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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 17:41:55 GMT -5
Hmm, having watched the Uruguay victory, I'd back France to beat them. Uruguay are definitely a good team, but it looks like they rely heavily on a strong defence to keep themselves in it, with even the strikers putting in a decent shift in their own half. Given France have some serious attacking firepower and pace, I can see them picking that defence apart and holding down any counter attacks. Uruguay will miss Cavani if that's a proper injury, too. My guess is Spain are going to walk their match against a parked bus as Russia won't want to be punished for being naive again, whilst Croatia and Denmark will have a bit of a battle before Croatia eventually triumph...
Today was a good day for football, though! 10 goals from two matches can't be that common. So much for that caginess we were worried about, although there's plenty more knockout matches yet.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2018 17:46:02 GMT -5
Good point but I will just say this: Uruguay are more than happy to take elimination games to penalties.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 11:44:45 GMT -5
Holy shit did I call that wrong. Russia did park the bus pretty hard, but I overestimated Spain in their ability to pick that defence apart. Very drawn out game with a lot going on with very little pay-off. The first penalty shoot-out of the tournament has seen Russia go through to the quarter finals ahead of Spain. Is there such a thing as smart money in this tournament?
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Aisleen
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Post by Aisleen on Jul 1, 2018 11:55:39 GMT -5
Spain 1 vs 1 Russia (Russia won 4-3 on penalties): Russia basically had their entire team holed up in a defensive position, a 11 men "wall". But Spain didn't have a good game, so that wall manage to send them to the penalties rounds, or the giant killer rounds. Spain couldn't take it, and like that, a victory. Football is so cruel. Probably Spain wouldn't have gone further if they made it to the quarter finals, but they are definitely more entertaining to watch.
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Aisleen
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Post by Aisleen on Jul 1, 2018 11:57:46 GMT -5
Holy shit did I call that wrong. Russia did park the bus pretty hard, but I overestimated Spain in their ability to pick that defence apart. Very drawn out game with a lot going on with very little pay-off. The first penalty shoot-out of the tournament has seen Russia go through to the quarter finals ahead of Spain. Is there such a thing as smart money in this tournament? Unpredictable tournaments are fun to watch, but hopefully next matches won't have this kind of unpredictability. The defense meme lives!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 11:59:41 GMT -5
They said it was the third biggest upset in FIFA history. It is certainly the biggest moment for Russia.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 13:38:17 GMT -5
Haha, the streets are so loud right now. Car horns, happy cheers... I'm not into football but I appreciate the atmosphere.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 14:46:27 GMT -5
Good for you @memfis, au contraire here it's so quiet lol, it's like people are pretending that Italy wasn't able to qualify never happened otherwise there would have been a huge fuss about the World Cup (I first heard of it from this thread lol).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 14:55:46 GMT -5
Croatia and Denmark had an incredible first five minutes, followed by a game where they'd need a diagram and a cartographer to find the goal. It's almost exciting end to end stuff, though. Extra time begins now.
Extra time is literally just more of the same. I anticipate these penalties hitting the cheap seats when it comes up a shoot out.
I see I wasn't far wrong - 3-2 on penalties after the full five each were taken. The keepers were very good.
My main takeaway from today's football is that the Russian side of the draw seems remarkably lower quality than the other, which is good in a possible progression sense for all of the teams in it (IT'S FUCKING COMING HOME LADS!), but bad for quality of games. I'm now fully anticipating Russia/Croatia to be a dull quarter final game that goes to penalties, as neither team has much goal-scoring behind them against reasonable opposition. On the plus side, it can't be a big-name final now, as one of Colombia, Croatia, England, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland will make it. The exciting flip-side of this is that big teams will be battling it out to get to the final against these un-fancied sides, with France already having seen off Argentina and Uruguay triumphing over Portugal yesterday. Brazil, Belgium and Mexico all seem like contenders (sorry Japan) and they've got to go through France or Uruguay to get further. This might mean the final is one-sided, or that a spent force arrives from this side to take on what would normally be viewed as the weaker side.
Tomorrow I'm backing Brazil and Belgium to reach their quarter final. Brazil and Mexico are meant to have quite a history, so that might be the main entertainment of the day (probably with some dirty play and some antics from Neymar), whilst Belgium vs Japan is probably going to lead to some digging in when a team manages a goal. They're both meant to be pretty good on the attack, but equally aren't above killing a game if that works in their favour.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 17:16:56 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments all! That just leaves me to post this: It's apt that with this World Cup becoming famous as being the penalty World Cup that the last two games were decided by penalty shootout.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 17:26:09 GMT -5
Upcoming matches for the next day of competition are Belgium v Japan and Mexico v Muthafucken Brazil. As I've mentioned this is a really dangerous game for the Brazilians and after events at this World Cup it would not be shocking to see them eliminated. My Brazilian family are all pulling for Japan against Belgium as that will give Brazil an easier match haha.
If Brazil are eliminated, that will guarantee us a never been seen before World Cup final match between new opposing teams, though of who remain Uruguay has won twice and Sweden made it to the final of their home World Cup in 1958 before falling to 17 year old Pele's Brazil 5-2.
