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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Unlucky goal for Poland. I hope Senegal wins. (I support the underdog whenever there is no conflict of interest).
Poland have completely shot themselves in the foot. The first Senegal goal was sloppy but somewhat unlucky, but the second was a horrible unforced error.
I do like the rare circumstance when one player from each team gets sent off and you get to see a 10 v 10. It's usually a bit more disjointed and the players tire badly at the end, but at least it is balanced.
I do like the rare circumstance when one player from each team gets sent off and you get to see a 10 v 10. It's usually a bit more disjointed and the players tire badly at the end, but at least it is balanced.
So apparently Russia, who we know are a terrible side, are suddenly good???????
...or have they simply lucked their way into the knockout stages by playing two not-so-great opponents who have massively under-performed....
One of my primary wishes for this tournament was to see them get put to the sword by all and sundry, so this is totally irritating for me.
...or have they simply lucked their way into the knockout stages by playing two not-so-great opponents who have massively under-performed....
One of my primary wishes for this tournament was to see them get put to the sword by all and sundry, so this is totally irritating for me.
While I may have wished for a similar outcome......seriously.....this is not going to happen, or be allowed to happen (for dark reasons of politics, power and economics) until the knock-out stages.
Once Colombia got the red card it went down hill fast, japan got lucky. james had calf issues and didnt come in till the 2nd half, the coach for some odd reason took out Cuadrado from the field which i thought was weird cuase he is the speedster of the team and was playing fine, we needed him. Falcao was the best player in the match, he tried big time. Colombia has to up their game on the next match on sunday. im off on sundays from work so im gonna go to the bar to watch it #TeamColombia
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I have long thought - since before the WC commenced - that Russia will progress - by fair means or foul - to the knock-out stages. If it hadn't come about through ordinary play, some other means of contrivance would have ensured that this would have been so.
Even in the event that questionable stuff did not merit examination, it is usually considered desirable (for the atmospherics - not to mention the economics - of the competition) that the host advance at least to the knock-out stages.
However, I am delighted with Senegal's victory. Let us find comfort and rejoice where we can.
Even in the event that questionable stuff did not merit examination, it is usually considered desirable (for the atmospherics - not to mention the economics - of the competition) that the host advance at least to the knock-out stages.
However, I am delighted with Senegal's victory. Let us find comfort and rejoice where we can.
I’d hate to be on the Colombian team right now. Lol
[doublepost=1529496576][/doublepost]Costa Rica plays Brazil .
[doublepost=1529496576][/doublepost]Costa Rica plays Brazil .
I also didn't want Portugal to win. 4 minutes in, it's 1-0 against Morocco. I don't think that's reversible, Portugal almost scored the second a few minutes ago.
[doublepost=1529497423][/doublepost]
Out of 21 world cups: 6 Champions: 1930, 1934, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1998.
Two Runner-up: 1950, 1958.
Three Third place: 1962, 1990, 2006.
Two Fourth place: 2002, 2014.
Four Quarter-final: 1938, 1954, 1970, 1986.
One Second round: 1982.
Two Round of 16: 1994, 2002.
One group stage elimination: South Africa, 2010.
[doublepost=1529497423][/doublepost]
I'll confirm your host nation theory - that they do advance further - with some statistics. Host nations performed like this throughout history:
Out of 21 world cups: 6 Champions: 1930, 1934, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1998.
Two Runner-up: 1950, 1958.
Three Third place: 1962, 1990, 2006.
Two Fourth place: 2002, 2014.
Four Quarter-final: 1938, 1954, 1970, 1986.
One Second round: 1982.
Two Round of 16: 1994, 2002.
One group stage elimination: South Africa, 2010.
Morocco deserved to win, unquestionably. At least two to three shots that should have gone in. Three minutes + stoppage time, I don't think it's enough...
[doublepost=1529502874][/doublepost]Morocco is now eliminated. What an unfair result. I strongly wanted Portugal to lose.
[doublepost=1529502874][/doublepost]Morocco is now eliminated. What an unfair result. I strongly wanted Portugal to lose.
Meh. The Ronaldo Ego-Dirigible floats majestically onwards. At least Pepe isn't playing for them anymore.
Hopefully Uruguay hammer Saudi Arabia and demonstrate that beating them is not anything to crow about.
Hopefully Uruguay hammer Saudi Arabia and demonstrate that beating them is not anything to crow about.
For a variety of reasons, not all of them to do with football, I, too, would like to see Saudi Arabia defeated by Uruguay.
In my not-very-important-nor-expert opinion, Arabia played too slowly. I mean, they were 10 minutes from being eliminated and they weren't advancing as fast as they should have. I know, I know, it isn't easy, but try. It's that or being eliminated, which is what finally happened.
Uruguay didn't deserve to win. I imagine Arabia's goalkeeper will be angry after that horrible mistake which was the source of the only goal of the match.
Uruguay didn't deserve to win. I imagine Arabia's goalkeeper will be angry after that horrible mistake which was the source of the only goal of the match.
Uruguay have really underperformed thus far, considering that on paper they look like genuine dark horses. The Saudis look very soft at the back - energetic but not fast and fairly sloppy, but Uruguay didn't truly punish them.
Still, a win is a win, and this group is settled, apart from finding out who finishes top.
Indeed. Uruguay doesn't deserve to be qualified with what they displayed thus far. Barely edging out a win.
I think one could argue that they deserve it in light of how badly Egypt and Morocco have played, but both Uruguay and Russia will face much sterner tests in the first knockout round.
A win is a win and Saudi Arabia certainly didn't deserve a win, and never looked like seriously threatening the goal of their opponents.
Yes, now that the hosts will have advanced to the knock-out stages, I expect them to face sterner challenges. As will Uruguay, for that matter.
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Big night for Iran tonight! Win against Spain and I might actually start thinking I have a chance in the sweepstake!
Personally I think this will be a predictable game. 3-0 my prediction.
Personally I think this will be a predictable game. 3-0 my prediction.
Brings me back to a common phrase in Argentina that directly contradicts what I said earlier: Goals are scored, not deserved. Indeed, the difference wasn't overwhelming, but as @Scepticalscribe said, too, Arabia wasn't close to seriously threatening their opponents.
Hopefully, they will face sterner tests in the knockout stages.
A very Latin American philosophy - it sounds like viveza criolla, where cunning is applauded rather than being frowned on as cheating.
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