Football

[AlterEgo]

This World Cup is full of entertainment (and may I say the refereeing is generally very good) - but the quality hasn’t shone yet. The best team are Brazil and as others have pointed out they are rather fragile at the back. Neymar is apparently a prima donna and there’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing big egos crash.

Talking of big egos, I loved Maradona’s re-enactment of the Passion of the Christ in the stands with two minders holding him back at the balcony the other day. Worth tuning in alone.

 

[adrock1976]

My prediction will be for England to bow out at the semi-final stage against its bogey team Portugal on the dreaded penalty shootout.

I was thinking about the hypothetical scenario should if England win the tournament, they would most likely bow out at the end of the group stage in 2022. France (1998), bowed out in 2002, Italy (2006) bowed out in 2010, Spain (2010) bowed out in 2014, and Germany (2014) bowed out in 2018.

Perhaps it would be best to exit the tournament at the semi-final stage?

 

[Old Yard Dog]

GERMANY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This. Does. Not. Happen.

Do not mention the VAR!

(great headline in today's Daily Mail)

 

[Cowley]

It’s quite a strange feeling going into the last group game without loads of pressure on us.
I don’t know how far we’ll go in this but at least it’s felt better than the last couple and there’s the makings of a decent squad, that isn’t trying to cram big names into the team just because of who they are.

 

[Busaholic]

Going into the last 16 should be a lottery, once you've got there i.e. there should be a draw, as in the F.A. Cup. with any of the sixteen having a possibility of playing any other in the group. It matters not whether two teams have already met each other, as will happen occasionally. Any other method leads to possible manipulation, of which both teams tonight will doubtless be accused unless there's a rout.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Going into the last 16 should be a lottery, once you've got there i.e. there should be a draw, as in the F.A. Cup. with any of the sixteen having a possibility of playing any other in the group. It matters not whether two teams have already met each other, as will happen occasionally. Any other method leads to possible manipulation, of which both teams tonight will doubtless be accused unless there's a rout.

Though if you remove the incentive to finish second, you're also removing the incentive to finish first- so even if you're adopting a draw you might want some sort of seeding.

I think there ought to be a two-day gap between the second and third round of group games, as I'm becoming fatigued with the games now!

 

[Butts]

England second string lose 1-0 to Belgium reserves, Columbia in the last 16 next on Tuesday.

Can England beat them ?

 

[Butts]

England second string lose 1-0 to Belgium reserves, Columbia in the last 16 next on Tuesday.

Can England beat them ?

Is the concern expressed about Pickford justified ?

At least the VAR had a rest tonight

 

[DarloRich]

Lots of debate about easy sides of the draw and other nonsense. This is England. We could have Andorra, San Marino and Luxembourg in the way between us and the finals and we would still cock it up some how. On penalties

lets just take each game in turn. The first goal was to win a game. The second was to qualify from the group. The third is to win a knock out round game.

 

[Cowley]

Lots of debate about easy sides of the draw and other nonsense. This is England. We could have Andorra, San Marino and Luxembourg in the way between us and the finals and we would still cock it up some how. On penalties

lets just take each game in turn. The first goal was to win a game. The second was to qualify from the group. The third is to win a knock out round game.

Absolutely, and at least that game has calmed some of pundits on the radio down.

 

[Antman]

Absolutely, and at least that game has calmed some of pundits on the radio down.

Has it? It seems to have given the doubters more ammunition, had we won they would say it's only because Belgium weren't bothered.

 

[DarloRich]

Absolutely, and at least that game has calmed some of pundits on the radio down.

Agreed - a useful dose of realism.

Has it? It seems to have given the doubters more ammunition, had we won they would say it's only because Belgium weren't bothered.

As England fans we tend to take a fatalistic approach. Most of the time we are embarrassingly rubbish with a tendency to cock things up in new and exciting ways. Our standard outlook is to expect defeat.

 

[Antman]

Going into the last 16 should be a lottery, once you've got there i.e. there should be a draw, as in the F.A. Cup. with any of the sixteen having a possibility of playing any other in the group. It matters not whether two teams have already met each other, as will happen occasionally. Any other method leads to possible manipulation, of which both teams tonight will doubtless be accused unless there's a rout.

I would suggest a seeded draw for the last 16 with winners in one pot and runners up in the other with the proviso that teams from the same group can't be drawn together and then an open draw for the quarter and semi finals.

 

[DarloRich]

Going into the last 16 should be a lottery, once you've got there i.e. there should be a draw, as in the F.A. Cup. with any of the sixteen having a possibility of playing any other in the group. It matters not whether two teams have already met each other, as will happen occasionally. Any other method leads to possible manipulation, of which both teams tonight will doubtless be accused unless there's a rout.