@phobus : if Russia were to meet England in the semi finals, do you think Russia is going to let your mob easily defeat them? If such a scenario was to occur, England would have to hammer in 3 goals or so to ensure they don't get screwed in some manner.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 23:03:06 GMT -5
@phobus : if Russia were to meet England in the semi finals, do you think Russia is going to let your mob easily defeat them? If such a scenario was to occur, England would have to hammer in 3 goals or so to ensure they don't get screwed in some manner. It's a good question that I guess will need to seriously be entertained now, as their game with Croatia could be pretty open and England must be in with a chance (albeit slim, given the English way) of making it past two games... At the start of the tournament I'd have probably dismissed Russia's chances in that much just like the rest of this country. Now that we've seen how doggedly they defend, though... Well, it won't be easy unless we bring high pressing energy and, more crucially, our defence isn't as frail as it's looked so far when the inevitable counter attack starts. If you can keep Russia pinned back like Spain did, but actually threaten the goal at the same time, I don't think they'll have much they can do. I do know England have been practicing penalties pretty heavily, as we've got a notion that they're our Kryptonite after previous tournaments.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 9:48:48 GMT -5
0-0 at half time in the Brazil v Mexico match. The Mexicans went in for the kill at the beginning but have since settled back while Brazil have the majority of the ball. No real good chances for either side although the pressure is tremendous and things are starting to get heated foul wise. After other results at this World Cup, Mexico must feel they have a decent chance to go far in this tournament and are playing as such.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 9:58:29 GMT -5
This has been a high energy game so far, despite the scoreline. I think Mexico look vulnerable at the back and simultaneously not quite as potent as Brazil, but Brazil are being challenged here. That's got to be the first game this tournament with no Injury Time at the end of the first half. Hopefully this relatively clean play keeps up despite the heat and mounting pressure.
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Aisleen
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Post by Aisleen on Jul 2, 2018 10:04:53 GMT -5
I wonder why G.Jesus is still the striker for Brazil? 3 matches, no goals. That's a red flag right there i think.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 10:09:12 GMT -5
Ney-fucken-mar!! Brazil 1-0 minutes after the restart... Mexico look to have blown their load already, some of their faces looked terribly exhausted just before that goal. Aisleen : Gabriel Jesus creates chances, doesn’t necessarily have to be scoring them. He plays a different role for Brazil than he does at Man City. Roberto Firmino will be probably come on for him later in the half.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 10:18:05 GMT -5
I hope Mexico wins this game, and loses the next one.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 10:37:09 GMT -5
Mexico currently trying to kick Neymar out of the game but having as much luck with it as Kontra does at trying to be witty with his posts. Brazil are schooling the Mexicans. They are masters of eating the time by overreacting to small situations, causing Mexico a lot of frustration, similar to the frustration that Kontra’s life causes him.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 10:42:33 GMT -5
The ITV commentary have written off Mexico ten minutes before the end, as Brazil are happy to let the game wind down and Mexico do seem to have run out of steam. It was a good try, but Brazil do seem very difficult to beat. You have to fancy them to go all the way if they can get past France or Uruguay at the semi final.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 10:47:49 GMT -5
They were right to write off Mexico as it is now 2-0 with Firmino, minutes onto the pitch, finishing off a stock standard Neymar run in to take the wind out of Mexico’s sails. Honestly Mexico didn’t look the same side after half time and Brazil’s first goal looked to have broken their spirit where they then resorted to kicking and hacking down opponents instead of their inspired play of the first half.
Almost 2am here and that will be it for me for today’s games. Looking forward to see what people comment about Belgium v Japan. I am hoping to wake up to the news that Japan has caused a shocking upset in a climactic finish, similar to the climactic finish that Kontra has when with Mrs Palmer and her five daughters.
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Aisleen
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Post by Aisleen on Jul 2, 2018 11:12:37 GMT -5
@glenzinho Haha, maybe its that i'm a liverpool fan, but i would love to see more Firmino. Jesus doesn't seem too good on the creating chance part for me, just kinda blurs in the background. Its look like Tite is waiting for him to make it big, but so far it hasn't happen. I've seen Firmino play, and its more captivating than Jesus imo. Brazil 2 vs 0 Mexico: Good first 20 mins for the Mexicans, but it was all downhill from there. Neymar still playing a important role, but he better keeps his attitude and playstyle in check because the way he plays football right now is a hospital trip waiting to happen.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 11:24:07 GMT -5
Mexico currently trying to kick Neymar out of the game but having as much luck with it as Kontra does at trying to be witty with his posts. Brazil are schooling the Mexicans. They are masters of eating the time by overreacting to small situations, causing Mexico a lot of frustration, similar to the frustration that Kontra’s life causes him. I hope in the next game they lose as horribly as they did to Germany in 2014.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 11:28:00 GMT -5
I'm rooting for Belgium, Croatia, Sweden or Switzerland.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 11:30:30 GMT -5
I think Uruguay's Suarez gets practice from biting his pillow, before he hits the field.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 11:39:13 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind to see Japan, or South Korea win it either!
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