2018 FIFA World Cup Thread [W:87]

[Andalublue]

Next for Argentina is France... and that should be a walkover for France if Argentina continue to play like this.

You say that having watched France's snore-fest with Denmark? Add to that very shaky performances against Australia and Peru. France really haven't yet shown anything to strike fear into anyone. I would expect France will beat an Argentina playing like they did in the Iceland and Croatia games, but if the Argies play like they did in the first half yesterday they might have a little hope. I do think France will win, I don't expect a walkover.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

~ by the beach so lots of interesting viewing........

Anyone notice the cameras in games ALWAYS find some pretty 18-20something female fans during quieter moments in the game?

Great to look at but verrrry obvious. How many of these models will be at the local football ground in mid-winter when it's raining and windy?

 

[PeteEU]

You say that having watched France's snore-fest with Denmark? Add to that very shaky performances against Australia and Peru. France really haven't yet shown anything to strike fear into anyone. I would expect France will beat an Argentina playing like they did in the Iceland and Croatia games, but if the Argies play like they did in the first half yesterday they might have a little hope. I do think France will win, I don't expect a walkover.

France has played better than Argentina... just saying. And snore-fest.. only for non Danes If it was England and you needed a point.. you would welcome a snore-fest rather than a defeat.

 

[Higgins86]

Why are we worried about facing Germany? Bring them on

 

[PeteEU]

Why are we worried about facing Germany? Bring them on

At the moment you wont face them... they going out.

 

[PeteEU]

Germany going out... and well deserved.

 

[Chagos]

At the moment you wont face them... they going out.

Frankly, they (Germany)could have played for the next three hours and wouldn't have scored.

It's high time they leave, never having delivered an even remotely convincing performance in all three games.

 

[Jredbaron96]

Embarrisingly poor performance from Germany this WC. So many of our vets played poorly: Khedira, Ozil, and Meuller were deeply dissappointing. Our lack of a strong forward killed us. And our game plan was pathetic.

Congrats Mexico and Sweden. Y all earned it.

 

[Manc Skipper]

TWO! Germany not only go out, but bottom of their group!

 

[PeteEU]

Considering all the talent Germany has, their World Cup has been an utter disaster. Their lack of a good striker really showed in all 3 games, and a midfield that could not work well together all of a sudden. Ozil should have been dropped as he has been abysmal.. yet again... hell if I was the German FA, I would have kicked Ozil and Gundogan for meeting the Turkish dictator just before the tournament. It had an impact on the team.. no doubt, as that was all people were talking about for weeks. Huge distraction.

Germany will be back no doubt, but they need to find a world class striker instead Gomez and Timo. Still dont understand why Timo was part of the team, since he refused to play for his team once because it was too loud... And no Muller and Reus are not freaking strikers..

Also playing Neur was a mistake.. he is a great goalkeeper but he has not been playing due to injury and it showed.

 

[Chagos]

Germany going out... and well deserved.

When I heard (prior to departing for Russia) that they were taking Gomez, I already said they were taking a dud.

He NEVER scores in WC.

Just one of the nails for the coffin but certainly not the only one.

It's time for Löw to retire, of all the available choices he set up (foreseeably) the worst team. Took those he knew (and liked) from 2014, left promising fresh blood at home.

 

[PeteEU]

Embarrisingly poor performance from Germany this WC. So many of our vets played poorly: Khedira, Ozil, and Meuller were deeply dissappointing. Our lack of a strong forward killed us. And our game plan was pathetic.

Congrats Mexico and Sweden. Y all earned it.

Khedira was okay.. average like the rest of the squad. He and Rudy are your only real defensive midfielders. Ozil was POOR as usual. He should not have been given a place in the squad after all the controversy before the games. Same with whats his name.

As for Mueller.. he is not a striker.. more of a winger. Your problem was clear from the start (as I mentioned before the games).. lack of a quality striker. Gomez was always the 3rd best, and now with the 2 best strikers retired he suddenly is top. Instead Germany plays Timo, who once refused to play because the stadium was too loud.. come on.... he is young yes, but he is hardly the quality needed. You would have been better asking Podolski back.

