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06-14-2018, 03:06 PM
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#51 | |||
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
Saudi Arabia basically cruised through World Cup qualifiers, but games against Asian teams score very ewer points. Beating a semi-good Asian team can be worse for your FIFA ranking than drawing 0-0 against a mediocre European opponent.
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* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail |
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06-14-2018, 03:09 PM
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#52 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Saudi Arabia isn't worse than the other Asian teams, not now nor over the last 20 years (at least not significantly). But their style of play somehow seems to translate very poorly into games against non-asian competition compared to other teams. Them having to juggle an intense training phase and observing Ramadan might not exactly help ... (although i have no idea what exceptions are taken, but they did observe it last year in the lead up to the Australia game for example)
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/14/f...ntl/index.html As for Hosts getting easy groups, part of that is simply them being seeded for the draw with the Top7. So they technically can't get any of the really strong opponents you'd normally expect them to have to face. Then from the 2nd pot they avoided 2 strong european teams (Spain, England) but got the Urus who finished 2nd in South America. Them drawing one of Columbia/Mexico/Switzerland/Peru from Pot2, one of Iran/Senegal/Tunisia/Costa Rica from Pot3 and then any of the Pot4 teams (with the possible exception of Serbia) would have made the group seem just as easy. So it's not like they somehow beat great odds to end up with an easy group but it was always a 50/50 thing.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” Last edited by whomario : 06-14-2018 at 03:11 PM. |
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06-14-2018, 03:25 PM
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#53 | |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Quote:
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06-14-2018, 03:36 PM
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#54 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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By FIFA Rankings, Russia drew the 7th, 6th and 8th 'best' teams in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th posts respectively. The odds of drawing 3 of the bottom 3 of each pot are (3/8)*(3/8)*(3/8) = 27/512, roughly 1 in 19.
(The 'bad' teams were Mexico (p2), Uruguay (p2), Croatia (p2), Egypt (p3), Senegal (p3), Iran (p3), Panama (p4), S.Korea (p4), S.Arabia (p4). That's not taking into account there were various illegal combinations (Mexico + Costa Rica + x, Mexico + x + Panama, x + Costa Rica + Panama, Tunisia/Egypt/Senegal + Nigeria/Morocco, Iran + Australia/Japan/S.Korea/S.Arabia, Spain/Swiss/England/Croatia + Denmark/Iceland/Sweden + x, Spain/Swiss/England/Croatia + x + Serbia, x + Denmark/Iceland/Sweden + Serbia), so let's take those away. From the 27 'good' combinations, 3 were illegal (Mex+Pan, Irn+S.K/S.A), leaving 24 legal combinations. From the overall 512 combinations, 139 were illegal (I'll spare the calculations of these), leaving 373 legal combinations. That gives Russia odds of 24 in 373, or roughly 1 in 15.5. These were the odds of Russia drawing one of the worst three teams from all three pots.
__________________
* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail |
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06-14-2018, 03:52 PM
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#55 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
But didn't "we" just observe those are pretty useless ? Would Croatia really have been an even easier opponent than Uruguay ? And Peru a tougher one than Uruguay ? Costa Rica and Tunisia easier than Egypt ? And would people had screamed as loudly if it were Korea from Pot4 (1 rank above the Saudis) or Japan (beaten by the Saudis) ? This all has much more to do with perception than them actually having a much easier group than they would get on average in a 100 draws.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” Last edited by whomario : 06-14-2018 at 03:55 PM. |
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06-14-2018, 04:07 PM
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#56 | |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
Just for the fun of it, I decided to calculate the odds of getting a draw as such (1 of 3 worst from each pot) and for the sake of practice used the actual draw procedure order to determine what the worst 3 teams were in each pot. I had expected the odds to be about 1 in 3 or 4, not to turn out to be 1 in 15.5. Which are low odds, but not completely impossible. Heck, the odds of Greece winning Euro 2004 were 1 in 16 teams, but the bookmakers certainly didn't think they were as good as 1 in 16. 
