NFT: World Cup Weekend (Days 10 & 11) Thread

Credit to Tunisia for not giving up. Nice defensive efforts late and the late goal. Belgium looking strong thus far, albeit against lesser sides.

Has probably had the easiest schedule so far with Panama & Tunisia, but they look damn good. The talent on that team is ridiculous. Just based on talent alone I could see them winning the World Cup. Is there a more talented roster? Maybe Spain or France?

Their roster is disgusting. De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku, Mertens, Courtois, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Carrasco, Kompany, Witsel, Fellaini, Chadli, Meunier, Dembele & Batshuayi.

Can't wait to see them play against England.

In comment 13998108 Big Rick in FL said:

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Has probably had the easiest schedule so far with Panama & Tunisia, but they look damn good. The talent on that team is ridiculous. Just based on talent alone I could see them winning the World Cup. Is there a more talented roster? Maybe Spain or France? Their roster is disgusting. De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku, Mertens, Courtois, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Carrasco, Kompany, Witsel, Fellaini, Chadli, Meunier, Dembele & Batshuayi. Can't wait to see them play against England.

Tunisia played their asses off and at least made a game of iy for a while. Lukaku is something, wow.

Yeah, I can see Belgium winning it.

I don't wanna see how they do against England first before I fully commit to them. They've definitely looked like the best team in the World Cup so far. I love watching them play.

They have sat Kompany, and took off Lukaku early, to rest up for their big England match. Their goal differential is big right now. Let's see what England does, but it's likely Belgium wins the tie breaker.

In comment 13998136 PatersonPlank said:

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They have sat Kompany, and took off Lukaku early, to rest up for their big England match. Their goal differential is big right now. Let's see what England does, but it's likely Belgium wins the tie breaker.

Oh yeah I definitely think they beat England. I just want to see how good they look against them. It's easy to look good against Panama & Tunisia. If they look bad against England though can we trust them to beat the Spain, Brazil, France or other teams like that?

We will see soon enough.

They've had loads of talent in 2014 and 2016, but just weren't able to put it together. But this year they look like they're rolling. Not a fan of Martinez as a manager but hard to argue with results so far. England will obviously be a step up in talent. Looking forward to Thursday.

Vamos Mexico. Would be great to see them top the group. Set up Brazil v. Germany first 16 match up...Awesome.

Chicharito with a very nice finish

hell for leather attacking style and the way the team flat out plays with and for each other, Osorio preaching.

Unlike the more ponderous Germany side Korea is also playing a wide open game and I was curious to see how that similar mindset would play out today. Unlike Sunday Mexico has had far the better of possession and it has been ROK on the counter, but Mexico has gotten numbers back quickly.

Korea has been fouling constantly, hard, and late, esp. on Lozano and Guardado, ref very slow to begin giving cautions--persistent infringement is part of Rule 12 ref.

Mexico may not be elite, but its side loves the game and goes all out.

Sweden v Germany becomes an absolutely critical match for both sides because one assumes that El Tri will rest most of its starters when it plays Sweden.

Let's go

In comment 13998198 ColHowPepper said:

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Sweden v Germany becomes an absolutely critical match for both sides because one assumes that El Tri will rest most of its starters when it plays Sweden.

If Germany wins today then Mexico needs to beat Sweden, right?. All 3 teams could end up with 6 points.

I should have said. A tie would get them to 7. Either way they can't rest guys unless I am missing something which is entirely possible.

Mexico still advances with a loss to Sweden assuming the goal diff is in their favor, which would be atleast +2 in this scenario before the game is even played. Mexico is a virtual lock.

cuz UConn intervened in a pepper to Pepper....

and I think UConn and pepper are right, I spoke too soon:
Mexico guaranteed a spot in the knockout if Sweden wins
or draws, but if Germany wins, and Sweden beats
Mexico, it comes down to Sweden-Mexico result and
goal differential if Sweden wins, so depending
on today's outcome Mexico can't count on sitting its starters.
[All this assumes Germany would beat ROK, which has been
eliminated]

There was no advantage there.