But Germany will be back.. they always are. Generation change in some spots.. expect Gomez to stop and maybe Mueller. And of course the manager is done... been there too long imo. Time for new ideas and blood. It is not like Germany lack talent.

 

[Chagos]

Congrats Sweden (especially), got your own back for that disgusting display of jeering triumph that two stupid German team flunkies showed at your bench at the end of the match with Germany. :2razz:

 

[PeteEU]

When I heard (prior to departing for Russia) that they were taking Gomez, I already said they were taking a dud.

He NEVER scores in WC.

Just one of the nails for the coffin but certainly not the only one.

It's time for Löw to retire, of all the available choices he set up (foreseeably) the worst team. Took those he knew (and liked) from 2014, left promising fresh blood at home.

Of course Gomez never scores.. he never plays. He was always behind Klose and Podolski. Hell Klose was ancient in 2014 and still got in the squad before Gomez.

 

[Chagos]

Of course Gomez never scores.. he never plays. He was always behind Klose and Podolski. Hell Klose was ancient in 2014 and still got in the squad before Gomez.

shows the prudence of leaving the party when it's at its peak. They won't be happy either today but Lahm, Klose and (especially) Schweinsteiger will be glad to have retired in time.

This current team was jinxed from the start and not only the pre-WC friendly against Saudi showed that.

I guess when one has climbed that giant mountain once (2014), one thinks that everyone else should henceforth fail on the slope already, and be it out of respect.

The game against Mexico showed that, apart from all the other attitudinal deficits, the arrogance of the German players was overbearing. Worst of all, that was clearly a problem within the team itself, young 'uns (few) against the champions (8 against Mexico).

Totally agree on the Gündogan/Özil-Erdogan thing BTW. Don't want to go into politicizing anything here but that sort of thing brings disruption within any team as well.

Did I say team?

Sorry, never saw one this time around.

 

[Desert Storm]

Strange world cup so far

 

[PeteEU]

Strange world cup so far

Yep and can get stranger. Brazil could go out tonight...................

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[Chagos]

I'll be rooting for Brasil and Switzerland tonight. Nothing against Costa Rica nor particularly fond of Brasil, but Serbia's conduct (both players and more so spectators) every time the two Swiss strikers of Kosova-Albanian heritage got the ball was disgraceful.

Their showing the (Albanian) eagle after each of the two goals wasn't all that great either but they didn't start the hiss-fest.

Their coach however demanding that the German ref be sent to the Hague court for war crimes topped it for me.

Tournament will be better off with that sort of thing gone, sporting performance or not. .

 

[PeteEU]

I'll be rooting for Brasil and Switzerland tonight. Nothing against Costa Rica nor particularly fond of Brasil, but Serbia's conduct (both players and more so spectators) every time the two Swiss strikers of Kosova-Albanian heritage got the ball was disgraceful.

Their showing the (Albanian) eagle after each of the two goals wasn't all that great either but they didn't start the hiss-fest.

Their coach however demanding that the German ref be sent to the Hague court for war crimes topped it for me.

Tournament will be better off with that sort of thing gone, sporting performance or not. .

Actually the Albanians did start it quite some time ago.... this latest incident is just part of that. And the two Swiss players have been involved in the whole mess before. The problem in all this is not Serbia but Albanian nationalists wanting a greater Albania that includes Kosovo and parts of Greece. Macadonia, Bosnia and Croatia.

But back to football. I too want Brazil to go to the next round but could care less about the Swiss or Serbs.

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[Bergslagstroll]

Congrats Sweden (especially), got your own back for that disgusting display of jeering triumph that two stupid German team flunkies showed at your bench at the end of the match with Germany. :2razz:

Thanks and maybe it was for the best that South Korea beat out Germany. Because things got a bit heated last time Sweden beat out Germany in the World Cup, in the semi final 1958. Could only find a German article in English, so as a Swede I need to warn that the article is a bit bias towards Germany.

