nueur up front - and get caught. Son with the tap in for 2-0.
The reigning champs are out, Mexico go on.
Mexico go on likely to play Brazil.
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Ho lee shit. I cant believe that just happened. Wow
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The last time Germany went out in the first round was 1938. Thank God nothing had followed that.
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Germany "pull" the goalie - pushing Nueur up front - and get caught.
In hockey or soccer, I don't recall having ever seen that work to the advantage of the "pulling" team. Most of the time it backfires.
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It definitely works sometimes in hockey, though I have no data on the actual success rate, and I am certain it's far lower than the percentage of empty net goals surrendered.
I can't remember seeing it in soccer before, at least not with the keeper that far forward. Mexico used to move their keeper up to midfield back in the 90s (forget his name) and sometimes substitute in net so that he could attack full-time late in games, IIRC.
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In hockey or soccer, I don't recall having ever seen that work to the advantage of the "pulling" team. Most of the time it backfires.
It can work but usually not in the way Neuer did. You'll often see a keeper come up on corners just to have an extra tall guy in the box. In this game Germany really had nothing to lose. 2-0, 1-0, 1-1 are all basically the same thing
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I can't remember seeing it in soccer before, at least not with the keeper that far forward. Mexico used to move their keeper up to midfield back in the 90s (forget his name) and sometimes substitute in net so that he could attack full-time late in games, IIRC.
Rene Higuita of Columbia was well know for doing that in the 90s.
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In hockey or soccer, I don't recall having ever seen that work to the advantage of the "pulling" team. Most of the time it backfires.
Dunno about hockey, but in futbol, it's almost always a non-event. I think I've seen marginally more empty-netters than I've seen goals resulting from having a goalie marauding forward.
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It definitely works sometimes in hockey, though I have no data on the actual success rate, and I am certain it's far lower than the percentage of empty net goals surrendered.
I can't remember seeing it in soccer before, at least not with the keeper that far forward. Mexico used to move their keeper up to midfield back in the 90s (forget his name) and sometimes substitute in net so that he could attack full-time late in games, IIRC.
The difference is that, in hockey, they add an extra outfield player; in soccer, it's just the goalie loafing around trying to occupy a defender and otherwise be a nuisance.
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Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.
On this day in 2010, Germany put England out of the World Cup when this goal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5QlBHF6ib8) was chalked off by a corrupt myopic referee. At that point in the match, Germany had taken a 2-goal lead, England pulled one back and that that "goal" would've been England's second in as many minutes.
The momentum was all with England at the time, and the waiving off of that goal - at 2-1 - killed England's mojo. Germany eventually ran out 4-1 winners, but there is no doubt that this moment made an immense difference in how the rest of the match played out.
Today, Korea (and Mexico) almost suffered the same fate, as the on-field officials were about to chalk off a perfectly good goal. VAR reversed the call on the pitch, and the rest - along with Germany's 2018 World Cup - is history.
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Football, especially the World Cup, makes for strange bedfellows. I have no reason to like Serbia as a team or as a country, except...
1) They're playing Brazil, and who wouldn't want to be in the position of being in a tournament from which Germany and Brazil have already been eliminated; and
2) Luka Milivojevic is the girded loins of my beloved Crystal Palace.
The only other thing that's Serbia-related that I've liked, is Man Utd's fans' chant for their thuggish Serbian defender Nemanja Vidić. To the tune of Dean Martin's "Volare", they sang:
Ne-man-ja, oh-oh-oh oh
Ne-man-ja, oh-oh-oh oh
He comes from Serbia
He'll fuh-king murder ya!
Repeat until bored or Vidić is sent off.
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Football, especially the World Cup, makes for strange bedfellows. I have no reason to like Serbia as a team or as a country, except...
1) They're playing Brazil, and who wouldn't want to be in the position of being in a tournament from which Germany and Brazil have already been eliminated; and
2) Luka Milivojevic is the girded loins of my beloved Crystal Palace.
The only other thing that's Serbia-related that I've liked, is Man Utd's fans' chant for their thuggish Serbian defender Nemanja Vidić. To the tune of Dean Martin's "Volare", they sang:
Ne-man-ja, oh-oh-oh oh
Ne-man-ja, oh-oh-oh oh
He comes from Serbia
He'll fuh-king murder ya!
Repeat until bored or Vidić is sent off.
I'm in two minds when it comes to Serbia, as a Fulham fan, I love me some Mitrovic(was on loan at Fulham to help get promoted this season). On the other hand, if Serbia go far and he continues to play well, he will be much more expensive to sign permanently for next season. Everytime he scores for Serbia I just see dollar signs
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Serbia going out as it stands. They need to come from behind to beat Brazil to stay in (and put Brazil out).
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So, tomorrow. Group G. Both England and Belgium are through; they play each other; and neither wants to win the group. England are top by dint of fewer yellow cards - 2 vs. Belgium's 3.
The tactics and shenanigans to avoid winning and/or picking up many, many yellow cards should make this a farce of a game. Comedy gold.
For the record, England's coach says he wants to win.
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So, tomorrow. Group G. Both England and Belgium are through; they play each other; and neither wants to win the group.
Why is this? Certainly nobody in the other group against which they'll be matched in the next round is particularly frightening. Is it because the next round would feature a likely matchup with Brazil?
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Why is this? Certainly nobody in the other group against which they'll be matched in the next round is particularly frightening. Is it because the next round would feature a likely matchup with Brazil?
The winner gets the runner-up in Group H, the runner-up the winner. There are three teams playing for two spots in Group H: Japan, Senegal and Colombia. I can easily envision scenarios where any two of those three would advance. Colombia is the team I would least wish to play, but it's still so up in the air that trying to game the outcome seems silly. Colombia could very well not advance. If I were in charge of either team I would rest my best players and anyone in card trouble, try to win, and go from there.
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Why is this? Certainly nobody in the other group against which they'll be matched in the next round is particularly frightening. Is it because the next round would feature a likely matchup with Brazil?
One side of the draw - the side the Group G winner goes into - has France, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal. The other side has Spain.
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The winner gets the runner-up in Group H, the runner-up the winner. There are three teams playing for two spots in Group H: Japan, Senegal and Colombia. I can easily envision scenarios where any two of those three would advance. Colombia is the team I would least wish to play, but it's still so up in the air that trying to game the outcome seems silly. Colombia could very well not advance. If I were in charge of either team I would rest my best players and anyone in card trouble, try to win, and go from there.
Personally I would not want to play Senegal, inconsistent but deadly when they are on
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Personally I would not want to play Senegal, inconsistent but deadly when they are on
For sure, no easy games (England made the mistake of looking past Iceland in the Euros in 2016), but much better to let the other major sides knock each other out and risk playing the wildcard... and Spain in the semis. Once you're in the final, anything can happen.
A win is a win. Although, it must be said, doing it the hard way - like going through Boston, NY and LA - lends more than a strong whiff of legitimacy to it.
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Ideally both England and Belgium will come out strong tomorrow because I would like to have a better idea of what I'm looking at with both teams. I'm a believer in Belgium and have been very impressed with England but it's not as if they've been up against the stiffest competition so far.
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Ideally both England and Belgium will come out strong tomorrow because I would like to have a better idea of what I'm looking at with both teams. I'm a believer in Belgium and have been very impressed with England but it's not as if they've been up against the stiffest competition so far.
I am with you on neither team yet being tested. Unfortunately, I doubt that today is going to show us anything. Still, I'll be watching it at a Twin Peaks, so if I get bored with watching a bunch of boobs running around, I'll be able to watch a bunch of boobs running around.
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I understand that one side of the bracket has the more glamorous names, but based on what I've seen so far, people overlook Croatia (and even Sweden) at their own peril.
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By the way, is there a yellow card reset coming? Or does a player move out of the danger zone after one or two matches without a subsequent card?
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I understand that one side of the bracket has the more glamorous names, but based on what I've seen so far, people overlook Croatia (and even Sweden) at their own peril.
I am presuming that, after the Iceland debacle, England isn't overlooking anyone. Eh? (https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/06/football-world-cup-england-fan-gets-early-championship-tattoo.html) Oh.
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By the way, is there a yellow card reset coming? Or does a player move out of the danger zone after one or two matches without a subsequent card?
There's a reset for the semifinals.
eta: Found this, if you're curious:
Which players are currently suspended?
