World Cup Russia 2018 Thread

Romi posted:

Germany will regroup and perform again in the future like they did in the past.  So will England have the mettle, balls or discipline to win the World Cup...?

Probably not but at least Southgate looks like he chose his haircut and wardrobe from this decade.

Bob the Builder posted:

thebigfredc posted:

thebigfredc posted:

"Ozil has caught Rooneys/Owens disease where you burst onto the scene as a youngster and then decline with every season."

 

 

You and everyone else who dismisses Mesut Ozil should know their football and check the stats because each and every season since coming to the Premier League he has had the most assists and made the most goals,  more than Salah,  more than Mane more than Ali, more than Sanchez, more than Silva, De Bruyne, more than anyone in that respect he is second to none.

His job is to make goals not charge around the pitch making tackles, tracking back or winning the ball back and that is what he does better than anyone else in the Premier League and that is why Arsenal sold Alexi Sanchez but broke their pay structure and their rules to keep him.

He is King of the Assists.

Ozil is a class player, Rooney was a class player, likewise Owen, to say they declined every season is somewhat harsh to say the least.....you might as well add Maradona’s name to the list, and Pele, ......

usually when they burst on the scene they are in their late teens......  as they mature they adapt their game accordingly..... it’s not brain surgery 

Excuse me but the words Rooney and class don't belong in the same sentence. He has a criminal conviction for drink driving for a start.

Anyway my point is that he was the main reason we did well in Euros 2004 and similarly Owen in France 1998. They were both teenagers and had their best seasons shortly afterwards but then for various reasons never went on to be great.

They should have peaked at about aged 27 like Keegan did.

Romi posted:

So will England have the mettle, balls or discipline to win the World Cup...?

Nope, And what’s worse, we can’t use the usual excuse that we lost to Germany on penalties! ????

MDS posted:

Sorry I didn't see this afternoon's games. Stunning combination of results. Selfishly, and given England's poor track record against them, I'm pleased to see Germany go out, but there's a bit of me that's sorry to see the holders go out so early.  ????That said, given the unsportsmanlike behaviour by some of the German players towards the Swedish bench after Kroos' wonderful last-gasp goal at the end of their group game it's sweet to see Sweden go through.????  

???? MDS,....Thanks for that,..as you understand so I agree with you ????????????.

Peder????

thebigfredc posted:

Excuse me but the words Rooney and class don't belong in the same sentence. He has a criminal conviction for drink driving for a start.

Anyway my point is that he was the main reason we did well in Euros 2004 and similarly Owen in France 1998. They were both teenagers and had their best seasons shortly afterwards but then for various reasons never went on to be great.

They should have peaked at about aged 27 like Keegan did.

As Brian Clough once said, if we were to sit down and discuss this we would end up realising I’m right...

Peder posted:

MDS posted:

Sorry I didn't see this afternoon's games. Stunning combination of results. Selfishly, and given England's poor track record against them, I'm pleased to see Germany go out, but there's a bit of me that's sorry to see the holders go out so early.  ????That said, given the unsportsmanlike behaviour by some of the German players towards the Swedish bench after Kroos' wonderful last-gasp goal at the end of their group game it's sweet to see Sweden go through.????  

???? MDS,....Thanks for that,..as you understand so I agree with you ????????????.

Peder????

Yes well deserved for Sweden...

Bob the Builder posted:

Well I for one am sad the Germans have gone out because you want the best players and the best teams to be playing in the later stages of the World Cup.

Not really. I like to see the over-actors, the cheats, the tediously efficient and the same old same old get their comeuppance, so Argentina nearly going out and Germany actually failing is great from where I sit. One of the best games of the tournament so far was Switzerland v Serbia last Friday. BIgger teams tend to live down to expectations, much like the biggest Prem League games tend to be sterile affairs where both cancel each other out.

Germany out? Superb.

jfritzen posted:

thebigfredc posted:

thebigfredc posted:

Muller, van Hummells, Noyer, Gomez are past their best plus Shweinsteigger and Lalm have retiredi. Ozil has caught Rooneys/Owens disease where you burst onto the scene as a youngster and then decline with every season.

Hence my prediction on page 2 of the Germans not making it as far as the last 4. It would fill me with great joy to see them go out on penalties.

Well I got most of the above right.

Great to see the back of those cheats Muller and Neuyor.