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* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail Last edited by MIJB#19 : 06-14-2018 at 04:09 PM. |
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06-14-2018, 04:24 PM
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#57 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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I'm just not a big fan of these sort of discussions as i find them to be much less interesting than commenting on the actual on-field performance, so my posts were not really meant as some sort of rebuttal one way or another. Merely pointing out that to me it is by far not strange enough to make me reconsider that particular stance
 Quote:
Still not sure what would have seemed more implausible to the citizens of Kaiserslautern, Germany, in the year 2000: The Greeks being coached to a title by their senior citizen coach who never coached outside Germany or that a 21 year old playing in their reserves (after transferring in with the recommendation of 1 goal scored in the 5th division) would go on to score more WC goals than anybody else. On another note, it kinda feels like we are due a shock run by somebody, an african team in the semifinal would be kinda cool.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-14-2018, 04:59 PM
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#58 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Quote:
They just changed that this week to close this loophole
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'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 06:59 AM
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#59 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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No Salah
 On the whole i am kinda rooting for Uruguay. A small(ish) country like that having 2 strikers like Suarez and Cavani is pretty cool, also somehow having 2 of the 15-20 best CBs in Godin/Gimenez. Midfield is pretty damn talented as well. Plus an absolute class act as coach who after a journeyman career has now been coaching Uruguay for 12 years despite suffering from an illness significantly impairing his mobility.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-15-2018, 08:49 AM
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#60 |
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Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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Uruguay with the late goal
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Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
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06-15-2018, 09:58 AM
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#61 |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Was sweating out my parlay. Betting the world cup is a bit of a crapshoot. With that in mind, I threw down a few duckets on the Morocco score being 0-0, 1-0 or 2-0 Morocco.
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06-15-2018, 10:09 AM
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#62 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
yeah, was kinda overdue after Uruguay finally came to live in the last 15 minutes. Very weird tactics by Uruguay, playing 2 strikers and having all midfielder clog the middle and not getting much from the Fullbacks. Egypt defended well and the keeper was good, but nothing offensively. Marokko-Iran now and Marokko playing with like 2 1/2 defenders and pushing bodies up the field like crazy early on.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-15-2018, 10:33 AM
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#63 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Morocco v Iran is the best game so far, Morocco looking good.
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06-15-2018, 10:43 AM
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#64 | |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Quote:
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06-15-2018, 10:47 AM
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#65 |
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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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How did Iran mess up a 3 on 1?
__________________
"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams |
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06-15-2018, 10:50 AM
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#66 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Looked like he was prepared to pass, then the sea parted and he missed a step and bumbled a touch. But Iran adjusted really well after the first 20 minutes, entertaining game throughout even though it's not exactly great quality, objectively speaking.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-15-2018, 10:50 AM
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#67 |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Morocco is pretty lucky to be 0-0. Hopefully, they can regroup at the half.
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06-15-2018, 10:52 AM
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#68 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Wouldn't go that far, considering they had a couple of sitters early on. That corner-trick where Ziyech misses the ball is normally like a penalty for a guy like him plus the Benatia chance.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-15-2018, 11:41 AM
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#69 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Other than the first 15 minutes, this has been crap.
The standard is poor for the most part, the ref sucks (every game becomes stop start with him), the commentary team sucks, the vuvuzelas suck. |
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06-15-2018, 11:42 AM
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#70 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Quote:
I assume the first half hour was better than the second half?! This is everything I hate about world/modern football, lots of falling over, stop start play, just boring
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! Last edited by AlexB : 06-15-2018 at 11:43 AM. |
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06-15-2018, 11:56 AM
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#71 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
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What the hell, Morocco.
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My listening habits |
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06-15-2018, 11:57 AM
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#72 |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Wow, tough luck for Morocco. A lot of goal in the final minutes so far this cup!
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06-15-2018, 12:16 PM
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#73 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Pepe v Diego Costa coming up, two of the most unlikable, dirtiest dickheads in world soccer. And Sergio Ramos on the pitch too.
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06-15-2018, 01:31 PM
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#74 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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This is better!