Panama: Armando Cooper, Michael Murillo — Can’t play against Tunisia
Sweden: Seb Larsson — Can’t play against Switzerland
Mexico: Hector Moreno — Can’t play against Brazil
Switzerland: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schär — Can’t play against Sweden
Russia: Igor Smolinkov — Can’t play against Spain (red card)
Players who will get suspended with their next yellow card
Argentina: Marcos Acuña, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega, Lionel Messi
Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, Jan Vertonghen
Brazil: Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar
Colombia: Wilmar Barrios, James Rodriguez
Croatia: Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic, Ante Rebic, Sime Vrsaljko, Tin Jedvaj, Marco Pjaca
Denmark: Thomas Delaney, Pione Sisto, “Zanka” Mathias Jorgensen
England: Kyle Walker, Ruben Loftus-Cheek
France: Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, Corintin Tolisso
Japan: Eiji Kawashima, Takashi Inui, Makoto Hasebe
Mexico: Hector Herrera, Jesus Gallardo
Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Adrien Silva, Ricardo Quaresma, Cedric Soares, Raphael Guerreiro
Russia: Aleksandr Golovin, Fyodor Smolov, Yuri Gazinskiy
Senegal: Gana, Salif Sane, Cheikh N’Doye, Youssouf Sabaly
Spain: Sergio Busquets
Sweden: Viktor Claesson, Albin Ekdal
Switzerland: Valon Behrami
Uruguay: Rodrigo Bentancur
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The used to reset after the group stage, but the heartbreaking episode of a crying Gazza (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9-4S4lvpJI) - having an on-field emotional meltdown for collecting the yellow card (courtesy of some fine exaggeration by a German) that would have seen him suspended for the final had England not lost on penalties (natch).
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Senegal is on the brink of being eliminated by dint of two yellow cards, picked up in time added on to the end of their game with Japan as they clung on to the tie with Japan going hard for the win. If so: (1) it seems a just result, if only by the thinnest of margins; but (b) Senegal would be the first team ever eliminated by the fair play tie-breaker.
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Senegal is on the brink of being eliminated by dint of two yellow cards, picked up in time added on to the end of their game with Japan as they clung on to the tie with Japan going hard for the win. If so: (1) it seems a just result, if only by the thinnest of margins; but (b) Senegal would be the first team ever eliminated by the fair play tie-breaker.
Have you heard anything from across the pond about the beer rationing due to the lack of CO2? Not that there's ever a good time for that sort of thing, but I can't think of a worse one.
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Senegal is on the brink of being eliminated by dint of two yellow cards, picked up in time added on to the end of their game with Japan as they clung on to the tie with Japan going hard for the win. If so: (1) it seems a just result, if only by the thinnest of margins; but (b) Senegal would be the first team ever eliminated by the fair play tie-breaker.
the last 10 minutes of this game were boring.
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the last 10 minutes of this game were boring.
It's been posited that it would be fantastically ironic if Japan picked up a couple of yellow cards for time wasting as they try to see out this result.
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So Colombia tops the group? Loser of Belgium - England faces Colombia, winner gets Japan? That seems like something worth playing for.
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So wait, I don't follow Soccer, but was convinced to adopt Senegal as an underdog. I thought I was told this morning that if japan lost, Senegal was in. That was wrong?
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So wait, I don't follow Soccer, but was convinced to adopt Senegal as an underdog. I thought I was told this morning that if japan lost, Senegal was in. That was wrong?
They lost the yellow card tie breaker.
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Senegal is on the brink of being eliminated by dint of two yellow cards, picked up in time added on to the end of their game with Japan as they clung on to the tie with Japan going hard for the win. If so: (1) it seems a just result, if only by the thinnest of margins; but (b) Senegal would be the first team ever eliminated by the fair play tie-breaker.
the last 10 minutes of this game were boring. So Colombia tops the group? Loser of Belgium - England faces Colombia, winner gets Japan? That seems like something worth playing for.
Except on the other side you get Sweden or Denmark. I'd rather go that side. I'll let England top the group.
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Except on the other side you get Sweden or Denmark. I'd rather go that side. I'll let England top the group.
Oi!
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Goal! Panama takes the lead 1-0
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I don’t care if they’re not moving on, a Panama win would be awesome.
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Oi!
There are some really nice looking futbal players on your team.
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There are some really nice looking futbal players on your team.
Yep (https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1820881.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/Phil-Jones-gurning-face-as-Sergio-Aguero-scores.jpg)
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So the bracket is set. England avoided winning the group when it's B team lost to Belgium's B team. Belgium get to play Japan but are on the side of the bracket that also includes Brazil, France, Argentina and Portugal. England, conversely, have a tougher Rof16 opponent - Colombia - but have avoided most of the big names save Spain and Croatia, either of which they can face only in the semi-final.
No games today. Tomorrow sees France v Argentina in the morning and Uruguay v Portugal in the afternoon - both games are delightfully poised.
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Mbappe is donating his pay from the World Cup to charity. Which begs the question: Qui es mas charitable? Mbappe or this Argentinian defense?
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Who knows what the final score will be here. Both teams are wonderfully bad at defending.
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That’s probably true, but as a non soccer fan, it’s a pretty exciting game. And another as I type.
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That’s probably true, but as a non soccer fan, it’s a pretty exciting game. And another as I type.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I am thoroughly enjoying this.
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Como se dice “Maginot Line” en espanol?
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Como se dice “Maginot Line” en espanol?
Malvinas?
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Como se dice “Maginot Line” en espanol?
El Linea de Magino.
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Mbappe is donating his pay from the World Cup to charity. Which begs the question: Qui es mas charitable? Mbappe or this Argentinian defense?
Argentina. But good for the young man.
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Uruguay take a quick lead on Portugal on a beautiful play.
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Uruguay take a quick lead on Portugal on a beautiful play.
Early goals are great for keeping matches from turning into slogfests. But I have to say that this WC has featured a lot of attacking play. It's been very enjoyable.
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Suarez deserves a card for his incessant fakery.
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Suarez deserves a card for his incessant fakery.
There appears to be no depth he won’t lower himself to
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Malvinas?
Well played.
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There appears to be no depth he won’t lower himself to
In moments of desperation, he has resorted to cannibalism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy31pdfntUw).
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Argentina. But good for the young man.
Agreed. Reminiscent of Michael Owen at that age (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8fANDq_qc).
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Agreed. Reminiscent of Michael Owen at that age (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag8fANDq_qc).
Oh man, I remember that, was a sweet play.
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In moments of desperation, he has resorted to cannibalism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy31pdfntUw).
He is a skillful player who uses his assets (including a tremendous overbite) to his best advantage. God gave him those choppers to use for more than just eating corn on the cob. Them chicklets will always be his dominant feature.
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Germany out. Argentina out. Portugal out. Now Spain out.
Wow!
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Germany out. Argentina out. Portugal out. Now Spain out.
Wow!
Amazing!
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If there's one thing Russians are good at, it's siege defense.
Croatia's road just got easier (assuming they handle Denmark), especially since Russia will be exhausted.
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If there's one thing Russians are good at, it's siege defense.
Not much of a siege when your opponent just wants to walk around and not attack.
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Hard to believe I've watched the Russians beat the Spanish, Mexicans and koreans beat Germany, Croatia destroy Argentina
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Croatia's road just got easier (assuming they handle Denmark), especially since Russia will be exhausted.
Yes, I hear that drowning in trim and vodka is quite taxing.
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Not much of a siege when your opponent just wants to walk around and not attack.
Bingo. No one to blame but themselves.
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If there's one thing Russians are good at, it's siege defense.
Croatia's road just got easier (assuming they handle Denmark), especially since Russia will be exhausted.
Croatia is “Spaining” their way to extra time and penalties.
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Croatia has had their opportunities. Modric misses a penalty kick that could have been the winner.
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Tied at the end of extra time, on to penalty kicks.
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Croatia has had their opportunities. Modric misses a penalty kick that could have been the winner.
I'd like to understand why the Dane didn't get a red card on that. If ever there were a clear instance of "clear and obvious goal-scoring opportunity", that was it.
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I'd like to understand why the Dane didn't get a red card on that. If ever there were a clear instance of "clear and obvious goal-scoring opportunity", that was it.
Me neither.
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I'd like to understand why the Dane didn't get a red card on that. If ever there were a clear instance of "clear and obvious goal-scoring opportunity", that was it.
Should have been an easy red. Ref screwed up there
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Denmark should let Casper take the pens too
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I'd like to understand why the Dane didn't get a red card on that. If ever there were a clear instance of "clear and obvious goal-scoring opportunity", that was it.
Double jeopardy rule. If they give a pen., it reinstates the goal scoring opportunity, so only a yellow.
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So now that Spain is out, I guess I'll root for the other side of the family....
Let's go England!!
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So now that Spain is out, I guess I'll root for the other side of the family....
Let's go England!!
Typhoid Matty?
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Double jeopardy rule. If they give a pen., it reinstates the goal scoring opportunity, so only a yellow.
