2018 FIFA World Cup

[EagerBeaver]

My predictions on tomorrow's matches:

Colombia 2, Japan 1
Poland 2, Senegal 2 (upset tie!)
Egypt 1, Russia 0

 

[DalilaD]

Do you think the Red Devils can make It this year ?

 

[jalimon]

Do you think the Red Devils can make It this year ?

They have the best team they never had! They have as much chance as any other top team like France, Germany, Spain, Brazil...

Cheers,

 

[sharkman]

Poland vs Senegal should be a really good one. Poland is a much improved team with capable strikers (Lewandowsky, Milik).

Poland is a solid team all around with a great goalkeeper.

 

[sharkman]

Do you think the Red Devils can make It this year ?

Without question "les diables rouges" have an excellent team and they have all the ingredients to go all the way!

Dries Mertens has always been my favorite "red devil"...he's a genuine superstar...there was no better player in Europe in the second half of the 2017 season playing for Napoli.

He scored unimaginable goals from all angles for Napoli....much like the one you saw today against Panama! He has speed and he presses the opposing defense..I hope he never ever leaves Napoli to sign a new contract in the Premier League!...The last goal from the link below is a simply a "Flemish Masterpiece"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=537Uxm3k3JA

...and Lukaku is a beast up front!

 

[Meta not Meta]

That was a great French team...France will probably never be able to put a team together like that one. Probably the best midfiled ever assembled!

My 3 undisputable key leaders of that 1998 french National Team (in that order): Deschamps (midfield), Zidane (midfield), Thuram (defender)

The great French midfield was the one lead by Platini 82 - 86. Won the Euros in 84 and came close to the WC in 82 and 86. That 82 team made me a fan for life; their semi against West Germany one of the greatest in WC history:

https://youtu.be/txZa6_DkpYs

The 98 victory was really the result of one of the best back fours ever .... well, defence all over the pitch, really:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/syndica...nquered-world-cup-1998-and-euro-2000.amp.html

 

[sharkman]

The great French midfield was the one lead by Platini 82 - 86. Won the Euros in 84 and came close to the WC in 82 and 86. That 82 team made me a fan for life; their semi against West Germany one of the greatest in WC history:https://youtu.be/txZa6_DkpYs[/url]

Yes what a great match indeed it was. I vividly recall that brutal foul by German goalkeeper Schumacher against Battiston!....with Schumacher getting away with it!

 

[DalilaD]

He is great but not Santa Maradona Viva Napoli ⚽️

 

[EagerBeaver]

Senegal has stunned Poland on an own goal and Japan has stunned Colombia after Colombia got an early red card. I recall some years ago after a Colombia player scored an own goal leading to a brutal loss, he was shot to death when he went back to Colombia by someone who shouted “own goal!!” as they shot fired the fatal shots. So let’s hope the current Colombia players are safe in their return to Colombia, especially the guy who got the red card.

 

[sharkman]

He is great but not Santa Maradona Viva Napoli ⚽️

Maradona is a God in Naples...and will forever be!...The greatest football player of the modern era!

Thank you Barcelona...I'll take Maradona over 10 Messi's with my eyes closed!

 

[EagerBeaver]

I would take Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia over Maradona. Franz Beckenbauer was another good one.

 

[Meta not Meta]

This apparently stems from Mexican fans shouting homophobic insults at the gay German goalie:

https://www.google.com/amp/www.espn...ase-after-alleged-mexican-chants?platform=amp

They do this all the time ... whoever the keeper

 

[sharkman]

I would take Pele and Giorgio Chinaglia over Maradona. Franz Beckenbauer was another good one.

.....Pele the greatest of all time...Maradona in the greatest in the modern era!

 

[Meta not Meta]

Senegal has stunned Poland on an own goal and Japan has stunned Colombia after Colombia got an early red card. I recall some years ago after a Colombia player scored an own goal leading to a brutal loss, he was shot to death when he went back to Colombia by someone who shouted “own goal!!” as they shot fired the fatal shots. So let’s hope the current Colombia players are safe in their return to Colombia, especially the guy who got the red card.

There's a great documentary about this, The Two Escobars:

https://youtu.be/PHzixowbbYU

Haven't watched the game; but Senegal's victory is no upset .... many observers would have called it, whatever their Fifa rankings, which are often notoriously fatuous.

But Japan winning, that's an upset!

 

[Meta not Meta]

Without question "les diables rouges" have an excellent team and they have all the ingredients to go all the way!

Dries Mertens has always been my favorite "red devil"...he's a genuine superstar...there was no better player in Europe in the second half of the 2017 season playing for my beloved Napoli.

He scored unimaginable goals from all angles for Napoli....much like the one you saw today against Panama! He has speed and he presses the opposing defense..I hope he never ever leaves Napoli to sign a new contract in the Premier League!...The last goal from the link below is a simply a "Flemish Masterpiece"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=537Uxm3k3JA

...and Lukaku is a beast up front!

The Belgian attack is arguably the best in the tournament. However De Bruyne is playing too deep, I think ....

 

[Meta not Meta]

Kalinic has always been a front-line starting player in the Italian league for both Fiorentina and Milan...hence he did not appreciate being passed by and relegated to the bench as a sub for Croatia...and he hid a bit of a hot head.

Nevertheless, he is an exceptional striker capable to make the difference against any opposing team. I don't understand why he was not selected to be a starter for Croatia.

Mandzukic is better, no?

 

[Meta not Meta]

Yes what a great match indeed it was. I vividly recall that brutal foul by german goalkeeper Scbumacher against Battiston!....with Schumacher getting away with it!

Exactly ....

https://youtu.be/vacqMCKrLlE

 

[sharkman]

Mandzukic is better, no?

No way... Kalinic in my book is a much better player.

Mandzukic = Khedina.....two clowns from Juventus that have run out of tricks!

 

[Meta not Meta]

No way... Kalinic in my book us much better. Mandzukic = Khedina.....two clowns from Juventus that have run out of tricks!

I should have known better, lol !!

 

[Meta not Meta]

Looks like Russia/Egypt is a toss-up ... decent game ... likely draw.