well I watched iran/morocco - they have players playing in similar leagues at a similar level to russia, they were all knackered on 60 minutes - yet after 120 minutes the Russian players looked fine in comparison to them in my eyes.
What we can say is the route to the final is opening up for England in a once in a lifetime way. Whether they take advantage of it is another matter, but it is quite possible they will be favourites in all of the games they play until the final depending on the Croatia v Denmark result! That is reasonable for Germany and Brazil but unthinkable for England!
I wonder if Belgium are still celebrating their victory over us
What we can say is the route to the final is opening up for England in a once in a lifetime way. Whether they take advantage of it is another matter, but it is quite possible they will be favourites in all of the games they play until the final depending on the Croatia v Denmark result! That is reasonable for Germany and Brazil but unthinkable for England!
I wonder if Belgium are still celebrating their victory over us
Celebrating ? I still have to get my kimono ironed ...
Croatia strong favourites to reach a World cup final from the weak side of the draw. But can they take the pressure.
England have achived nothing yet, they have got out of one of the weakest groups. Can we break a habit and win a KO game. Tuesday will answer that question
All the optimism of fans mean very little.
Both England and Croatia are 5/2 not exactly strong favourties
Well as we live in England that's no surprise. I meant in a football sense, not people having a bet on their own country.
Don’t understand the mentality of “I’m not going to get excited until XYZ happens”.
Sorry, but we spend all week having to be level headed and reasonable with work and other responsibilities. If England have a realistic route to the final (which they absolutely do) then I’m going to have a lot of fun dreaming it can happen.
If we get our hearts broken then so be it, but getting carried away is what loving football is all about.
I don't understand how they can have the levels of fitness they seemed to have over 120 minutes today - one of their defenders is nearly 39 FFS. 146KM covered over 120 minutes. These are not world class players playing for the top teams in the world either.
If their fitness training doesn't involve chemicals and is purely above board then premiership/champions league teams should be snapping up these Russian fitness coaches after the tournament, they are clearly doing something special that could change the sport.
Was their fitness that great today?
They weren't exactly going for it in extra time. They barely got out of their own half and at times the game was played at a walking pace in front of them. Spain showed no real urgency at all. It's not as if their players were making lung bursting 70 yard runs forward all the time. They were camped between the edge of their area and 30-35 yards out.
They were good against a poor Saudi side, played well in a 20 minute burst v Egypt, were poor v Uruguay and basically played for penalties tonight. I don't think they're a great side, they've just got a bit lucky by Spain being so poor.
I don't understand how they can have the levels of fitness they seemed to have over 120 minutes today - one of their defenders is nearly 39 FFS. 146KM covered over 120 minutes. These are not world class players playing for the top teams in the world either.
If their fitness training doesn't involve chemicals and is purely above board then premiership/champions league teams should be snapping up these Russian fitness coaches after the tournament, they are clearly doing something special that could change the sport.
But then he spent most of the match defending his penalty box. Hard work mentally, but he wouldn't have done much running
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We're gonna get smashed by Colombia at this rate!!
Seen a few people shocked Denmark have scored.
Lets not forget Denamrk are unbeaten in 18 matches
I wonder if Belgium are still celebrating their victory over us
Used to be bore draws, fantastic World Cup
ibborg is my leader on this.
I meant in a football sense, not people having a bet on their own country.
What's new?
The return goal was a fortunate deflection.
But are we spurs or Leicester
Can you imagine the situation if Brazil and France go out before the final and we are still in
The NHS would collapse under the amount of 40 plus year old men having heart issues
Sorry, but we spend all week having to be level headed and reasonable with work and other responsibilities. If England have a realistic route to the final (which they absolutely do) then I’m going to have a lot of fun dreaming it can happen.
If we get our hearts broken then so be it, but getting carried away is what loving football is all about.
Come on England!
They weren't exactly going for it in extra time. They barely got out of their own half and at times the game was played at a walking pace in front of them. Spain showed no real urgency at all. It's not as if their players were making lung bursting 70 yard runs forward all the time. They were camped between the edge of their area and 30-35 yards out.
They were good against a poor Saudi side, played well in a 20 minute burst v Egypt, were poor v Uruguay and basically played for penalties tonight. I don't think they're a great side, they've just got a bit lucky by Spain being so poor.