FIFA World CUP Russia 2018

**david44** · 21-06-2018, 04:13 PM

Is it me or is the general level of skill lower than previous tournaments.

Spain -v- Portugal being the exception for me so far and the only game on par with the Premiership and CL.

I suppose we are so used to mix of top International stars at big clubs that national teams find it hard to compete and gel after limited time together

Behaviour of players and fans seems to have improved though.I guess it can only get better as the better teams progress and meet head on.

The VR is a great improvement as it was always impossible for the ref to see everywhere and now he has help which can only be fairer to all

**david44** · 21-06-2018, 06:49 PM

Coming up Socceroos -v- Frogs 7pm Slyam

**HuangLao** · 21-06-2018, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Is it me or is the general level of skill lower than previous tournaments.

Spain -v- Portugal being the exception for me so far and the only game on par with the Premiership and CL.

I suppose we are so used to mix of top International stars at big clubs that national teams find it hard to compete and gel after limited time together

Behaviour of players and fans seems to have improved though.I guess it can only get better as the better teams progress and meet head on.

The VR is a great improvement as it was always impossible for the ref to see everywhere and now he has help which can only be fairer to all

Perhaps, our expectations and general perspectives are a bit overrated.....as are the reality of such superstars and their national clubs within any interpretation that we lay upon them.

...or, perhaps a football parity is catching up with the world. Perhaps, this is a positive note - all things being equal.

So far - not impressed with the so-called traditional dominate/superior sides.
I find myself a fan of the clear and undermanned sides.

**David48atTD** · 21-06-2018, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Coming up Socceroos -v- Frogs 7pm Slyam

FTFY ... Socceroos -v- Danes 7pm

The Frogs were their first game.

**david44** · 21-06-2018, 07:58 PM

sorry yes 1-1 at half time , blame it on the shandy

**Switch** · 21-06-2018, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Perhaps, our expectations and general perspectives are a bit overrated.....as are the reality of such superstars and their national clubs within any interpretation that we lay upon them.

...or, perhaps a football parity is catching up with the world. Perhaps, this is a positive note - all things being equal.

So far - not impressed with the so-called traditional dominate/superior sides.
I find myself a fan of the clear and undermanned sides.

You are a simpleton with no understanding of the game.

I know more about string theory than you know about association football, you stateless pygmy.

**OhOh** · 21-06-2018, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Spain -v- Portugal being the exception for me so far

Both teams play the same non-combatant system i.e. pass the ball way before an attacking player gets close.

Originally Posted by david44

Spain -v- Portugal being the exception

Did you see the Brazil v Switzerland match. Brazil playing their usual flowing, passing and skilful game. Switzerland hacking them down at every opportunity.

Originally Posted by david44

now he has help which can only be fairer to all

Along with some concerns from behind the scenes, International standard referees, regarding some of the "interpretations".

Originally Posted by HuangLao

Perhaps, our expectations and general perspectives are a bit overrated

The super-stars are seen as such because their intentions and desires are known by the rest of the week in week out team, due to their more intimate knowledge and proven skills. The national team's players can never have the same repeatedly played out moves which the week in, week out city teams accumulate. The city teams also are aware of the abilities of their teammates and know when help is needed and when they know the other team member can handle a situation, generally.

One example, Real Madrid have Ronaldo up front on the left, who plays for Portugal. They also have Marcellus at left back, who plays fro Brazil. Together week after week, they are formidable, Take away one of them and more mistakes occur.

**BaitongBoy** · 22-06-2018, 02:51 AM

Denmark 1 : 1 Australia

France 1 : 0 Peru

AND CROATIA LEADS ARGENTINA 2-0 WITH MINUTES TO GO!...

**Loy Toy** · 22-06-2018, 03:14 AM

Just watched the Australia v Denmark highlights and I feel the Aussies were unlucky not to win based upon shots on goal. If they beat Peru they may go through.

And Croatia beat the Argies 3-0.

**Chittychangchang** · 22-06-2018, 03:14 AM

Bit off Argy Bargy in that game, well done Croatia.

**Loy Toy** · 22-06-2018, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Bit off Argy Bargy in that game

I bet there will be a bit of Argy Bargy going on back in Buenos Aires!

