The 2018 World Cup

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by cartman

England is all over Tunisia at the start of this game.

Yeah, but they can't put the ball in the net (aside from Kane). Should be 3 or 4 goals, but it's 1-1.

[Arles]

Color me shocked that Southgate's decision to play Kyle Walker as one of the three center backs hasn't worked out so well

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by Arles

Color me shocked that Southgate's decision to play Kyle Walker as one of the three center backs hasn't worked out so well

Definitely a bit of inexperience/naivety in the centre of the goal. It was obstruction though, not a penalty for me.

But we’ve only got ourselves to balme for not leading comfortably, a couple of missed chances, over confidence at times on the ball when last man without any cover.

We’re doing OK, but could be better, need a little bit more intensity

[MIJB#19]

Wide open, England most dangerous player in the penalty area. Oops?

[ISiddiqui]

Well that was decidedly un-England-like. Kane can shine through decades of disappointment!

[AlexB]

A little lucky to get the win. Lack of creativity against a well organised side, we knew that could be an issue.

The shape is good, the first 20 was good, but...
Kane did the square root of f all other than be in the right place at the right time twice (not a bad skill to have though!)
Rose has to come in on the left: every time it went out to Young he checked back inside or backwards and momentum was lost. And almost all of Tunisia’s attacks of note came down his side
Sterling and Alli probably get another chance, but they were both very poor second half, while Loftus Cheek in particular looked good

But got the win, and at the end of the day that’s the really important factor

[bhlloy]

Agreed about Rose - you can probably just about give Southgate the benefit of the doubt rewarding Young for a very good club season against a team like Tunisia, but that should be experiment over now. Rose is clearly the far better player, especially for this style that England are trying to play.

Will be interesting if he goes with Rashford to start next game as well. I thought he dragged England out of a period of really stagnant play when he came on, even if he did miss a sitter.

[Arles]

Yeah, I'd feel pretty good if I were England. Generated a ton of chances, blew nearly all and still got a win. It's a lot like Uruguay's game.

[cartman]

wow, Japan over Colombia 2-1

[ISiddiqui]

A red card in the 3rd minute will do that to you .

[Arles]

Are we looking at Senegal-Japan coming out of group H?

[Warhammer]

Poland got screwed on that second goal.

[Critch]

The referee gets an assist on that, that's terrible refereeing.

[kingfc22]

That is really bad.

[ISiddiqui]

On the other hand, he had been waiting for a while to come back on and I don't think the ref thought the Poland player was going to play it back from there.

[Arles]

Senegal with the great strategy of having the player off for an injury, then have them come back on the second the ball is cleared to midfield. Genius!

[bhlloy]

Mind blowingly bad refereeing. That’s just basic 101.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

On the other hand, he had been waiting for a while to come back on and I don't think the ref thought the Poland player was going to play it back from there.

Watching it again, he waved him on well before that. The ball was clearly coming to a Senegal player when he came onto the field, it was a crappy header that gave it back to Poland for the fateful backpass.

[Karlifornia]

Also a strange, lobbed backpass from Poland as the injured Senegalese player came back

[Critch]

The Fox World Cup in-studio team is a big downgrade from ESPN 4 years ago, not totally awful but ESPN really got it right.

Basically I just think I miss Mike Tirico.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Also a strange, lobbed backpass from Poland as the injured Senegalese player came back

Not the best decision by the Polish player or by Sczeczny to come screaming out for sure - but 100 times out of 100 in both of their careers I'm pretty sure they haven't had to account for a player being waved on to come right off the sideline into the action in that situation.

You always wait for the other team to be in complete control of the ball or a dead ball situation for this reason. I imagine we'll see much more of an emphasis on that for the rest of the tournament now.

