World Cup Tournament 2018

[NeverFeltBetter]

I was sure once it went to penalties that De Gea would be the hero, but it's Akinfeev in the end, someone a lot of people, including myself, wrote off as another Russian weakness. Quite the result for the hosts.

[pineapple stu]

The draw opens up for England maybe?

The semi will now be v Russia/Denmark/Croatia v England/Colombia/Sweden/Switzerland

Only one of those (England) has ever been to a final before

[NeverFeltBetter]

I think I'd rank five of those teams ahead of England in terms of likelihood to get to a final.

Regards them, I see James Rodriguez might play after all. Even if he doesn't, I still think they're too good for England.

[osarusan]

I was sure once it went to penalties that De Gea would be the hero, but it's Akinfeev in the end, someone a lot of people, including myself, wrote off as another Russian weakness. Quite the result for the hosts.

Didn't see this game, from reports it seems like they mostly defended with discipline and Spain couldn't break them down.

A pity to see that kind of football succeed, but the Spain of old would have found a way.

Russia certainly better than I expected anyway.

[NeverFeltBetter]

That was it exactly, as soon as they equalised Russia were happy to see the game out till penalties. A better team would have broken them down.

In both games yesterday, extra time was a mostly a useless affair of wrecked players barely able to make any headway, with the lone exception of Modric's penalty. Is there an argument to be made for reducing ET to 20 minutes, doing away with it entirely, or the more radical "Shoot-out first, then extra time) idea?

[jbyrne]

Didn't see this game, from reports it seems like they mostly defended with discipline and Spain couldn't break them down.

A pity to see that kind of football succeed

is spains style of piddly little passes over and back, over and back, over and back ad nauseam any better though?
Its been severely found out over the last few years

[OwlsFan]

First time I ever heard the RTE commentators praising a referee to the roof and then what happens? He correctly gives a penalty but for some reason doesn't send the player off (was he even booked)and is too busy watching for encroachment that he doesn't spot Schmeichel pretty much charging the penalty taker (he then ignored that rule for the shoot-out). I somehow thought Modric would go up the middle for his second one and he was lucky as it wasn't well hit but he outguessed Schmeichel. None of the penos was particularly well hit.

Can't beat them for drama though. I didn't see the Russian/Spain one so don't know if there was encroachment there as well.

Denmark did ok. At our best we could probably have matched what they did but no more.

[jbyrne]

First time I ever heard the RTE commentators praising a referee to the roof and then what happens? He correctly gives a penalty but for some reason doesn't send the player off (was he even booked)

yes, was booked. surely deserved a red

[seanfhear]

Gary Neville was convinced that the Denmark manager won the tactical battle after 20 minutes ( up until the Serbs had been very good )

There is no doubt that Denmark kept Modric and Rakotic about as quite as you could hope to keep them . And as Denmark were supposedly the inferior team it can be said that Denmark did control Serbia pretty well .

Perhaps Martin O’Neill needs to climb down off his big Hobby Horse and get a good tactician on board .......

Not very likely as Martin can be a bit full of himself to see his own faults .

[NeverFeltBetter]

is spains style of piddly little passes over and back, over and back, over and back ad nauseam any better though?
Its been severely found out over the last few years

On the panel, they selected a 118 second period where Spain kept the ball, with 41 passes, without ever getting it into the Russian penalty area. There's little impressive about such possession retention without end product: the impressive part was Russian defensive shape and discipline.

The referee certainly seemed to lose the run of himself at the end. Unless they have altered that rule, it seemed a clear "last man back/clear goal-scoring opportunity" situation and poor Brian Kerr sounded like he was going to have aneurysm when the keepers came off the line for every penalty.

Dying for Mexico to finally get beyond the Last 16 this afternoon. Six straight exits at that point must be torturous.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Gary Neville was convinced that the Denmark manager won the tactical battle after 20 minutes ( up until the Serbs had been very good )

There is no doubt that Denmark kept Modric and Rakotic about as quite as you could hope to keep them . And as Denmark were supposedly the inferior team it can be said that Denmark did control Serbia pretty well .

Is this a genuine mistake or some kind of unexpected geo-political statement? ;)

[osarusan]

is spains style of piddly little passes over and back, over and back, over and back ad nauseam any better though?
Its been severely found out over the last few years

I actually think that their passing game has (by necessity) become more and more 'piddly' as opposition teams pack their defence more and more.

[jbyrne]

I actually think that their passing game has (by necessity) become more and more 'piddly' as opposition teams pack their defence more and more.

while watching our 2013 spain friendly there was one spell where two Spanish players basically played keep ball within a few metres of each other for about 8 or 9 passes without moving an inch up the pitch. I watched thinking what a load of cr@p if that's whats being considered the best style of play at the time!

[pineapple stu]

Spain's winning 2010 team were awful to watch I thought. The height of tika-taka, and it brought four 1-0 wins in the knock-outs, and I think 7 goals all tournament.

