Someone mentioned the other day about how Pickford brought the ball to the next England player during the ENGCOL shootout. I noticed that the two Russians who missed were both standing round like a spare prick at a wedding for about 30 seconds before taking their pens. The first one (the really terrible pen) in particular - stood there waiting while the ref chatted with the goalie, then eventually he started looking round asking for the ball. I know it didn’t make him miss, but the pressure must have just been rising and rising.
It would have been absolutely epic to beat Russia in the Semi Final on their own turf. I don’t need to go into the details obviously, but the back story and context of the whole thing would have been unreal.
Russia have played their first team in all 5 games and 2 of those went to extra time. Of course their players are going to have covered more distance.
The only other side who've played that many minutes are Croatia and they rested their entire first XI in their last group match. So 90 minutes less per player.
A better stat would be to show the distance covered/minutes played per player
It's not even so much the distance covered by individuals that blows me away about Russia, as a team they covered 146 KM against Spain and then 4 days later they covered 147KM... when it reaches extra time you would expect the performance levels to drop a bit, particularly in the second games extra time, but it just hasn't happened - they were routinely covering 33-35 KM in extra time alone where the teams they facing were covering 20-25KM as they tired.
Can anyone name me a 35 year old let alone a 39 year old outfield player in the entirety of footballing history past or present that could cope with playing 5 games in 23 days, and two 120 minute matches in 4 days? No need to bring him off early or rest him like for example a model professional like Iniesta, a 34 year old who has access to presumably some of the best fitness coaching in the game at Barcelona had to? No cramps, no knocks or strains and still running at minute 119?
I just don't know how that can be hand-waved away.
Is it not the case the opposition had more of the ball so they have been chasing the ball around more than their oppo ?
Well the thing is when it was pointed out in the group stages how far they were running the excuse was that they were playing weaker teams. In the knockouts the excuse is now that they had to run around more BECAUSE they were the weaker team.
Because Russia have commited drug violations in so many sports, why wouldn't we be suspicious. If a horse was no where in a seller at Yarmouth, and six months later came 6th in a classic there would be a stewards enquiry.
Aldi to close all English stores at 3pm on Sunday if we make the final to allow their staff to watch. A really nice touch, especially from a German company
Aldi to close all English stores at 3pm on Sunday if we make the final to allow their staff to watch. A really nice touch, especially from a German company
They must have many more stores in Germany, and they'll unexpectedly be staying open, so they still win.
Aldi to close all English stores at 3pm on Sunday if we make the final to allow their staff to watch. A really nice touch, especially from a German company
Bloody love Aldi! Although those till staff must be on some kind of performance enhancing drugs to go that fast
Aldi to close all English stores at 3pm on Sunday if we make the final to allow their staff to watch. A really nice touch, especially from a German company
Bloody love Aldi! Although those till staff must be on some kind of performance enhancing drugs to go that fast
Aldi to close all English stores at 3pm on Sunday if we make the final to allow their staff to watch. A really nice touch, especially from a German company
More likely to prevent staff calling in sick Sunday morning and the store being left severely short staffed.
For those who dont want to click the link, from that story and another I have read its basically.
A Russian team doctor has told a German newspaper that the Russian players inhaled Ammonia(a non banned substance) through wet cotton wool balls, this apparently helps improve there oxygen flow
that may be the biggest non story so far- 'Russians do something completely legal that loads of others are also doing'. smelling salts have been used since forever in sport, they're huge in America with most NFL players using
there's no way it's just the Russians doing it at the World Cup
Comments
I noticed that the two Russians who missed were both standing round like a spare prick at a wedding for about 30 seconds before taking their pens. The first one (the really terrible pen) in particular - stood there waiting while the ref chatted with the goalie, then eventually he started looking round asking for the ball. I know it didn’t make him miss, but the pressure must have just been rising and rising.
The 38 year old is a centre half!!!
Suspicious at the very least
Russia have played their first team in all 5 games and 2 of those went to extra time. Of course their players are going to have covered more distance.
The only other side who've played that many minutes are Croatia and they rested their entire first XI in their last group match. So 90 minutes less per player.
A better stat would be to show the distance covered/minutes played per player
I imagine that the England stats would have Henderson or Trippier top, followed by Young, Sterling and Lingard
Lingard - 15,399 metres
Henderson - 14,271
Trippier - 13,596
Can anyone name me a 35 year old let alone a 39 year old outfield player in the entirety of footballing history past or present that could cope with playing 5 games in 23 days, and two 120 minute matches in 4 days? No need to bring him off early or rest him like for example a model professional like Iniesta, a 34 year old who has access to presumably some of the best fitness coaching in the game at Barcelona had to? No cramps, no knocks or strains and still running at minute 119?
I just don't know how that can be hand-waved away.
If a horse was no where in a seller at Yarmouth, and six months later came 6th in a classic there would be a stewards enquiry.
Belgium tomorrow then?
A Russian team doctor has told a German newspaper that the Russian players inhaled Ammonia(a non banned substance) through wet cotton wool balls, this apparently helps improve there oxygen flow
there's no way it's just the Russians doing it at the World Cup