**** 2018 WORLD CUP THREAD ***

Scorpion_runner wrote:

Hey, I need you guys to get the fock out of my thread with your partial and irreverent commentary about race, culture and nationality. If you want to have a discussion about the history and origin of a particular ethnicity/culture, then create a specific thread about it. This is a World Cup soccer thread, with a focus on the games of the World Cup and the players of the World Cup.

People live on earth, and all land is attached to earth, and soccer is played on earth. Everything else is irrelevant.

Seconded.

Hardloper wrote:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2018/07/11/world-cup-fifa-urges-broadcasters-show-fewer-attractive-women/777715002/

But how will they become famous for being World Cup babes?

vivalarepublica wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

Hey, I need you guys to get the fock out of my thread with your partial and irreverent commentary about race, culture and nationality. If you want to have a discussion about the history and origin of a particular ethnicity/culture, then create a specific thread about it. This is a World Cup soccer thread, with a focus on the games of the World Cup and the players of the World Cup.

People live on earth, and all land is attached to earth, and soccer is played on earth. Everything else is irrelevant.

Seconded.

Agree.

Do you guys know if England will play with his best team on Saturday ?

I'm curious to see what will be the starting 11 of our Belgian team. The players are obviously super disappointed they didn't make it to the final, but I really think they will want to win that 3rd place because even if the world history will only remember who won the WC, the Belgian history will remember that 3rd place as the best place we've ever had in the WC. I mean, we're in 2018 and still talking about how fantastic that 1986 team made it to the 4th place. So if they win, they're the new "best team ever" for the Belgians.

But I also know some players are burned and Martinez will maybe think it's good for the group cohesion to allow some playtime to usual bench players.

Hey Hardloper, I'm usually asleep when most of these games are on, so I record them and then quickly watch at x30. But even I stop and rewind for some these chicks. Good gosh. Usually each side of half time the camera men are transfixed on them.

I expect a squad composed entirely of the bench players, even the goalkeepers. The 3rd place game is an opportunity for a lot of players to tell their grandchildren that they played in the World Cup. If it's close in the 2nd half, you might some stars to be subbed in, like Hazard, De Bruyne, or Kane.

There is no incentive for the best players from both teams to put in full effort and risk injury in the 3rd place game. I think this is an unspoken agreement among the national teams and big clubs they play for.

Reality is real wrote:

This thread is supposed to be about world cup games, tactics, predictions etc and some people are spouting off *Infowars style* "arguments" about immigrants and nationalism. WTF?

Welcome to 2018. It looks a lot like 1933.

Our 2nd goalkeeper (Mignolet) is also very good so, why not ?

I still think Eden Hazard will play tomorrow, and hope so. But I read somewhere KDB said he was tired.

I haven't seen any other info in the Belgian media.

Who do you got for the final ?

I'd say France, because :

1. Last 3 games ended up with extra time for Croatia, they must be more tired than the French.

2. Mbappe

3. France has lost the last euro cup final. They know too well what it feels. They don't want to go through that again.

1 - 0, Giroud scores at last.

Vivalarepublica, scorpionrunner and others, this Yank thanks you for your analysis. I enjoy the game- weekend mornings are spent watching the EPL or bundesleague with my kids- but don't truly understand lineups, tactics etc... thanks for educating me.

Gentleman wrote:

Who do you got for the final ?

I'd say France, because :

1. Last 3 games ended up with extra time for Croatia, they must be more tired than the French.

2. Mbappe

3. France has lost the last euro cup final. They know too well what it feels. They don't want to go through that again.

1 - 0, Giroud scores at last.

I want Croatia to win, but I think France will win. France is the best team that Croatia has faced in the tournament, and Croatia has somewhat struggled against lesser teams. France will give them more than they can handle, especially on the attack against Croatia's defense, which has been unconvincing at times. France is not a goal scoring machine, but they have done just enough in most games and doing just enough is all you need to do to win.

But I also think that Croatia can compete against any team on a given day, and might pull off the upset. I think they have the best player on the field in Modric, he reminds me of a more attacking minded Pirlo. Mandzukic showed off his poaching chops and Perisic and Rebic aren't afraid to take on any defender from the wings. Rakitic and Brozovic are pretty fricking good, too. If France has trouble scoring and Croatia gets in 1 or 2 goals or it comes down to penalties, Croatia can win this game.

coach wrote:

Vivalarepublica, scorpionrunner and others, this Yank thanks you for your analysis. I enjoy the game- weekend mornings are spent watching the EPL or bundesleague with my kids- but don't truly understand lineups, tactics etc... thanks for educating me.