Germany is taking it to Sweden otherwise.

pretty bad no call

In comment 13998247 UConn4523 said:

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pretty bad no call

Agreed. How was that not a penalty kick?

In comment 13998246 RobCarpenter said:

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There was no advantage there. Germany is taking it to Sweden otherwise.

They're controlling better, but they've had two fouls in the box that could've/should've been called.

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1-0 Sweden!

And the Germans will be desperate now.

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won't see many better

And this crap on the VAR, what, CENTCOM doesn' want to embarrass the ref? Why have VAR if not used in this case? Cause it was Germany? If it was Costa Rica, bet play would have been stopped.

no bigger complainer in the sport.

keeps the game manageable at the half

Are not having a good game. The goalie saved them there but they look shaky in the back.

In comment 13998264 UConn4523 said:

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keeps the game manageable at the half

unbelievable save- incredible reaction.

goal. The color commentator correctly noted that Germany is vulnerable to the counterattack.

In comment 13998265 RobCarpenter said:

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Are not having a good game. The goalie saved them there but they look shaky in the back.

Same problem vs Mexico as pointed out by Holden. Would add that against Mexico and again today Boateng has been slow regaining position in his own end though he marked what became the Sweden goal pretty well.

John Strong is easily the worst of these Fox WC pbp guys. But he knows how to scream, "And 45 to go". We also found out, during the run of play, not only that it's been 40 years since Sweden beat Germany, but that it was April 18, 1988, when Germany was still West Germany. An endless torrent of mostly meaningless trivia of team and player histories to mask his lack of feel for the game.

game is getting pretty intense now

Was the first half. Obvious yellow there but the ref lost control by not making two early calls on German fouls vs Sweden that should have been penalties.

Except the arm. What a dumb comment

In comment 13998275 RobCarpenter said:

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Was the first half. Obvious yellow there but the ref lost control by not making two early calls on German fouls vs Sweden that should have been penalties.

Yeah they fucked themselves. I don’t like dirty play but Sweden has every right to get very physical.

way too much space as they move toward the PA...it has allowed Germany to set up crosses and combinations unmolested

hello, ARs?

Than what we have seen for 1 1/2 games

equalizes, and is putting on relentless pressure. They've had several close chances. Sweden will have to score off a set piece or hope for a tie.

gets a second yellow, and therefore a red.

That was the right call when it happened. The delay was not needed there.

playing with 10 men likely guarantees at least a tie for Sweden. The question is how much they want to press with the extra man advantage.

Germany puts on a forward.

What a reaction save by the Swedish goalie on a point blank header.

he’s been a big piece of shit this match

*

what a goal. All that for nothing, gotta feel for Sweden here.

What a shot.

Germany was on the ropes with 1 min left

at the edge of the PA and fouls both times
and the second is the Kroos dagger.

Effing A, Sweden should be excoriated for
going into a 50 minute shell

much for what I know. Germany with a goal that was basically a free kick in the 95th or 96th minute, just minutes after a rocket shot by them hits the post.

to the rescue.

owned the second half. Sweden did little offensively.

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In comment 13998303 ColHowPepper said:

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at the edge of the PA and fouls both times and the second is the Kroos dagger. Effing A, Sweden should be excoriated for going into a 50 minute shell

And they had an extra player.

In comment 13998306 AcidTest said:

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owned the second half. Sweden did little offensively.

Amazingly, they dominated at the end, despite being down one man.

In comment 13998311 spike said:

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In comment 13998306 AcidTest said: Quote: owned the second half. Sweden did little offensively. Amazingly, they dominated at the end, despite being down one man.

Like Col said, they went into a shell playing for the tie.

Sweden should have gone for it after the red card.

... there's no bigger whiner than Iniesta. Belgium will have to play better defense. I mean they can certainly score, but ... the match vs. England should be good. If Sweden gets the early penalty kick they deserved, how different could that match have been? We'll never know.

probably just saved Germany's path to the knockout stage.

