Board 8 > World Cup Discussion Topic 4

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've never cried at sport but have gone into daMn near depression and have had RIGHT fits of anger for these games respectively.

City winning title 2012
England/Portugal 2006
England/Germany 2010 (Me and Mum nearly fell out)
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lmao they just went to the BBC highlights (game was on ITV) and usually they never spoil the result in case it's the first time people are watching it
Host: "in case you're worried I'm going to give the result away... you bet I am, ENGLAND WON A PENALTY SHOOTOUT!"
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illuminatusbubu posted...

#goinghome

#cominghome
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I'm a bit neutral on Sweden/England. hope you all care!
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Hardcore_Adult posted...

I've never cried at sport but have gone into daMn near depression and have had RIGHT fits of anger for these games respectively.

City winning title 2012
England/Portugal 2006
England/Germany 2010 (Me and Mum nearly fell out)

Got depressed and has a falling out with family

Over a sport

Not even a sport

.....soccer

Literally lost family. Over. Soccer.

I can't.

I'm done.

End me.

I don't wanna be on this planet anymore

North Korea

Trump

Genocide

Homicide

Poverty

But no. Soccer

Fade the planet fam shut us down
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Can I just say how much I love Kane's goals at this tournament

3 Penalties
2 3-yard rebounds from corners
1 he had no idea whatsoever about

BEST IN THE WORLD
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Just like when you're playing EA's FIFA, you take what you can get lul
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July 15. What if England loses the final and Nadal wins the final on the same day
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Fuck you for coming up with this idea
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOtL1m1o_ok" data-time="

BBC commentator compared Colombia to this famous game today

lmao
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XIII_rocks posted...

Can I just say how much I love Kane's goals at this tournament

3 Penalties
2 3-yard rebounds from corners
1 he had no idea whatsoever about

BEST IN THE WORLD

this sums it up for me, I'm beginning to get a real fear that england are going to portugal their way into the final here and maybe even win it

like, sweden are equally uninspiring, but at least that would constitute a genuine surprise like 2004 greece or something. england winning it playing like this would feel like euro 2016 all over again.
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What the fuck is that comparison?

We've thrashed a team and qualified out of the group easily. Portugal got in as a lucky third place winner after drawing with fucking Hungary.

We're not Brazil 1970 but jesus christ we're not Portugal 2016, what
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I appreciate it's a bit of a stretch (especially when your eventual success is still hypothetical) but it's not what you've done, so much as the manner in which you did it

you've only scored two goals from open play in four matches, and both were against panama

if you guys start turning it on from here and tank Sweden, Croatia and Brazil I'll be happy to reassess!
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(p.s. borderline facetious here but one could argue england half-throwing the belgium match and ending up with this draw is a tiny bit analogous to portugal's group stage fortune ! )
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BK_Sheikah00 posted...

July 15. What if England loses the final and Nadal wins the final on the same day

oh god why would you even mention this
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I know it's about how we did it. I think we've been much better than that, that's a really extreme example

We thrashed a team and deserved qualification, like I said. Portugal didn't. We were the better team tonight on the whole, whereas Portugal were so lucky in that bloody Croatia game.
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I'm seeing a lot of disrespect for the reigning, defending, undisputed European Champions in here.
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On the contrary - imitation is the grandest form of flattery
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Awesome to see England make it past Colombia.

Legend:
QTF = Quarter Final
SMF = Semi Final
TPP = Third Place Playoff
FIN = Final

[A1] = [Uruguay 4W-0D-0L] - 2
[B2] = [Portugal 1W-2D-1L] - 1

QTF>[A1] = [Uruguay 4W-0D-0L]
QTF>[C1] = [France 3W-1D-0L]

[C1] = [France 3W-1D-0L] - 4
[D2] = [Argentina 1W-1D-2L] - 3

SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]
SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]

[E1] = [Brazil 3W-1D-0L] - 2
[F2] = [Mexico 2W-0D-2L] - 0

QTF>[E1] = [Brazil 3W-1D-0L]
QTF>[G1] = [Belgium 4W-0D-0L]

