Thread: FIFA World CUP Russia 2018

Originally Posted by Luigi

A lot of teams put in poor displays, a lot of big ones went home early because of that. Not sure how that makes England's displays any less embarrassing.

You, along with some here, maybe hankering after a game of beauty, displayed for the entertainment of the assembled masses. Some nations for, whatever reason, do offer such beauty. It appears, in general, to be from southern European, South American and to some extent budding Asian teams. Whilst ever, players of all teams, are allowed to manhandle, chop down and disrupt the beautiful game that style will wither unfortunately. With the now introduced AVR system, the decision for the on-pitch referee and linesmen to act or not act according to their own observations, has been in practice, removed.

More games are being decided by the ability of a team to win a penalty, a free kick within scoring distance or a corner kick. Subsequent rugby style manhandling can never be observed accurately, 360 degrees by the referee. Hence many winning teams adopting style of play and it becoming being coming prominent.

Others here are too wrapped in their bigotry or more likely, just want to argue the toss with their personal enemies. That, is the way of fora.

I suggest any stations that show Spanish, Italian or South American leagues. There are still amazing games to be enjoyed by all, including the less knowledgable.

Originally Posted by OhOh

You, along with some here, maybe hankering after a game of beauty, displayed for the entertainment of the assembled masses. Some nations for, whatever reason, do offer such beauty. It appears, in general, to be from southern European, South American and to some extent budding Asian teams. Whilst ever, players of all teams, are allowed to manhandle, chop down and disrupt the beautiful game that style will wither unfortunately. With the now introduced AVR system, the decision for the on-pitch referee and linesmen to act or not act according to their own observations, has been in practice, removed.

More games are being decided by the ability of a team to win a penalty, a free kick within scoring distance or a corner kick. Subsequent rugby style manhandling can never be observed accurately, 360 degrees by the referee. Hence many winning teams adopting style of play and it becoming being coming prominent.

Others here are too wrapped in their bigotry or more likely, just want to argue the toss with their personal enemies. That, is the way of fora.

I suggest any stations that show Spanish, Italian or South American leagues. There are still amazing games to be enjoyed by all, including the less knowledgable.

Que?

I'm not sure where to begin with this absolute nonsense after a fine World Cup largely free of the theatrics you speak so disparagingly of, and which have mostly been displayed by the South Americans primadonnas such as Neymar, but I'd suggest here:

Originally Posted by hallelujah

You, bud, have been filed alongside Neo in the forwards playing as sweepers and shooting long balls category.

The best, most entertaining teams have clearly been European (in a very entertaining tournament). What the fuck are you wittering on about?!?!?!?

Originally Posted by Neo

So, when Gary Neville, Ian Wright, Lee Dixon and Roy Keane tell you the England performance was poor you're quick to agree, but when 'uigi and me tell you the same we're cunts.!?

You're that very special kind of Teakdoor dumb

God help us.

You're not even listening to the nuances of what they say or responding to the points made, are you, brains trust?

Have you ever kicked a ball for any team in your life?

(sorry, shooted a ball )

So.... the semi-finalists in a knock-out competition are the 4 best teams in that confederation?





You could do stand-up.


Neo will be happy. Southampton are one of the best 4 teams in England after their FA Cup semi final three months ago according to Hal.

Liverpool are one of the 2 best teams in Europe.





Seriously bud, the world of comedy awaits you.

From someone without a dog in the fight ...

---

England used its weapons and used them well

In the early stages of the match, England kept doing all the things that had got it this far in the first place; the players
in white ran like demons, they harried the Croatians, they set off on quicksilver quick raids and they looked dangerous
at free-kicks.

Their chances were given a huge shot in the arm when Kieran Trippier fired in a superb free kick in the fifth minute.
Having the high ground in a game like this is a glorious advantage, and England made it count for the entire first half.

Croatia looked flustered as it attempted to instil its passing style on the game. England was bustling and buzzing and
would not let its opponents settle.

Southgate's side has not played the most beautiful football in Russia, but its speed, vigour and brilliantly executed
set pieces have been refreshing to watch.

Had Harry Kane taken his chance from close range to make it 2-0, it would have likely been too much for an
exhausted Croatia to come back from.



Harry Kane missed a golden opportunity to put the match to bed in the first half.

In a reflection of England's overall performance, Kane too made hay against weak opposition in the group stage before
failing to really impose himself on the rest of the tournament.

He is a good striker who now looks likely to end up as the World Cup's top scorer by virtue of his three penalties, two
tap-ins and a close-range header, but reports of him being an elite striker have been greatly exaggerated.

---


Croatia's talent proved too much

Slowly, steadily, Croatia began to take control. After half-time, Dalic switched his wingers Perisic and Ante Rebic and
both showed more accuracy and industry.

The midfield dream team of Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric began to hum, with Modric especially casting his mesmeric
spell over the game.

The Real Madrid man should win the Golden Ball for player of the tournament, and probably the Ballon D'Or as the
best player in the world in the last year as well.


Ivan Perisic showcased an exquisite finish to level the match in the second half of regulation time.

Like many great athletes, he seems to conjure more out of his slight frame than should be possible.
He often looked tired, crumbling even, in the latter stages of the match.
Then moments later he would spray a 50-yard pass with such perfection it might as well have been a relaxed training session.

Mario Mandzukic is almost the opposite; a huge, powerful player who usually looks ungainly. He is capable of moments of his
own, though, and it was his goal that sealed Croatia's spot in the final.

The strike in extra time was a product of pressure, if not brilliant build-up play. Perisic won a header on the edge of the box
and Mandzukic simply reacted quicker than his marker, John Stones.

It had been a long game and a long tournament, and Stones switched off for a fraction of a second.
And that was enough for the Juventus forward to shimmer past him like a wraith and lash the ball into the back of the net.

It's moments like these that decide World Cup semi-finals.

Modric's post-game comments indicated his side had used some of the England hype as inspiration.

"English journalists, pundits from television, they underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake.
All these words from them we take, we were reading and we were saying, 'OK, today we will see who will be tired'."

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Are you familiar with the term "own goal?"



The above would be why I'm ripping the piss out of you, you dim-witted cnut.

You must be a TEFLER as otherwise you would understand shooting is a real word... as in 'the ball went shooting over the bar'.. unlike shooted which is not a real word but could be used in ' hallelujah, he so dumb, he gone shooted himself in the foot again'

so TD special