Thought the yellow card for the Denmark player yesterday was the correct call. He made a legit attempt to play the ball - very nearly got it too - and that's enough now to escape the red where you concede a penalty too. It's of course debatable, but that was my view anyway. Certainly the foul wasn't Suarez v Ghana cynical

[jbyrne]

Thought the yellow card for the Denmark player yesterday was the correct call. He made a legit attempt to play the ball - very nearly got it too - and that's enough now to escape the red where you concede a penalty too. It's of course debatable, but that was my view anyway. Certainly the foul wasn't Suarez v Ghana cynical

it wasn't cynical but was a foul and it denied the Croatian player a certain goal. harsh but should have been a red

[NeverFeltBetter]

Mexico looking well-up for this. If they could get an early goal it would set the game up nicely.

[OwlsFan]

yes, was booked. surely deserved a red

Yes because he had beaten the keeper and was about literally to tap in to an empty net. Absolute 99% certainty of a goal (the 1% being he tries something ridiculous and balloons it over the bar or has a coronary or trips over his own laces).

[osarusan]

Brazil looked like potential winners there, just dismissed Mexico with ease. Really solid defensively. Willian was superb.

How is Gabriel Jesus still starting though? Anonymous all game.

[Stuttgart88]

I think I'd rank five of those teams ahead of England in terms of likelihood to get to a final.

Regards them, I see James Rodriguez might play after all. Even if he doesn't, I still think they're too good for England.
Jeez, I wish I had your confidence!

[osarusan]

F**k sake, Canning pronouncing Inui as NUI. Talk about absolutely no preparation.

[pineapple stu]

Maybe it's just a bit of ennui?

[pineapple stu]

Yes because he had beaten the keeper and was about literally to tap in to an empty net. Absolute 99% certainty of a goal (the 1% being he tries something ridiculous and balloons it over the bar or has a coronary or trips over his own laces).
Does the new double-jeopardy rule not come into play though?

If you make a genuine attempt to win the ball - and I thought he did in fairness; he was very close to getting the tackle in - then you can't be sent off and concede a penalty. The double penalty is reserved for Suarez-like cynicism.

It could be a hole in the rule of course, but I thought the ref was correct to give a yellow.

In tonight's game, liking the jersey colours. Too many teams being forced to wear their away strips, which are often a bland white. This Belgium kit is one of the best in the tournament, along with Peru (can't decide if the home or away was better) and Sweden's away, which is superb.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Belgium self-destructing. They've treated this tie far too casually from the start.

[pineapple stu]

Who's self-destructing?

[pineapple stu]

Wow.

Just...wow

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's a very creditable comeback from Belgium (once they woke up). Once they got going, they got going, and the winner was an awesome counter-attack.

But Japan have been very impressive here, even after the equaliser. The CB Shoji, who plays in the J-League, especially. They kept pushing on even when two-nil up, and at two-two in injury time.

Edit: I mean, it cost them, so I shouldn't be too praising. But it was a breath of fresh air from the usual tactics from the "lesser" teams.

[osarusan]

Don't really get the disgust at Honda for sending in the corner. If the roles were reversed, I can't imagine Hazard would be getting similar criticism if he had tried to attack also.

The real problem was sending so many players up for it - so many that they could be caught on the counter.

[seanfhear]

Had Japan anything left for extra time any way . Perhaps there on chance was to get a late goal and then Heaven .

[NeverFeltBetter]

Thinking on Belgium, maybe this will be the defining moment of their tournament, when they stopped playing in third gear and realised every game from now on is potentially the biggest game of their lives. I often hear/read that they are a team of individuals and that's why they struggle sometimes, but I don't know if I really buy that: if that was true, there's no way they could come back from 2-0 down and over an hour played. Other teams in this World Cup, like Argentina, Poland, arguably England, certainly Germany, would have crumbled in such circumstances. But Belgium picked themselves up and won the game in normal time, even if Japan facilitated some of it with poor keeping and and overly-ambitious play in injury time.

Fellaini is a great weapon to have to bring on in such circumstances. Notwithstanding his aerial threat, he's just so disruptive for defences during set-pieces, and while I would never dream of starting him, having him come on late and badger a tired defence is a great option.

[OwlsFan]

Does the new double-jeopardy rule not come into play though?

If you make a genuine attempt to win the ball - and I thought he did in fairness; he was very close to getting the tackle in - then you can't be sent off and concede a penalty. The double penalty is reserved for Suarez-like cynicism.

It could be a hole in the rule of course, but I thought the ref was correct to give a yellow.

I think the fact that the player was about to tap the ball in to an empty net makes it a red every time. He tackled from behind which is going to be a foul anyway and he knew what he was doing.




Don't really get the disgust at Honda for sending in the corner. If the roles were reversed, I can't imagine Hazard would be getting similar criticism if he had tried to attack also.

The real problem was sending so many players up for it - so many that they could be caught on the counter.

I agree. It was the Panel once again belittling Japan. They tried to win the game. Perhaps they might have taken a short corner and tried to work the ball in from there rather than a lob in to the goal. Great counter-attack from Belgium it has to be said which was kind of ignored in the criticism of Japan.