"Relations between the two countries hit an all-time low as a result of the semi-final clash. Dubbed the ‘Scandal Match’ and the ‘Battle of Gothenburg’ by the German press after the event, there was so much bad feeling between the two nations that a full diplomatic crisis ensued."

World Cup Flashback: Sweden v Germany 1958 -

Also, it great that cash is still not always king in football. That the market value of the Swedish team is a tenth of Germanies team.

 

[Bergslagstroll]

I’m proud and glad of the Swedish team. That it was a great perform in this game, that the team had simple decided they should win this game. Also, the first half of the game against Germany was so great, so it would have been sad if it things had ended in the group stage.

That this is the best Swedish World Cup team since the bronze in 94, also the expectation was so low before the game. Sweden have also now qualified from every group stage since 94 in the World Cups they qualified to. That after losing to Brazil, Scotland and Costa Rica with 1-2 in all three games in 1990, Swedish teams just doesn’t want to fail in the group stage.

Also it good that we have a team that shows that also Swedes can show emotions. Video from then Sweden qualified for the World Cup.

 

[Chagos]

Actually the Albanians did start it quite some time ago.... this latest incident is just part of that. And the two Swiss players have been involved in the whole mess before. The problem in all this is not Serbia but Albanian nationalists wanting a greater Albania that includes Kosovo and parts of Greece. Macadonia, Bosnia and Croatia.

But back to football. I too want Brazil to go to the next round but could care less about the Swiss or Serbs.

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Haven't followed that particular whole political thing in football close enough to know that, so thanks.

Can't stomach the whole nationalistic thing in sports once that progresses to downright hate, so the sooner those engaging in it are gone, the better.

But it would seem a bit unfair to me when it comes to innocent "poor little Switzerland", hence my hopes.

 

[PeteEU]

I’m proud and glad of the Swedish team. That it was a great perform in this game that the team had simple decided they should win this game. Also, the first half of the game against Germany was so great, so it would have been sad if it things had ended in the group stage.

That this is the best Swedish World Cup team since the bronze in 94, also the expectation was so low before the game. Sweden have also now qualified from every group stage since 94 in the World Cups they qualified to. That after losing to Brazil, Scotland and Costa Rica with 1-2 in all three games in 1990, Swedish teams just doesn’t want to fail in the group stage.

Also it good that we have a team that shows that also Swedes can show emotions. Video from then Sweden qualified for the World Cup.

Sverige sutter!!!! [emoji39]

2 Scandinavian countries into the last 16... not bad eh?



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[Bergslagstroll]

Sverige sutter!!!! [emoji39]

2 Scandinavian countries into the last 16... not bad eh?

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Not bad at all Also I pretend that Sverige sutter means Sverige super, that in Swedish it has two meanings both correct

 

[Chagos]

Thanks and maybe it was for the best that South Korea beat out Germany. Because things got a bit heated last time Sweden beat out Germany in the World Cup, in the semi final 1958. Could only find a German article in English, so as a Swede I need to warn that the article is a bit bias towards Germany.

"Relations between the two countries hit an all-time low as a result of the semi-final clash. Dubbed the ‘Scandal Match’ and the ‘Battle of Gothenburg’ by the German press after the event, there was so much bad feeling between the two nations that a full diplomatic crisis ensued."

World Cup Flashback: Sweden v Germany 1958 -

Also, it great that cash is still not always king in football. That the market value of the Swedish team is a tenth of Germanies team.

1958-----bah!:mrgreen:

Not wanting to put up with the hysterics of Spanish TV commentators that Andy (Andalublue) addressed earlier here, I watch this whole stuff on Satellite TV which gets me the German stations. So when the German team manager Bierhoff stated that apologies had been made to the Swedish team over the provocations, he just couldn't help himself from mentioning that he'd also pointed out that ruining a game by delay tactics as the Swedes had practised, does not deserve to be rewarded.

Arrogant p***!

Everybody slows down a game when it suits them, Germany as much as others.

Glad they're gone.