OT - World Cup 2018 Thread

[Mike the Brit]

I can’t stand England. Hope they lose.

Glad they won, then.

 

[ToonPatriot]

Why so much hate for England?

Colombia were an awful team from our perspective, constantly diving and crowding around the ref, two 'headbutts' one of which should have been a red card after review. When we were awarded our penalty some of their players went over to the penalty spot and tried to scuff the area - the very definition of cheating.

Yes our players gave some of it back, easily falling etc, but to say as one post did that WE are giving Neymar a run for the Oscars rather than Colombia is absurd to me.

 

[Boomer B]

Why so much hate for England?

Colombia were an awful team from our perspective, constantly diving and crowding around the ref, two 'headbutts' one of which should have been a red card after review. When we were awarded our penalty some of their players went over to the penalty spot and tried to scuff the area - the very definition of cheating.

Yes our players gave some of it back, easily falling etc, but to say as one post did that WE are giving Neymar a run for the Oscars rather than Colombia is absurd to me.

Ya, whichever poster comparing England to Neymar has a pretty obvious bias against them.

I’m in Canada and the studio hosts on our Sports Network we’re pretty sickened by Columbia’s antics. Yellow Card after Yellow Card. Crowding the ref. The head butt could have been a red. Columbia played on the edge and tried to drag the game down.

To suggest England were like Neymar is asinine. Yes, like many others they sometimes go down but no English player roles around like they’ve been shot.

 

[Observer]

Sure Colombia played a rough game for sure but the referee could have shown the red card and brought the game under control - so equal blame goes to the referee, who was probably the worst I have seen in this world cup. The English players were far from saints themselves - diving, fouling + diving simultaneously!, headbutting, elbow to the back, kick to the head, you name it there was plenty of dirty play from them as well.
Yes, I am not a fan of England but the pro-English bias of some here is obvious as well.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Uraguay
Belgium
Croatia
Sweden

 

[JayNM]

Uraguay
Belgium
Croatia
Sweden

Wanna make a friendly bet, mr moderator?

 

[ToonPatriot]

Sure Colombia played a rough game for sure but the referee could have shown the red card and brought the game under control - so equal blame goes to the referee, who was probably the worst I have seen in this world cup. The English players were far from saints themselves - diving, fouling + diving simultaneously!, headbutting, elbow to the back, kick to the head, you name it there was plenty of dirty play from them as well.
Yes, I am not a fan of England but the pro-English bias of some here is obvious as well.

I guess its interesting to get opinions from other perspectives, i’m watching games in England where the country hasn’t been this united since Euro 96, so of course i have some bias.

One thing i will say on the diving is that as a nation, we hate it. We’d far rather see our national team/club team players of any nationality take an opportunity to shoot or progress forward than look for the foul, but unfortunately it’s part of the game. We’ve seen examples this tournament where players getting fouled in the box but stay on their feet don’t get the call, you have to go to ground.

Until Fifa and the wider governing bodies take a stronger stance on simulation it’s very much a case of ‘if you cant beat ‘em, join ‘em’, and given that we’ve been naive in years gone by which has cost us (Euro 2004 and Ronaldo here’s looking at you), i’m pleased to see us play the likes of Colombia at their own game. Last night was a clear example of a game we’d have lost 10 years ago, not because they’re the better side, but because of the cheap and dirty tactics.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Wanna make a friendly bet, mr moderator?

nope ... because I'll be lucky to go 50/50 ... what are your guesses?

 

[Belichick8384]

They might be European/South American but they're not who people thought would be there. Most assumed that the QF's would include Spain, Argentina, Germany and Portugal. Nobody realistically thought it would include Sweden and Russia.

Russia are the hosts and have been in every world cup since '82 minus France 1998 with varying degrees of success. Sweden are of the more successful teams in WC history. Still not that big of a surprise really. This WC was one of the dullest and least-surprising I've seen in some time.

 

[JayNM]

nope ... because I'll be lucky to go 50/50 ... what are your guesses?

France - Brazil
Croatia - England

Uruguay will be without Cavani, so they're that much less dangerous.

England has a better team, but the Swedish team is the most likely to surprise.

Also, for Brazil, we have to win it. What you need to understand is that if we lose, there will be riots

 

[The Brandon Five]

France - Brazil
Croatia - England

Uruguay will be without Cavani, so they're that much less dangerous.

England has a better team, but the Swedish team is the most likely to surprise.

Also, for Brazil, we have to win it. You need to understand is that if we lose, there will be riots

"Give us the Cup and no one gets hurt"?

 

[JayNM]

"Give us the Cup and no one gets hurt"?

That was the headline of yesterday's paper

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

France looks very tough. It’s gonna take a big effort to beat them. Hope brazil wins later on.

 

[slam]

Cue that one guy here who just complains about this cup being too Eurocentric.

 

[The Brandon Five]

France looks very tough. It’s gonna take a big effort to beat them. Hope brazil wins later on.

My heart goes out Uruguay's goalie. That's a bad beat.

 

[JayNM]

France looks very tough. It’s gonna take a big effort to beat them. Hope brazil wins later on.

HOPE?!?!!?

É TUDO NOSSO!

have a faith, bro!

 

[Observer]

France is Brazil’s kryptonite so it really looks to be shaping up to be France’s World Cup.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

KFC commercial!

 

[Mike the Brit]

Role Model

 

[Mike the Brit]

Goodness gracious! What a game!

Brazil looked SO dangerous and Belgium were off the pace. Then they got a goal off a deflected corner and Brazil still looked strong. Now Belgium have made another goal, cutting through the heart of the Brazilian and Brazil are really up against it.

Jesus fails with an open header. Courtois makes two good saves. Just brilliant.