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Post by ripper on Dec 5, 2022 13:04:23 GMT
When England are playing with confidence, they can be very good indeed and a threat to any team. It's pleasing to see Kane score at last, but also that goals are coming regularly from others. France will be a very stern test.
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Post by dem on Dec 6, 2022 13:57:43 GMT
Croatia 1 Japan 1 (aet. Croatia win 3-1 on pens)
Reliant on their old stagers for sure, but Croatia are no Wales and achieved what Germany and, controversially, Spain couldn't in surviving the Samurai. Japan's spot kick takers froze on the night, but bar that weird blip via Costa Rica, they've been excellent.
Brazil 4 South Korea 1.
Suddenly England fans possibly relieved they've only to face the world champions at the weekend. Even so, as good as they are, I doubt the Brazilians will have it all their own way against a resolute and tactically sharp Croatia.
Today
Morocco V Spain
Portugal V Switzerland
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Post by ripper on Dec 6, 2022 17:03:28 GMT
I think the very worst way to exit a World Cup or Euros is via a penalty shootout. As someone who has suffered time after time seeing England fall at the penalties hurdle I have great sympathy for Japan. There is incredible pressure on the penalty-takers to score, and I am sure that many feel guilty when they miss, particularly if theirs is the penalty that puts them out of the competition.
Brazil won with seemingly plenty more in the tank should they need it. It's so sad to see that imo their greatest ever player, Pele, is so ill. He was also a key part of perhaps the greatest WC team of all time, the Brazil side of 1970. Even after 52 years I remember vividly that famous England v Brazil clash--I was 8 at the time, watching it on our old B+W telly.
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Post by ripper on Dec 7, 2022 10:06:47 GMT
Another of the big guns out. Spain had a golden opportunity in the dying seconds of extra time against Morocco, but hit the woodwork, leaving the game goalless. They failed to score a single penalty out of the three they took, with Morocco missing just one.
I didn't see much of the Portugal vs Switzerland game, but if the 6 - 1 scoreline is accurate then Portugal must have had an easy time of it.
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Post by dem on Dec 7, 2022 12:52:20 GMT
Not easy, Rip, they were class from start to finish. All out attack, as much fun to watch as Brazil the previous night.
Morocco 0 Spain 0 (aet, Morocco win 3-0 on pens). Irresistible force V irremovable object. Small wonder it went to penalties. Super-industrious rearguard display by the Arabs, who even had the gall to create the two best chances. Spain boss said beforehand he'd had entire squad take 1000 penalties each in preparation for tournament. They missed three out of three.
Portugal 6 Switzerland 1. Wow, didn't see that coming at all. Swiss so impressive in the group stages, especially in overcoming Serbs, simply blown away inside 30 minutes. Stating the crystal clear, but the Iberians look so much better with Ronaldo on bench. Pepe, 39 years young, hasn't been booked in four games and even scored. I hope he's well?
Quarter Finals
Friday
Brazil V Croatia
Argentina V Netherlands
Saturday
Morocco V Portugal
England V France
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Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Dec 7, 2022 13:58:33 GMT
Not that I know much, but England seem to have a suspect defence, even though they haven't let in many goals, also they couldn't pass out to midfield from what I saw. They were good when they were positive.
Anyway here is a question. Would a team made up of TV pundits win the World Cup? I didn't include the commentators, but you can if you wan't.
Gary Lineker
Didier Drogba
Ashley Williams
Vincent Kompany
Alan Shearer
Rio Ferdinand
Jermaine Jenas
Micah Richards
Danny Gabbidon
Ian Rush
Jurgen Klinsmann
Mark Schwarzer
Gilberto Silva
Pablo Zabaleta
Ian Wright
Roy Keane
Joe Cole
Hal Robson-Kanu
Gary Neville
Graeme Souness
Nigel de Jong
Roy Keane is a bad boy, but maybe Graeme Souness who is an all-Scottish real man could keep him in order.