**Chittychangchang** · 22-06-2018, 03:46 AM

They had 45 quality players in their friendlies to choose from, but never played the same 11 twice.

Serious management issues.

Caballeros mistake was cringeworthy.

Here's some of the Argy Bargy in pics...

Diego Maradona really is crying for Argentina. It's easy to understand why.

Diego Maradona cries as Argentina go down to Croatia

**Loy Toy** · 22-06-2018, 03:55 AM

What was the Argie goalkeeper thinking!

A bloopers classic!

**Luigi** · 22-06-2018, 10:55 AM

Ronaldo is out for 2 weeks from a gut-laughing injury.

**BaitongBoy** · 22-06-2018, 12:37 PM

Friday, June 22

Brazil vs. Costa Rica

Nigeria vs. Iceland

Serbia vs. Switzerland...

**OhOh** · 22-06-2018, 01:26 PM

AMARA, June 21. /TASS/. The attendance of the Russia-hosted FIFA World Cup matches has passed the one million mark, with a millionth fan attending a group stage match between Denmark and Australia in Samara on Thursday, the FIFA press service reports.

As of the present moment, more than 2.6 million tickets have been sold, and sales will continue until the very end of the World Cup, July 15. Abouthttp://tass.com/sport/1010504 70,000 tickets have been sold through the official website of the Federation Internationale de Football Associatio

More:
http://tass.com/sport/1010504More:
TASS: Sport - FIFA World Cup attendance passes one million mark

**david44** · 22-06-2018, 01:32 PM

Argentina Croatia was a good game for a neutral to watch.

Great goal from Luka Modric curved in and up with Ronaldo free kick for best I've seen, while Caballero's error will haunt the tinhos.

They will be lucky to qualify and their fate hangs on other teams but a terrible goal difference.

Breaking News Lulu may have to be self service with his "GF' LongprickIna Sendusthemoney mooted for the Nigerian attack

Capn HarryBETTAbetter is still top of the league over at Superbru

**david44** · 22-06-2018, 02:25 PM

FIFA World CUP Russia 2018-england-kit-jpg

**Neo** · 22-06-2018, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Capn HarryBETTAbetter is still top of the league over at Superbru

he seems to have lost his touch in the 2nd round and you're close to taking the top spot off him

**Luigi** · 22-06-2018, 02:57 PM

^^ Fans can just change he badge to support France from the 2nd round on.

**HuangLao** · 22-06-2018, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Argentina Croatia was a good game for a neutral to watch.

Great goal from Luka Modric curved in and up with Ronaldo free kick for best I've seen, while Caballero's error will haunt the tinhos.

They will be lucky to qualify and their fate hangs on other teams but a terrible goal difference.

Breaking News Lulu may have to be self service with his "GF' LongprickIna Sendusthemoney mooted for the Nigerian attack

Capn HarryBETTAbetter is still top of the league over at Superbru

First time since 1974 that Argentina failed to win a match in group play...[appearing in nearly every WC from the beginning]
Perennial quasi-favourites with the supposedly best player on the planet.

Nonetheless, hat tip for Croatia - performing solid and deserving of advancement.

**cisco999** · 22-06-2018, 04:47 PM

Soon.

**Chittychangchang** · 22-06-2018, 07:21 PM

Tomorrow's game against Panama has the bookies dropping their odds quicker than a lady dropping her knickers on walking street.

1/7 for an outright England win.

England to win 2-0 and Kane to score first is 16-1

I'm doubling that up with an Iran win @ 5-1 on Monday against Portugal. Seeing as Ronaldo is poorly.
So my £10 stake will return just over a grand

£1020

**Luigi** · 22-06-2018, 08:30 PM

Nothing special happening by Borezil.

England actually have a chance at winning the fookin' thing.

Argies probably going home. Germany and Brazil might well be going with them.

What a crap WC thus far.

**HuangLao** · 22-06-2018, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Luigi

Nothing special happening by Borezil.

England actually have a chance at winning the fookin' thing.

Argies probably going home. Germany and Brazil might well be going with them.

What a crap WC thus far.

Yep. True words.....

Thread: FIFA World CUP Russia 2018

Thread Tools

Display

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions