Re: Football WC 2018

by JGK Sat 30 Jun 2018, 17:13

taipan wrote:Cracking game

Aye. Incredible quality.

by taipan Sat 30 Jun 2018, 17:15

Next game could be good

by skully Sat 30 Jun 2018, 22:01

Looks a couple of good games overnight.

France ended the Argies 4-3 and Uruguay did the Portugese 2-1.

by horace Sat 30 Jun 2018, 23:11

Great to see Portaldo go down. - tho not in the diving sense.

by beamer Sat 30 Jun 2018, 23:41

Messi and Ronaldo both exit the World Cup stage on the same day. Possibly for good - they will be 35 and 37 respectively next time around.

by skully Sun 01 Jul 2018, 00:29

JGK wrote:
taipan wrote:Cracking game

Aye. Incredible quality.

Just watched the SBS replay. Highly enjoyable game to watch.

France way to quick and skillful in the midfield, and their finishing was outstanding. What sort of a talent is Mbappe at just 19??

by Red Sun 01 Jul 2018, 03:43

Enjoyed the tweet ... Don't cry 4-3 Argentina.

France were way too athletic and speedy for the Argy Bargies, whose coach looked like Angry Anderson pacing the sidelines, but the French were loose at times in defence.

by taipan Sun 01 Jul 2018, 17:42

Spain gone

by skully Sun 01 Jul 2018, 19:09

Geez, a goal each in the 1st 5 mins of the Croatia v Denmark game.

LOL @ Spain.

by beamer Sun 01 Jul 2018, 19:15

Spain were denied a blatant penalty, rather like South Korea in 2002, but they have only themselves to blame for their lack of energy and end product. Sack the manager... oh, they already did it, before it even started!

Russia could go all the way if they keep it tight and benefit from favourable decisions when it matters. One of Russia, Croatia, Denmark, England, Colombia, Sweden or Switzerland will be in the final, and whoever comes out of the other half to face them will be like a boxer who’s just gone 12 rounds with Anthony Joshua.

by skully Sun 01 Jul 2018, 22:17

After nothing following the two early goals, the Croats beat Denmark on penalties.

So Russia face Croatia in the Quarters. If England can get to and win the Quarter final (beat Colombia then the winner of Sweden/Switzerland), they will play the winner of that match.

And then there were 12.

by Guest Sun 01 Jul 2018, 22:54

Sounds silly but the curse of ITV is real... Since 1998 we've only ever beaten Trinidad and Tobago on matches shown on ITV. That's 1 in 11 matches. On the BBC we've won 9 from 13.

Tuesday's match is on ITV. Good bye England.

by skully Mon 02 Jul 2018, 02:15

I watched a very interesting doco Called The Two Escobars last night. It was about the death of Pablo and Andres Escobar each side of the 1994 World Cup.

It was amazing the influence the drug cartels had on Colombian football back then. Pablo was particularly enamored of the national side and of the Medellin players like his namesake Andres Escobar.

After Andres was murdered (which never would've happened if Pablo was still ruling the roost) in retribution for his own goal v USA in WC94 (which eliminated Colombia) and the Colombian Govt cracked down hard on the drug cartels, all the money from the cartels went out of Colombian football. All of the national side basically retired in fear for their lives. 14 of the 18 Colombian provincial sides went broke. Colombia's ranking slide from 4th down to the 40s.

It's only just now prior to this World Cup has Colombian football gained some strength and returned to international standing.

Having said all that - come on England!!!!

by Bradman Mon 02 Jul 2018, 02:22

That was a fascinating doco

by JGK Mon 02 Jul 2018, 04:25

For the 2006 WC, Australia beat Uruguay to qualify for the finals and then qualified for the R16 from a group that included Croatia.

Roll forward 12 years, both of those teams are now in the QFs and Aust have languished in bare mediocrity ever since. Talking about sliding doors.

by skully Mon 02 Jul 2018, 04:31

We will always have 2006. I suspect it may be our best ever WC performance forever. We were a bee's dick from making a QF v Switzerland (except for the 90th minute Italian Grosso dive in the box). Italy went on to make the Final FFS.

by tricycle Mon 02 Jul 2018, 04:39

Yesterday's matches were ponderous... But a nice tournament so far

by Bradman Mon 02 Jul 2018, 04:40

The team will be better in four years

by taipan Mon 02 Jul 2018, 20:15

Belgium in shit against the Japs

by skully Mon 02 Jul 2018, 21:01

Remarkable comeback win by Belgium.

I got up at 5.00 am and was surprised to see Japan 2-0 up. A brilliant long range wide angle header by left back Ventonghen in the 69th minute got the Belgians back into the game. Then they rained crosses on the little Japs before Fellaini equalized with another header.

In the 4th minute of time added on Japan had a corner for what seemed the last chance to break the deadlock, but the keeper took the ball and sent his team racing upfield. A lovely dummy by Lukaku off a cross gave Chadli an open goal and he sealed a famous last gasp 3-2 win for Belgium.

Amazing game in a cracking World Cup.

Belgium now face Brazil, who were too big and fast for the Mexicans.

by taipan Mon 02 Jul 2018, 21:29

Fast becoming the best WC I've seen.

by JGK Mon 02 Jul 2018, 23:23

taipan wrote:Fast becoming the best WC I've seen.

Not if England win....

by skully Tue 03 Jul 2018, 00:47

Boooo!!!

Come on England!!!! cheers

by Fred Nerk Tue 03 Jul 2018, 01:38

I'm with Skulls....for reasons I've never kept secret.

Was it 2002 the last time England made it into the last 10 days of the WC? Was hilarious then, the number of rabidly anti-Pom local soccer fans (who all followed Man Utd or Liverpool or Chelsea nearly as close as their AFL team) who suddenly remembered their grandma was born in Hemel Hempstead so they're a quarter Pom anyway....

by skully Tue 03 Jul 2018, 02:45

Damn straight, Nerkles. I grew up watching English football and have no reason to "hate" the English team.

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