World Cup 2018

Two cracking games today & while I wanted Argentina to get through, the better teams won both matches.

I like Messi but Argentina just don't deserve it and France have some fantastic players, them and Belgium are strong contenders. Also like the look of Brazil, they upped their game in their last group match and I think they'll get better and better. Would love to see Spain improve because they're absolute class the way they play football, but they've looked dodgy at the back and are struggling in games.

Yeah, I wanted Messi to win the WC but his team just aren’t on the same page. They nearly managed to do it yesterday, Di Maria stepped up his game after scoring, Mascherano probably had his best game & they deservedly got back into the game but France went up a gear when they went behind. For me they should have had Aguero on from the start with Messi tucked in behind him. The cross/pass (call it what you will) from Messi for Aguero to score was sublime and the latter’s movement and execution were also superb. Messi did all he could but needed better players around him. A stat on Messi after the game was that he is the only player to record at least 1 assist in the last 4 WC.

Found it funny that Portugal are probably a better team now than when they one the Euros but Ronaldo couldn’t step up when it mattered yesterday. Cavani & Suarez on the other hand were the epitome of self-less team players.

Perhaps the most unbelievable stat on Messi & Ronaldo is that despite all their incredible scoring records, neither have scored in the knock out phase of the WC.

I fancy Brazil & Croatia to go thru today but in truth I don’t mind who wins between Brazil & Mexico & I’d prefer Denmark to go thru. If any past winners are to win again I’d rather it was Spain for the same reasons as you but I’d be delighted to see a “new name on the cup”. Apparently the winner’s name & year are engraved on the base of the trophy, so never on display unless you lift it up.

I had France and Uruguay going through yesterday, bit tighter than I thought it would be in the France game right enough, figured the Uruguay one would be close though.

From the rest of the games still to play i'd say it'll prob be this:

Spain v Russia
Croatia v Denmark

Brazil v Mexico
Belgium v Japan

Sweden v Switzerland
Colombia v England

Tues games are the only ones i'm not really confident about, any of the others would really surprise me if they didn't go through but really it could go either way in that last group.

Stupid from Pique, why have your arm up like that, you know there is no chance of getting away with a hand ball in this comp with VAR watching everything. Exactly what Spain need to cut out if they've to have a chance at winning it, still think they'll get past Russia though, Iniesta is some sub to have too, need to get him to feck on.

Don't get what they are saying about Pique knowing exactly what he was doing, what, sticking his arm up to concede a penalty? Great plan.

Penalties, job done for Russia, as much chance as Spain now.

Russia through, much better at penalties and must admit it is better for the tournament to have the hosts still in it, place will be buzzing tonight.

Spain are great with the ball but it was like watching a John Hughes side, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, with no end product.

They should have had Rodrigo on earlier, he looked like he could have caused. Russia problems.

Thought Spain should have had a pen late in 2nd half but they didn’t deserve anything from this because they weren’t incisive at all.

Modric misses a pen, wonder how confident he'll be in the pen shoot out now.

I'm doing well with my tipped team today, both gone to pen shoot outs and not confident Croatia will do any better in them than Spain. Thank feck I don't bet money on these things,

England will be licking their lips now. If Croatia went out their eyes would have been watering too. Probably the best route to the final they could hope for, Colombia - Sweden/Switzerland - Russia/Croatia, sure they'll bottle it at the first time of asking though.

Final will include one of Russia, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia, or England. Can't say that was expected before the tournament started.

Another poor pen by Modric low down the middle, but he got away with it. Always giving the keeper a chance to save with his legs doing that, should lift the fecking ball up off the ground.

All square again, 2 each after 4 pens.

And adv Croatia now, all on them scoring their 5th pen.

Yes, Croatia through.

LiviLion wrote:England will be licking their lips now. If Croatia went out their eyes would have been watering too. Probably the best route to the final they could hope for, Colombia - Sweden/Switzerland - Russia/Croatia, sure they'll bottle it at the first time of asking though.

Final will include one of Russia, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia, or England. Can't say that was expected before the tournament started.

Aye Russia hosting it and getting the easiest passage possible to the final too, wonder how that happened.

Well now they managed to get past Spain anyway.

England will never get a better chance than this to get to the final, mon Colombia.

Yeah this half of the draw is wide open. Imagine if Mexico dump Brazil out... that would open up the other half.

Switzerland are ranked 6th in the world though... they are notoriously hard to beat.

England are jammy B's.

Looking forward to the Brazil v Mexico game, should be full of goals (jinxed it now, 0-0 after ET and pen shoot out), will soon see if Brazil are stepping up their game or go the same way as Spain. Hope it's the former, really want to see them playing Belgium next, that game would be a cracker.

Good game this, Mexico starting off well but Brazil are starting to look threatening, still 0-0 though so all to play for 2nd half.

1-0 and Brazil really turning it on now, should see a few more goals from them yet.

Neymar getting his foot stood on and rolling aroumd screaming like it was his testicles being trampled. Ref decides he's being a d**k and ignores it.

Firmino just on and makes it 2-0.

Japan putting Belgium to the samurai sword at the minute

Not anymore though, Vertonghen was fair toiling but if he meant that header he is some player. I knew Fellaini would score with a header when he came on.

2-2 with 10 to go

What a fantastic end to the match, brilliant last attack from Belgium to nick it. Brilliant come back, gutted for Japan but delighted that Belgium are still in. Roll on Friday for Brazil v Belgium

Get in there Belgium, what a game.

Have to admit I was thinking Belgium were cream crackered till Fellaini came on and changed everything, if you want a plan B then he's your man, just get it in the box for him. Some effort from Japan though, pressed Belgium all game and forced them into mistakes, not allowing them to play their usual game. My daughter's partner had them in a free WC bet, hope he has cashed in before today.

Thank feck Sweden scored and that game didn't go to ET.

Sweden are lightning quick on the break and set themselves up with a lot of great chances but by feck they are murder at taking them, some horrendous misses in that game.

Now onto the Colombia game, mon Falcao.