2018 Football World Cup
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12073243
I know it's off topic but I couldn't be bothered starting a new thread. Surely NZF have to fire this bozo? 10 letters of complaint from team members is a lot!
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@no-quarter said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Yup good to see England get over the first hurdle. None of the big teams have looked the goods so far so they're as good a chance as anyone.
Results so far suggest England would be better off finishing second in their group. This has always been the way I figured it will play out but Germany's loss makes it likely they will face Brazil in the round of 16 (my final pick so I'm history).
If they do finish second and Germany likewise it means they face Mexico or Switzerland in the QF (if they get past Colombia) All three of those teams are beatable.
Whereas if they come out top of their group it is likely they face the winner of Brazil/Germany.
Basically I always saw the QF's as being England's best possible finish given the likely calibre of the other 7 teams. However results so far might give them a chance of going deep in the tourney.
Caveat - Mexico 1-0 Switzerland 1-1.....
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@dogmeat said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@no-quarter said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Yup good to see England get over the first hurdle. None of the big teams have looked the goods so far so they're as good a chance as anyone.
Results so far suggest England would be better off finishing second in their group. This has always been the way I figured it will play out but Germany's loss makes it likely they will face Brazil in the round of 16 (my final pick so I'm history).
If they do finish second and Germany likewise it means they face Mexico or Switzerland in the QF (if they get past Colombia) All three of those teams are beatable.
Whereas if they come out top of their group it is likely they face the winner of Brazil/Germany.
Basically I always saw the QF's as being England's best possible finish given the likely calibre of the other 7 teams. However results so far might give them a chance of going deep in the tourney.
Caveat - Mexico 1-0 Switzerland 1-1.....
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. They need a win against Panama next up, so that they go into the Belgium match all but assured of going through. If Tunisia get a jammy win vs Belgium or England get a point or worse I wouldn't like to see them under pressure
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@canefan said in 2018 Football World Cup:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12073243
I know it's off topic but I couldn't be bothered starting a new thread. Surely NZF have to fire this bozo? 10 letters of complaint from team members is a lot!
He comes across as a complete twat. Basically throwing in the towel before games even start.
Time Andy Martin was booted as well me thinks -
@mikethesnow said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed.
haha what? They won. That means Germany, Spain, and Brazil are no fucking hope. You bitter Welshie
Great to see England get a win. That penalty pissed me off no end. Then somehow England weren't awarded an actual penalty.
Harry Kane is an extraordinary player. He can be pretty average all game, then bob up with 2 goals.
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@virgil said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@canefan said in 2018 Football World Cup:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12073243
I know it's off topic but I couldn't be bothered starting a new thread. Surely NZF have to fire this bozo? 10 letters of complaint from team members is a lot!
He comes across as a complete twat. Basically throwing in the towel before games even start.
Time Andy Martin was booted as well me thinksI remember Jurgen Klinsmann used to talk about US men's soccer in the same way, how they weren't up to it etc. Took them several years to finally get rid of him and by then they were farked. Should pull the pin now
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Oh, and SBS now have the rights to every game until Optus sort their shit out. Hilarious fuck up.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard have contributed only five goals in 73 caps between them for the national team.
One of these wallies is going to have to make way for Rashford. Maybe 2 of them for him and LoftusCheek
Dele is capable of turning a game with a nice piece of skill. Problem he tends to go missing for large chunks of the rest
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I was surprised how dire Tunisia were at the back given the pre-game talk, I thought England would struggle to carve out chances. As it was, England had numerous chances especially early on and some decent finishing would have wrapped up the game. Tunisia were all over the place whenever there was a decent cross which made it doubly frustrating that the second half was full of England players over-elaborating and not getting in a cross.
Harry Kane has a fantastic habit of being where the ball travels to - for both his goals he moved to exactly the right spot.
For the usual "this player was crap" allegations after an England game.
Sterling had an awful game.
Ashley Young needs to have a left foot to play wide on the left.Does this mean England can win the World Cup? No change really - they should always be good enough for the quarter-finals. But this is an easy group, to have 2 weak teams is a bonus.
