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2018 FIFA World Cup Thread

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  • Manicmania
    Manicmania Posts: 1,594

    Dont really see a problem with that?

    imagine you bought tickets to the game, turn up and get told that they decided an hour before kick off that the match would be played behind closed doors. I'd be pretty annoyed.
  • JohnBoyUK
    JohnBoyUK Posts: 9,021
    Bet Son plays up top. Not really a surprise, is it?
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 37,982
    edited June 2018

    Dont really see a problem with that?

    imagine you bought tickets to the game, turn up and get told that they decided an hour before kick off that the match would be played behind closed doors. I'd be pretty annoyed.
    As it was played in a 4,000 seater stadium in Austria, i cant imagine there will be many that upset by it.

    Edit: Looking at reports i dont even think it was advertised as being on sale. FIFA might not even register it as a full international.
  • Manicmania
    Manicmania Posts: 1,594
    doesn't really matter my point wasn't that there was anything really wrong with it, I was adding further context to the tweet Callum quoted.
  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,467

    if we cant beat tunisia then may aswell give up now, im expecting a big win tonight and to comfotably beat panama i would even consider resting some players against belgium as hopefully the belgians dont fuck us over for once and win both there games then we will both be qualified going into the last game.

    This is the kind of attitude that dooms England at major tournaments. England expects. Expects what? And why? We've seen time and again that hard working, compact teams can frustrate the more fancied sides. And we have seen England fall victim to it in just about every tournament in recent memory. It's all well and good playing the Brazils and Hollands of the world in friendlies, but that's not who England struggle against. They struggle against Slovakia and Russia and Slovenia, teams that are tough to break down, exactly like Tunisia.

    England look a decent side with a good young manager who are the third youngest at the tournament. But how many times have we seen England teams turn up and forget how to control a ball at a major tournament? You would think after Iceland, and just as much after some of the performances in the group at the Euros, this "we'll steamroll all the small teams" would stop.
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,770
    edited June 2018
    Yep, discounting the fact that it's England in tournament football, this tournament has stung a few of the top teams already... Wouldn't be surprised if England are the latest team to huff and puff and struggle to break their opponent down.
  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,467
    Sage said:

    With 25 minutes to go, Neymar was struggling and should’ve came off bringing on Douglas Costa and Firmino, keeping on Jesus. I thought he took far too long on the ball and was not fit enough tonight. But I assume the pressure for their golden boy to play was too great, so had to play him the full 90.

    Agree, thought he looked largely poor and off the pace. I suspect that going to PSG, and the way he is treated there, hasn't really helped him. And as you say I think there's a big question about whether or not he's fit. Switzerland did well, a lot of little niggling fouls against him, they passed him to different players, but something didn't seem right with Neymar, be it fitness or that he now just expects to turn up and be brilliant.
  • cafcsinger
    cafcsinger Posts: 5,548

    if we cant beat tunisia then may aswell give up now, im expecting a big win tonight and to comfotably beat panama i would even consider resting some players against belgium as hopefully the belgians dont fuck us over for once and win both there games then we will both be qualified going into the last game.

    Clueless
  • Manicmania
    Manicmania Posts: 1,594
    SDAddick said:

    if we cant beat tunisia then may aswell give up now, im expecting a big win tonight and to comfotably beat panama i would even consider resting some players against belgium as hopefully the belgians dont fuck us over for once and win both there games then we will both be qualified going into the last game.

    This is the kind of attitude that dooms England at major tournaments. England expects. Expects what? And why? We've seen time and again that hard working, compact teams can frustrate the more fancied sides. And we have seen England fall victim to it in just about every tournament in recent memory. It's all well and good playing the Brazils and Hollands of the world in friendlies, but that's not who England struggle against. They struggle against Slovakia and Russia and Slovenia, teams that are tough to break down, exactly like Tunisia.

