World Cup 2018

[bobphilo]

France 4 - Argentina 3 in a thriller. France has really come alive though the 3 goals they allowed makes the defense suspect. It's a shame they will likely have to face Brazil so soon in the next round. Could be a great match-up for Final.
19 year old Mbabane looks like a future super star for France.

[bobphilo]

Originally Posted by bobphilo

France 4 - Argentina 3 in a thriller. France has really come alive though the 3 goals they allowed makes the defense suspect. It's a shame they will likely have to face Brazil so soon in the next round. Could be a great match-up for Final.
19 year old Mbabane looks like a future super star for France.

Correction: France won't have to face Brazil until the stage after next. However,
they will likely have to play Uruguay next - another strong team with Suarez and Calvani (my favorite player)

[snappit]

Well we are in the knockout stage and the shocks go on. What a tournament this is. Yesterday Argentina and Portugal go out and just now unbelievably Spain go out to Russia on penalties after the game finished 1-1. I love the drama of penalty shootouts (unless England are involved as we never win them and I normally can't bare to watch).

[PhantomOnTour]

Anyone who follows the sport is not shocked by yesterday's results. France are simply better than Argentina and Uruguay & Portugal were evenly matched.
England and Croatia should cruise into the semis

[snappit]

No one cruises anywhere at this stage. Croatia haven't been particularly impressive during the first half against Denmark during the game on at present and they need to up their game in the second half.

I've been watching England for nearly 50 years and they never make things easy for themselves. This is their best chance to get to a major final for years but it won't be easy. Colombia were very impressive last Sunday but not so in their two other games. It all depends on which Colombia turn up on Tuesday. England are still a very young and inexperienced side and have a big weakness with their goalkeeper. He is a decent keeper but without being disrespectful to him he is just not in the same class as many others. In the past our goalies have been our strength but no longer. Most of the top Premiership teams use foreign keepers. The Belgium game was the only time he has been really tested so far and he made mistakes which the other teams will have noticed. they will have seen where he is weak and try and exploit that.

Even if England beat Colombia, Sweden or Switzerland will be no walkovers. Remember we lost to Iceland in the Euro's. England have a poor record at the knockout stage of tournaments only winning six since 1966 and not one since 2006. However, as I said this is their best chance for a while and I will be shouting madly for them, albeit nervously. And I pray their games don't go to penalties as we have the worst record in the world at shootouts.

[snappit]

Wow. Croatia v Denmark. Not a particularly great game but you can't say it didn't have drama. Denmark go ahead after just one minute, Croatia equalise just 3 minutes later. Remains 1-1 for rest of match and goes to extra time. Continues at 1-1 and then Croatia get awarded a penalty right at the death. Modric steps up to take it but Schmeichel saves it. Match finishes 1-1 and it is now another penalty shoot out. Croatia win the shootout and are through to the next round. Croatia didn't deserve to win but then neither did Denmark but a poor game will be remembered for the drama. I'm loving this tournament.

[PhantomOnTour]

Belgium, everybody's darling team, are on the ropes

[thaskalos]

Belgium is down 2-0 to Japan in the 58th minute...and the announcer says:

"Belgium can still come back and win this game...but they'll have to be a little sharper than they've been."

[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Belgium, everybody's darling team, are on the ropes

Belgium scores...this should be a very exciting final 20mins
2-1 Japan right now

[PhantomOnTour]

Gol gol gol de Belgica! Fellaini equalizes!

[PhantomOnTour]

Ohhhhhhhh the drama, and the glory !!!!!
What a game

[NJ Stinks]

What a tough loss for Japan! I'm no expert but these teams can pass the ball.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Ohhhhhhhh the drama, and the glory !!!!!
What a game

DRAMATICO FINAL!!!

[snappit]

The first half of the game was poor but what a second half. Really wanted Japan to win (we're suckers for the underdog over here). Thought Japan played well even though Belgium are clearly the better side. Have to feel for Japan going out to a goal that was practically the last kick. On a positive note it was a profitable game for me. Even when Japan went two up I still thought Belgium would get back up so I placed a bet on Belgium on the Betfair exchange at decent odds. When Belgium got it back to 2-2 the odds swung right the other way so I was able to place a bet on Japan at good odds. I was then able to enjoy the rest of the game knowing whoever won I had made a nice profit.


Big game for us tomorrow night.

[horses4courses]

Great comeback by Belgium.
Japan could give any team a tough game.

After today, I now have a team to root against.
That would be Brazil.

I know that Neymar is blessed with talent.
He also gets fouled quite often.
To react and simulate injury the way he does, though,
does a disservice to a great sport.

I'd like to see him get a red card for it sometime.

Allez la Belgique!