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@kiwipie said in 2018 Football World Cup:
I was surprised how dire Tunisia were at the back given the pre-game talk, I thought England would struggle to carve out chances. As it was, England had numerous chances especially early on and some decent finishing would have wrapped up the game. Tunisia were all over the place whenever there was a decent cross which made it doubly frustrating that the second half was full of England players over-elaborating and not getting in a cross.
Harry Kane has a fantastic habit of being where the ball travels to - for both his goals he moved to exactly the right spot.
For the usual "this player was crap" allegations after an England game.
Sterling had an awful game.
Ashley Young needs to have a left foot to play wide on the left.Does this mean England can win the World Cup? No change really - they should always be good enough for the quarter-finals. But this is an easy group, to have 2 weak teams is a bonus.
I always look forward to your level head analysis of football (and Cricket)
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Tue:
Poland vs Senegal
Russia vs Egypt (although Salah might be worth a squizz if he gets on)That's why i won't include Egypt in any multis - Salah can completely change the contest.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 Football World Cup:
anyone see Belgium play?
I saw the second half. Looked to be struggling to break down Panama (who were as "muscular" as Tunisia) until Mertens lashed in an unstoppable volley. After that it opened up a bit and they were able to win easily.
Kevin de B looked to be struggling in a deeper role until he played the killer pass for the second goal. Hazard had a few meandering runs but as soon as he got a yard a Panamanian would haul him down so hard to tell about his form. When he did get space, he comfortably set up the 3rd goal. Lukaku looked good - he is a very reliable forward if he gets service. Dembele only got on at the end which shows their depth of attacking options.
They should dispose of Tunisia, England should dispose of Panama and then probably a draw for Belgium will see them top the group - unless both teams would rather come second when it may come down to Belgium showing England the way to goal and England saying "No thanks"
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@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed.
haha what? They won. That means Germany, Spain, and Brazil are no fucking hope. You bitter Welshie
Great to see England get a win. That penalty pissed me off no end. Then somehow England weren't awarded an actual penalty.
Harry Kane is an extraordinary player. He can be pretty average all game, then bob up with 2 goals.
Cider please.
Time will tell, but for all teams and England especially in tournament football momentum is everything.
If England don't increase their conversion rate significantly then they'll be out. Because they won't have an easier ride than they did last night.
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@mikethesnow they're not really a hope of winning it. But that's based on a little more than round one.
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@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow they're not really a hope of winning it. But that's based on a little more than round one.
I'll refer you back to my original post
"Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed."
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@mikethesnow said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow they're not really a hope of winning it. But that's based on a little more than round one.
I'll refer you back to my original post
"Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed."
and my replay was, what is different about the big names? They massively underwhelmed, but couldn't win. Surely England finding a way to win that game said something?
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@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow they're not really a hope of winning it. But that's based on a little more than round one.
I'll refer you back to my original post
"Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed."
and my replay was, what is different about the big names? They massively underwhelmed, but couldn't win. Surely England finding a way to win that game said something?
Difference for the big names was the quality of opposition - Iceland, Switzerland, Portugal and Mexico are all contenders for the last 16. Which isn't to say any of them looked very good except maybe Spain.
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@kiwipie said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mariner4life said in 2018 Football World Cup:
@mikethesnow they're not really a hope of winning it. But that's based on a little more than round one.
I'll refer you back to my original post
"Regardless of the result this evening, the pre-tournament feeling that England won't be a threat at this WC has been confirmed."
and my replay was, what is different about the big names? They massively underwhelmed, but couldn't win. Surely England finding a way to win that game said something?
Difference for the big names was the quality of opposition - Iceland, Switzerland, Portugal and Mexico are all contenders for the last 16. Which isn't to say any of them looked very good except maybe Spain.
Thank you
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@rocky-rockbottom said in 2018 Football World Cup:
Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard have contributed only five goals in 73 caps between them for the national team.
One of these wallies is going to have to make way for Rashford. Maybe 2 of them for him and LoftusCheek
Sterling and Lingard, in particular, are infuriating in just how wasteful they are. Even at club level, both players are so un-clinical (and for that reason alone are incredibly overrated).
