2018 World Cup in Russia
- mathusalah80
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
So as not to disappoint DM, (who has been strangely quiet?), here follows my belated forecast, for posterity:
First Choice: Belgian. Could be found wanting should they be forced onto defence.
Second Fav. Brazil. The the most complete team. If weather is reasonable & grounds soft, glory days could be back.
Third Fav. Uruguay. Solid & well drilled. With a little rub of the green, could surprise.
Fourth Fav: France. As with Brazil & Belgian, a team with flair, which I expect to progress to the latter stages.
Fifth Fav. Spain. Impossible to calculate the damage late change of management has done. Only time will tell.
Wild Card: Germany. Everyone seems to be judging their chances based on 'history'. Sorry Statts, I think this squad is
simply not good enough.
Fantasy Football: English squad should be home early enough for all the players to enjoy a summer holiday,
watching the final with their families.
Thats it.
First Choice: Belgian. Could be found wanting should they be forced onto defence.
Second Fav. Brazil. The the most complete team. If weather is reasonable & grounds soft, glory days could be back.
Third Fav. Uruguay. Solid & well drilled. With a little rub of the green, could surprise.
Fourth Fav: France. As with Brazil & Belgian, a team with flair, which I expect to progress to the latter stages.
Fifth Fav. Spain. Impossible to calculate the damage late change of management has done. Only time will tell.
Wild Card: Germany. Everyone seems to be judging their chances based on 'history'. Sorry Statts, I think this squad is
simply not good enough.
Fantasy Football: English squad should be home early enough for all the players to enjoy a summer holiday,
watching the final with their families.
Thats it.
- arjay
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
A great match on currently between Portugal and Spain.
- arjay
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
And a 5th goal just scored!!
- arjay
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
A stunning game: Spain 3 - Ronaldo 3.
Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
The 3rd. was a cracker though. Niggly & some dramatic falls after fouls maybe, but the excitement & goals were great to watch. Ronaldo at his absolute best for his 3rd. goal & the equaliser & Costa at his aggressive best at the other end for Spain. The sort of game that is a real treat to watch when you don't have a dog in the fight...
Today has some interesting looking line ups especially to see if France & Argentina have bought their A game to these finals.
- mathusalah80
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
I agree with both you and Arjay Bob; a wonderfully entertaining game, full of excitement, incident and quality football. I thought Ronaldo's third goal, absolutely stunning, and the work of a footballing genius.
On a personal note, I plead the second, third, fifth and any other amendment or authority enabling me to plead diminished responsibility in even mentioning Uruguay, in the context of the country being a world cup contender!
Watching the Socceroos cause the first major upset of the world cup this afternoon, is on my list of must do today Might take in the Croatia v Nigeria game tomorrow, at a more civilised time . The latter possess some very talented players, and a team likely therefore, to cause a surprise or two. So could prove an interesting match up.
On a personal note, I plead the second, third, fifth and any other amendment or authority enabling me to plead diminished responsibility in even mentioning Uruguay, in the context of the country being a world cup contender!
Watching the Socceroos cause the first major upset of the world cup this afternoon, is on my list of must do today Might take in the Croatia v Nigeria game tomorrow, at a more civilised time . The latter possess some very talented players, and a team likely therefore, to cause a surprise or two. So could prove an interesting match up.
- Barney
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Half time in Aussie vs France so far
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- arjay
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
France a bit disappointment. Australia must be wondering what might have been.
Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Bad luck Barney, Australia deserved something out of the game.France 2-1 Australia
It was a strange one though.. France won on the technical front - a VAR penalty that the referee would not have given & a goal line technology winner that a Russian linesman might have given.
After going behind to the penalty Australia got one of their own less than 5 minutes later - a World Cup record I understand..
France have a team composed of some high class players but I don't think many of the top sides would worry too much on this showing. Playing 3 of Europes best players in attack, but Australia were not exactly hanging on under pressure for 90 minutes.
- Barney
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Agree Bob
Good crack by the socceroos.
Don’t watch much soccer and listening to the so called experts after the game and the main question is did the Aussie touch the ball first.
Why now card for the French handball penalty.
Aussies will improve on that effort and I will look forward to finishing 2nd in the group.
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Good crack by the socceroos.
Don’t watch much soccer and listening to the so called experts after the game and the main question is did the Aussie touch the ball first.
Why now card for the French handball penalty.
Aussies will improve on that effort and I will look forward to finishing 2nd in the group.