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Post by ripper on Dec 7, 2022 16:54:02 GMT
Not that I know much, but England seem to have a suspect defence, even though they haven't let in many goals, also they couldn't pass out to midfield from what I saw. They were good when they were positive. Anyway here is a question. Would a team made up of TV pundits win the World Cup? I didn't include the commentators, but you can if you wan't. Gary Lineker Didier Drogba Ashley Williams Vincent Kompany Alan Shearer Rio Ferdinand Jermaine Jenas Micah Richards Danny Gabbidon Ian Rush Jurgen Klinsmann Mark Schwarzer Gilberto Silva Pablo Zabaleta Ian Wright Roy Keane Joe Cole Hal Robson-Kanu Gary Neville Graeme Souness Nigel de Jong Roy Keane is a bad boy, but maybe Graeme Souness who is an all-Scottish real man could keep him in order. England have done okay so far imo, though I think it is fair to say that they have yet to face a really top quality side with a genuine chance of lifting the World Cup--that will be remedied on Saturday when they come up against France. Maguire has faced criticism from both Manchester United and England fans for his performances this season, but again so far he has done okay. France will really test our defence, and it is probably that part of the team that concerns me most. They were abject in the Nations League and hardly scored a goal, so it is good to see that so many players have found their scoring boots, and as Kane has scored one I hope he will score many more. Some fine players on your list of TV pundits. You're right about Roy Kean being a bit forthright...just google his rant against Rep of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy in 2002 during the World Cup and known as the 'Saipan Incident', which led to Kean being sent home. As for Souness, he's typical of the Scottish players that used to be sprinkled throughout the old First Division and were such an important part of the Scotland team. The influx of overseas players has meant that the number of Scots in top English teams has declined drastically. |
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Post by dem on Dec 10, 2022 13:04:48 GMT
Brazil 1 Croatia 1 (aet: score at 90 mins, 0-0: Croatia win 4-2 on pens). From what I saw of it, English media played this up as though this was good as a bye for Neymar gang, and won't that semi-final clash with their hated rivals be explosive? Vault, the home of football, knew better ā as usual. Yet another smashing game with the resilient E. European's nabbing a dramatic last ditch equaliser to spook the champions elect. Result greeted with delight by ... Argentina 2 Netherlands 2 (aet: score at 90 mins, 2-2: Argentina win 4-3 on pens). Epic battle, the ref dishing out yellows to players who weren't even on the pitch as, after a 70 minute Messi-inspired cakewalk, big Louis sacrificed his principles for common sense, brought on the Burnley giant to lump balls at, and suddenly the Dutch were back in it! - had the Spanish only done the same, they might have been playing Portugal this afternoon. As the S. American champs lost control of a game they'd dominated, so a niggly match turned brutal. It's been obvious from the group games that reds will only be brandished in cases of on-field murder, cannibalism, or shirt removal, so little surprise the subs should regard it their duty to wade into the punch ups. Today Morocco V Portugal
England V FranceRip, I think you might be interested in Jean Williams' The History of Women's Football, which devotes several chapters to the lost decades following the FA ban as opposed to the usual 'cut from Dick, Kerr Ladies' direct to modern global phenomenon' approach of earlier books. As author regularly reminds us, this is still a sketchy account of the rise, fall and rise of the woman's game in Britain, there is much more to be researched on the subject. I recently loaned if from local library so it's in the system.
