Author Topic: The World Cup 2018  (Read 4401 times)

Offline Zoologic

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #45 on: 07-07-2018, 06:07:21 »
Since one of my favourites are out, we are in the same book here. I do hope football really came back home.

But then, I have gut feeling that this Belgium golden generation is going to win the World Cup. Brazil has a kind of curse when going against France in World Cup tournaments. So Belgium should be up to the win. Their duel against Brazil was like the final in itself. Brazil with their fast tempo and Belgium with their equally lightning counter attack and not content with the comfortable 2-0 lead they had. Thankfully, Neymar didn't resort into too much theatrics besides taking a dive once or twice (one of which should earn him a card).

Then we have Croatia, the stronger slavic brother of Russia, their Modric, Mandzukic, Rakitic, Perisic, Lovren reminiscent of Boban-Šuker, Prosinecki, and friends era.

Offline Khaine

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #46 on: 08-07-2018, 10:07:46 »
If I say I want England to win, I'll be lynched here.

It would make sense knowing that this english squad is a disgrace. Lots of fouls, they dive a lot. But they must be the luckiest team this year, so far they have not once beaten a strong team (Tunisia/Panama/Belgium-B/Columbia/Sweden). Columbia was the strongest team they met, and they have'd so much troubles, even with James Rodrigues injured. And now the over exhsausted Croatia. I hope they will be severly punished by Belgium or France in the final :D

Offline Zoologic

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #47 on: 08-07-2018, 17:07:14 »
Nah, England is fine, but this squad is hardly a convincing world winner. Their defense is weak, their goals are almost 80% set pieces, meaning they prey and steal on every opponent's few first seconds chaotic moments to score opportunists goal. Yet, they tried to dominate possessions. But, hey, at least it is a winning gameplan.

The other "good team" in this tournament so far are:
Brazil, they have good attacking form, they are comfortable inside the enemy's penalty box. Their very fast tempo is entertaining to watch, but they still can't connect everytime and quite wasteful.

Belgium, the best team so far. World class players and world class teamwork. Any team that commit mistakes will be swiftly, efficiently, and ruthlessly punished by de Bruyne, Hazard, and Lukaku with their superb accuracy. I don't really support them, but won't be surprised if they lift the trophy this year.

That's all. The rest of them are so-so to "meh".

France has the best team in the world, but they cannot find a rythm to make it work. Deschamps is just sitting there, because every football team needs a manager, whether they are useful or not. They are very awful to watch sometimes, but when they are at it, they could show something very briliant. If they can perform like how they beat Argentina, minus the sloppy defense, they could win the cup. However, they are really lacking in gameplan here, it could be good and bad for them, as it makes their performance wildly unpredictable.

Croatia, probably overrated after a fluke victory over Argentina. Yes, I said that this is their second golden generation after that glorious Boban-Suker era, and I thought that they could be the next champion. But, the Croatia I saw last night against Russia was disappointing, just like the one facing Denmark, the word "overrated" immediately comes to my mind. Probably I expected too much out of them. They probably would face a lot of difficulties going against weird and unusual team like England.

Uruguay, only when they have Cavani and Suarez. Without one or another, they are simply non-threatening. If only they could play in every game, Uruguay could have been a real contender.

The most disappointing award should go to
Argentina - played with their hearts, which is fine, but without any real plan.
Colombia - they loved debating more than playing, Falcao is a disappointment, and James Rodriguez couldn't play every game.

Germany, well, nothing changed about Germany since Euro 2016. They are the same toothless team. Played a good football, but with 0 attacking plan.
« Last Edit: 08-07-2018, 17:07:56 by Zoologic »

Offline pizzzaman

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #48 on: 10-07-2018, 22:07:14 »
The unstoppable Belgian team has just been stopped.  :'(
You are bathing in misery and hope, waiting for someone to come and pull the plug.

Offline Captain Pyjama Shark

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #49 on: 10-07-2018, 22:07:11 »
The unstoppable Belgian team has just been stopped.  :'(

Well, I do think Belgium dominated a lot of that game and were the more creative team, but France is pacey and this has certainly been the World Cup of counter-attacks, set pieces, and absolute units. I think both England and Croatia will be hard-pressed in the final.

Offline Slayer

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #50 on: 10-07-2018, 23:07:18 »
Croatia has more chances against France than England imo.

It was a nice game, sometimes a bit boring. First half was for Belgium, but second half France took over and scored. Then they just played out the game.

Very shameful display in the extra time though: instead of trying to score a second goal they were clearly out for wasting time and lost a bunch of great opportunities that way. Mbappé, the youngster magician, showed his ugly side too here. A team with such quality as France has doesn't need shit like that. I hope the final won't give us that nonsense.