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- stattointhailand
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Isnt it nice to know that we have got VAR in use to "make sure we end up with the correct decision"
Ronaldo goes down after a challenge that any 4 year old girl could have withstood ........ VAR gives a penalty (not sure if it counts the Artistic Impression or the difficulty points of the dive to come up with its decision)
Diego Costa "clotheslines" a Portuguese defender (a move even outlawed in WWE ) prior to scoring and VAR says ....... NOT A SAUSAGE
Antoine Griezmann dangles a foot and as soon as it feels contact goes down like a field of wheat in a tornado and TWO minutes later the ref goes to VAR and somehow decides to give a pen
Have to love the "goaline technology" dont ya ..... some computer graphic showing a ball and a line which clearly shows that the whole of the ball was over the whole of the line ........ well at least to the computer it did. I looked at 4 replays on the TV with the camera directly on the line and in NONE (THATS NOT EVEN ONE) could you see the whole of the ball at any time which is proof enough to say that NOT ALL THE BALL had crossed the line
Bearing in mind the France/Socceroos game had all 6 subs used, had several stoppages for minor injuries, had a little bit of time wasting, had a 3 minute delay whilst the ref consulted VAR, had virtually 2 minutes play after the penalty incident which were cancelled when the decision to consult VAR was made and the clock was not immediately reset there should have been at least of 9 or 10 mins added time (probably more) so how come he only added 5?
If they insist on using VAR then they must insist that the ref adds the same amount of time on at the end of the game
Ronaldo goes down after a challenge that any 4 year old girl could have withstood ........ VAR gives a penalty (not sure if it counts the Artistic Impression or the difficulty points of the dive to come up with its decision)
Diego Costa "clotheslines" a Portuguese defender (a move even outlawed in WWE ) prior to scoring and VAR says ....... NOT A SAUSAGE
Antoine Griezmann dangles a foot and as soon as it feels contact goes down like a field of wheat in a tornado and TWO minutes later the ref goes to VAR and somehow decides to give a pen
Have to love the "goaline technology" dont ya ..... some computer graphic showing a ball and a line which clearly shows that the whole of the ball was over the whole of the line ........ well at least to the computer it did. I looked at 4 replays on the TV with the camera directly on the line and in NONE (THATS NOT EVEN ONE) could you see the whole of the ball at any time which is proof enough to say that NOT ALL THE BALL had crossed the line
Bearing in mind the France/Socceroos game had all 6 subs used, had several stoppages for minor injuries, had a little bit of time wasting, had a 3 minute delay whilst the ref consulted VAR, had virtually 2 minutes play after the penalty incident which were cancelled when the decision to consult VAR was made and the clock was not immediately reset there should have been at least of 9 or 10 mins added time (probably more) so how come he only added 5?
If they insist on using VAR then they must insist that the ref adds the same amount of time on at the end of the game
Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
The South Americans with 78% of the possession but they didn't create that much. Their goal was a fine turn & shot by Aguero but Mr. M. had an off day. They also didn't appear to have anyone who could actually cross a ball once they reached the bye line.Argentina 1-1 Iceland
Iceland rather dour but you play to your strengths, not your opponents.
On this showing Argentina look a long way from threatening to lift the trophy & Iceland still look like the banana skin England slipped on in the Euros..
- Laan Yaa Mo
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
You only pass through this life once, you don't come back for an encore.
- Laan Yaa Mo
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Iran has an interesting strategy for advancing: let your opponents score own goals
You only pass through this life once, you don't come back for an encore.
Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Croatia & Nigeria proved a footballing flop. The former Yugoslavians went into the lead via an own goal. Their second, a penalty on 71 minutes, was their first shot on target!!
Hopefully some better action today as two of the favourites for the title, Brazil & Germany, kick off their challenges.
Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Soccerroos needn't feel too bad over their loss to France, at least their rugby and cricket teams also lost to Ireland and England respectively. 3 team losses on one day. How often does that happen?
- marjamlew
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Not too worried about the above Davy but me bloody footy team got done too. It's such a shame that whenever a game of soccer captures the imagination of the wider sporting public in Australia that the result is decided by some devious greasy Euro-trash scumbag doing his best Greg Lougainis impression, as this unfortunately reinforces the stereotypical view that soccer is a game where cheats do prosper regardless of VAR. Honourable losses are for losers - we shoulda kicked the sh1te out of the frog bastads
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
I'd watched a couple of the Aussie World Cup qualifiers plus a friendly against Thailand and I thought Australia were pretty poor and this match would be easy for France.....how wrong I was !
A very dubious penalty awarded to France.Even after the slow motion replays it wasn't clear and giving it after using VAR was wrong imo.Surely the benefit of doubt should have gone to the defender if it wasn't clear ?
But justice appeared to be done a few minutes later when confused French defender,Umtiti,appeared to think they were playing the Aussies at cricket and made an amazing attempt to stop the ball going over the boundary for six !
