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Football/Soccer WC 2018
- Thread starter Alexz
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Russia-2018 WC: expectations Vs reality by Brits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDHOmwWNJsg
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Russia fooled around and took a nice rest at the game with Uruguay. They let 3-4 their key players to rest. Like I said Russia really wanted that second place in the group because it gave them Luzhniki Arena in Moscow. And as we see, for a really good reason. The fans on the stands at the home turf were their 12th player on the pitch today. And Spain and Portugal both wanted Sochi and not Russia in Moscow for 1/8, that's why they both fooled around and tied against Iran and Morocco respectively in their last games. If Portugal had not be fooling around with Iran for 90 mins and did get their righteous first place in their group instead of Spain, - they would payed with Russia in Moscow - and who knows, may be results would be different. But now both Spain's and Portugal's teams are out.
And, oh dear Spain, why you change coach out of the blue just 2 days before tournament starts? They clearly could not even make it closer to the Russia's goal posts through Russia's defense. Russia played like Iceland today - anti-football. I just checked all the ratings and stats on FIFA website - surprise surprise - Russia is notoriously bad in ball possession and attacking, but they are the best team so far in defense - most intercepts, most takeovers, most tackles, most saves and most clearances, a lot of fouls and really small ratio of yellow cards on those fouls - it means they play it rough and tough, but just under the radar to not get seriously punished.
Spain is a great team with great marvelous players. Any Spaniard player is out of Russia's league. They are just more talented individualy. It's a fact. But just like with Saudis back then Russians just gave them the ball, it was like: "Here, you want the ball and strive to have a big ball-possession percentage? Here, be my guest, take the ball and run with it, but don't get any closer to our gates, keep running, and then run, run some more, kick the ball and then run and kick some more, and do please get tired and exhausted, while we, Russians, be just cool and chill in the middle of the field and counter-attack you briefly at any slightest small opportunity." Thats how it was. Russia scored 2 goals. Too bad one of those went it their own gate. But they tied it pretty decently and kept counter-attacking. Once again, everyone knew that goalkeeper Akinfeev is pretty psychologically stable and effienct in countering the penalty kicks. Penalty kicks at the end is pretty much a casino and lottery. But chances undoubtedly were heavy in Russia's favor due to Akinfeev.
What in the world Span's coach was thinking? Russia put a bus across in midfield. It nearly neutralized all the beautiful skill of invidual Spaniards. Everyone in the world knew how Russia gonna play it. Everyone knew Russia is exceptionally good defensivel at this WC. Short passes and a lot of running and ball possession was not gonna cut it. Russia's defense numbers say that. Spanish coach did not really thought it through? It's not a loss for Spain's team and players, but a loss for Spain's coach. He didn't find a right tactic for this game. Short passes, huge ball possession , marvelous individual skill in dribling - all these werent the right receipes to defeat the Russian fortress. I repeat: Spain is much stronger team with many more skillful talents, but their coach didn't do his homework on Russia's defense.
Congrats to Russia. I am sure noone were sleeping that night in Moscow.
2 Slavic teams and 2 Scandinavian teams play against each other in quater-finals. Wow what a rare occurance. And England is close by. Basically European teams are gonna be facing LatAm teams only in the final. Wow, wow.
Amazing WC so far. Amazing atmosphere so far from what I can tell by all those videos in social networks by random fans from all over the world. What a party. :agree:
And, oh dear Spain, why you change coach out of the blue just 2 days before tournament starts? They clearly could not even make it closer to the Russia's goal posts through Russia's defense. Russia played like Iceland today - anti-football. I just checked all the ratings and stats on FIFA website - surprise surprise - Russia is notoriously bad in ball possession and attacking, but they are the best team so far in defense - most intercepts, most takeovers, most tackles, most saves and most clearances, a lot of fouls and really small ratio of yellow cards on those fouls - it means they play it rough and tough, but just under the radar to not get seriously punished.
Spain is a great team with great marvelous players. Any Spaniard player is out of Russia's league. They are just more talented individualy. It's a fact. But just like with Saudis back then Russians just gave them the ball, it was like: "Here, you want the ball and strive to have a big ball-possession percentage? Here, be my guest, take the ball and run with it, but don't get any closer to our gates, keep running, and then run, run some more, kick the ball and then run and kick some more, and do please get tired and exhausted, while we, Russians, be just cool and chill in the middle of the field and counter-attack you briefly at any slightest small opportunity." Thats how it was. Russia scored 2 goals. Too bad one of those went it their own gate. But they tied it pretty decently and kept counter-attacking. Once again, everyone knew that goalkeeper Akinfeev is pretty psychologically stable and effienct in countering the penalty kicks. Penalty kicks at the end is pretty much a casino and lottery. But chances undoubtedly were heavy in Russia's favor due to Akinfeev.
What in the world Span's coach was thinking? Russia put a bus across in midfield. It nearly neutralized all the beautiful skill of invidual Spaniards. Everyone in the world knew how Russia gonna play it. Everyone knew Russia is exceptionally good defensivel at this WC. Short passes and a lot of running and ball possession was not gonna cut it. Russia's defense numbers say that. Spanish coach did not really thought it through? It's not a loss for Spain's team and players, but a loss for Spain's coach. He didn't find a right tactic for this game. Short passes, huge ball possession , marvelous individual skill in dribling - all these werent the right receipes to defeat the Russian fortress. I repeat: Spain is much stronger team with many more skillful talents, but their coach didn't do his homework on Russia's defense.
