2018 World Cup

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Croatia's results notwithstanding, what a delight this World Cup has been. Great entertainment from most teams. All sorts of teams elevating their game and producing a great product.

Anyone missing USA, Holland, Chile or Italy? I'm definitely not. And the supposed big teams that have been bounced have deserved it.

I miss Germany....

[browna]

Originally Posted by Bagor

All four plumbers on BBC (Shearer, Ferdinand, Klinsmann and Lineker) all have it down as a fluke.

Who knows? Looked great though.

He had lots of time as the ball arched to him and he then squared up. His head was up the entire time looking at the goalie. He cocked his head back and hit it flush and with purpose in that direction. A professional with that amount of time and form would not have put a header high to the back post and/or near the goalie in that situation. If it ended up as spinnng off the side of his head or something as it meant to the be out at the 6 yard box then I can see it more of a fluke.

Checked some post match comments and he blames himself for the second Japanese goal but no words whether he considered himself fortunate for scoring.

[Luder]

Neymar is the reason soccer doesn’t get much credibility in North America

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Croatia's results notwithstanding, what a delight this World Cup has been. Great entertainment from most teams. All sorts of teams elevating their game and producing a great product.

Anyone missing USA, Holland, Chile or Italy? I'm definitely not. And the supposed big teams that have been bounced have deserved it.

Well the fans of those teams disagree.

But at the end of the day seeing underdogs win, or push games, makes for an entertaining tournament. Right up until they start getting destroyed. If we see multiple QF, SF and final games being 3 or 4 goal victories, the fact we had some entertaining group or R16 games won’t mean a whole lot.

[leah12]

Russia are the only underdog to progress in the knockout round so far.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by browna

That header for Belgium first will be overlooked in everything else but that could be the top goal. Fully intended as a shot on net, no matter what the plumber on Tsn said.

Vertonghen said after the match he didnt mean it

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Luder

Neymar is the reason soccer doesn’t get much credibility in North America

I see PK Subban do a lot of the same things Neymar does...
They also both seem to have difficulties with teammates.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I bet on Belgium after they went down 2 - nil.



Feelsgoodman.

Wow, that was a good call!

I thought that if Belgium got a goal with at least 10 minutes left, they would go on to win the game.

The difference is, I didn’t think it would be done within 90 minutes.

So well done, some deserved winnings there for you.

Coulda, woulda,shoulda for me.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Locke

In fact I dont hate him at all, hes become a very fun player for me, granted hes played for Everton and United so hes the scum of the Earth, but I like him when he plays for Belgium.



Its all about elbowing the right people in the skull. As long as they're not Liverpool or Germany players, elbows away!



Seriously though, look at the replay, I'm pretty sure he gets his elbow into that Japanese defender. It is Fellaini, its far from outside the realm of possibility.

That had me laughing way more than it should have.

[devo22]

looks like Jogi Löw will stay on. LOL, that will go down well in Germany.

[socalwingfan]

The announcers just dripping in sarcasm calling this Swe/Swi game. Taking shots at everyone

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Well the fans of those teams disagree.

But at the end of the day seeing underdogs win, or push games, makes for an entertaining tournament. Right up until they start getting destroyed. If we see multiple QF, SF and final games being 3 or 4 goal victories, the fact we had some entertaining group or R16 games won’t mean a whole lot.

As an Italy fan I miss them from the point of view that whenever I watch a game with them I have more emotional attachment.

But I have to agree that as a "neutral" since Italy is not there that this tournament has been great, and I'm not sitting here saying the tournament is bad because Italy is not there.

Lots of exciting games, lots of goals, big upsets, big comebacks, more world class goals than I can ever remember in a single tournament...just a great World Cup overall.

[CroFlames]

Of course the fans of those teams that are out will not be happy about it.


But the overall level of play and entertainment value of the WC has not suffered because those teams have been out.



Japan put on a great display against mighty Belgium, and I doubt that if it a BEL-GER or BEL-ITA game would have been any more entertaining.

[Weitz]

Ouch. Bad deflection on that goal.

[SuperMatt18]

Stupid defending.

Just a idiotic stab at that shot - no good is going to come out of that.

[GirlySports]

Pretty impressed at the way Sweden didn't bunker after scoring that goal. Continued to play high in defense the entire game.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Certainly nothing from Sweden suggests we aren't watching the real QF at noon today. Maybe if they didn't look so poor in front of goal you might give them a chance.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Certainly nothing from Sweden suggests we aren't watching the real QF at noon today. Maybe if they didn't look so poor in front of goal you might give them a chance.

Come on - it's England. I expect them to lose today, and then I would expect them to lose to Sweden. The only team I am sure they would beat is the Russians, if there is a miracle 1/2-final matchup...

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Certainly nothing from Sweden suggests we aren't watching the real QF at noon today. Maybe if they didn't look so poor in front of goal you might give them a chance.

They beat Italy over two games in the playoff, should have beat Germany (should have had a PK in the first half and been up 2-0), and destroyed Mexico when they needed a big win to guarantee a place in the Round of 16.

Neither Colombia or England should overlook them.

[Locke]

Yeah, it wasnt pretty but thats how Sweden play.

Eliminating Ibrahimovic was one of the best things to happen to Sweden because it removed a focal point and allowed them to play a more team-based game.