So if all of that action had taken place outside the 18, *then* he would have been given a red?
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Typhoid Matty?
My umpteenth great grandfather was "Gentleman" Henry Hudson the First, Alderman of London. He played better defense than Spain, I think
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So if all of that action had taken place outside the 18, *then* he would have been given a red?
That's my understanding. Although, to clarify, I believe to qualify for the lesser card, the offending player has to have been making a genuine attempt on the ball - which I think is true in this case. If you just take out the attacker to stop the goal, you (should) still get a red.
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My umpteenth great grandfather was "Gentleman" Henry Hudson the First, Alderman of London. He played better defense than Spain, I think
Nicely done (http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/henry-hudson.htm)!
It seems that he Mark Watneyed his way around the New World, naming a river and bay after himself.
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Nicely done (http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/henry-hudson.htm)!
It seems that he Mark Watneyed his way around the New World, naming a river and bay after himself.
That’s Henry Hudson III, The Explorer, Gentleman Henry’s grandson and my umpteenth great uncle. But it’s nice having a river named after you.
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Mexico - Brazil has already had more excitement than yesterday's two games combined, and it's only 30 minutes in.
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Mexico - Brazil has already had more excitement than yesterday's two games combined, and it's only 30 minutes in.
Mexico has barely held their own. 0-0 at the half. Also Neymar doesn't seem like the "third" best soccer player in the world to me.
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Also Neymar doesn't seem like the "third" best soccer player in the world to me.
And he just told me to go fuck myself.
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Mexico has barely held their own. 0-0 at the half. Also Neymar doesn't seem like the "third" best soccer player in the world to me.
Mexico look like they might nick one on the break but, once in front of goal, they elect the least-best option every time.
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Mexico look like they might nick one on the break but, once in front of goal, they elect the least-best option every time.
Ochoa has been a beast in goal, Mexico could be down by 2 or 3 more.
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Brazil's defense can really close out and protect their goal well.
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Ochoa has been a beast in goal, Mexico could be down by 2 or 3 more.
Ochoa deserves a statue. Hes been incredible for mexico, not just this game, but for the last 2 world cups.
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Brazil's defense can really close out and protect their goal well.
They had mexico confused and frustrated in the final 3rd
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I'm going to
jinx it go out on a limb and say that, if the game stays at this pace, Belgium will run out of steam before Japan.
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I'm going to jinx it go out on a limb and say that, if the game stays at this pace, Belgium will run out of steam before Japan.
Well, I just called a Belgium - England final so one of us will be disappointed.
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Well, I just called a Belgium - England final so one of us will be disappointed.
Based on today, Brazil look pretty fucking scary. Southgate may well yet be vindicated for his gamesmanship in the group stage.
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Based on today, Brazil look pretty fucking scary. Southgate may well yet be vindicated for his gamesmanship in the group stage.
I picked France before the tournament and I'll stick with that but you're right, Brazil look like Brazil for the first time in a while. That defense is solid and hard to breakdown.
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Holy Fuck!!!
Now 2-0 Japan, and thoroughly merited.
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Poor Belgium. Japan decides to drop 2 big ones and it's not even on the US.
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Poor Belgium. Japan decides to drop 2 big ones and it's not even on the US.
You could argue that Belgium dropped two huge turds in their own bed.
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Poor Belgium. Japan decides to drop 2 big ones and it's not even on the US.
Dude
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Oh, Lukaku.
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Oh, Lukaku.
Lukaka.
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Oh, Lukaku.
I think he watched Altuve’s at bat in the 8th yesterday.
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I think he watched Altuve’s at bat in the 8th yesterday.
That would explain the bed-shitting.
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That should've been three.
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"Belgium can't win it all if they don't win tonight."
He's not the best color man in the business for nothing!
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WTF Belgium?! They were all I had left in my bracket! Assholes.
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WTF Belgium?! They were all I had left in my bracket! Assholes.
Not dead yet.
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WTF Belgium?! They were all I had left in my bracket! Assholes.
Their pressure just yielded a huge stroke of luck. Just like Neo, they're not out yet.
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I already have my "money" on them.
I'm still pissed.
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Not dead yet.
Very much not dead.
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Very much not dead.
They feel much better...
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Is heading off that 'fro an unfair advantage?
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I watched the first thirty minutes or so and Belgium was absolutely dominating and it just seemed like a matter of time before the goals came. I turned it on just now to see Fellaini heading in the equalizer. What the fuck happened in the interim?
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ARE YOU SHITTING ME?
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Wow!
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Holy shit. Belgium just basically replayed the USMNT winner over Algeria, kick for kick.
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I did not need that kind of stress today!!! But, I'm glad they won.
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Wow that was insane
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I watched the first thirty minutes or so and Belgium was absolutely dominating and it just seemed like a matter of time before the goals came. I turned it on just now to see Fellaini heading in the equalizer. What the fuck happened in the interim?
Japan was great is the short answer. They scored one of the goals of the tournament so far. And they stayed in attack mode. (Did they even sub anybody?) Which almost, almost paid off. But that last corner was a disaster.
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What the fucking fuck?
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Japan was great is the short answer. They scored one of the goals of the tournament so far. And they stayed in attack mode. (Did they even sub anybody?) Which almost, almost paid off. But that last corner was a disaster.
Good for Japan for such a strong showing.
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Good for Japan for such a strong showing.
Yes. Heartbreak at the end, but that's what good teams do.
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Japan was great is the short answer. They scored one of the goals of the tournament so far. And they stayed in attack mode. (Did they even sub anybody?) Which almost, almost paid off. But that last corner was a disaster.
Japan used two subs (I think). Belgium's 2nd and 3rd goals were scored by their subs, Chadli and Fellani.
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Good for Japan for such a strong showing.
Japan was exceptionally valiant. They were eventually (very eventually) bested by a much better team, but I am a fan now.
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Japan was exceptionally valiant. They were eventually (very eventually) bested by a much better team, but I am a fan now.
In a way, naivety cost them. A more cynical experienced side would've taken that last corner short, and faffed around with it at the corner flag to try and run out the clock to get to extra time. They launched it into the middle, despite Belgium's height advantage, Cortois grabbed it and set that breakaway for the goal in motion.
Their decision to keep trying to play and score to the very end is both an incredibly admirable and entertaining quality, and it's also what is sending them home. Hard to process, even as a neutral.
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In a way, naivety cost them. A more cynical experienced side would've taken that last corner short, and faffed around with it at the corner flag to try and run out the clock to get to extra time. They launched it into the middle, despite Belgium's height advantage, Cortois grabbed it and set that breakaway for the goal in motion.
Their decision to keep trying to play and score to the very end is both an incredibly admirable and entertaining quality, and it's also what is sending them home. Hard to process, even as a neutral.
While I agree that they should not have tried to float a cross into the box, they never had a chance to win that way. I disagree that they should have wasted time to tried to get to extra time. The way that game was going, they were not going to last another 30 minutes. The best bet would have been to either play it short and try to work it into the box on the ground or play it to the edge of the area and have a rip from distance. If that game went to extra time I could see them losing 4-2. Not that that is any worse than what happened
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That's why I referred to the corner earlier. It was illustrative of an admirable but ultimately questionable strategy employed through the second half. Like everyone, I love that they continued attacking but knew that there was a better than marginal chance that that would be their downfall.
Of course just moments before the fateful corner Japan very, very nearly put the game away on a masterful free kick from a pretty fair distance. If that had happened, well, what a difference.
Belgium probably has more elite players than anyone else in the entire tournament. The idea that Japan could do what they did against a team like that is worthy of tremendous admiration.
I'm completely ambivalent about Sweden - Switzerland. I'm going to root for Colombia. If England wins I will happily root for them against Croatia who I certainly hope will put an end this Russian farce on Saturday. I'll root for Uruguay and Belgium and if Brazil wins I'll root for their opponent. I'm sort of hoping for a Colombia/England - Uruguay/Belgium final.
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Idemo hrvatské
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Idemo hrvatské
Gesundheit.
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Sweden - Switzerland: two teams who couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.
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Idemo hrvatské
And Luka Modric too
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That's a red but not a penalty. Moot in the end, I suspect.
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That's a red but not a penalty. Moot in the end, I suspect.
VAR to the rescue.
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The Japanese team was pretty classy in defeat. (https://www.yahoo.com/sports/japanese-team-leaves-dressing-room-spotless-even-devastating-loss-belgium-150835246.html) Cleaning the locker room, cleaning the stands, leaving a thank you note...
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Geiger up to his usual bullshit.
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Geiger up to his usual bullshit.
Fucking Arbitro!
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I still have that paper you know.
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Do all those yellows carry to the next round?