[G1] = [Belgium 4W-0D-0L] - 3
[H2] = [Japan 1W-1D-2L] - 2

FIN>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]
FIN>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]

TPP>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]
TPP>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]

[B1] = [Spain 1W-3D-0L] - 1(3)
[A2] = [Russia 2W-1D-1L] - 1(4)

QTF>[A2] = [Russia 2W-1D-1L]
QTF>[D1] = [Croatia 3W-1D-0L]

[D1] = [Croatia 3W-1D-0L] - 1(3)
[C2] = [Denmark 1W-3D-0L] - 1(2)

SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]
SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]

[F1] = [Sweden 3W-0D-1L] - 1
[E2] = [Switzerland 1W-2D-1L] - 0

QTF>[F1] = [Sweden 3W-0D-1L]
QTF>[G2] = [England 2W-1D-1L]

[H1] = [Colombia 2W-1D-1L] - 1(3)
[G2] = [England 2W-1D-1L] - 1(4)
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FlyingForever posted...

Hardcore_Adult posted...

I've never cried at sport but have gone into daMn near depression and have had RIGHT fits of anger for these games respectively.

City winning title 2012
England/Portugal 2006
England/Germany 2010 (Me and Mum nearly fell out)

Got depressed and has a falling out with family

Over a sport

Not even a sport

.....soccer

Literally lost family. Over. Soccer.

I can't.

I'm done.

End me.

I don't wanna be on this planet anymore

North Korea

Trump

Genocide

Homicide

Poverty

But no. Soccer

Fade the planet fam shut us down

You can be quiet. Seriously.

The City thing hurt because they won in some fucked circumstances on the last day of the league

The England/Germany thing stung I'd had a bit to drink and was F-bombing, Mum did not help matters.

Then maybe if you're done, leave.
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god HardcoreAdult why
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Yeah, just ignore him. He's nothing more than a troll.

Any way, fuck that

France/Uruguay
Brazielgium

What's everyone's predictions for Friday's games?
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The South American teams.
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I would not count out the Ze French. They played a real thriller on Saturday.

And Brazil seem to be ''getting away with it''.
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I think France and Brazil but I'll be rooting for Uruguay and Belgium

https://imgur.com/5dZmgWY

Yes
We
Can
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https://imgur.com/XTZcf17

this is my favourite
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Confident England can make the finals now.

No clue how they would do against any of the remaining teams on the other side of the bracket.

France vs England would be a neat scenario.
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https://imgur.com/qwCt6W6

At last

lol
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Giggsalot posted...

I appreciate it's a bit of a stretch (especially when your eventual success is still hypothetical) but it's not what you've done, so much as the manner in which you did it

you've only scored two goals from open play in four matches, and both were against panama

if you guys start turning it on from here and tank Sweden, Croatia and Brazil I'll be happy to reassess!

Part of the problem is the teams we have played. I'm ignoring the Belgium match as neither team actually bothered playing their real team.

Both Tunisia and Colombia played dirty as hell and ruined any attempt to actually play football. That ref yesterday was atrocious and so Colombia got away with that tactic all game. It's very hard to score from open play in those scenarios.

It's actually kind of baffling that England have been the target of such play rather than the more free flowing teams you would expect to be targeted by play like that.

voltch posted...

Confident England can make the finals now.

No clue how they would do against any of the remaining teams on the other side of the bracket.

France vs England would be a neat scenario.

We've still got *two* more games to win before we get to the sodding final.
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XIII_rocks posted...

https://imgur.com/dJqsPqR

At last

lol

broken link?
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I think I slightly favor Uruguay in that match, but neither result would surprise me. It's quite annoying the two meet already.

I really like Brazil aside from Neymar, but can't stand him, so I don't really know who I'm rooting for there. I suppose Belgium actually getting far for once would be alright. Brazil are probably favorites, but Belgium sure showed they don't give up under pressure.

