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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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True, but this also leads to fans and pundits hiding poor team performances behind PK heroics or failures. It's always easier to blame a player for missing a penalty than to see systemic failures in a team or national setup.
Speaking of penalties...Croatia just had one saved in ET so we are deciding this one with PKs...
Given their last few performances, I thought much of the same. That Denmark would be swept up as an easy win.
What if no team advances, instead of penalties.
sorry.....both ya bums had over 3hours to outscore yourselves!
Ya can do that today, what makes ya think ya can do that tomorrow?
If I was still goalkeeping, I would take a handful of viagra a minute before these penalty kicks start!
sorry.....both ya bums had over 3hours to outscore yourselves!
Ya can do that today, what makes ya think ya can do that tomorrow?
If I was still goalkeeping, I would take a handful of viagra a minute before these penalty kicks start!
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Well I ended up staying. Then left and missed most of Croatia - Denmark and now penalties again. Hilarious.
So much for the tired cliché of cool, composed, collected Northern Europeans calmly slotting penalties home, while the temperamental, passionate but brittle Southern Europeans crack under pressure and miss, flailing wildly.
Denmark miss three out of five penalties, - which ensures their departure from the competition, while Croatia successfully put away three, thereby earning themselves a place in the quarter finals.
Denmark miss three out of five penalties, - which ensures their departure from the competition, while Croatia successfully put away three, thereby earning themselves a place in the quarter finals.
Denmark were just about the better team today in open play - but this is knockout football, and it's not about being the better team. It's about being better at precisely the moment when it matters.
Thus, Croatia advance after scoring a quick equalizer at the very beginning of the match, doing almost nothing for two hours apart from weathering a modest but persistent Danish attack, missing a penalty in extra time and then being slightly less crap than the Danes in the shootout.
Tournament football.
EDIT: It's worth pointing out that Croatia are probably the better of the two teams. But the Danes played better today apart from the PKs. The shootout made that entire conversation irrelevant, of course.
Thus, Croatia advance after scoring a quick equalizer at the very beginning of the match, doing almost nothing for two hours apart from weathering a modest but persistent Danish attack, missing a penalty in extra time and then being slightly less crap than the Danes in the shootout.
Tournament football.
EDIT: It's worth pointing out that Croatia are probably the better of the two teams. But the Danes played better today apart from the PKs. The shootout made that entire conversation irrelevant, of course.
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Football is such a cruel game at time. It can be so rewarding, but so cruel. Spain dominated the game, but went through 90’+ minutes 1-1 on a questionable penalty. Then you lose in penalty kicks. Then Denmark score early only to be equalized in 2 minutes. Ending in penalties yet again.
I think the correct team made it through on the second game, but Russia were far and away the lesser team in game one. Easy draw in the group stage, but have to say they did step up the defense in the knockout. Can’t see how they get past Croatia. I sure those not.
I think the correct team made it through on the second game, but Russia were far and away the lesser team in game one. Easy draw in the group stage, but have to say they did step up the defense in the knockout. Can’t see how they get past Croatia. I sure those not.
Well, I wrote that before Croatia won a penalty in extra time, so it doesn't really apply anymore. At the time Denmark had spent more time on the front foot and Croatia were hanging on a bit.
Denmark weren't robbed, they robbed themselves if anything.
Throughout the competition, Croatia have been the better team, and if Denmark were better over the course of the game last night they failed to convert their skill and possession and slight edge into goals.
Plus, their composure and focus were found wanting when it came to taking penalties. Croatia were simply better and deserved to advance.
Throughout the competition, Croatia have been the better team, and if Denmark were better over the course of the game last night they failed to convert their skill and possession and slight edge into goals.
Plus, their composure and focus were found wanting when it came to taking penalties. Croatia were simply better and deserved to advance.
I’ve seen this type of statement twice now and it’s baffling.
It’s a competition, so who else can be blamed in a loss besides yourself?
Getting ready for a cracking MEX / BRA match. A pity I'll have to miss the first half, though. I expect Brazil will just edge it, but Mexico has to put their poor second half against Sweden behind them very quickly if they want to hang in this one.
True, although in a close game, if there are some questionable penalty calls one could claim they were robbed.
And still nil all between Brazil and Mexico a little over thirty minutes into the first half.
I expected Mexico to bunker here and try to break like they did against Germany. But they have taken a slightly more aggressive approach, and it seemed to be working reasonably well.
Then, as I type this, Neymar scores. Now Mexico have their work cut out for them.
Mexico are so dirty. I was really hoping Brazil would destroy them. Hopefully they can at the least get them out of this tournament. Most underserving team in the round of 16.
Mexico abandoned what made them successful against Germany and Japan, or simply couldn't keep up the pace.
Ochoa always seems to have big World Cups, but has only played at small clubs. Seems strange. Lozano should definitely be moving up to a bigger club shortly.
Ochoa always seems to have big World Cups, but has only played at small clubs. Seems strange. Lozano should definitely be moving up to a bigger club shortly.
I think those wins for Mexico were smoke and mirrors. Germany wasn’t as good as everyone thought, and Japan we will see. Mexico are always just good enough, but not great.
They don’t play solid football either. They lose their shape really quick, along with their heads. They started out the game with great defense, then lost it. Brazil was too good for them, but they could have been more sound.
Then it’s the team’s fault for allowing it to be close or allowing the match a call by a ref to decide a match. There’s any number of failures in a match...coaching, prep, strategy, execution, etc. it serves no purpose for a competitor to blame anyone but themself in a loss. Fans look for excuses but an athlete shouldn’t.
Hense the absurdity in a comment such as “they can only blame thsrmself”. Yep. That’s the only way it can be.
Mexico continue their habit of always going out in the first knockout round.
They went toe-to-toe with Brazil for a bit. They also kicked the snot out of Neymar, which I find it hard to condemn given Neymar's spoiled brat persona and ridiculous diving. But in the end it didn't make a difference. Lovely to see Firmino on the scoresheet even if it was only a tap-in.
I am always pleased to see Mexico get knocked out but fair play to them, they put in some good performances and went out against one of the favorites.
They went toe-to-toe with Brazil for a bit. They also kicked the snot out of Neymar, which I find it hard to condemn given Neymar's spoiled brat persona and ridiculous diving. But in the end it didn't make a difference. Lovely to see Firmino on the scoresheet even if it was only a tap-in.
I am always pleased to see Mexico get knocked out but fair play to them, they put in some good performances and went out against one of the favorites.
Not a fan of Neymar, (not least for the histrionics and diving) and I have never bought into the adulation of Brazil that they seem to attract in the footballing world; I like my heroes more awkward, grubby, and human; demigods sit ill with me, even though I am well aware that the Hindu faith acknowledges and salutes what they regard as the divine in each and every one of us.
However, yes, I am aware that Mexico have a long history of mastering the dark arts of fouling and I do not regret their departure from the competition.
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