    England look a decent side with a good young manager who are the third youngest at the tournament. But how many times have we seen England teams turn up and forget how to control a ball at a major tournament? You would think after Iceland, and just as much after some of the performances in the group at the Euros, this "we'll steamroll all the small teams" would stop.
    I understand where you are coming from but as a fan of any team, including club side I might add, you have to show some ambition and have the attitude that you can beat anyone - I also don't think it's an attitude exclusive to England, Argie fans will think they should be beating Iceland by 3 or 4, Germans will have expected to beat Mexico and Brazil fans will have expected 4 or 5 against Switzerland. I'll be happy to take a 1-0 win but just think if we won this game 3 or 4 nil it will send a huge message to the other teams in the tournament, as it stands of the favourites so far France are the ONLY team to even get a win. Wouldn't it be nice if we were comfortably through after 2 games and can rest a player or two for the third whilst the other teams are stressing and scraping through by the skin of their teeth - just for a change!
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  • First time Neymar has played a full game since 17th February, so he's bound to be a bit rusty. Although he did score 2 great goals in their friendlies last week.
  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,467
    edited June 2018

    SDAddick said:

    if we cant beat tunisia then may aswell give up now, im expecting a big win tonight and to comfotably beat panama i would even consider resting some players against belgium as hopefully the belgians dont fuck us over for once and win both there games then we will both be qualified going into the last game.

    This is the kind of attitude that dooms England at major tournaments. England expects. Expects what? And why? We've seen time and again that hard working, compact teams can frustrate the more fancied sides. And we have seen England fall victim to it in just about every tournament in recent memory. It's all well and good playing the Brazils and Hollands of the world in friendlies, but that's not who England struggle against. They struggle against Slovakia and Russia and Slovenia, teams that are tough to break down, exactly like Tunisia.

    England look a decent side with a good young manager who are the third youngest at the tournament. But how many times have we seen England teams turn up and forget how to control a ball at a major tournament? You would think after Iceland, and just as much after some of the performances in the group at the Euros, this "we'll steamroll all the small teams" would stop.
    I understand where you are coming from but as a fan of any team, including club side I might add, you have to show some ambition and have the attitude that you can beat anyone - I also don't think it's an attitude exclusive to England, Argie fans will think they should be beating Iceland by 3 or 4, Germans will have expected to beat Mexico and Brazil fans will have expected 4 or 5 against Switzerland. I'll be happy to take a 1-0 win but just think if we won this game 3 or 4 nil it will send a huge message to the other teams in the tournament, as it stands of the favourites so far France are the ONLY team to even get a win. Wouldn't it be nice if we were comfortably through after 2 games and can rest a player or two for the third whilst the other teams are stressing and scraping through by the skin of their teeth - just for a change!
    I get that, and I think there's a really big difference between hope and expectation when it comes to England. And what you're talking about is hope, which I totally get, but I don't think that's what was being talked about previously.

    Also, there is a big difference between England and Germany, (the World Cup holders), Argentina, (World Cup runners and up x2 Copa America runners up), and Brazil, (Brazil) in that they are better teams with significantly better players. And perhaps most importantly, they have all performed at major tournaments in recent years. Yes the 7-1 loss to Germany was humiliating, but it was in the semi-final. England have only once been to a semi-final when not on home soil.
  • stackitsteve
    stackitsteve Posts: 12,103
    the number of teams that always start slow in tournament football and have started slow this year is always incredible.

    opening games are notoriously cagey and cautious. In an ideal world you want to face a team that no matter how resilient they are, you'll still beat them (panama is perhaps an example)

    Coming up against a team that are no pushovers and will be hard to break down in Tunisia, I feel if it was the 2nd or 3rd group game I'd be confident in a 2 or 3 nil win. But the opening game, I'll take a 1-0 or 2-1 no problem.
  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,467
    The one real bright spot of the US coverage (which has largely been awful) is having Guus Hiddink in the studio. He speaks very intelligently about football, and also, he's managed bloody everybody, so it's a lovely little trip around the world with him.
  • paulie8290
    paulie8290 Posts: 23,344
    SDAddick said:

    The one real bright spot of the US coverage (which has largely been awful) is having Guus Hiddink in the studio. He speaks very intelligently about football, and also, he's managed bloody everybody, so it's a lovely little trip around the world with him.