Croatia are favorites for sure, but I'm all on the Russia clutch victory train. The gap between them are not as big as most people seem to think. Denmark played their best match by far when they played them and they were the better team in that match overall. That's not because Croatia wasn't playing as well as usual, because they were. Croatia simply looked amazing on paper, but in reality, they weren't a title threat. The Nigeria game wasn't too convincing, the Argentina game is what overhyped them, but Argentina were the better team there (and they weren't too good) until the goalkeeper gave Croatia a goal. From there Argentina threw it all away. The second goal looked good, but most keeper would've saved it. The third was a free gift from a furious Argentina. The Iceland game was not at all convincing either.

England are probably favorites in that match yeah, but I don't think they've looked that convincing at any point, it's pretty much just bracket placement that has made them a topic of interest when discussing potential winners. Colombia played dirty the first 75 minutes yesterday, but as soon as they stopped doing that, Colombia were clearly the better team. If Colombia had their act and play together from the beginning, England likely doesn't even get to PKs. But I don't know, Sweden is the most unpredictable team left by far. Against South Korea they looked like a team that got a lucky goal and just really wanted to hold on to the only victory they might get. At their best they look like a team that can beat England. We'll see how it goes.

On a side note: Kane is a clear favorite for golden boot and I don't mind him getting it except it's really boring when half your goals are PKs. I mean, not really something you can do anything about, it's just... meh.
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The Ref was a pussy.
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Every nation left at least has one talisman.

When the stakes get high they are so often involved in the pivotal moments.

Even Russia! Though I don't know if I believe in those Golovin rumours with Chelsea.
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ctesjbuvf posted...

England are probably favorites in that match yeah, but I don't think they've looked that convincing at any point, it's pretty much just bracket placement that has made them a topic of interest when discussing potential winners. Colombia played dirty the first 75 minutes yesterday, but as soon as they stopped doing that, Colombia were clearly the better team. If Colombia had their act and play together from the beginning, England likely doesn't even get to PKs. But I don't know, Sweden is the most unpredictable team left by far. Against South Korea they looked like a team that got a lucky goal and just really wanted to hold on to the only victory they might get. At their best they look like a team that can beat England. We'll see how it goes.

This is incredibly misleading.

England were the better team by a long distance for 75 minutes. Colombia were then the better team for the final 15 minutes because of game scenario. England attempted to defend a 1-0 lead for those final 15 minutes with Colombia pressing for an equalizer.

Colombia were the better team for the first half of extra time as England looked shellshocked by the late goal forcing extra time and momentum swinging Colombia's way. This happens in a lot of games where a team claws their way back unexpectedly. England then reversed that and were again easily the better team in the second half of extra time.

There's no scenario where Colombia outplay England in normal circumstances. With the game level England outplayed Colombia for 72 minutes (57 minutes until the England goal and 15 minutes in extra time), Colombia outplayed England for 15 minutes (first half of extra time) which was heavily assisted by momentum and shock factor.

Also Colombia should have been playing with 10 (or fewer) men for those final 15 anyway.
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Yeah to be honest once we brought on Dier we got deeper and deeper and deeper. It wasn't them being significantly better than us or suddenly "showing their true ability" - a team should be piling on pressure with 15m left.
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Watched the shootout again this morning still petrified that Dier would miss

Jesus christ.
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Day 2
I have now totally lost my mind. I am unironically listening to Three Lions (It's Coming Home) on youtube while sat in a coffee shop
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I feel like England are being grossly undersold by people purely because they are England.

Are they the best team left? Not by a long shot. They are probably around the 4th/5th best team left behind basically the entire upper half of the bracket.

France and Brazil are clear favorites imo. Russia are long outsiders. The 5 remaining teams are basically in a tight cluster. Maybe Uruguay and Belgium have a little separation over the other 3 but not by much. Belgium massively stumbled against Japan in a worse performance than England which is papered over by they fact they came back to score 3 late goals. Uruguay have looked good but they also haven't played anybody. They came through an incredibly weak group unscathed (as they should) and then they beat a Portugal team which massively underwhelmed in the group stage and that hardly looks any better with Spain also eliminated after progressing out of that group. Personally I think they are good for the record.

