2018 World Cup

[Aviador]

Football managers have done some creative things in the past to keep the players focused on the game between matches but this has to be a first...

A floating unicorn race.

 

[jfy1999]

Argentina 0–3 Croatia

Another example of a side full of great individuals being made to look very ordinary by opposition who were expected to be fighting for second place.

To the forum user who voted for Argentina...you still have the option to change your vote before the 25th if you wish to do so

 

[Aviador]

To the forum user who voted for Argentina...

....

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Just because England have messed up and not been eliminated at the group stages, doesn't mean that Germany can step in and take our crown.

I say

'Oi, Germany Nooooooooo!'

Kevin

 

[wolfheze]

Always good to see the Germans on the receiving end for a change.

 

[rollo]

Perhaps it's their version of Brexit maybe we should charge them an exit fee £39 million should do! Opens up the following rounds a bit for someone.
Lol.

 

[Aviador]

To the forum users who voted for...

It's too late to change your vote now kids.

 

[GliderPilot]

Oh, come on guys! bit more faith! IT'S COMING HOME!

 

[Aviador]

Oh, come on guys! bit more faith! IT'S COMING HOME!

 

[jfy1999]

It's too late to change your vote now kids.

Indeed...after the Sweden game they clearly didn't think it was all over...but it is now...

Do I detect a little bit of schadenfreude?

 

[Aviador]

Indeed...after the Sweden game they clearly didn't think it was all over...but it is now...

Do I detect a little bit of schadenfreude?

No not at all

 

[jfy1999]

France 4–3 Argentina

Surely a World Cup classic?

 

[Ray Finkle]

For the neutral it was a great game.

Despite scoring three goals I didn't think much of Argentina's performance, France look very strong though.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm currently watching another fascinating game for the neutral - Uruguay v Portugal. I hope all the last 16 matches are as close and exciting as the first two although I'd take a one-sided England win in the final match of the round.

 

[jfy1999]

Uruguay 2–1 Portugal

So Messi and Ronaldo have both bowed out and both earned the title of GOATS (GOATS means Gone 'Ome After The Second round - I'm sure someone else can come up with a better phrase to go with the GOAT acronym).

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I've just been looking at 'The Papers' on the BBC website. Whilst our tabloid press may not be the greatest at covering world news, they can certainly come up with memorable headlines.

Apparently, both the Sunday People and the Sun on Sunday are running -

'Don't Cry 4-3 Argentina'

Kevin

 

[jfy1999]

Spain 1–1 Russia (3-4 pens)

Spain had 1,100+ passes to Russia's 286 but did very little in an attacking sense and eventually paid the price for their lack of ambition.

If England reach the semi-finals, our opponents will be Russia, Croatia or Denmark.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Spain 1–1 Russia (3-4 pens)

Spain had 1,100+ passes to Russia's 286 but did very little in an attacking sense and eventually paid the price for their lack of ambition.

If England reach the semi-finals, our opponents will be Russia, Croatia or Denmark.

If ever there was a World Cup where one of the less fancied teams could win it this must be the one. I watched most of this afternoon's game and in truth Spain were pretty poor considering the possession they enjoyed. They had no answer to Russia's lines of determined defenders.

I detest penalty shoot-outs - not because England are hopeless at them - because it seems to me to be a very poor way to decide important matches. Too much depends on luck even when the shot is a decent one. If the keeper guesses correctly he has a reasonable chance of stopping the shot.

I've racked my brains to think of a better way. One I prefer over penalty shoot-outs, and it's not perfect, is to give each player the ball say 30 yards from the goal and allow him 15 seconds to try to score. The player could shoot or dribble up to the keeper to try to slide the ball past him or dribble around. If the keeper grabs the ball in the process then that's the end of the attempt to score.

I'd even prefer free kick-type shots from say 25 yards over penalties. At least that's a better test of a player's ability in my opinion.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

England v Columbia

Not a very exciting first half. England probably just the better team but without goals that means nothing. Neutrals must be getting a bit bored. Let's hope for something positive from England in the second half.

 

[Aviador]

England v Columbia

Not a very exciting first half. England probably just the better team but without goals that means nothing. Neutrals must be getting a bit bored. Let's hope for something positive from England in the second half.

Lots of cheating going on mostly from the Colombian team #cheats