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Post by ripper on Dec 10, 2022 15:23:02 GMT
Brazil 1 Croatia 1 (aet: score at 90 mins, 0-0: Croatia win 4-2 on pens). From what I saw of it, English media played this up as though this was good as a bye for Neymar gang, and won't that semi-final clash with their hated rivals be explosive? Vault, the home of football, knew better ā as usual. Yet another smashing game with the resilient E. European's nabbing a dramatic last ditch equaliser to spook the champions elect. Result greeted with delight by ... Argentina 2 Netherlands 2 (aet: score at 90 mins, 2-2: Argentina win 4-3 on pens). Epic battle, the ref dishing out yellows to players who weren't even on the pitch as, after a 70 minute Messi-inspired cakewalk, big Louis sacrificed his principles for common sense, brought on the Burnley giant to lump balls at, and suddenly the Dutch were back in it! - had the Spanish only done the same, they might have been playing Portugal this afternoon. As the S. American champs lost control of a game they'd dominated, so a niggly match turned brutal. It's been obvious from the group games that reds will only be brandished in cases of on-field murder, cannibalism, or shirt removal, so little surprise the subs should regard it their duty to wade into the punch ups. Today Morocco V Portugal
England V FranceRip, I think you might be interested in Jean Williams' The History of Women's Football, which devotes several chapters to the lost decades following the FA ban as opposed to the usual 'cut from Dick, Kerr Ladies' direct to modern global phenomenon' approach of earlier books. As author regularly reminds us, this is still a sketchy account of the rise, fall and rise of the woman's game in Britain, there is much more to be researched on the subject. I recently loaned if from local library so it's in the system. Thanks for the recommendation, Dem. I will see if it is in our county system. My late mum played in a women's team in the early 1950s and maybe a little earlier than that. I am not sure how many teams there were, nor if there was anything as organised as a league. I'm not even sure if they had a proper pitch on which to play. Wish I had asked her more about it. I do recall seeing a photograph of the team, but I have no idea what happened to it. |
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Post by dem on Dec 11, 2022 19:13:31 GMT
Morocco 1 Portugal 0
After their 6-1 annihilation of Swiss, the Men of War hit the same brick wall as denied their Tiki-taka purveying neighbours. Morocco remind me of a classier, infinitely more watchable version of that unfancied Greece side waltzed off with the Euros in 2004.
England 1 France 2
Score probably about right ā France are world champions for a reason ā but still hard to take having giving them a torrid second half. A terrific effort from youthful England squad who played some exhilarating stuff throughout, give or take the one lacklustre display v. USA. Will just have to win Euro's now. I so hope Gareth Southgate stays on to do it.
Sets us up for two intriguing semis. Do we get to see a repeat of the 2018 final? Can Mbappe and Lovegod bloody Shaving Model find a way past that obdurate Moroccan 10 man rearguard? Will Argentina spontaneously combust should terminally underrated Croatia deny them what is theirs by divine right?
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Post by ripper on Dec 12, 2022 11:33:45 GMT
The Portugal vs Morocco game was incredible. At the start of the tournament few if any gave the Moroccans any chance, yet they have gotten to the semis and knocked out teams full of superstars.
Agree with your assessment of England vs France, Dem. For long periods England were the better team and they gave the French defence some very worrying times. If Kane had converted that penalty then who knows what would have happened. The team did far better than I was expecting. Bellingham and Foden seem to have cemented their places in the starting XI and when they play with confidence and at pace they can be a handful for any opponents. I also really hope that Southgate remains as manager. If we look back to the state of the team when he took over and what he has done in 3 major competitions, then I think he should stay.
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Post by dem on Dec 14, 2022 7:21:45 GMT
Semi finalsArgentina 3 Croatia 0The Argentina-Netherlands clash was the stuff of a Foul! souvenir edition ... and altogether more engrossing than last night's strangely flat, one-sided affair. Croatia for once looked a beaten side at half-time, lacking the guile to create a decent chance until the damage was long done. And thinking of the long dead Foul!, wonder if there would be enough regular material for a women's football equivalent? TodayFrance V Morocco
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Post by ripper on Dec 15, 2022 11:27:12 GMT
The Moroccans did so well to get to the SF, but that last hurdle was just a little too steep. Still, they did their country proud and are the first African team to reach a World Cup SF.
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Post by dem on Dec 15, 2022 12:50:23 GMT
The Moroccans did so well to get to the SF, but that last hurdle was just a little too steep. Still, they did their country proud and are the first African team to reach a World Cup SF. Thought that was a much better and far more exciting game than the Arg-Croatia semi, Rip. Morocco were all over the world champs at times, they just couldn't find a finish. They're the team I've most enjoyed watching in Qatar - would have loved if England had met them, especially in the attacking mindset they were forced into last night. Let's hope Sunday's final is as thrilling. The Third place play off on Sat night should be alright, too. |
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Post by ripper on Dec 18, 2022 10:49:59 GMT
After the 3rd/4th playoff, on to the main event. It's Messi's last chance for glory so surely he will be up for it. France will want to spoil the party, and have their own superstar in Mbappe. It's difficult to predict which team will win. A number of the French squad have come down with a virus, so that could also be a factor. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it got a tad physical at times.
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