Football (World Cup 26)

[Punksnotdead]

Come on Argentina! World Cup finalists should be better than these two average teams.

[Crazyfool01]

wow 🙂 

[steviewevie]

Easy-peasy. Bring on Switzerland.

[steviewevie]

Nutters wearing lion costumes in that heat

[Crazyfool01]

Thoughts go out to @Skip997 

[steviewevie]

8 minutes ago, Punksnotdead said:

Come on Argentina! World Cup finalists should be better than these two average teams.

Nah both good sides, the conditions were rough 

[pink_triangle]

2 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Nah both good sides, the conditions were rough 

I think England have the third best squad in the tournament. The top 2 are significantly ahead, but anything can happen in knockout football.

[lost]

Think Tuchel was spot on at the end but he's only got himself to blame. 80% of the goals England have conceded have come from the right back position. This defence isn't winning anything.

 

Also after watching down the pub it will be nice when the people who only watching football every two years disappear.

[Punksnotdead]

9 minutes ago, lost said:

 

 

Also after watching down the pub it will be nice when the people who only watching football every two years disappear.

Yeah, it's like New Years Eve drinkers. Spewing up on every high street corner! 🤑

Edited July 12 by Punksnotdead

[Punksnotdead]

10 minutes ago, Punksnotdead said:

Yeah, it's like New Years Eve drinkers. Spewing up on every high street corner! 🤑

I was out in town tonight. I heard a bunch of guys singing "God save the King". That was enough to persuade me to catch the bus home & watch it on the box!

[steviewevie]

Sounds like we missed a bullet with Switzerland getting unfairly knocked out by sh*tty old Argentina. Very confident we'll get to the final now.

[charlierc]

First England v Argentina in 21 years, since a friendly between the two in '05, and first WC meeting since Japan '02. Should be a fascinating game. 

 

Admittedly my pre-tournament guesses were England or Brazil v Argentina and France v Spain as the semis. I wasn't sure how a likely England v Brazil tie would've gone but didn't predict Norway would make Brazil look like chumps. 

[steviewevie]

It's coming home!

Rule Britannia.

God Save The King.

Errr..what else.. you're my wonderwall?

[Crazyfool01]

6 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

I was out in town tonight. I heard a bunch of guys singing "God save the King". That was enough to persuade me to catch the bus home & watch it on the box!

I don’t sing the national anthem and also really find the German bombers song awfull . 

[pink_triangle]

2 hours ago, steviewevie said:

Sounds like we missed a bullet with Switzerland getting unfairly knocked out by sh*tty old Argentina. Very confident we'll get to the final now.

Neither England or Argentina have convinced in the knockouts with 3 tight victories against significant lesser teams.  I think Argentina look more tired and have less depth so I would be surprised if England don’t get to the final. I would fancy France or Spain to beat England, but anything can happen in knockout football.

[Skip997]

Shame about the disallowed Norway goal. I don’t think any advantage was gained by the push, but clearly a foul and the correct decision 

[Ben7amin_]

Recon Spain dont stand much of a chance against France - they have really struggled to get out of second gear in the last two matches nicking it late - I think on the way the 4 teams that made the semis - they actually look the weakest of the 4 right now 

[charlierc]

59 minutes ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Recon Spain dont stand much of a chance against France - they have really struggled to get out of second gear in the last two matches nicking it late - I think on the way the 4 teams that made the semis - they actually look the weakest of the 4 right now 

This is definitely a weaker Spain side than the one that beach France in the semis of the last Euros playing a stronger French side than in that game. 

 

A 5-4 like they produced in last year's Nations League would hit the spot tbf.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, pink_triangle said:

Neither England or Argentina have convinced in the knockouts with 3 tight victories against significant lesser teams.  I think Argentina look more tired and have less depth so I would be surprised if England don’t get to the final. I would fancy France or Spain to beat England, but anything can happen in knockout football.

Oh there is unquestionably high chaos potential for Argentina-England. I don't think either has been exactly at their best in the knockout round and both sides have very suspect defences allied to some cracking players going forward. I do think it could be a high scoring contest.

 

I was kinda also surprised to learn Messi has never faced England. So I guess we'll see if he can do it against Big Dan Burn.

[lost]

Didn't realise there was a specific change this world cup where the top 4 seeds were drawn in a way they couldn't meet till the semis if they won their groups, and it has resulted in it being the first world cup where the semi's are made up of the top 4 seeds.

[xxialac]

2 hours ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Recon Spain dont stand much of a chance against France - they have really struggled to get out of second gear in the last two matches nicking it late - I think on the way the 4 teams that made the semis - they actually look the weakest of the 4 right now 

You serious?

 

England have scraped past several sides this competition. Some of those sides being not very good like Congo.

Norway were ranked 31 going into this tournament, Spain's last two wins have been against top 10 sides.

 

Spain haven't set the world on fire - but nor have England if blinkers are off. 

 

[pink_triangle]

3 hours ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Recon Spain dont stand much of a chance against France - they have really struggled to get out of second gear in the last two matches nicking it late - I think on the way the 4 teams that made the semis - they actually look the weakest of the 4 right now 

It’s amazing how differently 2 people can see things. I think Spains performances have been significantly better than England and Argentina and I think overall their opposition has been significantly stronger.

 

I feel Argentina and England performances have been erratic and they could have lost (barring possibly Argentina v Cape Verde) every game. I think Spain have lacked a cutting edge, but have been far more in control of some tricky games.

[pink_triangle]

57 minutes ago, lost said:

Didn't realise there was a specific change this world cup where the top 4 seeds were drawn in a way they couldn't meet till the semis if they won their groups, and it has resulted in it being the first world cup where the semi's are made up of the top 4 seeds.

It feels quite a predictable world cup

in terms of the proportion of favourites winning. Barring Germany v Paraguay have there been any significant shocks? I suppose you could say Brazil v Belgium was a minor shock.

[lost]

I tend to find Spain's tiki taka style is like the team is lethargic. They can pass the ball around for ages with nothing happening and then they always seem to find that incisive pass to split the defence even if its late in the game.

 

I find them a little more exciting to watch with Nico Williams but he's not getting much play time ( I think due to injury)

[Ben7amin_]

Il double down with another potentially controversial statement then.......

 

I think Norway are a much better side than Belgium

 

Also disclaimer - i have 0 respect for Fifa rankings when a tournament is on - its played on the pitch we dont need to look at where teams are ranked.  

Edited July 12 by Ben7amin_