**** 2018 WORLD CUP THREAD ***

Scorpion_runner wrote:

If they lose to Sweden ( and they have better goal results), and Germany has the better goal results, then germany and sweden will go through, even though Mexico spanked Germany. This is why head to head should be the first tie breaker. And if head to head is a tie, then you go to goal results ( differential, goals scored).

lol, head to head wouldn't decide anything in that case. Germany would have lost to Mexico, who would have lost to Sweden, who would have lost to Germany.

These are just bogus stats. You really believe he is the sixth fastest in the EPL? If everyone was officially timed, he would probably be in the lower 50% of players in top speed, but more importantly, he is just not quick. That's just the EPL. Where there aren't that many fast players.

letsretard wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

No disrespect, but what do you mean Rudiger does not have the speed to track back?? He is the fastest player on chelsea, fastest CB in the EPL, and the sixth fastest player in the EPL. He definitely has the speed and then some. and got back to the offensive player on both plays, just didn't make the play on the ball. He recovered quickly on both plays.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dd-composite-quickest-player.jpg

These are just bogus stats. You really believe he is the sixth fastest in the EPL? If everyone was officially timed, he would probably be in the lower 50% of players in top speed, but more importantly, he is just not quick. That's just the EPL. Where there aren't that many fast players.

There is nothing even close to being bogus about those stats, because Sane is the fastest in the league hands down, so are the rest of those players. I watch Rüdiger on a weekly bases at Chelsea, and people would look at you like were nuts to call him a slow defender. He will goof on a play, but without a doubt he is the fastest CB in the EPL. Hell there is video up of him racing with other players, and it’s not even close . And he is the second fastest German player behind Sane.

All players have been clocked at their top speed through each game, and that is what those players avg, with their fastest speed being clocked in the game that they ran it in.

I see. That makes sense. Yeah, not a fan of Boatang. Actually, offensively, he can really strike and put crosses in the box, but defensively not too good. He reminds me of David Luiz, same thing with Fellani. These tall players, who don't have pace to be all out offensive players, but they can strike, dribble and head the ball......so they get put in defensive roles, but just are not smart on defense.

Well, that's why we saw Boateng going forward and Rüdiger being the last defender of resort, because Boateng can put in a nice ball while Rüdiger is a more defensive player. Regardless, Germany is looking shaky on the back line, but they seem to be meshing better with each game, so we'll see what happens. All you need is a run of a few good games and then you can end up in the semis or finals. And anything can happen from there.

Loving this World Cup so far. Most excited to see how far Mexico can go. In light of our current political situation, we should hope for the best for our closest neighbors!

Kroos scored a brilliant goal to win the game. And Germany dominated the game.

But Boateng's foul in the first half was an obvious penalty and red card. It is not even debatable. Doesn't get the ball, trips him over, denial of clear goalscoring opportunity.

The referee made a terrible mistake. And then the VAR referees inexplicably did not review the incident either.

This is *exactly* what VAR is supposed to be used for.

This incident makes it look like match officials and FIFA systematically cheated Sweden.

Given the likelihood of a Germany win against Korea, Mexico can either win the group of death and drag along Germany with them or they will go home devastated. Very little hope for any other scenario. And their prize for winning the group of death? They get to face Brazil, which will gets the luxury of playing last and will strategically do what they need to do avoid Germany and face Mexico, even if it means tieing their next game.

So Mexico will need to defeat Germany, Sweden, and Brazil just to make it out of the second round. The curse continues.

VAMOS MEXICO!@@

Yeah it sucks about Mexico going home if they lose 1-0 to sweden. Not sure how easy it will be for Brazil to apply dirty tactics to avoid Germany though. Brazil cannot loose next game. And if they go for a tie hopefully Switzerland catches on and tries to go for a tie as well. I I believe if that happens Brazil wins the group and will face Germany.

Not only should the last group stage games be played at the same time but there should be gag order in the stadium. No communication allowed, punishable by expulsion. No cell phones allowed.

Group B is even more bonkers. Portugal and Spain are tied with points, GD, and GS. However, Spain is ahead of Portugal because they have one fewer yellow card. However, if both teams win their next game with the same scoreline, and Spain picks up one more yellow card then Portugal, then they would be leveled down the line, and the tiebreaker would be a draw out of a hat to figure out first and second place in the group. ...Just madness.

This is why teams just have to keep the foot on the gas pedal when scoring goals during the group stages. Gotta go out like Belgium. Now there is going to be mad pressure on England to go bombs away tomorrow to help them just in case they tie with Belgium when they play them. More than likely Senegal is going to win their group, so I'm sure both England and Belgium would rather play whoever the second place finisher is than to face that dangerous Senegal team.

ENG 1 - PAN 0, first half in the 9th minute. Header from a corner by John Stones.

Panama are committing a lot of fouls and diving all over the place.

PK for ENG 19th minute. Looked marginally offside to me.

Fantastic PK. Messi, I hope you are taking notes. That is how you take a PK

This is the most convincing England football team at a World Cup in recent memory. I am excited to see how they embarrassingly crash out in the knockout round!

vivalarepublica wrote:

This is the most convincing England football team at a World Cup in recent memory. I am excited to see how they embarrassingly crash out in the knockout round!

Their defense is still a bit shaky, but their attack has enough teeth to make it a game. I hope they advance.

This is looking to be a blowout 3- 0 England. Jesse Lingaard. Goal of the tournament so far!! 36th minute!

SB runner. wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

This is the most convincing England football team at a World Cup in recent memory. I am excited to see how they embarrassingly crash out in the knockout round!

Their defense is still a bit shaky, but their attack has enough teeth to make it a game. I hope they advance.

Looks like England learned a thing or two about set pieces from Iceland in Euro 2016.

Another one in the 39th minute. Is this going to be a basketball score for England? This is a massacre.

ENG 4 -PAN 0 still in the first half.

Wow wow wow! Another PK given for England. This is turning out to be a high school style blowout....Panama have completely lost it.