2018 FIFA World Cup

[Meta not Meta]

I don't agree with much of the negativity surrounding Messi. Argentina's problems go far beyond his "lack of leadership." The team is very poorly managed and their FA has to be one of the most incompetent and corrupt in world football. What's more, there are several other big-name players in the side who have either not turned up or been misused, Aguero most obviously.

Argentina has not won an important tournament on the senior side since long before Messi, in fact, 1993. While they used to produce impressive youth sides, that, too, dried-up years ago.

Yes, Messi looks like he'd rather be back at Barcelona; but he's the one who got them at least this far, as anyone who saw his qualifier-winning hat-trick last October knows all too well.

 

[Meta not Meta]

You Messi-hating guys should save your ire for Neymar. What a jerk! Ill-disciplined, melodramatic, over-emotional, egocentric ... I think he may be preparing Brazil to blow-up again like they did in '14. Seriously think their chances might be better if he was still injured, with Firmino in instead and the attack centered around Coutinho.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Germany winning the World Cup in 1954 3-2 defeating the same team in the final that they lost to 8-3 in the preliminary round.

Arguably the last time an outsider has won the WC, aside from maybe France in '98 ...

... what's great about this year is that none of the favourites have looked very convincing; it feels like it's wide open.

 

[Versaute]

Argentina is a mess now. The coach is apparently on shaky grounds. The team looks listless. Their star player looks lost. All this during the World Cup. Can we say perfect storm?

 

[Versaute]

When we get to the knock-out rounds serious teams are unlikely to leave themselves so wide open. Also, Belgium is so attack-heavy that much depends on their Spurs centerbacks, one of whom saw little club time all year, and a manager, Roberto Marrinez, who, PL watchers will know, has never convinced on the defensive side of the game.

Were there even more than four natural defenders in the starting line-up against Tunisia? And will this change against a more impressive side, perhaps in their next game against England?

With the exception of Kompany who is overrated and is often injured, the other three defenders on the Belgium national team are solid experienced players. They may not get the name recognition playing on a roster featuring a world class GK in Courtois and the other offensive stars already mentioned, but they're pretty good based on what I've seen in the PL and Champions League games. As for their style of play going into the knockout rounds, when you have the offensive firepower like Belgium has, the best defense is often to play offense. Even so, they have the defensive personnel to adjust.

 

[EagerBeaver]

England is beating Panama 5-0 at halftime. How is Panama in this tournament????

 

[jalimon]

England is beating Panama 5-0 at halftime. How is Panama in this tournament????

Because they needed to beat Costa Rica at home and hope Trinidad & Tobago could do likewise against USA. And this is what happened!!!

 

[jalimon]

You know EB any of the following countries would deserve to be at the WC: Italy, Netherlands, Wales, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Ireland (both of them, Nothern Ireland and Republic of Ireland), Ukraine, Scotland, Greece, Czech Republic...

Pretty much why they want to open it up to more then 32 teams in the future.

Cheers,

 

[EagerBeaver]

Panama sucks moose balls, 6 goals allowed on 7 SOGs (WTF!!!), Kane’s got a hat trick with 20 minutes of garbage time to go, this is not competitive World Cup soccer. Something is wrong with qualifying if all you have to do is beat Costa Rica at home and then back in.

 

[Titilleur]

Panama sucks moose balls, 6 goals allowed on 7 SOGs (WTF!!!), Kane’s got a hat trick with 20 minutes of garbage time to go, this is not competitive World Cup soccer. Something is wrong with qualifying if all you have to do is beat Costa Rica at home and then back in.

Could you imagine what it would have been if it were Canada instead of Panama?

England U18 would be a big challenge to Canadian men's national team.

 

[EagerBeaver]

On to Japan-Senegal- a battle of the best of Asia against the best of Africa!!!!! May the best continent win!!!!!!

 

[jalimon]

Senegal has the best outfit of all team. My favourite (the white one). next would be germany’s.

cheers

 

[EagerBeaver]

Senegal is also looking like the better team on the field soccer-wise. That goal came after what did not look like a brilliant clear by Japan, but Senegal has put some good pressure on Japan.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Great move by #5 of Japan with the orange hair to set up that tying goal by Inui. He stopped on the dime! Japan is showing some pride and guts.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Volkswagon World Cup Commercials

You guys in Canada probably are not getting the Volkswagon "Jump On The Wagon" commercials directed at the American audience, but they are amusing. Here is the collection, can someone scroll down to the Belgium commercial and tell me who the Belgian dude is (his English is very good), and who is the hot Icelandic babe in the Iceland commercial?

https://www.onioncreekvw.com/blog/volkswagen-world-cup-commercials/

 

[EagerBeaver]

Iranian Fans Mess With Portugal, Ronaldo

Ronaldo pleads with Iran fans to let him sleep

http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the...-fans-outside-portugal-hotel-to-let-him-sleep

 

[Meta not Meta]

Calling it:

Iran 1 Portugal 0

Spain 2 Morocco 0

 

[jalimon]

Calling it:
Iran 1 Portugal 0

Did you wrote that under influence?

 

[jalimon]

Mea Culpa Meta Seems Iran has a better team then I tough! Did not watch the game, I was watching Spain/Morocco. Another great game tied!

 

[Meta not Meta]

Did you wrote that under influence?

Always ...

.... always "calling it" wrong, lol ....