    He has getting close to managing more teams and national teams than Steve Claridge played for(and thats saying something
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,296
    edited June 2018
    SDAddick said:

    if we cant beat tunisia then may aswell give up now, im expecting a big win tonight and to comfotably beat panama i would even consider resting some players against belgium as hopefully the belgians dont fuck us over for once and win both there games then we will both be qualified going into the last game.

    This is the kind of attitude that dooms England at major tournaments. England expects. Expects what? And why? We've seen time and again that hard working, compact teams can frustrate the more fancied sides. And we have seen England fall victim to it in just about every tournament in recent memory. It's all well and good playing the Brazils and Hollands of the world in friendlies, but that's not who England struggle against. They struggle against Slovakia and Russia and Slovenia, teams that are tough to break down, exactly like Tunisia.

    England look a decent side with a good young manager who are the third youngest at the tournament. But how many times have we seen England teams turn up and forget how to control a ball at a major tournament? You would think after Iceland, and just as much after some of the performances in the group at the Euros, this "we'll steamroll all the small teams" would stop.
    thanks for telling me how i should support my nation but trust me dooming England is the last thing i want to do i've watched them live 27 times, nothing wrong with positivity and tbh i dont fancy tunisia and i fully expect us to win 3/4-1.

    im entitled to an opinion and this comment is akin to some muppet on here 2016 euros asking fans attending " dont spoil it for us watching at home ".

    were expected to achieve nothing so have nothing to lose in my opinion.

    1/4 finals and go home and that is progress i think and its achievable.

    tunisia got to the wc topping a group of libya, dr congo and guinea and drew 2 of those matches, so fair play for getting there but do think we are better and should win.
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,770
    Think you're massively underestimating Tunisia. Yes we should win but 3 or 4-1 is unlikely in any World Cup match, let alone England against a team that Spain took 84 minutes to break down the other week.

    I just hope people don't start turning on the team after 45 minutes and it's still 0-0.
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  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,296

    Think you're massively underestimating Tunisia. Yes we should win but 3 or 4-1 is unlikely in any World Cup match, let alone England against a team that Spain took 84 minutes to break down the other week.

    I just hope people don't start turning on the team after 45 minutes and it's still 0-0.

    freindlies dont mean a lot though imo, a win is a win we should be beating them.
  • paulie8290
    paulie8290 Posts: 23,344

    SDAddick said:

    The one real bright spot of the US coverage (which has largely been awful) is having Guus Hiddink in the studio. He speaks very intelligently about football, and also, he's managed bloody everybody, so it's a lovely little trip around the world with him.

    He has getting close to managing more teams and national teams than Steve Claridge played for(and thats saying something
    Just checked Hiddink has had 15 spells as manager(some he obviously managed more than once, thats why I have said spells) Claridge has had 30 as a player
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,770

    Think you're massively underestimating Tunisia. Yes we should win but 3 or 4-1 is unlikely in any World Cup match, let alone England against a team that Spain took 84 minutes to break down the other week.

    I just hope people don't start turning on the team after 45 minutes and it's still 0-0.

    freindlies dont mean a lot though imo, a win is a win we should be beating them.
    You might have a point but they cannot be completely discounted either. Besides, that's what people told me when I said I didn't fancy the Germans after Austria and Saudi Arabia.
  • Manicmania
    Manicmania Posts: 1,594
    I think there is definately stuff you can learn about a team from a friendly, but the friendly a week before the world cup starts? No way - players trying to avoid injury, managers will be trying different line ups and formations. Plus no friendly will ever equal the adrenaline and pressure involved in a world cup game.

  • colthe3rd
    colthe3rd Posts: 8,486

    Think you're massively underestimating Tunisia. Yes we should win but 3 or 4-1 is unlikely in any World Cup match, let alone England against a team that Spain took 84 minutes to break down the other week.

    I just hope people don't start turning on the team after 45 minutes and it's still 0-0.

    Look who you're talking to.
  • Curb_It
    Curb_It Posts: 21,229
    Shouldnt we have a new thread for tonight's game?
  • Leuth
    Leuth Posts: 23,319
    holy shit that save!!!
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,601
    How the f**k have Sweden not scored there. Great save.
  • Laddick01
    Laddick01 Posts: 6,365
    In all honesty that was terrible finishing. Swedish striking options are woeful.