You're welcome, but I'm being educated myself this tournament! This is the first time that I have purchased a streaming package so I can watch full match replays, and I am understanding more as I watch.

Your are correct Belgium dominated possession about 63% vs 36%....

However, France shot more time on goals than belgium: 19 shots for France (5 on target) vs 9 for belgium (3 on target)

So much possession for Belgium and only one more corner (5 vs 4 for France)

Bottom line France had a better Plan , a better defense and a better offense .... The best team won!

I don't think dominating possession is as important as it used to be. The game and tactics have changed, coaches and teams have mastered the counter attack while parking the bus, teams like Iceland and England are showing the value of more thought put into set pieces, smaller countries are doing more with less. You can't expect to get simply with superior talent at the national level.

And that's what makes football great to watch.

IMO France looked in control with both Argentina and Belgium even though they had less possession. There were dangerous moments though.

It would be pretty heart breaking for France to lose. They're going into it with humility, with players saying that they aren't the favorites and that they learned the lesson in Euro 16. People talk about Belgium having a Golden Generation in this tournament, but in my opinion this is another one for France. Varane, GZ, Kanté, Lloris, Pogba, Mbappé. Too young in 14, bad luck in 16, here should be a peak, and Euro 20 and WC 22 should be very competitive.

Don't keep calm and support Belgium wrote:

vivalarepublica wrote:

I expect a squad composed entirely of the bench players, even the goalkeepers. The 3rd place game is an opportunity for a lot of players to tell their grandchildren that they played in the World Cup. If it's close in the 2nd half, you might some stars to be subbed in, like Hazard, De Bruyne, or Kane.

There is no incentive for the best players from both teams to put in full effort and risk injury in the 3rd place game. I think this is an unspoken agreement among the national teams and big clubs they play for.

Our 2nd goalkeeper (Mignolet) is also very good so, why not ?

I still think Eden Hazard will play tomorrow, and hope so. But I read somewhere KDB said he was tired.

I haven't seen any other info in the Belgian media.

Even thought some players may be upset or disappointed for the loss, it is a world cup game and none one wants to go home having lost the last 2 games . Players with some minor injuries may stay off the pitch but for the most part I would expect the number one team for both teams to be on the field.

Will Giroud fire for France? He has been very quiet in this tourney.

For some reason, I have a feeling that Croatia will win. They seem to have the will to win on their side. I don't what it is, but Croatia will make history.

vivalarepublica wrote:

I don't think dominating possession is as important as it used to be. The game and tactics have changed, coaches and teams have mastered the counter attack while parking the bus, teams like Iceland and England are showing the value of more thought put into set pieces, smaller countries are doing more with less. You can't expect to get simply with superior talent at the national level.

And that's what makes football great to watch.

I disagree. Japan came to play. Brasil came to play, which is why those games were toe to toe, with non-stop action. France wanted no parts of Belgium's front three of Lukaku, Hazard, and KDB, so they kept the box crowded by playing a low block. At one point there were 6-7 french players in the box, with only Mbappe playing up field. France didn't play like that against Argentina or Uruguay . They just wanted to score one goal, and then sit low to prevent penetration.

That's not the beautiful game, and anti-football is not respected. That is why coaches like Pep, Ancelotti, are more respected then Mourinho.

Hell even on the counter attack, only Mbappe and maybe 1 other player were pushing forward. There was no attacking by Pogba, a player who hates to play defense, and who wants to be on the ball all the time. When Pogba is playing defense, and tracking back, then you a know the team is seriously parking the bus!

Sit back - let belgium hold possession - wait for a mistake - and then counter with very few players to protect their end of the pitch - that was the plan. Anti-football.

Did the centerbacks ever play a high line or even come close to middle of the pitch? I can't recall one possession where the CBs from france went forward.

Well, anyway, it is what it is.

vivalarepublica wrote:

For some reason, I have a feeling that Croatia will win. They seem to have the will to win on their side. I don't what it is, but Croatia will make history.

You can bet behind the scenes the nation wreckers are trying to offer up the $$$$ to officials in the hopes of having France win in order to point to the mixed team as an excuse to let more 25 year old refugee "children" into Europe to wreak havoc and work as a proxy army to attempt to topple the West.