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The 2017-2018 Football Thread

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Oh, dear.

Poland (one of my least favourite teams, dour and unimaginative) have just scored against Japan. One-nil to Poland.

Personally, I would like (love) to see Senegal and Japan go through, although it is still nil all between Senegal and Colombia (a team with an attractive footballing personality, as well).
 
Japan is currently being knocked out by that Poland goal. 1-0. Japan needs a tie.
[doublepost=1530199818][/doublepost]Poland is strong on free-kicks. They're dangerous there. Japan allowed it on a witless move, and lost.
 
And while I would be happy to see Senegal - who are the most attractive of the African teams - and Colombia qualify, if Japan are excluded, I would be sorry to see Poland edge into that mix.

Damn: Colombia score against Senegal: So, Colombia lead Senegal by a goal to nil, while Poland lead Japan by the same score, one goal to nil.
 
Group H: The Group of Meh.

Instead of yellow cards deciding who goes through, FIFA should review all the match footage so far and award progress to the next stage to the team with the fewest dives.
 
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Kinda disgraceful what Japan/Poland did for the last 10mins. Basically passing the ball within themselves and not engaging whatsoever. And Poland accepted since they were already out.
 
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The-Real-Deal82 said:
Looking forward to the England game. I’m watching 30 mins delayed though due to these 7pm kick offs being a nightmare for people putting kids to bed lol.
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Well they work well for us old folk who struggle to stay awake past 9!

Come on England. Go for the win and keep the momentum up! No guarantee Brazil are a harder game than anyone else this year!
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Group H: The Group of Meh.

Instead of yellow cards deciding who goes through, FIFA should review all the match footage so far and award progress to the next stage to the team with the fewest dives.
Click to expand...

Alphazoid said:
Kinda disgraceful what Japan/Poland did for the last 10mins. Basically passing the ball within themselves and not engaging whatsoever. And Poland accepted since they were already out.
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Agreed.

I would have liked to have seen Senegal and Colombia go through; failing that, Senegal and Japan, but, after that disgraceful and cynical last ten minutes, I want to see Japan thrashed in the next round.

Delighted to see Poland out, and really sorry that Senegal - who were a delight - didn't manage to progress to the next round.
 
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Looks like 8 changes for England then.
Hope it works out for Southgate.

Lose and I fear the fingers of blame will point to this decision.

For me, I think it's sensible.
Finishing second might be more desirable.
Players coming in can push for the starting 11 if they play well.
Plenty of players can get a rest before the next scheduled game and hopefully beyond.
 
Agreed, I think it sensible, too.

Not simply to rest players, - and to ensure that the rested players won't pick up injuries and/or suspensions - but also for squad cohesion.

This is because Southgate remembers very well what it felt like not to have been picked to play, - he is on record as having talked about it - and how it gnawed at you.

And it will also give him an opportunity to test players and combinations of players, and positioning of players, in a way (given that England have already qualified) that will not be open to him later in th tournament.
 
And I don't get the fear of Brazil.

Brazil aren't Brilliant: This is not the team that mesmerised the world, to my mind, they are eminently beatable. It just hasn't happened yet.

Anyway, England should go for broke in this match, which would give "Team B" some serious confidence, as well.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
And I don't get the fear of Brazil.

Brazil aren't Brilliant: This is not the team that mesmerised the world, to my mind, they are eminently beatable. It just hasn't happened yet.

Anyway, England should go for broke in this match, which would give "Team B" some serious confidence, as well.
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Agreed. And they have dealt with danger at the back as well as done well up front. Just need a goal now.
 
Hm.

1) England: Team B are not as good as Team A - there is quite a gulf between them. Useful to know, and useful, too, to try to find out who from Team B can slot (more or less effortlessly) into Team A, if needed.

2) Belgium: Team B are still pretty good, if not quite as nifty as Team A. Bit of strength in depth, there.

3) Playing for Pride still matters, even if you have already been eliminated.

Panama have scored against Tunisia; neither can qualify, but - for pride when they return home, they are participating in a genuine contest.

Take that, Poland and Japan.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Hm.

1) England: Team B are not as good as Team A - there is quite a gulf between them. Useful to know, and useful, too, to try to find out who from Team B can slot (more or less effortlessly) into Team A, if needed.

2) Belgium: Team B are still pretty good, if not quite as nifty as Team A. Bit of strength in depth, there.

3) Playing for Pride still matters, even if you have already been eliminated.

Panama have scored against Tunisia; neither can qualify, but - for pride when they return home, they are participating in a genuine contest.

Take that, Poland and Japan.
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Agree this is not our (or theirs) strongest 11. They have come closest to scoring.
But I think we are doing okay.
 
No.

This Second Eleven - Team B - looks awfully classically, traditionally, "English" in the clichéd way they approach things, and about as far away from scoring - but enthusiastically energetic - as it is possible to be.

Belgium always looked capable of putting something away. Maybe even against the run of play. And so they did.

So, as of now, Belgium lead by a goal to nil.

Gareth Southgate's substitutions - if and when he chooses to make them - will be interesting to see.
 
Elsewhere, Tunisia have equalised and then scored another goal - both in the secondhalf - to lead Panama by two goals to one.
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FeliApple said:
Belgium has a slight advantage but neither seem bedazzling.
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Neither are playing their best - or first - team - England have made eight changes, Belgium nine - from their respective first teams.

However, Belgium's Team B is better than England's Team B.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Neither are playing their best - or first - team - England have made eight changes, Belgium nine - from their respective first teams.

However, Belgium's Team B is better than England's team B.
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Thanks for that information, wasn't aware. Indeed, if they both played their first teams, the result - and the development of the match - would probably be dissimilar.
 
Do you guys think England is going to live to regret not going for this game? For playing their B team? I don’t like that mindset at all. If you have the chance to win the group, go for it.
 
bmac4 said:
Do you guys think England is going to live to regret not going for this game? For playing their B team? I don’t like that mindset at all. If you have the chance to win the group, go for it.
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No.

If one of their serious players - let us say, Harry Kane - was injured in game where the outcome was (frankly) irrelevant, this would have be far worse.

Gareth Southgate now knows that his Team B is - frankly - not at the races, and the players cannot complain that they weren't given a chance to shine on the world stage.

It has also give him more time to rest Dele Alli, and take the spotlight off Harry Kane - the message that the team is greater than the player matters especially at World Cup level, and - should hopefully - serve to ensure that Kane is even hungrier for the next round, where performance and outcome and goals will matter.

Re the rest: They play Colombia. So what? This is the knock out stage of the World Cup. If you claim to be a good team you should be able to beat other good teams when you field your best players.

So, they didn't meet Japan, again, so what?

Japan got lucky today.

In truth, the best English team needs to be stretched by a team that is better than Japan - who will be found out.

If England hope to progress further, they need the confidence that winning against decent opponents will bring.
 
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