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Do all those yellows carry to the next round?
Yes. They reset for the semis.
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How about that!
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Wow.. a single corner is fruitful.
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Geiger is going to give England another penalty in the extra time.
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Geiger is going to give England another penalty in the extra time.
He’ll award it 10’ into 3’ stoppage time.
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I hope nothing bad happens to the Columbian that hit the crossbar.
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Well, that was something. England-Sweden should be exciting.
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Happened to have flown to London with the family as part of a Girl Scouts trip. Overnight flight, no sleep, sight see, eat,
Get back late-ish etc.
After I showered I went to a pub (The George Belsize Park) and caught most of the second half and all the rest.
I know jack squat about soccer, but that was freaking cool.
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Happened to have flown to London with the family as part of a Girl Scouts trip. Overnight flight, no sleep, sight see, eat,
Get back late-ish etc.
After I showered I went to a pub (The George Belsize Park) and caught most of the second half and all the rest.
I know jack squat about soccer, but that was freaking cool.
The 2010 World Cup got me hooked on soccer.
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This had never occurred to me until I saw it almost happen today: if the kicker hits the woodwork and the ball bounces back and hits the keeper (who is clearly well beyond the goal line) and then bounces back into the goal, does it count? At what point does it become a miss?
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This had never occurred to me until I saw it almost happen today: if the kicker hits the woodwork and the ball bounces back and hits the keeper (who is clearly well beyond the goal line) and then bounces back into the goal, does it count? At what point does it become a miss?
I am 90% sure it counts and I think it has actually happened. It becomes a miss once it has no chance of still going in
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I am 90% sure it counts and I think it has actually happened. It becomes a miss once it has no chance of still going in
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You are correct. I can't believe that hasn't happened to England before.
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You are correct. I can't believe that hasn't happened to England before.
The biggest anomaly of this world cup is not Russia "beating" Spain, its England winning a penalty battle
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The biggest anomaly of this world cup is not Russia "beating" Spain, its England winning a penalty battle
Although I'll be a few million English shit themselves when that first penalty was missed.
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Both true.
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Although I'll be a few million English shit themselves when that first penalty was missed.
One big collective "sigh, here we go again"
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Geiger up to his usual bullshit.
The Colombians were ridiculous, but Geiger’s cowardice allowed the game to spiral out of control. His refusal to issue cards for clear, rule book offenses meant that Colombia had one or two more players than they should have at the end.
The headbutt on Henderson was a straight red. England fans remember Beckham getting a straight red for a mere waft of a leg at an Argentinian so, with VAR, how the fuck was there only a yellow here? The free kick that was given was for a tackle on Kane when the defender came right through Kane from behind with both feet - a clear yellow card offense, especially as it stopped Kane from bursting into the penalty area, yet no card for the hack. The kick took 4 minutes to take because of all the shit going on. At the penalty, despite another 4 or 5 minutes of Colombian nonsense,, Henderson was the only player carded.
Any ref would’ve had trouble yesterday. Geiger was completely ill-equipped (in the trouser department) to deal with it.
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Although I'll be a few million English shit themselves when that first penalty was missed.
1 for 7 all time and 0 for 3 at World Cups before yesterday.
But it felt different yesterday. The coach had put an emphasis on this at training and they didn’t look like deer in headlights for a change. Even the saved penalty wasn’t a bad effort; a stark contrast to the weak shit and balls in orbit from previous shootouts. England es mas macho!
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The Colombians were ridiculous, but Geiger’s cowardice allowed the game to spiral out of control. His refusal to issue cards for clear, rule book offenses meant that Colombia had one or two more players than they should have at the end.
The headbutt on Henderson was a straight red. England fans remember Beckham getting a straight red for a mere waft of a leg at an Argentinian so, with VAR, how the fuck was there only a yellow here? The free kick that was given was for a tackle on Kane when the defender came right through Kane from behind with both feet - a clear yellow card offense, especially as it stopped Kane from bursting into the penalty area, yet no card for the hack. The kick took 4 minutes to take because of all the shit going on. At the penalty, despite another 4 or 5 minutes of Colombian nonsense,, Henderson was the only player carded.
Any ref would’ve had trouble yesterday. Geiger was completely ill-equipped (in the trouser department) to deal with it.
I knew this would be your take, colonials doing mean things to my people, BAD! BAD! SHAME!
If you read Latin press or Colombian press specifically I think you will find a different set of views on the matter.
Or, if you were able to have watched the game in anything approaching an impartial way, you would know that Geiger fucked Colombia at every opportunity. As for the penalty, someone partial to the English team might have seen a dark person doing mean things to a noble, blue-eyed warrior. Apparently Geiger did. Everyone else saw Kane literally strangle Sanchez. I'm not sure how he missed it since he was standing right there oblivious to anything else but what those two were doing. It was almost like he had decided to call a penalty and was going to do that at any possible opportunity regardless of what actually happened.
I've lost count of how many times Geiger has been sanctioned by FIFA and how many international contests he has been made to miss as punishment. It doesn't bother me that he officiates in a shit national league that no one else in the world cares about. It bothers me a tremendous amount that he is continually pressed into service in important international matches. As often as not his matches end in international scandal due to his decisions. Yesterday's game is no different.
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1 for 7 all time and 0 for 3 at World Cups before yesterday.
But it felt different yesterday. The coach had put an emphasis on this at training and they didn’t look like deer in headlights for a change. Even the saved penalty wasn’t a bad effort; a stark contrast to the weak shit and balls in orbit from previous shootouts. England es mas macho!
First time in history of history that this phrase has been used.
Certainly the mood at the pub plummeted at light speed with the equalizer going in. Most have heard half a dozen people mention penalty kicks before play resumed.
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I knew this would be your take, colonials doing mean things to my people, BAD! BAD! SHAME!
If you read Latin press or Colombian press specifically I think you will find a different set of views on the matter.
Or, if you were able to have watched the game in anything approaching an impartial way, you would know that Geiger fucked Colombia at every opportunity. As for the penalty, someone partial to the English team might have seen a dark person doing mean things to a noble, blue-eyed warrior. Apparently Geiger did. Everyone else saw Kane literally strangle Sanchez. I'm not sure how he missed it since he was standing right there oblivious to anything else but what those two were doing. It was almost like he had decided to call a penalty and was going to do that at any possible opportunity regardless of what actually happened.
I've lost count of how many times Geiger has been sanctioned by FIFA and how many international contests he has been made to miss as punishment. It doesn't bother me that he officiates in a shit national league that no one else in the world cares about. It bothers me a tremendous amount that he is continually pressed into service in important international matches. As often as not his matches end in international scandal due to his decisions. Yesterday's game is no different.
I have seen the replay of the penalty incident a number of times and, honestly, all I’ve seen is Sánchez taking a piggyback ride on Kane. It was reviewed by VAR and upheld. Conversely, Geiger eschewed VAR on the headbutt incident, which was (1) dumb, and (b) impossible to have made a decision because he never saw it in real time.
I have seen that Colombians are certain of his bias, but he really did let them off a significant number of cards. Impartial observers agree on this point. I don’t think he was biased, I think he is a coward who’s bad at his job.
I think if Colombia had shown the ambition for the whole game that they showed in the last 10 minutes, they might well have won. As it was, they didn’t offer much until the end, while England were almost punished for failing to turn their sharper play into more than one goal.
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First time in history of history that this phrase has been used.
Certainly the mood at the pub plummeted at light speed with the equalizer going in. Most have heard half a dozen people mention penalty kicks before play resumed.
I downed two pints just st during the shootout.
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No strangulation. Just Kane trying to break away from Sanchez’ bear hug (https://mobile.twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1014226970706620417/photo/1).
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I hope nothing bad happens to the Columbian that hit the crossbar.
Death threats have already been made to him and his teammate whose kick was saved.
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This had never occurred to me until I saw it almost happen today: if the kicker hits the woodwork and the ball bounces back and hits the keeper (who is clearly well beyond the goal line) and then bounces back into the goal, does it count? At what point does it become a miss?
The ball is dead after the kick, in that you can’t follow up and put the miss away, but it’s not dead until it’s dead (https://youtu.be/1E09woGL7as). Basically, if it goes in somehow from the kick without any additional intervention from the kicker, then it’s good.
What would be interesting would be if the ball his the frame, careened out, hit the ref and went in. In normal play, the ref is deemed part of the field so that would be a goal. I’m not sure if that rule applies to a shootout, as those kicks are handled very differently to penalty kicks in the flow of the game.
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The ball is dead after the kick, in that you can’t follow up and put the miss away, but it’s not dead until it’s dead (https://youtu.be/1E09woGL7as). Basically, if it goes in somehow from the kick without any additional intervention from the kicker, then it’s good.