Also, am I the only one who doesn't see this as the world's biggest shock? Senegal isn't a really deep team, but they do have arguably two of the top 5 defenders and strikers in the world and a good bit of talent in that starting lineup. Poland didn't play to their potential going forward, but they've always been really shaky at the back and came through a pretty weak group to qualify. I'm surprised there weren't a few more goals but this was always going to be a toss up IMO.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Also, am I the only one who doesn't see this as the world's biggest shock? Senegal isn't a really deep team, but they do have arguably two of the top 5 defenders and strikers in the world and a good bit of talent in that starting lineup. Poland didn't play to their potential going forward, but they've always been really shaky at the back and came through a pretty weak group to qualify. I'm surprised there weren't a few more goals but this was always going to be a toss up IMO.

No, you're not the only one. I also didnt think Japan winning earlier was particularly shocking either. This is the one group where I thought it was any 2 from 4 could go through.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

No, you're not the only one. I also didnt think Japan winning earlier was particularly shocking either. This is the one group where I thought it was any 2 from 4 could go through.

Exactly.
When filling in mock results for the group stage, I had no idea how to put group H. I ended up with Senegal at 5 points and the three others all losing 1 game.

[ISiddiqui]

I can't believe that Putin is inviting Blatter to Russia. Well, part of me can believe it - what a shitshow.

[MIJB#19]

Egypt going all or nothing now? With this score (or any other losing score), they need Saudi Arabia to beat Uruguay to stay alive.

[kingfc22]

So....Icarus anyone Icarus (2017) - IMDb

[MIJB#19]

VAR to the rescue.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

VAR to the rescue.

Not a second time, apparently.

[MIJB#19]

I had forgotten how annoying Uruguay can be. Cavani in particular is showcasing his acting skills.

[kingfc22]

The ref has zero control of this match.

Show a card or two for either the constant fouls or for the constant play acting.

[cartman]

Iniesta looks like he is 80 years old

[cartman]

three attempts in close for Spain. Great saves from the Iranian keeper

[bhlloy]

Well, there goes the “despite not winning Spain looked by far the best of the pre-tournament favorites” theory. Iran is a tough, well disciplined team but man they looked old and devoid of ideas.

No idea who is going to win this thing. Not that the first games and a half of the tournament are usually the best predictor anyway, but yikes.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

No idea who is going to win this thing. Not that the first games and a half of the tournament are usually the best predictor anyway, but yikes.

Well based on the first game, Russia is going to run away with it . Granted their group is crap, but they are playing an offensive minded gameplan which is fun to watch at least.

[Critch]

There's normally a team who makes the semi-final or final without ever looking good. Sneaking out 1-0 wins in games they could have lost, or winning on penalties. Last time it was Argentina, before that it was usually Italy.

This time I'm going for Uruguay.

[PilotMan]

France looks really good this morning. Peru is still Peru, but the speed of their one touch passes and through balls is staggering.

[kingfc22]

Welp. You can't blame Messi on that one...

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Welp. You can't blame Messi on that one...

Hold my beer...

[bhlloy]

I’m a huge Messi fan but it will be absolutely hilarious if this Argentina team goes out at the group stage. Bunch of whiny, spoilt petulant divers. I’ve never seen a team be such a perfect reflection of their own coach.

[kingfc22]

Superb goal by Modric.

[bhlloy]

What is the point of VAR if you aren’t going to send somebody off for that?

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

What is the point of VAR if you aren’t going to send somebody off for that?

Agreed. The GD is now looming ominous as well.

[Critch]

Rumors that the Argentinian players have found their scapegoat. They've had a players meeting and asked for Sampaoli to not be in charge for the final game.

[kingfc22]

No card for flopping?

[Logan]

What a play

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

No card for flopping?

It took a while, but eventually Neymar got what he's been begging for all day long: a yellow card.

[kingfc22]

Impossible to root for Brazil and Argentina.

Their star players whine and complain ALL game long.

[MIJB#19]

Halfway through the group stage and there's an unusual high number of teams already eliminated: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Peru and Costa Rica.

[Warhammer]

I love the Argentina keeper’s name, especially since his first goal was given up on a cowboy type move.

[miami_fan]

What a touch! What a finish!