Congrats to Russia. I am sure noone were sleeping that night in Moscow.
2 Slavic teams and 2 Scandinavian teams play against each other in quater-finals. Wow what a rare occurance. And England is close by. Basically European teams are gonna be facing LatAm teams only in the final. Wow, wow. Amazing WC so far. Amazing atmosphere so far from what I can tell by all those videos in social networks by random fans from all over the world. What a party. :agree:
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Go, Brazil.As this current goes now the question is "To Brazil or not to Brazil"
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Denmark played well yesterday, but I think they kinda didn't go all the way when they could press Croatia and score. In extra time it looked like they're waiting for penalties. I was cheering for Croatia of course, and they nearly got me heart attack! And with draws as they are, we now know at least one Slav team will be in semis 
Agree about goalkeepers. They were stars!
Agree about goalkeepers. They were stars!
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Denmark played well yesterday, but I think they kinda didn't go all the way when they could press Croatia and score. In extra time it looked like they're waiting for penalties. I was cheering for Croatia of course, and they nearly got me heart attack! And with draws as they are, we now know at least one Slav team will be in semis
Agree about goalkeepers. They were stars!
Modric is a stellar player, but sure he knows how to do dramahh and make me have a heart attack
I agree, Denmark could really go for a blood in the 2nd half of additional time, and they had some big situations, but no luck, no right finishing. Both teams looked strongly organized after that thunderstorm at the beginning they kind of played more carefully than taking risks. Goalkeepers though...What a class from both of them! Russia vs Croatia could be a cracker of a match, whoever will win, both sides I consider as winners already.
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BBC Sport highlights from Saturday https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44678123
- Edinson Cavani's smile can probably cure cancer
- Kylian Mbappe has really an insane speed and acceleration in tempo, like Usain Bolt on 100m, and I like how he does not lose ball touch and control while speeding through, what a talent!
(he had Di Maria as PSG buddy in 1/8, he'll have Cavani in 1/4)
- Otamendi is CANCELLED - not only he again deliberately kicked ball into fouled opposite team's player, but from the video he also sneakily sprayed water over Giroud while being fouled. What an ***...
- Edinson Cavani's smile can probably cure cancer
- Kylian Mbappe has really an insane speed and acceleration in tempo, like Usain Bolt on 100m
, and I like how he does not lose ball touch and control while speeding through, what a talent! (he had Di Maria as PSG buddy in 1/8, he'll have Cavani in 1/4)- Otamendi is CANCELLED - not only he again deliberately kicked ball into fouled opposite team's player, but from the video he also sneakily sprayed water over Giroud while being fouled. What an ***...
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Now there are even more similarities with Ukraine at World Cup 2006, I noticed this at the group stage already, just look at it:
2006
Group stage: Ukraine loses to group's favorite (Spain, 4-0). Easy win against Saudi Arabia (4-0), win against north african team (Tunis, 1-0). In 1/8 Ukraine has beaten european team (Switzerland) by penalties.
2018
Group stage: Russia loses to group's favorite (Uruguay, 3-0). Easy win against Saudi Arabia (5-0), win against north african team (Egypt, 3-1). In 1/8 Russia has beaten european team (Spain) by penalties.
More similarities: in both cases Poland couldn't make it out of the group, losing to latin american team (Ecuador in 2006, Colombia in 2018), but winning the last game.
2006
Group stage: Ukraine loses to group's favorite (Spain, 4-0). Easy win against Saudi Arabia (4-0), win against north african team (Tunis, 1-0). In 1/8 Ukraine has beaten european team (Switzerland) by penalties.
2018
Group stage: Russia loses to group's favorite (Uruguay, 3-0). Easy win against Saudi Arabia (5-0), win against north african team (Egypt, 3-1). In 1/8 Russia has beaten european team (Spain) by penalties.
More similarities: in both cases Poland couldn't make it out of the group, losing to latin american team (Ecuador in 2006, Colombia in 2018), but winning the last game.
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Rooting hard for Mexico today! Don't disappoint me guys plz!
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- Nov 12, 2012
Here we go!
Marquez is leading Mexico at age of 39 (!!!), I would love to look and be fit like that at such age
And Hernandez is in blonde, maybe it is a deception tactic from Osorio
Marquez is leading Mexico at age of 39 (!!!), I would love to look and be fit like that at such age
And Hernandez is in blonde, maybe it is a deception tactic from Osorio
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- Feb 4, 2017
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O.M.G
And there go any locker room trashy talks about 'big' and small of football... Everyone is dangerous and equally entitled to take wins, if prepared well, knowledgeable with strategy and skillful. BBC final bet Japan vs Switzerland is on!!!
And there go any locker room trashy talks about 'big' and small of football... Everyone is dangerous and equally entitled to take wins, if prepared well, knowledgeable with strategy and skillful. BBC final bet Japan vs Switzerland is on!!!
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