2018 FIFA World Cup

[dafluff]

GERMANY OUT!

Germany continues the trend of defending champions not making it out of the first round.

S Korea 2 - Germany 0

S Korea's goalie putting a world champion performance. Too bad as they are in 3rd position in their group they will also be out of the tournament.

 

[snpark]

Yeh shame Korea didn't get through, let's hope Japan still does
And Brazil don't

 

[jstar]

Japan does go through but they really screwed up and were lucky the Polish were happy with just the win.

England is lucky some of the substitutes of Belgium were eager to perform. Must be weird, the pep talk of the coach in the changing room: "guys, I don't care if you lose, if you can avoid it, please don't win..."

 

[jstar]

GERMANY OUT!

 

[snpark]

The irony of England planning their "easier" route to the semi's assuming they can even beat Colombia - be careful of karma - hope they get smashed by the Colombians and then become laughing stock of the world again

I mean seriously? Scared of Japan? Hahahaha

 

[jstar]

Schedule of the 8th finals this weekend:

 

[El_Goretto]

1998 in Paris, quarter and semi finale, respectively against Italy and Croatia. Great souvenir, of course.

I followed two years later with Cek Rep. and Portugal in Bruges and Bruxelles for the first round and semi finale of the European cup.

I don't watch much football but I do remember the game against Italy. It was a draw at 90 minutes so it went to penalties. Absolutely nail biting.

 

[waarmstrong]

We were at Citos for dinner; every TV in every restaurant that had a set was tuned to the World Cup.

 

[El_Goretto]

oh my... what a game! 4-3 for France, 7 goals! What a treat!

Also, very poor attitude by some Argentinians.

 

[jstar]

Finally the TGV is on track at a high speed. Congratulations to France. And what a beautiful goal by Benjamin Pavard!

 

[jstar]

...very poor attitude by some Argentinians.

Maradona behaved himself (relatively speaking) this time. There also wasn't that much 'baking powder' on the glass in front of him. It's amazing he's cashing in €11K per day and that FIFA is paying for all expenses. (They thought it was a good idea to invite two previous star players per country.)

The reason you always see him wearing two watches, is because he is sponsored by Hublot. They even have a model commemorating him.

 

[William King]

oh my... what a game! 4-3 for France, 7 goals! What a treat!

Also, very poor attitude by some Argentinians.

It was a great game. Heat stopper right tp the end.

One commentator observed that Argentina forced the French to up their game as in the first half the French were content with a 0-1 led (for most of the half).

Argentina gaining the led changed style of play and France really outplayed Agentina in the second half.

Well done.

 

[El_Goretto]

Finally the TGV is on track at a high speed. Congratulations to France. And what a beautiful goal by Benjamin Pavard!

Indeed, amazing goal. Total control on his part. But the first Argentinian canon ball was also insane.

Not following football at all (I only knew of Pogba and Griezmann, everyone else I had never even heard off), discovering and seeing Mbappe play was very enjoyable. He just snaps into action when needed. 19yo, already second highest paid player in the world.

Argentina gaining the led changed style of play and France really outplayed Agentina in the second half.

I couldn't get my stream to work at first so I only joined during the penalty kick. For the first half I was feeling very anxious for France because it seemed like Argentina was setting the pace.

But even when France took the lead back and even until the end, it felt like anything could happen.

In fact, I would have loved for Argentina to score at the last second. It would have been an even more amazing game.

 

[jstar]

.
After Spain and Germany being kicked out, and Japan only screwing up last minute by not anticipating a counter (what were they thinking at that corner?), the only surprise I still see happening is England losing from Colombia tonight. I don't hope so, personally I hope for a final between France and England. But I'm afraid it will be Brazil against Russia or even Croatia.

Talking about that, the international press is all over Neymar. Of course now only results count (and the devotion in your home country), but I can not imagine it is nice to be one of the best players of your generation, and to end up in history and people's memories as a flimflammer and cry baby.

Tonight Sweden against Switzerland and Colombia vs England.
.

 

[jstar]

Sweden just beat Switzerland. Only the first half hour offered somewhat attractive football, after that it became very boring.

Some side news:
Uruguay trained again without Edinson Cavani. The injured Paris Saint-Germain striker is still unsure for Friday's quarter finals against France. They will be happy.
Löw, the German coach, can stay on.
The Polish coach is fired.
Maradona offers to coach the Argentinian team (again). Even for free.
Twelve (12!) million BBC viewers saw Belgium beat Japan.

 

[jstar]

So England qualified after a lousy game and a 1-1 score, by penalties. Exit Colombia.

 

[snpark]

Yeh I agree, England really overhype themselves, it's ridiculous
The reality - beat Tunisia 2-1 in extra time - beat Panama 6-1 with 2 pens (who couldn't beat Panama?) - lost to Belgium - drew to Colombia after 120mins (with yet another pen! 3 so far this tourny) means that in 210 mins of open play they only scored 1 goal and that was a pen?
Then beat Colombia on pens only because one of the Colombians hit the cross bar
And all that without James playing

Come on Sweden! Please shut up the English media, it's unbearable trying to read the Sun every day without having to kiss Kane's lucky toe or listen to John Terry's "roar" blah blah blah

 

[jstar]

the international press is all over Neymar. Of course now only results count (and the devotion in your home country), but I can not imagine it is nice to be one of the best players of your generation, and to end up in history and people's memories as a flimflammer and cry baby.

 

[jstar]

.
And now we get serious...

.

 

[jstar]

France is in the lead against Uruguay after a first half which did not show us great football. The South American defense is strong and there is a good reason for that reputation.

Easy victory for France. Bravo les Bleus!
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