Thread: FIFA World CUP Russia 2018

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Plenty of Blue cnuts on the pitch today

Picking up the cones.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

I told you all this after the Tunisia game (and David mocked me for it!) when the first half was the best we'd played in a while and we should have been 3 or 4 up at HT.

That said, I'd be surprised if we won it (France have been my tip all along), but the progress we've made over the last 18 months under Southgate is massive and it bodes well for the future.

It's the most positive I've been about an England side for the last 20 years no matter what happens in the next 7 days.

Any of you fools taking me up on this?

Lulu's quiet today. David's lost his voice and the anti-England crowd seem to have fallen asleep.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Lulu's quiet today.

It's Sunday morning bud. What were you, up for Church?


Good on them. Unfortunately they'll now have to play a proper team or two.

Though they did once already (only once, as they got very lucky with the draw), and lost without scoring a goal....


Would be good to see them progress, but alas, dare I say heart-break awaits in the next game or two, for those that don't really understand football.

Well the Belgians are obviously hot favourites, but I see no reason why England can't be finalists.

The match between Belgium 'B' and England 'B' wasn't very meaningful.

Also...From Football365...

The fitness level of most professional footballers is extraordinary, but playing 240 minutes in five days is still a mightily difficult task and that effected Croatia badly. During extra-time against Russia, they looked absolutely goosed.


Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic has a calf problem, Mario Mandzukic was hobbling around desperately during extra-time and Šime Vrsaljko came off with an injury. He will surely not be ready for Wednesday, and there must be doubts about the other two.


More importantly, Croatia’s energy levels will be low. If England can stay in the match until the last 30 minutes, their substitutes (Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in particular) can change the game in our favour.

What’s more, Croatia have not played particularly well since beating Argentina 3-0 in their second group game. They were fortunate to eliminate Denmark after a rotten second-half performance, and were quiet for long spells against a Russian team who have far less quality than England.


Given Croatia’s workload, they should be more fearful than England. It’s an extraordinary thing to be writing, but England are odds-on favourites to reach the World Cup final.

Originally Posted by cyrille

More importantly, Croatia’s energy levels will be low. If England can stay in the match until the last 30 minutes, their substitutes (Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in particular) can change the game in our favour.

Mentioned it after the game, it would have been good to see Rashford brought on with 20-30 minutes to go and just told to run at them, could have given him vital experience and confidence (if he came out of it with a goal and/or assist) that might well be needed in the next game or two.

i agree, not least because Rashford seems to be a player who particularly needs the confidence of his manager.

Still, I can understand the caution at 2-0 up.

Concede 1 goal and the picture changes totally.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Still, I can understand the caution at 2-0 up.

Concede 1 goal and the picture changes totally.

True.

To quote Big Ron.

At 2 nil up the next goal changes the game. If it's 3-0, it can go on to be a demolition. If it's 2-1 it's anyone's game.

Originally Posted by Jack meoff

I thought Sterlings runs distracted the defence pretty well and was planned. job well done.

Well given he couldn't score in a fucking brothel with a million quid and a year's supply of Viagra, it's hardly surprising that's all he can do.

I am hoping for a Croatia win but in the event of another fluke and they reach the final then a humiliating drubbing at the hands of either the French or Belgians will suffice - Awa' Butterfy!

Originally Posted by Luigi

It's Sunday morning bud. ]

"Bud."

Excuse me?

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Well given he couldn't score in a fucking brothel with a million quid and a year's supply of Viagra, it's hardly surprising that's all he can do.

I am hoping for a Croatia win but in the event of another fluke and they reach the final then a humiliating drubbing at the hands of either the French or Belgians will suffice - Awa' Butterfy!

Nobody gives a fuck what you think.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Excuse me

You fart bud?

:zing:

I thought "Sunday morning bud" was a euphemism for an erection.

That Croatia/ Russia game was excellent; football rarely keeps be glued to the screen and while I am rooting for England I think they play a boring/safe game compared to other teams. Russia played really well this year and seem to have put on a cracking world cup

Can Big Elbows Fellaini get the World Cup winning goal in the 93rd minute.

Originally Posted by OhOh

They played Brazil out of the game. They are a skilful and intelligent team. They matched Brazil at their own style and produced excellent football.

I said at the time, no they didn't. They scored two goals, but offered little else.

Hazard basically kept them in it for the last 20 minutes because he was the only real outlet that could keep the ball, and kept winning clever free kicks.

Brazil had three times the shots and three times the shots on target, and it took Courtois at his best to stop them equalising.

If they'd equalised they would have gone on to win it I think.

Not that I care because I hate Neymar, but I don't think Belgium are good enough to beat France.

The important thing is that Russia are out.

Fucking great that is. Video Assisted Russia couldn't help them this time.

Mr. Happy.

I am hoping for a Croatia win but in the event of another fluke and they reach the final then a humiliating drubbing at the hands of either the French or Belgians will suffice - Awa' Butterfy!

While some degree of schadenfreude is part of the normal continuum of human experience, frequent schadenfreude can indicate a mental health condition. People with personality diagnoses such as antisocial personality may delight in the pain of others and have little regard for others' well-being.

Is it the continual stinging and itching from your chronic festering piles that has turned you into the most miserable and negative bastard on the forum, or is it in fact a deep seated and as yet unidentified mental health conditon.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Video Assisted Russia couldn't help them this time.

I've posted my negative opinion of the VAR, previously.

Some can't enjoy a pure sporting competition without the aid of invented political and societal prejudices, conspiratorial theories, or assumed and fanciful cultural superiority.

A bit disconnected.

^Some others, here and around the world, of course enjoy the spectacle and skill of professional footballers, whoever is playing in a particular game.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Picking up the cones.

Nearly half the team are City players, ok well 4 out of 11

I'm not Sterling's biggest fan but he did a great job yesterday keeping the Swedish defenders busy.

Would like to see more of Rashford even if he is a Red Rag.


You should have seen it yesterday in the city centre, thousands of fans sat on traffic lights, dancing on bus roofs, everyone was onit like a .....

And that was the quarter final, England is gonna erupt after the next win