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.

.

1-0 Sweden!

And the Germans will be desperate now.

.

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.