Pepe might have been fouled, but he gets straight back up he might have been able to block the shot - would have been 1 on 3
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 01:45 PM
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#75 | |
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General Manager
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
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Quote:
I swear I read an article about how some nations are skipping friendlies and gaming the FIFA rankings. |
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06-15-2018, 01:46 PM
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#76 |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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It's crazy how good De Gea is for Man U and how shaky he's been for Spain
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06-15-2018, 01:46 PM
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#77 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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De Gea with a howler. Oofff
__________________
Fan of SF Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Arsenal |
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06-15-2018, 01:46 PM
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#78 |
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Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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CR7 is a decent footballer
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
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06-15-2018, 01:46 PM
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#79 |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Neuer back to being the undisputed best keeper in the world.
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06-15-2018, 01:47 PM
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#80 | |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Quote:
Or you know, just don’t flop and stay on your feet.
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Fan of SF Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Arsenal |
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06-15-2018, 01:47 PM
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#81 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
before having played his first competitive game in almost a year ? Bold statement Both teams had some great fluid attacks in their own style, making for a really good game.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” Last edited by whomario : 06-15-2018 at 01:48 PM. |
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06-15-2018, 01:49 PM
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#82 | |
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lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Quote:
He was a bit crap against Austria too. Not De Gea bad though. |
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06-15-2018, 01:50 PM
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#83 | |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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Quote:
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06-15-2018, 01:51 PM
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#84 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Huh ? In my memory he's been the best player for us. Think he had a weird moment trying too much passing the ball, but also had a couple world class saves and both goals were not really of the sort anybody would save.
__________________
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” |
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06-15-2018, 02:01 PM
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#85 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Quote:
That was my point
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 02:02 PM
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#86 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Quote:
They've changed the way the ratings are calculated just this week to stop this from happening again
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 02:02 PM
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#87 |
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Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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on replay, it looks like CR7 just caught De Gea flat footed. He was ready to move right or left and wasn't expecting it right at him.
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
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06-15-2018, 02:05 PM
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#88 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Jose, CA
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That was a fun first half. Costa's goal was fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised to see Spain equalize.
__________________
Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com |
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06-15-2018, 02:13 PM
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#89 | |
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Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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Quote:
BOOM
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
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06-15-2018, 02:15 PM
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#90 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Strike!
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 02:16 PM
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#91 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Watch Ronaldo when Portugal lost possession to set the move away. Shoulders dropped, didn't close down, acted like a spoilt kid...
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 02:46 PM
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#92 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Land O Lakes FL
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Incredible
__________________
"The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes. He hasn’t. I have a voice on the radio, he hasn’t. I was born a white man. And until a colored man is a full citizen, like me, I haven’t the leisure to enjoy the freedom that colored man risked his life to maintain for me. I don’t own what I have until he owns an equal share of it. Until somebody beats me and blinds me, I am in his debt."- Orson Welles August 11, 1946 |
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06-15-2018, 02:46 PM
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#93 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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That was inch perfect though
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 02:46 PM
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#94 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Yea. He’s good.
__________________
Fan of SF Giants, 49ers, Sharks, Arsenal |
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06-15-2018, 02:53 PM
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#95 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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What a game! The World Cup has begun!
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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06-15-2018, 03:31 PM
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#96 |
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Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
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That was a great game. Let's hope for more like that this weekend!
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06-15-2018, 03:50 PM
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#97 |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Seven miles up
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Yep, that's the kind of game that gets you excited. I tried to watch a little of the Egypt/Uruguay match and it was a very unfulfilling endeavor.
__________________
He's just like if Snow White was competitive, horny, and capable of beating the shit out of anyone that called her Pops. Like Steam? Join the FOFC Steam group here: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/FOFConSteam |
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06-16-2018, 06:12 AM
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#98 |
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Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Welcome to the modern Era.
__________________
* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen * Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail |
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06-16-2018, 06:14 AM
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#99 | |
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College Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Out of Grad School Hell :)
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Quote:
I didn't even think it was close. Even on video replay. No foul from me.
__________________
“I don’t like the Cubs,” Joey Votto said. “And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back." |
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06-16-2018, 06:15 AM
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#100 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Disagree, penalty for me
__________________
'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! |
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