Yes England beat nobodies in the group but they did so comfortably just like Uruguay and Belgium did. The Belgium game is a non factor due to the circumstances but if you want to pull anything from it then it's that Belgium have greater squad depth which we already knew. England then comprehensively outplayed Colombia who would have been unbeaten in the group if not for that really early red card against Japan. Colombia certainly looked a better side than Portugal and Japan from the group stage matches.

People are acting like England struggled to beat some nobodies and lucked out on penalties. They outplayed Colombia who were one of the better sides left in the tournament and they would have won in normal time if the ref had been competent and kept the game under control.

Do people think the remaining sides go out and smash the hell out of Colombia or something? Colombia last matches against Brazil and Uruguay were draws. They played France in a friendly just before the world cup started and won 3-2. They are a hard and frustrating team to play against.

I wouldn't go as far as to say we "comprehensively outplayed them", but we were the better side imo

Also we aren't amazing but neither are Sweden. Making either side clear favourites seems foolhardy. I'd make England slight favourites because having a world-class striker/goalscorer has always been a noticeable difference-maker, particularly at this tournament. England have one and Sweden don't. But they are probably more organized, far more experienced and tactically astute. Defensively stronger than us too, sometimes we look dodgy. So I wouldn't call it easy by any means.
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Maybe that's a bit too strong but we were clearly the better team with a decent amount of seperation. Their constant fouls prevented game flow and that benefitted them more than us really.

Yeah, like I said I have Croatia/Sweden/England all together in a cluster. I expect all those matches to be close.

It's not like Sweden have played badly. They beat both Korea and Mexico and should have gotten something from the Germany game as well. They basically topped one of the harder groups. And then they beat Switzerland who I never see as a threat but are somehow always in like the top 10 of the world rankings.

Sweden just seem to be very effective. Like in that Mexico game, Mexico has 67% possession yet still lost 3-0.

More I think about it the more I think the four best teams are in the same side of the draw

Only debatable one is like Belgium/Uruguay/Croatia

France might well lose to Uruguay though because Deschamps
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I love Southgate man. He's such a likeable guy. Speaks a lot of common sense too
https://twitter.com/JamesMelville/status/1014402308833148929
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No, it's not misleading, and there's no "because they're England" or whatever.

You're talking like Englang played a Colombia team at their best, which they absolutely didn't. Colombia looked like a team falling apart for 75 minutes, driven by anger. Colombia wasn't just suddenly the better team because England started playing defensively, you can do that and still be the better team. They got their stuff to work a lot more often than they did for most of the match, while Englamnd had their stuff together from the start. I heavily disagree that England was easily the better team in the second half of extra time, but they definitely came back and they were probably the better team. Getting a draw against Colombia is a fine result, but it was not Colombia at their best and a single goal on a penalty made by a completely unnecessary act just doesn't scream impressive at all. England comfortably winning against Tunesia is also a little bit of a stretch, though they were snubbed of a penalty.

I don't think underselling England at all. They are the favorites to get to the final in that half, but I probably wouldn't consider them for the final in a bracket with the four on the left side, perhaps only Belgium. So yeah, as you said, probably 4th or 5th best left, we agree on that, but you're making it sound like I shot them far below that.

It's like when England when England is the better team on the field, it's because they're good, and when they're not it's excuses. No, Colombia stepped up. Not a "showing true ability" or something, just getting things to work they couldmn't at first.

Uruguay is the team being undersold by far the most of any imo, no they have beat no big names, but they look do incredibly stable, rarely makes mistakes, solid defense, dangerous front two. Looks like a winners team in every aspect to me.
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problem is Cavani got hurt in the last game, and might not be 100% or even start, which gives France a huge advantage
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England comprehensively outplayed Colombia and if not for some poor finishing and ATROCIOUS officiating they would've been completely out of sight in regular time.
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