Heroic losers Japan but I hate that. They'll soon be forgotten like all the Irish heroic losses in the past when the team comes up and applauds the fans after another near thing. It's all about winning I am afraid and that game will soon be lost in the murky mists of memory for everyone except the Japanese (and Belgians of course). Great game though (I think - who was playing again ?).

[osarusan]

I don't think that kind of scenario (tap in to empty net) was envisioned by those who came up with the double-jeopardy rule, but it probably applies alright, if you think the player made a genuine attempt to get the ball (I actually don't).

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, that's my thinking too (apart from the bit about making a genuine attempt; I think he did)

How to tweak the rule though? Do we need to differentiate between a clear goal-scoring opportunity (which I think is where double jeopardy comes in - effectively a professional foul) and an open goal?

In that game, the bottom line is that the red card wouldn't have impacted the penalty, so you'd then have had just four minutes with an extra player on the pitch, which isn't a lot really.

[NeverFeltBetter]

England certainly the better side here, though they've only managed two chances. Might be a man up if Henderson went down holding his chin instead of his face.

[pineapple stu]

Yet another penalty.

The Colombian fella almost bumped the referee when he was fouling Kane, and he still complains. That's utterly ridiculous. I'd have booked the lot.

And instead, Henderson gets booked!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Columbia are so bad tonight. Their build up play is awful and they keep giving England set-piece chances every three minutes. And now Cuadrado gets free in the box and skies it.

Easily England's best performance so far.

[pineapple stu]

England's performances v Panama and Tunisia were streets better than this. They've been poor, albeit against a better side.

Has Ospina had a save to make, daft penalty aside?

Poor game overall.

[pineapple stu]

Ha!

England ****ing up NEVER gets old!

[osarusan]

Thought Colombia set up too defensively, and didn't commit enough to attack - with the result that England were able to press and smother them in midfield.

In the last 20 minutes when they pushed players forward they suddenly looked like creating chances.

Colombia horribly unbalanced now for extra time.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I love this World Cup. How about that shot before the goal?

[pineapple stu]

Colombia horribly unbalanced now for extra time.
Colombia have a fourth sub though; they can fix balance surely?

[osarusan]

Colombia have a fourth sub though; they can fix balance surely?

England look shattered anyway.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Wow, England look fatigued as hell, while Columbia look super fresh. The power of a last gasp equaliser.

[pineapple stu]

England look shattered anyway.
Which is strange given they basically had a whole game off (v Belgium)

[NeverFeltBetter]

Well, that's a huge result, breaking the shoot out hoodoo.

[seanfhear]

England look shattered anyway.England did look very very tired and as they had more procession its supposed to be a bit easier .

[seanfhear]

Just to be Devils advocate . Did Kane foul the defender before the defender fouled him for the penalty ?

[NeverFeltBetter]

I wondered that myself. Kane knows in the current climate ref's are more likely to blow for infringement inside the box, and that he now has a perception of being pulled, jostled or hauled down during set-pieces, so maybe he does a little bit of it himself to get a corresponding reaction, then hits the deck. More than once last night I thought he went to ground far easier than I have ever noticed before (not just during set-pieces mind). I'm certainly a big believer in the principal of "Six of one" and "Turnabout is fairplay" when it comes to shirt-pulling and shoving during corners, though I feel for the penalty Kane was more sinned against than sinning.

I wouldn't have a load of sympathy for Columbia regardless. They were ill-disciplined for way too long last night, and could have been a man down at HT, and more at FT if the ref had been a little less lenient with the constant haranguing.

[jbyrne]

I wouldn't have a load of sympathy for Columbia regardless. They were ill-disciplined for way too long last night, and could have been a man down at HT, and more at FT if the ref had been a little less lenient with the constant haranguing.

they lost the plot too easily last night and if they had concentrated on playing football they would have won imo. when they got going late in the game they looked far more dangerous than England.

[OwlsFan]

Interesting few snippets. The Colombian player scuffing the penalty spot before Kane's penalty kick while his compadres surrounded the referee.

Southgate going round with his list of penalty takers and Henderson half ignores him and nods yes when asked.

Houghton suggests that they should get rid of the rule about the keeper staying on the line if it's not being enforced. All very well but then does that mean he can charge off his line like a rugby conversion the minute the kicker moves to the ball or what ?

VAR has brought protesting to a new level. Take it out of the hands of the referee.

The last Colombian who missed a penalty in the WC was assassinated back in Colombia. I'd take a while to go home if I was those two guys. The American ref may also be on a hit list.

England deserved it. Final a real prospect.

[seanfhear]

they lost the plot too easily last night and if they had concentrated on playing football they would have won imo. when they got going late in the game they looked far more dangerous than England.They liked better when they gave it a go . Rodriquez would have made a big difference if he was fit and protected by the ref . 4 Years ago the Brazilians thought he was dangerous enough to kick him throughout the game and got away with it .

Brazil are somewhat better this time but not miles better .