What would be interesting would be if the ball his the frame, careened out, hit the ref and went in. In normal play, the ref is deemed part of the field so that would be a goal. I’m not sure if that rule applies to a shootout, as those kicks are handled very differently to penalty kicks in the flow of the game.
You’re just daring Geiger to try this.
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No strangulation. Just Kane trying to break away from Sanchez’ bear hug (https://mobile.twitter.com/JogaBonito_USA/status/1014226970706620417/photo/1).
Your analysis of the play and the game coincides perfectly with the UK tabloids and with no one else in the world. All I see when I peruse British commentary on the game is a sad variant of a worn theme - jungle living darkies maul our noble men and how dare they!
The video you shared shows Kane initiating contact and then stumbling and tumbling Neymar style. It was a command performance expertly delivered by canny players in front of an incompetent official. Video shot from the other side of the play, conveniently neglected in your film study, shows Kane's arm around Sanchez's neck and in that view it's even more apparent that the contact was Kane's. Again, literally everyone in the world other than British fans and the media that serves them knows that this was a fucked up penalty and has said so, loudly.
But you know something? That's football. It doesn't bother me all that much that occasionally a referee misses something. Oh, he didn't VAR the penalty, by the way, it just seemed like it since the Colombians spent five minutes before the penalty kick imploring him to do so. The human element is part of the game for better and for worse and I can live with that. What I cannot abide is the faux outrage on the part of English fans everywhere who insist that their fair headed sons were mistreated by shadowy colonials of various remote outpost and indeterminate tongue whilst our men, who, after all, invented the game, and are, let's be frank, better bred, showed stiff upper lip and sterner stuff in the face of furious attack on the part of the uncultured amateurs of sport, what what.
So fuck that. And it disappoints me that you'd fall into what is basically the World Cup equivalent of Trump's MS-13 fiction but you did and you do and so here we are.
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Your analysis of the play and the game coincides perfectly with the UK tabloids and with no one else in the world. All I see when I peruse British commentary on the game is a sad variant of a worn theme - jungle living darkies maul our noble men and how dare they!
The video you shared shows Kane initiating contact and then stumbling and tumbling Neymar style. It was a command performance expertly delivered by canny players in front of an incompetent official. Video shot from the other side of the play, conveniently neglected in your film study, shows Kane's arm around Sanchez's neck and in that view it's even more apparent that the contact was Kane's. Again, literally everyone in the world other than British fans and the media that serves them knows that this was a fucked up penalty and has said so, loudly.
But you know something? That's football. It doesn't bother me all that much that occasionally a referee misses something. Oh, he didn't VAR the penalty, by the way, it just seemed like it since the Colombians spent five minutes before the penalty kick imploring him to do so. The human element is part of the game for better and for worse and I can live with that. What I cannot abide is the faux outrage on the part of English fans everywhere who insist that their fair headed sons were mistreated by shadowy colonials of various remote outpost and indeterminate tongue whilst our men, who, after all, invented the game, and are, let's be frank, better bred, showed stiff upper lip and sterner stuff in the face of furious attack on the part of the uncultured amateurs of sport, what what.
So fuck that. And it disappoints me that you'd fall into what is basically the World Cup equivalent of Trump's MS-13 fiction but you did and you do and so here we are.
I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth over the penalty, because we clearly have very different opinions on it.
I will point out though, that my original post was to criticize Geiger and the only mention of the penalty was the 4 - 5 minutes Geiger allowed the Colombians to harass and harangue him (while they hilarious scuffed up the penalty spot) and all that ended with Henderson getting booked. It was only later, when you focused in on the penalty incident only, that I responded to that.
I never claimed that the English players were/are paragons of virtue. Lindgard risked a second yellow for an in-box tumble and Maguire similarly wasn't sanctioned for his easy fall (benefitting from what seemingly appears to be the rule that it's ok if you apologize afterwards). But had an English player been sent off in that match, while Colombia finished with 11, that would have been a grand injustice had it impacted the result.
Henderson certainly exaggerated the force of the headbutt he got from Barrios. Playacting is a scourge - it's been calculated that poster child Neymar has already spent 14 minutes rolling on the floor this World Cup. Yet we have seen numerous moments in this tournament when a player declines to fall over under illegal contact and the referees do not give the foul. The players are responsible for their own behavior, but gutless refereeing has driven some of that behavior.
The fact that the sport has decided that it's long overdue that they properly police the melee that occurs at every set piece around the box is causing heartburn, but only because we are in the crossover between the new - correct - treatment of such shenanigans, and the modification of ingrained player behavior. England's Stones was punished for a shove on a defender at a corner; unfortunately, the punishment for an infraction by a defender is far more severe than for one by an attacker.
For the record, to address the above imbalance of consequences, I don't believe that every foul in the penalty area should be a penalty. Unless the foul denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, it should be merely a defendable kick from the spot of the foul (i.e. a wall etc.). I also think penalties should be given for DOGSOs outside the box. These two changes would allow referees to be more forthright in punishing infractions in the penalty area because they aren't almost always penalizing the offending team with a goal against them, while address the unfairness of not getting a penalty when being clean on goal but caught just the wrong side of the arbitrary line.
The foul on Kane didn't merit the award of, essentially, a penalty goal; the "foul" on Robben against Mexico (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88vsXMJ50iY) a couple of tournaments ago didn't merit one either. De-emphasise the punishment by eliminating the spot kick as punishment for non-goal denying infractions, and raise the bar as to what is required to give a penalty, and you will help referees by removing at least some of the temptation from players.
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Oh, he didn't VAR the penalty, by the way, it just seemed like it since the Colombians spent five minutes before the penalty kick imploring him to do so.
Just to follow up: all penalties are reviewed by VAR. That Geiger didn't go over a look at the screen indicates only that the VARistas did not see a "clear and obvious (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/0/var-rules-used-world-cup-2018/)" error that required his attention.
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I am in complete agreement regarding giving referees discretion on fouls inside the area.
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France taking a 1-0 lead turned this lively game up to 11.
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that block by France's goalie was outstanding!
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that block by France's goalie was outstanding!
Not arf!
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Dammit, why aren’t today’s games tomorrow. Best 4 teams playing on Friday sucks. At least I can cut out early to watch Belgium.
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Dammit, why aren’t today’s games tomorrow. Best 4 teams playing on Friday sucks. At least I can cut out early to watch Belgium.
We are having a watch party at work today. I'm the only one out of 8 rooting for Belgium. Should be fun. I am even creating a jersey. One co-worker is wearing her Neymar jersey.
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that block by France's goalie was outstanding!
Definitely. The Uruguayan's follow that somehow went over the empty net by 20 feet from 4 feet away was less outstanding.
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that block by France's goalie was outstanding!
Hugo Lloris. Who now may be more famous, not for the save, but because a bug flew in his mouth. The bug already has its own Twitter account (http://www.sportbible.com/football/funny-hugo-lloris-dragonfly-already-has-its-own-twitter-account-20180706?source=facebook).
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Dammit, why aren’t today’s games tomorrow. Best 4 teams playing on Friday sucks. At least I can cut out early to watch Belgium.
Yep. The likely winner is coming from this side of the bracket; unless they beat the crap out of each other and someone sneaks in from the other side...
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We are having a watch party at work today. I'm the only one out of 8 rooting for Belgium. Should be fun. I am even creating a jersey. One co-worker is wearing her Neymar jersey.
Don't let her near any stairs or sharp objects.
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Uruguay are going to have to commit forward, and Mbappe is going to burn them.
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It's all gone a little flat. Stuani < Cavani.
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Oh dear...
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Oh dear...
Not outstanding.
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Not outstanding.
not at all.
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Now it's a matter of watching to see what petty villainy Suarez can get into.
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So horrible for goalies. A striker hoofs the ball into row z from 4 yards, and it's just a miss. A goalie makes basically the same kind of error...goal. Everyone will remember the goalkeeper's error but few will remember the individual wild hacks, mis-kicks and frightful efforts put forth by his teammates at the other end.
Like a closer who gives up nine two runs in an inning to blow the save. Those same two runs, if conceded the first inning, are lost in the mix.
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Now it's a matter of watching to see what petty villainy Suarez can get into.
Pogba needs to walk away from any shit going on. He's on a yellow, and they don't reset until after this game is over. If he gets one now, he sits out the semi-final.
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Kante is a one-man midfield (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLS8LaX2cHE) (#7 in this clip).
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Uruguay's plan seemed to be getting crosses in. Without Cavani to get on the end of them, they were basically offering heading practice to the French defenders. It got very sad towards the end.