The Mexico-Sweden game could be crazy!!

What a strike by Kroos. Perfectly executed.

Their best player pulls them from the abyss. But Low should NOT few this as a reprieve if they beat South Korea and move on. He needs to start making changes now.

Bench Muller. It can't get any worse - guy's done nothing for two years for both club and country. Start Gomez, who is far more effective in World Club play, just as Klose was. Get Brandt more minutes. Even consider playing 5 at the back with Boateng out and let Brandt and Kimmich be wingbacks.

Noit a fan of Germany—rooting for Belgium—but I am so happy to see the aggressive team rewarded. Sweden’s tactics are part of the game and I cannot second guess their coach given the superiority of the German players, but I still prefer teams that take a chance. German tactics down a man were bold and dangerous with a real p[possibility that one breakout could end their WC. Still going forward the Germans seem a step slower than in the past and their defense not what it was just two years ago.

England, Colombia and Senegal winning today

w thigh nick. RLC subs for him. Sterling on short leash, look for Rashford if he is ineffective again. Finally, w Belgium next, look for some early subs for key players if we get a lead.

if you know what i mean...

what a goal

How the US didnt make it over this shitty team is a total embarrassment.

Someone stop this.

to fail to qualify over Panama?

And we’re not even at halftime of the 2nd game.

USA sitting at home while Bruce Arena has the gall to write a book about this and try to profit. Jerk.

Bruce Arena is trending on Twitter for all his CONCACAF comments and associated bullshit.

That Belgium match is setting up to be a humdinger even w both clubs thru

to win the group with a win or tie against Belgium.

I wouldn’t bet against them

In comment 13998546 Carl in CT said:

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I wouldn’t bet against them

They happen to have a lot of whiny cunts on the team and an asshole in Boateng. I’m guessing this win propels them to a nice run again, but I’ll be rooting against them the rest of the tournament.

In comment 13998543 UConn4523 said:

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to win the group with a win or tie against Belgium.

They now are +6 along with Belgium so it will go total goals scored if there’s a tie, which favors Belgium by 1.

In comment 13998546 Carl in CT said:

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I wouldn’t bet against them

You cant bet against the WC champs. That said they have not impressed so far.

In comment 13998553 UConn4523 said:

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In comment 13998543 UConn4523 said: Quote: to win the group with a win or tie against Belgium. They now are +6 along with Belgium so it will go total goals scored if there’s a tie, which favors Belgium by 1.

I think both have 8 total so dont each need to win out right?

Believe it or not. The team with the least gets first.

In comment 13998572 PatersonPlank said:

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Believe it or not. The team with the least gets first.

And by my count Belgium has 3 and Eng 2 so far. So right now a draw goes to England. If England gets 1 and Belgium 0, and it's a draw, I believe they actually flip a coin.

In comment 13998556 UESBLUE said:

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In comment 13998546 Carl in CT said: Quote: I wouldn’t bet against them You cant bet against the WC champs. That said they have not impressed so far.

I saw this on another board :

Had Germany lost yesterday it would've been the first time they were knocked out in the Group Stage since 1938 and they didn't exactly handle that too well, did they? Lol.

In comment 13998559 UESBLUE said:

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In comment 13998553 UConn4523 said: Quote: In comment 13998543 UConn4523 said: Quote: to win the group with a win or tie against Belgium. They now are +6 along with Belgium so it will go total goals scored if there’s a tie, which favors Belgium by 1. I think both have 8 total so dont each need to win out right?

Yeah I added wrong, forgot that England had 2 goals in its first game

across the entire field this game

This ref is really poor, signals his calls very late
or not at all, missing obvious cautions, and he
better bear down here as Poland is likely to
play with some desperation

My goodness what a player. That pass is out of this world

to Cuadrado for the third. Spectacular vision

In comment 13998734 Kyle in NY said:

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My goodness what a player. That pass is out of this world

Fantastic, and to get it across 2/3 the width of the pitch perfectly weighted and ahead of Cuadrado (not a bad player himself), touch, strength, timing.