Offline Torenico

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #51 on: 11-07-2018, 00:07:06 »
Ah what a shame.


I remember when we faced Belgium in 2014, totally different from what Belgium is right now. Almost the same squad yet they are much more mature...


Today's Belgium would simply obliterate Argentina.


Offline Zoologic

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #52 on: 11-07-2018, 07:07:44 »
Yeah, France was lucky. Their performance, although good, is still unconvincing. Both Belgium and France clearly shows a couple of weakness in their defense, luckily both of them have good goalkeepers, Lloris and Courtois are surely among the world's greatest goalkeepers. They will disappoint whoever gets through the semifinal, Mandzukic or Kane.

Mbappé already did that kind of nonsense when he faced Uruguay. His teammate's attitude, especially Pogba's is also awful.

Croatia is yet to prove that their top class talents will work as a team.

England is facing their hardest test yet, especially if Croatia managed to get their talents to work together.

Offline Captain Pyjama Shark

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #53 on: 11-07-2018, 09:07:22 »
Yeah, France was lucky. Their performance, although good, is still unconvincing. Both Belgium and France clearly shows a couple of weakness in their defense, luckily both of them have good goalkeepers, Lloris and Courtois are surely among the world's greatest goalkeepers. They will disappoint whoever gets through the semifinal, Mandzukic or Kane.



Have to disagree with you there. France has an iron-clad defense which never really looked troubled in the Belgium game, I think Belgium could have had another hour and not scored. The exception was Pavard, who was being eaten alive by Hazard in the first half of the game. France is happy to play counter-attack football because with people like Mbappe they can just run down the opponent; England especially will be vulnerable to that. France is not very fun to watch but they have convinced.
« Last Edit: 11-07-2018, 09:07:34 by Captain Pyjama Shark »

Offline Zoologic

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #54 on: 11-07-2018, 12:07:37 »
Still, Umtiti's header was as a result of a set piece. Throughout the game, the mighty French midfield and duo Mbappé-Giroud at the front still couldn't find a score. Which is why I consider them to be "lucky". Their performance against Argentina was great though, I believe they should play like that: losing and under pressure, extracting the best out of them. They are absolutely the world's best squad that doesn't play like a good team. I will resent any credit that Deschamps received for French success. It is his superior individual team member's quality, not his briliant strategy or tactics. It was like that too in the Euro 2016, and they lost to Portugal in the final.

Sure the weaker English defense will be greatly tested against Mbappé's speed and Griezmann's vision. But let's see how well they fare against Mandzukic, Modric, and friends first.

Offline |7th|Nighthawk

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #55 on: 11-07-2018, 12:07:30 »
I did not watch one game admittedly. For this game of France I was at work so I could hear some parts over radio here and there. Apparently Mbappé played very dirty to gain time; I always loathed that kind of behaviour. It angers me when the opposing team does it and it's absolutely embarassing when the own one does it.

Still, though, as a Franco-German, it's always hilarious to see all the hate France gets from Germany. It's not the French who won, it's Africa. At the same time Germany has been relying on Turkish and Polish talent for some time. After all this time, the resentment is still very deep. It also feels more hateful than the English-French rivalry that by this point seems to be more of a playful downplaying of eachother's feats.
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Offline Torenico

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #56 on: 11-07-2018, 18:07:18 »
Mbappe is what, 19 years old?

That kid of shit is usually expected from a young player imo.

That kind of behaviour happens here all the time, France was all about "winning at any price" so these kinds of delays are part of that doctrine.


Offline Zoologic

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #57 on: 11-07-2018, 22:07:33 »
What a win by Croatia, that is determination vs. complancency by England. But Croatia is still hardly convincing though. It is going to be a very hard pressed boring final if they played like today's first 90 minutes.

Might as well congratulate France for their second world cup. With similar playing style but inferior squad, Croatia really needs to dig out more of their strengths. I still hope they can avenge Šuker and Boban 20 years ago.
« Last Edit: 11-07-2018, 23:07:31 by Zoologic »

Offline Torenico

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #58 on: 12-07-2018, 00:07:03 »
England being England... What the fuck was that?


Offline Captain Pyjama Shark

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Re: The World Cup 2018
« Reply #59 on: 13-07-2018, 09:07:19 »
England being England... What the fuck was that?
I suppose you could say they went out against the first decent team they faced (as Colombia and Sweden were both awful) but to be honest a semi-final run is not bad at all. You can only play the teams in front of you, Croatia deserved the win and I hope they beat France on Sunday.