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Saints and sinners all agree Spanish is a loving tongue. So I've been following the World Cup on Telemundo part of the time. I can only understand about half of what they're talking about but it still feels like I'm getting more insight than FOX and Andres Cantor does play by play. If I were fluent, I would probably watch their coverage exclusively.
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Saints and sinners all agree Spanish is a lovely tongue. So I've been following the World Cup on Telemundo part of the time. I can only understand about half of what they're talking about but it still feels like I'm getting more insight than FOX and Andres Cantor does play by play. If I were fluent, I would probably watch their coverage exclusively.
I've been listening to some of the games in the car on the Spanish radio station (850 AM?) and it is a lot of fun. I can basically only pick out players and teams' names and the word "pelota" but the energy is fantastic.
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I've been listening to some of the games in the car on the Spanish radio station (850 AM?) and it is a lot of fun. I can basically only pick out players and teams' names and the word "pelota" but the energy is fantastic.
I cannot watch games in Spanish without being reminded of this (https://youtu.be/ctaszjeaDK0).
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Already shaping up to be a barnburner.
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Three or four solid gold scoring opportunities for Brazil already, and they're losing 1-0.
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Brazil retained their composure since going down 1-0, and have been peppering the Belgium goal. They're now down 2-0.
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Brazil is in a heap of trouble. They're getting a goal scoring opportunities but not finishing.
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Brazil is in a heap of trouble. They're getting a goal scoring opportunities but not finishing.
Belgium ripped Japan's heart out with a counter attack, and they've done it again here.
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If Neymar weren't universally known to be a flopping fool he might have got a call there towards the end.
Anyway, I'm going to go get some wings tattooed on my neck. Catch up with you guys later.
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Belgium have a free kick wide out on the touchline with the opportunity to play it into the box. They play it short and end up losing it. I hate this (same with short corners). You have all of your tall trees up from the back and set up for the play, and then you faff around with it and, usually, never get the ball across because there's a foul or someone ends up offside. It's just dumb. Cross the fucking ball!
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If Neymar weren't universally known to be a flopping fool he might have got a call there towards the end.
He just went over again, and the referee mimed a dive but didn't book him (which would suspend him for the next game if they have one). Bizarre. It's either a penalty or a dive and a yellow*.
(Replays show it as a clear dive).
* Not every time a player goes to ground is a foul or a dive. Sometimes there's legal contact and sometimes players just fall over.
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Belgium dodges another penalty-shaped bullet.
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And Agusto for Brazil cuts the lead in half.
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And Agusto for Brazil cuts the lead in half.
Game on.
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Who wouldn't want 30 more minutes of this?
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Agusto missed it by that much.
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Belgium making some personnel changes. Martinez needs to be careful that he doesn't set the team up to hold on for the win, and then be unable to react if they get pulled back to a tie.
As I type, Coutinho just missed a golden opportunity...
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Belgium survive by the tips of Courtois' fingers. No doubt that Brazil win that if they force the tie. Belgium hang on and are into the semis vs. France. That looks to be epic.
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Excluding Russia all the remaining teams are European.
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Excluding Russia all the remaining teams are European.
Until Germany blew everyone's doors off in 2014 in Brazil, it was only Brazil who had won a World Cup outside of their home continent. They'd done it only once, their other 4 wins all coming in the Americas.
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So South Africa is in Europe, but Russia is not.
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BELGIQUE!!!
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The Neymar rolling videos the internet has produced, fantastic.
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Full page story in the New York Times today on Neymar with about ten or so photos of him flopping, flailing and faking.
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So South Africa is in Europe, but Russia is not.
I forgot about that one. It's only been not in Europe or the Americas a couple of times (South Africa and Japan / South Korea, I think).
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Full page story in the New York Times today on Neymar with about ten or so photos of him flopping, flailing and faking.
Those chickens came home to roost today.
Ironically, Brazil had a completely legit penalty shout - not involving Neymar - and that got ignored too. Kompany went in hard on Jesus as Jesus was running out of room and losing the ball over the touchline. Still, Kompany went through him pretty thoroughly - one of those that would be given anywhere else on the park.
The Brazilians got no change out of the referee today. Neymar had a couple of close shouts and one outrageous dive (for which he should have been carded, but wasn't), but it did seem to me as a neutral (all I wanted was extra time for more fun) that Brazil got nothing.
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On the other end of the spectrum you had Lukaku, who seems to regard not going down as a badge of honor. There were several times when he got hip-checked and/or grabbed and tossed, and he would stumble a bit or go to a knee momentarily, but then he was back up and chasing the ball. Of course, it probably helps that he's bigger and stronger than anybody else on the pitch.
And for every hard foul that Neymar got, Hazard got one at least as hard.
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On the other end of the spectrum you had Lukaku, who seems to regard not going down as a badge of honor. There were several times when he got hip-checked and/or grabbed and tossed, and he would stumble a bit or go to a knee momentarily, but then he was back up and chasing the ball. Of course, it probably helps that he's bigger and stronger than anybody else on the pitch.
And for every hard foul that Neymar got, Hazard got one at least as hard.
Hazard was on the ground a lot but he seemed to get up pretty quick.
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The non-call on Jesus didn't bother me at all since even had Kompany not made contact with him he had already kicked the ball out of bounds. In other words, it seemed like a case where the referee used his discretion to indicate that the play was not going to result in anything so why give Brazil a free goal? I thought it was a great bit of judicious officiating.
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The non-call on Jesus didn't bother me at all since even had Kompany not made contact with him he had already kicked the ball out of bounds. In other words, it seemed like a case where the referee used his discretion to indicate that the play was not going to result in anything so why give Brazil a free goal? I thought it was a great bit of judicious officiating.
I agree completely. That play was over, and the fact that Kompany made contact made no difference at all. It might have merited a quick mention from the ref just so that people don't begin to think they can take shots after a play, but nothing more than that.
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BELGIQUE!
Wish it was the case, I had the fortune to travel the globe. For work, ive been about everywhere in the States from Anchorage to Miami, but few places outside the US. Mexico (where I was married), Jamaica, Canada, Belgium, Germany and Italy....and LHR airport.
My good friend was raised in Belgium, I traveled with him there for his 40th birthday. Great country, it was especially fun to spend days in tiny towns with his relatives, and going from brewery to brewery.
It amazes me small countries like this can produce so much talent.
It also amazes/disgusts me how much they like mayonnaise
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BELGIQUE!
Wish it was the case, I had the fortune to travel the globe. For work, ive been about everywhere in the States from Anchorage to Miami, but few places outside the US. Mexico (where I was married), Jamaica, Canada, Belgium, Germany and Italy....and LHR airport.
My good friend was raised in Belgium, I traveled with him there for his 40th birthday. Great country, it was especially fun to spend days in tiny towns with his relatives, and going from brewery to brewery.
It amazes me small countries like this can produce so much talent.
It also amazes/disgusts me how much they like mayonnaise
I grew up on a mayonnaise farm. I still hate mayonnaise to this day.
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A goal by Maguire puts England up 1-0 on Sweden.
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England leads at the half 1-0. They really controlled the ball late in the half, came close on 3 others but Sterling is snake bit.
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A goal by Maguire puts England up 1-0 on Sweden.
That was a very well executed corner.
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Back at the pub. Got here in time to hear the patrons sing God Save the Queen.
Mood is upbeat, but reserved (of course, they're British and they're soccer/football fans).
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Back at the pub. Got here in time to hear the patrons sing God Save the Queen.
Mood is upbeat, but reserved (of course, they're British and they're soccer/football fans).
Are you in London? What Pub?
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Dele Alli makes it 2-0 England
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Pickford had a heck of a match.
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Are you in London? What Pub?
The George at Belsize.
Quite a fun experience. They broke out into "Good Save The Queen" spontaneously in the second half and sang another one "everything's coming up" something something. Maybe Limey knows it. Or the internet.
Happy patrons, happy country.
Funny thing, we go to Paris next. Their match is Tuesday.
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Funny thing, we go to Paris next. Their match is Tuesday.
Sweet!
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The George at Belsize.
Quite a fun experience. They broke out into "Good Save The Queen" spontaneously in the second half and sang another one "everything's coming up" something something. Maybe Limey knows it. Or the internet.
Happy patrons, happy country.
Funny thing, we go to Paris next. Their match is Tuesday.
Your travel mojo is excellent.
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The song is "It's coming home"
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/ca/amp/world-cup-2018/news/world-cup-2018-three-lions-england-song-lyrics-meaning-footballs-/1clc851hupkkk1ds50d9v2vap2 (https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/ca/amp/world-cup-2018/news/world-cup-2018-three-lions-england-song-lyrics-meaning-footballs-/1clc851hupkkk1ds50d9v2vap2)
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England leads at the half 1-0. They really controlled the ball late in the half, came close on 3 others but Sterling is snake bit.