But equally my goodness, what was the Poland defender doing on Cuadrado's outside shoulder in that position on the field, especially knowing James had to come to the center of the pitch?

is actually one of the most reliable, down to earth and likeable players in the Bundesliga. Not an asshole at all.

In comment 13999043 Tony in Berlin said:

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is actually one of the most reliable, down to earth and likeable players in the Bundesliga. Not an asshole at all.

That’s great to hear. He played otherwise on Saturday, however.

The two fouls he was booked for weren't perticularly hard. Both times he tried to make up for mistakes by his teammates. Playing like an asshole? I don't get that comment.

or keep this open for a while until there's a really big game?

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I think it makes sense to start a new thread for the week for Group play, easier to find, easier to focus on remaining games.

There will be a few games involving eliminated teams or that have no bearing on which moves through, so I think the number of games commented on probably diminishes.

As rueful as it is, I do get a kick out of the VW ads to the effect, "So, USA, too bad you're not in WC, but you can move to...[Germany, Brasil, Iceland, etc.] each country touting a reason why USA fans might then have something to cheer. Pretty funny, but, what a low to which USSF and US men's soccer has sunk.

of first rd is rarely great. Consolation matches or top teams v eliminated squads. Uruguay v Russia likely most comp today.

hadn't seen yours before I began my comment, not trying to be contrary.

I'd also add that the weekend thread has two pages of comments, so, doesn't it make it cleaner to start the rest of group play to the finish of group play? No big deal either way. I won't be paying much attention to today's matches....

we'll migrate there.

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Crazy...

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There were tears in South Korea following their loss to Mexico, a result which practically seals their elimination from this World Cup. However there might be another reason for such sadness as this group of players, led by Tottenham star Son Heung-min, are all facing the prospect of going off to fulfil military service and as such putting a major roadblock in their professional careers. The laws in South Korea are very strict when it comes to military service. The only way to avoid that requirement is if they achieve something significant whilst representing their country. For the football team that means qualifying for the quarter finals of the World Cup or winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. With the World Cup one now seemingly out of reach it only leaves the Asian tournament which starts on the 18th August and finishes on the 2nd September.

Link - ( New Window )

I remember when this happened with Shin-Soo Choo - he got out of his service obligation when he was the MVP of the gold medal winning South Korean baseball team at the Asian Games.

De Gea
Carvajal - Pique - Ramos - Alba
Thiago - Busquets
Silva - Isco - Iniesta
Costa

Hierro has correctly seen that Busquets needs help. Looking for a strong Spanish performance today.

With Uruguay facing either Spain or Portugal (assuming both win this afternoon). The B winner vs. Russia is clearly a more favorable path.

I wouldn’t sleep on Iran. They looked pretty good at times vs. Spain. Have to feel the pressure is on Portugal.

Dude is talented as heck but man do I cringe every time I see that guy play. Maybe it's all the biting shit from a few years ago.

In comment 13999297 Ceez2.0 said:

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Dude is talented as heck but man do I cringe every time I see that guy play. Maybe it's all the biting shit from a few years ago.

He's pretty widely disliked.

mind blanking?

Spain loses, are they both at five points?

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Iran can advance with a tie if Spain lose by a couple goals, I believe.

In comment 13999373 Go Terps said:

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Iran can advance with a tie if Spain lose by a couple goals, I believe.

Right? If they lose by two or more, it looks like Iran would go forward.

Thanks.

In comment 13999297 Ceez2.0 said:

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Dude is talented as heck but man do I cringe every time I see that guy play. Maybe it's all the biting shit from a few years ago.

I like his game, great work rate and underrated play maker. But he is a habitual diver and has always had a screw loose...

But I don't think he's a game to game dirty scum like Costa. I like watching Spain but they are less interesting with Costa bullying his way around the pitch...