2018 World Cup

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Why didn’t they bring Pickford up for the last free kick? You’re already down a guy, that extra body may have helped

I was screaming at the TV...it was also past stoppage time

absolutely nothing to lose

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Why didn’t they bring Pickford up for the last free kick? You’re already down a guy, that extra body may have helped

He didnt want to mess up his hair! Hes got to try and pick up birds at the local Russian places, its a tough world out there!

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Locke

Okay, fair enough. But tournament play typically follows a normal bell curve and you want to hit that peak right at the opportune moment.

Croatia destroyed Argentina, but havent shown the same flow or flair since.

I'm pulling for Croatia, but it still seems as though they're running out of gas.

To be fair France hasn’t been the same since they played Argentina either. Stupidly easy to exploit their backline made both teams look pretty clinical when similar plays would work as well or as often against any other QF team.

The Argentina games were the outliers for both teams’ offenses.

[Johnny Makarov]

The best thing was that on all these English Sportscasters were having such a dilemma yesterday about what to watch on Sunday. England in the final or Federer vs Nadal at Wimbledon.
They can all go watch cricket now! hahah

[Sgrath]

Watching the semi's I get the feeling we are starting to see the real benefit of VAR. The good refs are able to ignore it when players go down easy in a tackle etc. trusting that VAR will have their back if they miss something outrageous. And as much as it could be argued that technically England could have been awarded a penalty I think they should be awarded for the much more blatant fouls.

On that note, if the ref does 'let them play' I think the French team could implode from a discipline perspective.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Great tournament from England. People will find ways to pick apart the team, say they had an easy draw etc but that's just England pundits being England pundits.
It stings today, but the team should be proud of this tournament and build on it for the Euros.

One area that needs the most improvement is controlling midfield. Once Henderson was off, that area was dominated by Croatia.
And I don't even like Henderson.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Sgrath

Watching the semi's I get the feeling we are starting to see the real benefit of VAR. The good refs are able to ignore it when players go down easy in a tackle etc. trusting that VAR will have their back if they miss something outrageous.

Outside the box, VAR would only come into play like that if the ref mistakes a straight red for a dive.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Sgrath

Watching the semi's I get the feeling we are starting to see the real benefit of VAR. The good refs are able to ignore it when players go down easy in a tackle etc. trusting that VAR will have their back if they miss something outrageous. And as much as it could be argued that technically England could have been awarded a penalty I think they should be awarded for the much more blatant fouls.

On that note, if the ref does 'let them play' I think the French team could implode from a discipline perspective.

I think the game we just saw shows the failings of VAR perfectly. Sterling got steppped on clearly, in the box. The ref missed it and ignored it. That’s exactly what VAR is supposed to correct. It was a clear penalty, and really impossible to question. It’s that kind of error they’re trying to fix, and it wasn’t consulted.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Great tournament from England. People will find ways to pick apart the team, say they had an easy draw etc but that's just England pundits being England pundits.
It stings today, but the team should be proud of this tournament and build on it for the Euros.

One area that needs the most improvement is controlling midfield. Once Henderson was off, that area was dominated by Croatia.
And I don't even like Henderson.

I think they need someone in the midfield who can create as well. That would allow Kane to get forward and he is far better there than playing so deep.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think they need someone in the midfield who can create as well. That would allow Kane to get forward and he is far better there than playing so deep.

Hoddle's getting a bit past his prime though

[Senator Clay Davis]

England fans gotta hope Stockport Iniesta is the real deal.

[Barnet Flame]

A country of 4m in the final. That is amazing. I will be wearing my Hadjuk Split shirt on Sunday.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I think they were underwhelming against Denmark, fully agree. Even first 30 mins of this game, but then they took over and had plenty of attractive chances and outclassed England. When I think of Portugal in the Euros I think more anti football and relying on one player to score penalties and set pieces.

Portugal scored off two corners in their seven matches at Euro 16. The rest from open play. Ronaldo only scored 3 of their 9 goals, none of them penalties.

Try again.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Portugal scored off two corners in their seven matches at Euro 16. The rest from open play. Ronaldo only scored 3 of their 9 goals, none of them penalties.

Try again.

I'm not trying anything, I'm simply parroting the line I've read on CP from multiple users that Portugal won the euros with "anti football"

[Bagor]

Ummm no. You were presenting it as your own thoughts.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I'm not trying anything, I'm simply parroting the line I've read on CP from multiple users that Portugal won the euros with "anti football"

That Anti football line is fine and holds merit. Portugal played a boring style for most of that tournament. Got them a title though.

Your stance on them relying on one player and set pieces is factually incorrect.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Ummm no. You were presenting it as your own thoughts.

So then let me clarify. I don't have any particular thoughts on how Portugal won 2 years ago other than I didn't care for CR winning. I have read here from several posters how they viewed Portugal winning as 'anti football'. I didn't bring up Portugal, another poster did, and I replied with that as my "opinion on Portugal".

[White Out 403]

saw this on FB and lol'd

[Beninho]

Was at work all day but wow what a tournament by Croatia, a very mentally strong team. England will never get a path to the final that easy again, huge missed opportunity for them. I thought Harry Kane, Lingard, and Ali became very ineffective once Croatia settled down and had very mediacore performances in the knockout round. Tough pill to swallow. England seem to consistently fold under pressure, I see similar traits to how they respond with adversity to how the last few generations of Brazilians have as well. So much pressure put on these guys from the media and when they start feeling it the system breaks down. One shot on target in 120 minutes is just really bad and given the talent on the team it’s inexusable.

Edit: Also, Modric for Ballon D’or. No one deserves it more

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Was at work all day but wow what a tournament by Croatia, a very mentally strong team. England will never get a path to the final that easy again, huge missed opportunity for them. I thought Harry Kane, Lingard, and Ali became very ineffective once Croatia settled down and had very mediacore performances in the knockout round. Tough pill to swallow. England seem to consistently fold under pressure, I see similar traits to how they respond with adversity to how the last few generations of Brazilians have as well. So much pressure put on these guys from the media and when they start feeling it the system breaks down. One shot on target in 120 minutes is just really bad and given the talent on the team it’s inexusable.

Edit: Also, Modric for Ballon D’or. No one deserves it more

If it wasnt for Penalties they'd never have gotten this far.

Their path to the final was a gift, but as soon as it got hard they stumbled in typical England fashion.

I thought it was interesting that the commentators were lamenting England's exhaustion to get to this point and how hard they worked and the minutes and etc, etc.

Despite the fact that Croatia played longer games and more minutes. But no, the English were hard done by because they got the easiest path to the finals in decades.