Sterling is good, but not great. Zaha is great, but England picked Sterling over Zaha.
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Pickford had a heck of a match.
Weirdly, in a match that one team dominates, Pickford was MOTM.
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The George at Belsize.
Quite a fun experience. They broke out into "Good Save The Queen" spontaneously in the second half and sang another one "everything's coming up" something something. Maybe Limey knows it. Or the internet.
Happy patrons, happy country.
Funny thing, we go to Paris next. Their match is Tuesday.
It’s somewhat ironic (I hope). There was an awful song put together by a couple of comedian/pundits for the 1996 Euros in England which proclaimed that “football’s coming home (https://youtu.be/RJqimlFcJsM)”.
It’s turned into a really funny meme (http://reacle.com/article/28157) for this tournament, but it’s still an offront to music and humanity in general.
That said...
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Russians with a lightning bolt out of the blue to take a 1-0 lead, and all of a sudden the Croatians are losing their composure.
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It’s coming home.
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And then Croatia equalizes with a nice little play.
It would be amusing to see Russia go through so we could have the NATO Cup.
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And then Croatia equalizes with a nice little play.
It would be amusing to see Russia go through so we could have the NATO Cup.
Two superpowers, one cup.
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And then Croatia equalizes with a nice little play.
It would be amusing to see Russia go through so we could have the NATO Cup.
Next match would be the Brexit Cup, no? Nerve Gas Cup?
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Next match would be the Brexit Cup, no? Nerve Gas Cup?
Whatev.
#ICH (https://youtu.be/Mtsj0ZLlzio)
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Time's running out on Russia. To their advantage, Subasic is literally hamstrung.
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Croatia player fucked up and got called for a hand ball. Russia converts the set piece to tie it up.
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There's been no shortage of excitement in this tournament.
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There's been no shortage of excitement in this tournament.
No kidding, on to penalty kicks. With the Croat goalie hobbled, you almost have to give the edge to Russia.
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That game was awesome. Even non soccer fans with me, were on the edge of their seat
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That game was awesome. Even non soccer fans with me, were on the edge of their seat
Indeed, that was fun. So glad somebody finally put Russia out of our misery. Although watching England beat them 3-0 or so would have been great too, but I'd rather not take that chance. Belgium-England I hope, although has England-France ever happened in the WC before? At least not at this stage, right?
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England-France would produce some epic trash-talking.
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Belgium - England would be somewhat redemptive.
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England-France would produce some epic trash-talking.
Waterloo 2: Electric Boogaloo
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There's been no shortage of excitement in this tournament.
This has been amazing. So many late goals up-ending results.
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Waterloo 2: Electric Boogaloo
Agincourt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt): Part Deux
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Agincourt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt): Part Deux
If archers are strategically placed in the stands on both sides of the field, I give the edge to England.
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If archers are strategically placed in the stands on both sides of the field, I give the edge to England.
If it ends up that way, I fully expect the St. Crispin's speech from Henry V to be done to death.
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Croatia has sacked one of the team's assistant coaches for dedicating to Ukraine the team's win over Russia. Oops. One of Croatia's players, Domagoj Vida, did the same, but appears to have avoided sanction after issuing an apology.
What this means for Wednesday's game is anyone's guess (probably nothing). It is an interesting contrast, though, with an England camp that has been shockingly unified, relaxed, jovial and classy. A stark contrast itself to prior England campaigns that include an on-field revolt in 2014 and the whole "WAGS" disaster of 2006.
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England-France would produce some epic trash-talking.
“Pogba and Mbappe are great collaborators.”
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Idle question while awaiting the semis: When did world-class futbol players (especially world-class strikers) become incapable of getting a shot off unless the ball is perfectly positioned on their preferred foot? I can't believe how many times in this tournament guys have found themselves in possession of the ball in the penalty area with a clear shot, only to go through some weird foot-shuffling pirouette that allows two or three defenders plenty of time to recover. It's maddening.
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Idle question while awaiting the semis: When did world-class futbol players (especially world-class strikers) become incapable of getting a shot off unless the ball is perfectly positioned on their preferred foot? I can't believe how many times in this tournament guys have found themselves in possession of the ball in the penalty area with a clear shot, only to go through some weird foot-shuffling pirouette that allows two or three defenders plenty of time to recover. It's maddening.
It seems to me that strikers would shoot on sight with either foot back in the day, but that may just be the filtering properties of memory. I agree that it's maddening; I was always too slow to be a decent player, but I worked hard on being "two-footed" because that always gained me some time that the one-foot show ponies (https://youtu.be/svYHFVHceIY) didn't have.
I just don't understand how someone can progress through years and years of coaching, reach the highest possible level of competition, and still use one foot just for standing. Sir Bobby Charlton had a thunderclap shot with either foot (https://youtu.be/1B7epbAvZlc), which he perfected by spending hours thumping shots at a goal painted on to a brick wall. And that was back when the boots were made of lead and the ball - once nicely soaked after a few minutes of play - weighed about the same as a small black hole.
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Sub-Plot du Jour: French legend and human shrug Thierry Henry, is an assistant coach to the Belgium national team.
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France trying to perform grand larceny here. Hanging on to a 1-0 lead with about 10 minutes plus stoppage time to go.
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France's Matuidi had his bell rung and now appears to think he's Batman. Belgium supporters boo and whistle as he wanders around in a fog, stopping the game. France trying to close this out, have taken off Giroud. Belgium will assault the French goal for the rest of the way.
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Belgium will assault the French goal for the rest of the way.
Actually, the onslaught never really materialised and France looked far more likely to score in the late stages (they would have if not for Courtois' heroics in goal). France to the final.
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Actually, the onslaught never really materialised and France looked far more likely to score in the late stages (they would have if not for Courtois' heroics in goal). France to the final.
Poor Hazard got beat up pretty good.
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Poor Hazard got beat up pretty good.
France is all about defense and counter-attack.
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France is all about defense and counter-attack.
That's kind of the modern game, at least internationally. The top club teams still play free flowing attacking football but the national teams dont really play together enough to make that approach work consistently without getting countered pretty hard
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Didn't get to settle in and watch the whole game because the was a river cruise booked and my presence not optional.
So from the Seine we could hear the ups/downs coming gettin either bank. The goal was scored as we were coming back toward the Eiffel Tower. Cheers from both banks, air horns, and car horns. Pretty cool.
We headed back to our accommodations on the subway and saw many folks keeping up with things on their phones/tablets. And we saw two men screaming at each other nose to nose in French because one wouldn't move out out the way for the other. Awk-ward.
After our stop we walked toward our destination, rounded the corner and saw a large crowd of people celebrating with flares. So we took the long way around and they had settled down by the time we got close.
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Didn't get to settle in and watch the whole game because the was a river cruise booked and my presence not optional.
So from the Seine we could hear the ups/downs coming gettin either bank. The goal was scored as we were coming back toward the Eiffel Tower. Cheers from both banks, air horns, and car horns. Pretty cool.
We headed back to our accommodations on the subway and saw many folks keeping up with things on their phones/tablets. And we saw two men screaming at each other nose to nose in French because one wouldn't move out out the way for the other. Awk-ward.
After our stop we walked toward our destination, rounded the corner and saw a large crowd of people celebrating with flares. So we took the long way around and they had settled down by the time we got close.
I was in Paris in 1998 when France won their one and only World Cup. I was surprised at how relatively muted the celebrations were.
