FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

The second and third saves were going side netting. Those are really good saves.

Super well placed, but no deception on the kicks. Completely telegraphed.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I really find some of the pearl clutching about what the Ultras did to be absurd. Where was all the outrage when English Hooligans are on video making a school shooting song against the usa? Give me a ####ing break

Why do you find the reaction to that banner to be pearl clutching and absurd?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Why do you find the reaction to that banner to be pearl clutching and absurd?

I've already said what I'll say about the Borjan situation earlier, I'm not interested in rehashing it further. (realizing that yes I sort of brought it up again in relation to all the negative commentary focused on Croatia which I find unfair)

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I've already said what I'll say about the Borjan situation earlier, I'm not interested in rehashing it further. (realizing that yes I sort of brought it up again in relation to all the negative commentary focused on Croatia which I find unfair)

Ok. I'm left to deduce then given your statement that the reaction to the banner was absurd and pearl clutching that you don't see it as a big deal.

[agulati]

I’m happy with this result. Will be in Zagreb the day of the quarterfinals so should be fun.

[CroFlames]

GG Japan.

Fair play to their fans too they are amazing. Even saw them applauding Croatia on TV after the win.

[CroFlames]

If Korea wins I promise I will listen to nothing but boy band K-pop for a year straight

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I've already said what I'll say about the Borjan situation earlier, I'm not interested in rehashing it further. (realizing that yes I sort of brought it up again in relation to all the negative commentary focused on Croatia which I find unfair)

Can only speak for myself, but there's no hate towards Croatia as a country, just a little bit of rivalry there that wasn't before where I'm not a neutral towards them - I thought that there was a misstep by Herdman, but then just a wall of hotheaded behavior and words.

To be fair though, Herdman was an idiot with his comments. I love what the guy has done for Canada with his Ted Lasso off the field team spirit approach but he was so naive this whole tournament, he lit a fire under one opponent and fielded teams that got completely overrun in midfield by playing a two man unit that included a guy who was injured and another who was over 40. The only game where his tactics were on and he was unlucky was Belgium. Canada should have come out of that group in 2nd IMO with a better tactician. But no regret, we finally made it to the party.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I've already said what I'll say about the Borjan situation earlier, I'm not interested in rehashing it further. (realizing that yes I sort of brought it up again in relation to all the negative commentary focused on Croatia which I find unfair)

When I was a kid my dad bought be a lightening jersey and I started collecting lightening hockey cards. in 2004 I thought that it was amazing that my two favourite teams made the finals. After the lightening won, I could not wear my jersey anywhere without negative comments. I have since learned that you can't have your cake and eat it to.

As a fan of the Canadian national team, #### Croatia.

[GirlySports]

PK in regular time is a definite advantage for the shooter but keepers are getting better and better. I'd say 20-30 years ago it was 80% but now maybe 60-70%. Plus you can choose any shooter you want so you choose the best.

But penalty shootouts are a different beast. The players are so tired, especially Japan who play a really high energy style. And you also have players who don't normally take penalties under the most immense pressure. I think this is where Croatian experience comes in, being in shootouts before in the big matches. They won penalties twice in 2018. Brozovic took a successful penalty in 2018 and today.

[CroFlames]

Guys I’m not a huge fan of all the #### Croatia posts. Not even in the Russia thread have I ever said #### Russia.

Yes I realize that I’ll probably get 20 replies saying #### Croatia, but I said my bit.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Can only speak for myself, but there's no hate towards Croatia as a country, just a little bit of rivalry there that wasn't before where I'm not a neutral towards them - I thought that there was a misstep by Herdman, but then just a wall of hotheaded behavior and words.

To be fair though, Herdman was an idiot with his comments. I love what the guy has done for Canada with his Ted Lasso off the field team spirit approach but he was so naive this whole tournament, he lit a fire under one opponent and fielded teams that got completely overrun in midfield by playing a two man unit that included a guy who was injured and another who was over 40. The only game where his tactics were on and he was unlucky was Belgium. Canada should have come out of that group in 2nd IMO with a better tactician. But no regret, we finally made it to the party.

I agree with that. I'm not sure about a rivalry, but the rest of your comments are bang-on. Herdman screwed that up. You can make those bulletin board comments to the team when you're behind closed doors, but no tin the media. And yeah, the set-up for that game was just perplexing.

I will say that we were in tough though. The Croatian midfield is really levels above ours, and then to have us play 2 vs. 3 there even without the 40 year old and injury is questionable. At the same time though, it's not like we have a lot of depth there to replace those two and have 3 solid players to play against that world class trio.

Canada deserved better against Belgium. Morocco is just a better team than a lot of people realise. I'm not sure that we were set for 2nd place. I feel like we could make that if absolutely everything broke for us, but on a good day we draw Morocco and maybe don't get wrecked against Croatia.

[Locke]

They should have gotten Son a 'Hannibal Lecter' mask.

Just for the intimidation factor.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Guys I’m not a huge fan of all the #### Croatia posts. Not even in the Russia thread have I ever said #### Russia.

Yes I realize that I’ll probably get 20 replies saying #### Croatia, but I said my bit.

I’ll be on the Croatia bandwagon for the quarterfinals, so not everyone is saying it.

[agulati]

Hope South Korea can finally pull the first upset of the round of 16

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Slava

I agree with that. I'm not sure about a rivalry, but the rest of your comments are bang-on. Herdman screwed that up. You can make those bulletin board comments to the team when you're behind closed doors, but no tin the media. And yeah, the set-up for that game was just perplexing.

I will say that we were in tough though. The Croatian midfield is really levels above ours, and then to have us play 2 vs. 3 there even without the 40 year old and injury is questionable. At the same time though, it's not like we have a lot of depth there to replace those two and have 3 solid players to play against that world class trio.

Canada deserved better against Belgium. Morocco is just a better team than a lot of people realise. I'm not sure that we were set for 2nd place. I feel like we could make that if absolutely everything broke for us, but on a good day we draw Morocco and maybe don't get wrecked against Croatia.

The whole setup for Croatia was terrible. The dumb comments and then when Croatia overreacted he ran away from it instead of backing his own words and galvanizing his group, and then he goes up against the strongest mid in the group with Hutch on a few days rest with Eustaquaio and plays two forwards in the starting lineup? Eustaquaio gets injured he has to run so much to cover a 41 year old who looked like he was running in quicksand.

The part I struggled with is with Kaye, Piette, Kone all on the bench is that he had the quality to play a 3 man mid and a pitbull in Piette that should have been on the pitch. Not at the quality of Croatia but at least you clog it up and fight in the engine room. Throwing on Larin and David and an exhausted 41 year old in mid was awful. Better player selection against Morocco for the context but again a 2 man mid after getting destroyed there was puzzling, Canada beat better teams than them in qualifying and warmups and should have played to control the ball. To be fair that Borjan goal was horrendous and game turned on it.

Big accomplishment getting there that he should be proud of, but hope Canada isn't just happy to be there in 2026.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Guys I’m not a huge fan of all the #### Croatia posts. Not even in the Russia thread have I ever said #### Russia.

Yes I realize that I’ll probably get 20 replies saying #### Croatia, but I said my bit.

Oh please. it's like saying Edmonton is no good. Obviously I am talking about sports.

[JohnnyB]

I've been partial to Croatia since the days of watching Davor Suker. I don't care about what was said post-game or that some fans were awful during the game.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I've been partial to Croatia since the days of watching Davor Suker. I don't care about what was said post-game or that some fans were awful during the game.

I don't care either. All I care is they beat the team I support.

[lazypucker]

The "Kim-Kim-Kim-Kim-Kim" defense line for Korea!