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The 2017-2018 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Yeah, I mean when I was growing up. Brazil and Argentina were the teams everyone favored to win the WC. If you halfway cared about football in the USA, you liked Brazil. Now how many titles have gone to the European teams?
South America have some good players, but they don’t have any complete teams. Why this is, I don’t know. Sure would be fun if Brazil went to another level and competed for the cup this year.
Russia looking very ordinary against competent opposition; barely twenty minutes gone and they are already two-nil down against Uruguay.
While they have qualified for the knock-out stages, - always a good idea when one is the host - I wouldn't wager much on them progressing any farther.
Elsewhere, Egypt (courtesy of Mo Salah) lead Saudi-Arabia by a goal to nil.
While they have qualified for the knock-out stages, - always a good idea when one is the host - I wouldn't wager much on them progressing any farther.
Elsewhere, Egypt (courtesy of Mo Salah) lead Saudi-Arabia by a goal to nil.
They are actually playing a legitimate opponent.
I really like that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are showing so much passion in a game that doesn’t matter. Just the passion to win for your country. It’s pretty awesome!
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Well against a decent team no surprise although I had hopes for Egypt.
Dam you Iran! You were doing so well. I guess I can kiss my money goodbye now!
Couple of interesting results at half time though. See what the second halfs bring.
Couple of interesting results at half time though. See what the second halfs bring.
Finally the Russians take the beating they most certainly deserve. Egypt are a better team than results suggest, but had rotten luck and underperformed somewhat. Sergio Ramos should not plan a vacation to Egypt. Ever.
Portugal and Panama represent the two chief ways a football team can cheat. Panama kick the living **** out of their opponents, while Portugal flop, dive, roll on the ground, and time-waste their way to a 1-0. Without Ronaldo they are nowhere...
Come to think of it, just imagine what a Portugal - Panama match would look like...11 Panamanian players standing with their arms outstretched in the international sign of innocence, each with a Portuguese player rolling at his feet holding his face...half legitimate fouls, and half dives.
Spain get a slice of luck and equalize in a match they probably deserve to lose.
Portugal and Panama represent the two chief ways a football team can cheat. Panama kick the living **** out of their opponents, while Portugal flop, dive, roll on the ground, and time-waste their way to a 1-0. Without Ronaldo they are nowhere...
Come to think of it, just imagine what a Portugal - Panama match would look like...11 Panamanian players standing with their arms outstretched in the international sign of innocence, each with a Portuguese player rolling at his feet holding his face...half legitimate fouls, and half dives.
Spain get a slice of luck and equalize in a match they probably deserve to lose.
I am currently basking in Ronnie's pain.
Spain have an easy round of 16 opponent in Russia, while Uruguay v Portugal could be spicy - lots of skilled-yet-dirty players in that match.
Good showing by Iran, it was agonizing to see them fail to win by the tiniest of margins.
Spain have an easy round of 16 opponent in Russia, while Uruguay v Portugal could be spicy - lots of skilled-yet-dirty players in that match.
Good showing by Iran, it was agonizing to see them fail to win by the tiniest of margins.
Sergio Ramos had nothing to do with Egypt’s play in this World Cup. To suggest that is completely off base. Egypt had their chances once Salah was back and they couldn’t do anything. Is this the excuse Liverpool and Egyptian fans will use like the Argentina fans say Messi has too much pressure on him? Come on now.
Were you watching the same game I was? There have been dives and fouls from every team in this WC. Portugal is not even close to the level of Panama.
It’s funny to see people’s biases here. I of course have mine being that I absolutely hate Mexico, and wish them nothing but the worse in the rest of the tournament. Seeing games completely different and holding those biases over a team is kind of funny. It’s hard to be objective, but sometimes the bias is just a bit much. Fandom is a funny thing.
Two extraordinary matches whereby Spain and Portugal were both made to look ordinary. Iran were actually unlucky not to win against Portugal who - without Ronaldo as part of the equation - do look rather pedestrian.
Mind you, I did think Spain would be better, but by the end of the game, they were damned lucky to draw. Morocco fought very well.
Mind you, I did think Spain would be better, but by the end of the game, they were damned lucky to draw. Morocco fought very well.
Seems this coaching change is doing them in. What a stupid decision by the Spanish federation. My Belgium pick seems more and more possible each day.
Continuing debate over the PK against Portugal and whether Crispy should have been sent off for pushing an Iranian player.
I haven't seen the handball incident, but reading several minute-by-minutes, it sounds like a blown call - ball to hand - despite VAR.
I haven't seen the handball incident, but reading several minute-by-minutes, it sounds like a blown call - ball to hand - despite VAR.
you are not stating the "obvious" thats your opinion...brazil used to be good like i said earlier
Nobody doubts that the South American teams - especially Brazil and Uruguay - "used to be good", indeed, extremely good, and consistently counted among the best teams on the planet; but, the point is that, nowadays, they are no longer considered to be among the very best.
Jorge Valdarno (who played for Argentina - scoring in the final when they beat what was then West Germany in 1986 - and later managed Real Madrid) wrote an excellent piece discussing some of the matters in yesterday's Guardian; well worth a read.
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