And hopefully that is the end of 80s porn star with a crash helmet haircut manager.

Ray

Why so much hatred? It's only the World Cup. And we won it 2014, 1990, 1974, 1954. Your turn.

 

Germany have been probably the most consistent team ever, their record is second to none, all countries would love to have had their success, 

They will regroup and be successful again, that’s a given.

Any comment to the contrary should just be ignored 

Bob, Don't rise to it. You're better than that mate. We know you are a Gooner.

Christopher_M posted:

Bob, Don't rise to it. You're better than that mate. We know you are a Gooner.

You are right of course Chris.

Could I ask members to please tone down the show of schadenfreude with regard to the unfortunate recent events for certain teams in this world cup tournament. Remember that this is an international forum (so please consider the feelings of some members here) and of course, fate is cruel.  Thanks.

jfritzen posted:

thebigfredc posted:

thebigfredc posted:

Muller, van Hummells, Noyer, Gomez are past their best plus Shweinsteigger and Lalm have retiredi. Ozil has caught Rooneys/Owens disease where you burst onto the scene as a youngster and then decline with every season.

Hence my prediction on page 2 of the Germans not making it as far as the last 4. It would fill me with great joy to see them go out on penalties.

Well I got most of the above right.

Great to see the back of those cheats Muller and Neuyor.

And hopefully that is the end of 80s porn star with a crash helmet haircut manager.

Ray

Why so much hatred? It's only the World Cup. And we won it 2014, 1990, 1974, 1954. Your turn.

 

Same for us,four times 2006,1982,1938,1934.That's we didn't want to even qualify...

"That's why",sorry

Fabio 1

I for one am missing Italy at the World Cup finals.

We happened to be in Viarragio, Italy for the last Euros and it was good fun. Our youngest is an Inter Milan fan and so we usually support Italy once Engerland have been eliminated. I always enjoy Germany losing though and yesterday was particularly ingratiating as Noyeur scrambled around in the wrong half for Korea's second goal.

Ray

Strange quote of the Belgian coach “winning is not a priority”

The first team to qualify on the fair play rules was Japan who were on equal points and goal difference with Senegal but qualified because they had less bookings in the tournament and aware of this Japan apparently decided to just not play at all and spent the last 15 minutes or so in their match with Poland avoiding any physical contact.

Well a big test for England this evening especially because win or lose they have quite a favourable draw against either Japan or Colombia  and so all that is at stake is pride and the ever growing tide of support back home in England.

I liked the English supporters singing. Gives good atmosphere.

Not a bad game for a dead-rubber. I don't think Southgate will be changing his mind about his preferred starting eleven.  For me the two main factors in England's display tonight compared to the first two games was (a) Trippier's   better quality delivery from free kicks and corners and (b) Kane's more clinical finishing.  That said I was pleased to see young Alexander-Arnold get a game. What an unbelievable season the lad has had.    

The result wasn't hugely important, but I didn't buy into this idea of playing towards selecting one's opponent in the next round.

Belgium played at a level above us, yet seemed well within their capabilities, and we were able only to create some scruffy chances,

which we were unable to take.

Something of a reality check for Engerland this evening, I felt. 

The second eleven desperately needed a game to keep match fit and sharp. I thought Rose and Rashford did enough to oust Young and Sterling for the Columbia game.

The game felt like a friendly, no real desire to commit..... I don’t think anyone played so well they are in contention for a place in the first team.

To end up playing Columbia then either the Swiss or the Sweds to get to a semi-final is in my mind a great outcome.... if we are going to progress it’s definitely the preferred route.

The only real negative was Pickfords performance, i think he had a poor game? 

Felt sorry for Vardy. He gives Leicester so many options and his pace scares defenders, but in a side set up to play like England do he hardly gets a kick. Sad to say but his international career might be over before it starts after this WC finishes.

G Neville made a good point before I switched it off; facing a path that contains Colombia, Sweden, Switzerland and then potentially Denmark & Croatia has to be more appealing than France, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Portugal & Uruguay, all of whom seem to beat England quite regularly in tourno football.. 

I thought Jordon Pickford had a terrible game from almost fumbling the ball and gifting them an early goal to repeatedly keep pushing the ball back into his own area it won't matter who we play now if he keeps doing that we will concede.  Falcao, James and Cuadrado will be licking their lips after watching that.