2018 World Cup

[CroFlames]

I was just thinking this morning about Modric's penalty in ET and shootout. I secretly thought that Croatia was 100% eliminated when he missed in ET, and shades of Turkey 2008 came in like a black cloud. I don't doubt the players were thinking the same thing.
It took some massive concentration and mental strength to miss in the 116' then come in a cooly score one against a hot keeper in the shootout. Some true leadership.



Got me thinking of his total body of work for club and country this season, and I think if Croatia win the WC, he's got to be a serious contender for Ballon d'Or.

[SebC]

Why wasn't that OG?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I was just thinking this morning about Modric's penalty in ET and shootout. I secretly thought that Croatia was 100% eliminated when he missed in ET, and shades of Turkey 2008 came in like a black cloud. I don't doubt the players were thinking the same thing.
It took some massive concentration and mental strength to miss in the 116' then come in a cooly score one against a hot keeper in the shootout. Some true leadership.



Got me thinking of his total body of work for club and country this season, and I think if Croatia win the WC, he's got to be a serious contender for Ballon d'Or.

He got lucky on that second PK IMO.

Even for one just shot right down the middle he hit it pretty poorly and it still almost hit the keepers feet. Think that was actually the keeper's mistake because with how poorly he hit the first one, and then how much pressure he felt on the second, I wouldn't have guessed. Make him actually take a good penalty.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by SebC

Why wasn't that OG?

Because it was an existing shot on target that was just tipped by SUI. The rationale being that they (FIFA) dont get into the business of judging how easy a save "would" have been had it not been tipped. If it was the exact same shot being not going on target initially, but the identical tip was made, it would have been an OG.

[Locke]

Huge boost for England, looks like James is out for this one.

[Bagor]

Unreal. Enroute to play in a World Cup game whilst negotiating with kidnappers.

Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi said the insecurity in the country is "scary" after his father was kidnapped for the second time in seven years.

Michael Obi and his driver were abducted at gunpoint on 26 June in Enugu but were released on Monday.

Mikel was told of his father's capture four hours before playing in Nigeria's 2-1 World Cup defeat by Argentina.

"For the second time I've had to live with the fears of losing my father and it is very scary," he told BBC Sport.

"Today it's my dad but tomorrow it could be someone else which makes it very scary."

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel, who now plays for Chinese club Tianjin Teda, received a call from a family member while on the team bus to the St Petersburg Stadium, who told him he had to call the kidnappers on a designated number.

He did not confide in any of his team-mates or the Nigerian Football Federation before the match because he didn't want it to be a distraction.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44702603

[SuperMatt18]

That is crazy by Mikel Obi, unreal to be able to focus on the match with that going on.

I know others aren’t a fan of it but I will always have a soft spot for Seven Nation Army being chanted at soccer games, since it was adopted by the Italian National team in 2006.

Good article on its origins at sporting events here https://the18.com/soccer-entertainme...ball-world-cup

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

That is crazy by Mikel Obi, unreal to be able to focus on the match with that going on.

I know others aren’t a fan of it but I will always have a soft spot for Seven Nation Army being chanted at soccer games, since it was adopted by the Italian National team in 2006.

Good article on its origins at sporting events here https://the18.com/soccer-entertainme...ball-world-cup

The fact that its happened before is what I find really wild.

"Not again...."

[SebC]

Can we get a free kick without a Columbian standing over the ball for three minutes?

[atb]

Ref letting this get out of hand

[SuperMatt18]

He should have probably went to VAR there - that’s a red

[dammage79]

Columbia playing like a bunch of chumps. Just having their way physically. Should be about 4 yellows and a red.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Columbia playing like a bunch of chumps. Just having their way physically. Should be about 4 yellows and a red.

Yeah, its been kind of wild.

[Jimmy Stang]

Regular MLS viewers are familiar with referee Geiger, and will not be surprised as this one slips out of his control.

[dammage79]

I mean I guess that is the only way Columbia can contain Englands attack. still, they should be heavily penalized.

I can't believe they let the columbian defenders literally piggy back Stirling twice. Or just maul him overall.

Barrios too. aside from the head butt or whatever, he's been rough housing all half. Shoving the player out of bounds even though they were going to have possession anyways.

Just goon squad soccer.

[Ducay]

Hopefully ref gets this under control in the second half here. Turning into street ball here, to England's detriment.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Alli seems clearly hurt, strange he wasn't subbed at halftime.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Hopefully ref gets this under control in the second half here. Turning into street ball here, to England's detriment.

I wouldnt hold my breath.

England arent exactly being saints either, but they're allowing themselves to get dragged into it. Further, this ref has to pay attention to where he lays down his spray, Trippier keeps moving the ball after the ref places it so you cant be upset at the Colombians shifting the wall accordingly.

Also, does Tottenham have some sort of formal team directive making dude-bro haircuts mandatory?

[GirlySports]

penalty!! now that was a tackle.

[dammage79]

Yep. Ref definitely did his homework in the break. two yellows in under two minutes.