How you can think you can get away with a blatant handball in the area like that beggars belief !
The winning goal.....very unlucky with a deflection like that....bad luck to the Aussies again.
Argentina have some decent players but look like a team of individuals not a team.A lovely goal by Aguero and Iceland were hanging on in the second half but when the score was 0-0 the Iceland no.8 (Bjarnason) missed a gilt edged chance and we could have had an England type upset on our hands...….Messis penalty miss not withstanding.
Victories for Denmark and Croatia but didn't watch either game.
Tonight,Costa Rica v Serbia (7pm Thai),Germany v Mexico (10pm Thai) and Brazil v Switzerland (1am Thai Monday morning).
Post match analyses from Bob Helmsson and reviews of VAR from eagle eyed stattoundsson after the games
A very dubious penalty awarded to France.Even after the slow motion replays it wasn't clear and giving it after using VAR was wrong imo.Surely the benefit of doubt should have gone to the defender if it wasn't clear ?
But justice appeared to be done a few minutes later when confused French defender,Umtiti,appeared to think they were playing the Aussies at cricket and made an amazing attempt to stop the ball going over the boundary for six !
How you can think you can get away with a blatant handball in the area like that beggars belief !
The winning goal.....very unlucky with a deflection like that....bad luck to the Aussies again.
Argentina have some decent players but look like a team of individuals not a team.A lovely goal by Aguero and Iceland were hanging on in the second half but when the score was 0-0 the Iceland no.8 (Bjarnason) missed a gilt edged chance and we could have had an England type upset on our hands...….Messis penalty miss not withstanding.
Victories for Denmark and Croatia but didn't watch either game.
Tonight,Costa Rica v Serbia (7pm Thai),Germany v Mexico (10pm Thai) and Brazil v Switzerland (1am Thai Monday morning).
Post match analyses from Bob Helmsson and reviews of VAR from eagle eyed stattoundsson after the games
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.
- mathusalah80
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
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The France v Oz game pretty much covered by other scribes here; some more emotionally than others!
Just a couple of additional observation. I thought Aaron Mooys was, outstandingly, the man of the match. Not a bad accolade, considering two of the opponents he outplayed were Kante & Pogba. =D> Perhaps City should exercise their option to buy him back.
I considered that the only difference between the two sides, on the day, was Australia's lack of even just one forward possessing the close ball control to capitilise on the chances they created. At 1-2 down, and under 15 minutes to go, there existed the perfect scenario for the introduction of legend Tim Cahill. Incredibly, the Manager elects to send on a nineteen year old, for his first international appearance, plus another substitute of substantial mediocrity! Cahill, Australia's greatest ever, and most experienced player, ( who has scored 5 of the total of eleven goals ever scored by Oz in the world cup), is left sitting forlornly on the bench. WHY? Prior to the next game, someone should let the Manager know that quitting is not the Australian way.
According to the above reports, I made the correct decision in deciding to forego the 'pleasure?' of watching Argentina v Iceland.
I did elect to watch both the Denmark & Croatian, very drab, games to the bitter end. I considered it worth enduring the pain to have the privilege of watching Eriksen & Modric providing master classes in the now rarely seen, art of team play maker.
So, as Bob has indicated, onwards to the entry of two of the bookies favourites', into the fray. Hopefully Bob, Statts will forgive you for having omitted to include England in that category! :-" :-"
- stattointhailand
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Re: 2018 World Cup in Russia
Well at least Engerlund are not the only team with a total inability to "play out from the back" I've managed to watch all of 2 games and most of a couple of others together with highlights of the rest ........ someone up there doesn't want me to see too many games ......... lecky off half way through opener, bar loses link half way through another, lack of tuk tuk home meant Spain v Port was 3 - 2 when I got home, and TV reception outage due to a storm 30 mins before Oz game meaning missed first 20 mins
The one OUTSTANDING thing that I have noticed is that nearly every team is trying to build from the back and nobody has players good enough to do it. The times the ball gets turned over is unbelievable (three times in less than 10 mins by the Aussie left sided defenders)
This world cup is quickly earning its place in the History books as the one where VAR ruined football but is also (hopefully) going to be the death knell of the completely illogical idea of playing out from the back
The one OUTSTANDING thing that I have noticed is that nearly every team is trying to build from the back and nobody has players good enough to do it. The times the ball gets turned over is unbelievable (three times in less than 10 mins by the Aussie left sided defenders)
This world cup is quickly earning its place in the History books as the one where VAR ruined football but is also (hopefully) going to be the death knell of the completely illogical idea of playing out from the back