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For the anoraks (stat geeks) out there:
Top Scorers (Team)
1) Belgium 14; 2) England 11; 2) Russia 11; 4) Croatia 10; 5) France 10*
* played one more game
Top Scorer (Player)
1) Harry Kane (Eng) 6; 2) Romelu Lukaku (Bel) 4; 2) Denis Cheryshev (Rus) 4; 2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Por) 4; 3) Six players on 3
Fewest Goals Conceded
1) Denmark 2; 1) Peru 2; 1) Iran 2; 2) Uruguay 3; 2) Colombia 3; 2) Brazil 3; 2) South Korea 3; 30) Nine teams on 4 (inc England, France* and Croatia)
* played one more game
Dribbles
1) Brazil 169; 2) France 118*; 3) Belgium 114; 4) Spain 94; 5) Mexico 84
* played one more game
Average Distance Covered
1) Russia 61.26km; 2) Belgium 60.36km; 3) France 58.34km; 4) Croatia 55.90km; 5) England 53.61km
Sprints
1) Russia 1983; 2) Croatia 1946; 3) Belgium 1945; 4) France 1891*; 5) Brazil 1734; 6) England 1726
* played one more game
Average Top Speed (Team)
1) Morocco 28.9km/h; 2) Poland 28.7km/h; 3) England 28.7km/h; 4) Colombia 28.6km/h; 5) Denmark 28.6km/h
Top Speed (Player)
1) Cristiano Ronaldo (Por) 34km/h; 1) Ante Rebic (Cro) 34km/h; 3) Luis Advincula (Per) 33.8km/h; 3) Marcus Rashford (Eng) 33.8km/h; 5) Santiago Arias (Col) 33.6km/h; 6) Kyle Walker (Eng) 33.5km/h; 6) Jesse Lingard (Eng) 33.5km/h
Passes Completed
1) Spain 3120; 2) Belgium 2776; 3) Brazil 2501; 4) France 2331*; 5) England 2318
* played one more game
Fouls Committed
1) Russia 95; 2) Belgium 88; 3) France 79*; 4) Croatia 78; 5) Sweden 65; 14) England 53
* played one more game
In fairness, England's numbers are flattering, given the easier path to get here but, all in all, I think this shows how well poised the England-Croatia match is, and how the France vs. England or Croatia final will be. I'm shocked that Mbappe isn't cracking the top 6 fastest individuals, but happy to see that England have 3 of the top 6 - including converted wing-back to central defender Kyle Walker (a stroke of Southgate genius). Walker snuffs out so many fast breaks with his speed which was looking to be a glaring weakness in the England defense without him being moved to the middle. Maguire and Stones aren't winning any foot races outside a retirement home.
The trick today is containing Luka Modric - a job likely falling on Jordan Henderson - and Rakitic - probably Walker's mission. Croatia has plenty of quality elsewhere, but if you can stop Modric running the show, then that mutes Rakitic (and Mandzukic). Modric is my biggest concern because I don't think Henderson is up to the task and, while he's occupied, it means that Alli and Lingard - neither of whom have any real defensive chops - will have to look after Perisic. Yikes!
One last factor...maybe... Croatia's last two games went to extra time plus penalties, whereas England's last game was a relatively easy, 90 minute win. How much does Croatia have left in the tank if this game is still up for grabs late in the second half? Can they contain England's across-the-board faster team, especially if Southgate throws that whippet Rashford at them for the last 15 minutes?
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I am
Trying to
Suppress my
Complete mania
Over today’s
Match but
It’s
Not
Going very well as the
Hype is
Overloading
My brain at
Every moment
-
I am
Trying to
Suppress my
Complete mania
Over today’s
Match but
It’s
Not
Going very well as the
Hype is
Overloading
My brain at
Every moment
I know that feeling
I had it last October.
I'm torn, I have Croatian and English in-laws.
And am going to be driving to Houston during the game.
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Every time Croatia plays I wander around shouting in my best attempt at a David Samudio voice KOVACIC, MODRIC, RAKITIC, SANAVABIC!
It amuses me and confuses everyone in my immediate vicinity so two principle objectives are achieved.
Also, did all of you guys run out and get a Domagoj Vida haircut or was that just me?
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“Kieran Trippier has never scored for his country.”
BOOM. 1-0 England.
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“Kieran Trippier has never scored for his country.”
BOOM. 1-0 England.
SANAVABIC!
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I am
Trying to
Suppress my
Complete mania
Over today’s
Match but
It’s
Not
Going very well as the
Hype is
Overloading
My brain at
Every moment
This is awesome.
https://twitter.com/CoveBilly/status/1016796179236089856
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“Kieran Trippier has never scored for his country.”
BOOM. 1-0 England.
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It really can’t get more trippier than that.
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Oops.
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Sorry Limey. That sucks and I wish it didn't happen.
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Heartbreaking.
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That was a good game. Both teams left it all on the field and all you can really ask. I feel for england but Croatia deserved to go through.
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Croatia was the better team, by a small margin, and they win by a small margin. England are ranked outside the top 10 worldwide, so getting to the last 4 is all bonus. We finally got found out, but will be better equipped for the Euros in 2 years and the next WC in 4.
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Croatia was the better team, by a small margin, and they win by a small margin. England are ranked outside the top 10 worldwide, so getting to the last 4 is all bonus. We finally got found out, but will be better equipped for the Euros in 2 years and the next WC in 4.
England is super young too, they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. This wont be their only shot at silverware
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Idemo hrvatské
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England and France both figure to be really, really good in four years.
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England and France both figure to be really, really good in four years.
The passes Mbappe was making yesterday were unbelievable.
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The passes Mbappe was making yesterday were unbelievable.
By the time the next Cup comes around maybe he'll be old enough to drive.
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England and France both figure to be really, really good in four years.
The Euros in two years will be interesting. A more mature England and France, while Spain, Germany and Portugal will be rebuilding. Plus, Italy and Holland may be rising from their current ashes.
Should be fun.
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The Euros in two years will be interesting. A more mature England and France, while Spain, Germany and Portugal will be rebuilding. Plus, Italy and Holland may be rising from their current ashes.
Should be fun.
Agree. Would like to arrange a visit then.
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Agree. Would like to arrange a visit then.
Thinking about it with a clearer head, the Euros is basically a repeat of how this World Cup ended up, given that European nations dominated the knockout stages. Maybe Croatia will be tired by then, because they weren't tired yesterday!
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Croatia was the better team, by a small margin, and they win by a small margin. England are ranked outside the top 10 worldwide, so getting to the last 4 is all bonus. We finally got found out, but will be better equipped for the Euros in 2 years and the next WC in 4.
Limey,
What's your opinion of Kyle Walker? As a defender, I've always thought he brings more to the offensive side of things. Getting offensive production out of defenders is great, but I'd prefer their primary talent be defending.
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Limey,
What's your opinion of Kyle Walker? As a defender, I've always thought he brings more to the offensive side of things. Getting offensive production out of defenders is great, but I'd prefer their primary talent be defending.
He's a very good player. You're right that his day job is as a wing-back - and he's good at it - but Southgate put him in the middle of a back three, so that he could use his incredible speed to negate attacking threats. It worked very well, but there's not many teams that have the luxury of multiple, world class wing backs so that one can be sacrificed for central defensive duties. Not even Man City. He'll be back to his old job when the season starts.
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I wonder if Modric has checked to see if Mbappe has a sister?
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He's a very good player. You're right that his day job is as a wing-back - and he's good at it - but Southgate put him in the middle of a back three, so that he could use his incredible speed to negate attacking threats. It worked very well, but there's not many teams that have the luxury of multiple, world class wing backs so that one can be sacrificed for central defensive duties. Not even Man City. He'll be back to his old job when the season starts.
Walker basically serves as a sweeper at Man City while Kompany cleans up on the back line. Hard to argue with the results.
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Croatia has been pretty unlucky so far to trail
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Croatia has been pretty unlucky so far to trail
Yeah, the score doesn't really reflect the play.
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Croatia's goal was a beauty.
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That went south in a hurry.
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That went south in a hurry.
At least we'll always have Lloris.
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Looking forward to watching the recording, but sorry that Cinderella couldn’t stay the course.
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At least we'll always have Lloris.
ISWYDT
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Okay Champions League and (obviously) not World Cup...
There's really a Swiss football club called "Young Boys"?
Seriously?
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Okay Champions League and (obviously) not World Cup...
There's really a Swiss football club called "Young Boys"?
Seriously?
There's a team from Argentina called Old Boys so why not?
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Okay Champions League and (obviously) not World Cup...
There's really a Swiss football club called "Young Boys"?
Seriously?
Isn't that what Juventus means?
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Isn't that what Juventus means?
Youth. Not quite the same connotation.
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Youth. Not quite the same connotation.
Also, ironically, the club is known as "the old lady".
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I don't know why I thought this thread revisit might be about Cristiano Renaldo.
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Please tell me the Jamaican national team are called the Rude Boys.
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Okay Champions League and (obviously) not World Cup...
There's really a Swiss football club called "Young Boys"?
Seriously?
I think it is Italian, no? Torino?
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Please tell me the Jamaican national team are called the Rude Boys.
The Yardies.
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I think it is Italian, no? Torino?
BSC Young Boys out of Bern, Switzerland.
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BSC Young Boys out of Bern, Switzerland.
Ahhh ... I got confused by the Juventus reference I guess. Carry on.
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The Yardies.
That's a shame. What's the story behind "Yardies"?
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That's a shame. What's the story behind "Yardies"?
Actually, I was just cracking wise. "Yard Boys" or "Yardies" is a self-given name for young Jamaican men (i.e. like "Homies"), which also came to be used as a term for Jamaican gangsters.
The actual nickname for the soccer team is "Reggae Boyz", which is much nicer.