Football World Cup 2018

[Skybird]

Ronaldo in the match against Spain was the one pushing his team. The question whether Ronaldo or Messi is the better player, has been answered. Messi did not push his team, nor did the team manage to push him.



I stick to it, that was probably the best match of the whole tournament. Stars, teams, "screenplay", drama - it cannot get better.

[XenonSurf]

Germany with one leg out of the championship, the Harakiri of Argentina, and a single man - Ronaldo - being the power of all his team... If this goes on we won't see any favorites in the final but maybe something like

Portugal-Croatia or Nigeria-Japan...A novelty.


I notice that the VAR (video assistant) actually brings more justice in the game, that's good.

[Jimbuna]

England play Panama tomorrow and whilst I expect England to win I doubt it will be an easy game for them.

[Threadfin]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

nor do I take all that much notice of the group phase because it's almost predictable which two from each group will progress to the knockout phase before a ball is even kicked.

Really? There are surprises at every World Cup. Just going back to 2014


Group B


Netherlands and Chile went through, Spain went home


Group D


Costa Rica and Uraguay went through, Italy and England went home


Group G


Germany and US went through, Portugal and Ghana went home


Or the 2010 World Cup


Group A


Uruguay and Mexico went through, France went home


Group F


Paraguay and Slovakia went through, Italy went home


You can do this back through each World Cup. If you had those teams progressing to the knockouts then I guess it's predictable. But who had Spain going home in '14? Or Italy in each of those tournaments? France in 2010 was a mess and maybe predictable, but you'd still back them ahead of Uruguay and Mexico.


For Russia I picked Belgium to win. I had them for Euro 16 as well and we all saw how that went, losing to Wales in quarterfinals. So you never know. But they look good in this one.

[Skybird]

Tony Kroos sinks a free kick into the net for the 2:1 over Sweden in the last minute of injury time.

Meine Fresse. Ronaldo couldn't have shot it any better. Fantastic free kick.

The Germans keep their fate in their own hands. But how close it all is... Crazy match, with Germany playing with one man less for 15 minutes.

Invincible this team is not. By far not. Löw cannot be satisfied. Its soo easy to throw the Germans off their track after they had a strong start. To me that indicates there is some profound problem in the fundaments of this team. - Of the last 7 preparatory matches before the tournament, the still world champion won just one, against Saudi Arabia: and just mit Hängen und Würgen...

[Catfish]

They sure did not give up until the last minute, and they were 10 vs. 11..
Sweden was better than i thought, and while Germany was at least equal it just did not have the luck.. until the very last minute.
Well done

[mapuc]

I predict the next topmatch will be on Thursday

England - Belgium

Markus

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Dmitry Markov

So , Igor, it means that you are younger than 2008 ;-) ?

Ivan and that was Eurocup, no?

[Jimbuna]

Lucky lucky lucky Germany....probably qualify now and go on to the semi-final at least.

Belgium it would appear are now gaining form.

[Skybird]

Lucky indeed, you do not recognise this team that had 5 or 6 world champions on the green, and the rest all Confed cup winners.


A penalty for Sweden was not given. A Swedish attacker was wrestled down by even two German players inside the zone.


Jim, with Germany maybe beating Korea by 1 goal difference, it still could be kicked out, depending on the Mexican's score against Sweden. To be safe, they need at least a 2 goal win. All four teams in this group still could reach the next round.


And the match yesterday was two-faced. Strong dominance until Rudy's nose got broken (?) and a Swedish counter attack - then the hesitation and fear suddenly was back for the remaining of the first half. And the defence is not stable, it wasn't throughout the match. They pressed in the second half again until the end, but the final efficiency was lacking.


I shiver when imagining what some of the other teams would have done with this team.


I do not take a Germany victory against Korea for granted. You cannot, after these matches so far.


Positive effect from the missing of Özil and Gündogan. But when Rudy was replaced by Gündogan, immediately the midfield became stale again, somewhat. I hope Rudy can be back, he is better.



My problem with Löw is that the has loyalties for some older players that by these players' playing efficiency in the national team since years is not justified anymore. And so it is one of the oldest teams that Germany has ever sent to a championship, I think I read it is the second-oldest German team ever. At this cup, I think I heard that just one team is older than the Germans. Philipp Lahm stepped back after the cup win 4 years ago. Very wise and foresighted.

[Jimbuna]

^ Similarly with past England teams, the coaches repeatedly picking the older more experienced players and the repeated consequential failures.

This current squad is very young in comparison but the expectation is that failure is inevitable.

The moral being for coahes....damned if you do and damned if you don't

[Skybird]

Switched on just in time for the 3:0. Seems dear ol' England is enjoying itself...

[Skybird]

Correction, 4:0.

[Gerald]

England seems to go against a simple victory.

[Skybird]

Beware the English party animals - 5:0.



England writes history, never have they done more than 4 goals in a cup match.



Poor Panama, they are getting plowed under.