I would suggest a seeded draw for the last 16 with winners in one pot and runners up in the other with the proviso that teams from the same group can't be drawn together and then an open draw for the quarter and semi finals.

That isnt going to be popular with FIFA. The current system is designed to allow the "better" teams to avoid each other until the later stages. They don't want Brazil v Spain in round two.

it isnt as if duff games are a modern thing. We have only had two bad ones this tournament with one (Eng v Bel) occurring because of a favoured team crashing out and others doing less well than expected. None have been as bad as the infamous 1982 game between West Germany & Austria which is known as the "Disgrace of Gijón" - look it out.

 

[Antman]

Agreed - a useful dose of realism.



As England fans we tend to take a fatalistic approach. Most of the time we are embarrassingly rubbish with a tendency to cock things up in new and exciting ways. Our standard outlook is to expect defeat.

I just think enjoy it while it lasts, we probably won't win it but who thought Leicester City would win the league.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

The 2018/19 season started this week, arguably before the 2017/18 season has ended. However this has gone unnoticed by the BBC. Their fixtures and results pages failed to report the first leg ties of matches of Bala Town and Cefn Druids in the Europa League.

But no doubt these PC luvvies will soon be ramming women's football down our throats again.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if all the supporters of those other countries who finished second in their group of four stage are now arguing as to how far their teams will progress to the later stages of World Cup 2018, using the same reasonings expressed by the supporters of the England team.

 

[EM2]

The 2018/19 season started this week, arguably before the 2017/18 season has ended. However this has gone unnoticed by the BBC. Their fixtures and results pages failed to report the first leg ties of matches of Bala Town and Cefn Druids in the Europa League.

Did they?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44617187

Cefn Druids were denied a first win in Europe by Lithuanian side Trakai's late goal in the first leg of their Europa League preliminary round tie.

James Davies gave Druids the lead early in the second half at New Saints' Park Hall Stadium in Oswestry.

But Donatas Kazlauskas brought the visitors level five minutes from time with a crucial away goal.

Druids travel to Lithuania for the second leg on Thursday, 5 July.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44616991

Bala Town must overcome a 3-0 deficit in their Europa League preliminary round second leg if they are to reach the first qualifying round.

Colin Caton's side were well beaten by the team from San Marino, with all three goals coming in the first half.

An own goal from Bala's Anthony Miley, Giacomo Pracucci's effort and Mirco Vassallo scoring did the damage.

 

[DarloRich]

I wonder if all the supporters of those other countries who finished second in their group of four stage are now arguing as to how far their teams will progress to the later stages of World Cup 2018, using the same reasonings expressed by the supporters of the England team.

Of course they are although they may be less conditioned to failure than England fans - that is what all football fans ( expect you) do: Make predictions!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Of course they are although they may be less conditioned to failure than England fans - that is what all football fans ( expect you) do: Make predictions!

It is the warped "logic" used when such predictions are made that is faulty, otherwise in the days of Littlewoods, Vernons, Zetters and their football coupon methodology, those "pools companies" would have all entered into Liquidation in a very short space of time.

Anyway, since we are both followers of the more-honest non-league football, I will grant you that there is as much spectator speculation between the supporters of both Darlington and of Hyde United as there would be between the supporters of Chelsea and of Tottenham Hotspur, that too would be based upon the same "warped" logic. Incidentally, can you clarify what you mean by the phrase "expect you" shown in round brackets in the posting above is supposed to imply? Some arcane reference to Lord Kitchener, perchance?

To couple your two "pet hates", how would you feel if Salford City suddenly obtained the playing services of a certain C. Ronaldo from Portugal..

 

[gnolife]

The 2018/19 season started this week, arguably before the 2017/18 season has ended. However this has gone unnoticed by the BBC. Their fixtures and results pages failed to report the first leg ties of matches of Bala Town and Cefn Druids in the Europa League.

But no doubt these PC luvvies will soon be ramming women's football down our throats again.

Shame that Cefn let in a cheap goal against Trakai - I think that Trakai will punish any attempt to play offensively, which they obviously need to do to avoid going out on away goals

 

[greyman42]

I would suggest a seeded draw for the last 16 with winners in one pot and runners up in the other with the proviso that teams from the same group can't be drawn together and then an open draw for the quarter and semi finals.

That makes a lot of sense and the draws themselves would create great drama.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Did they?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44617187

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44616991

The Europa league fixtures & results weren't and aren't accessible from BBC page 302 on my TV.

Maybe they've got cold feet because a couple of years ago, when they did feature the early stages of the Champions and Europa leagues, I complained to them about their laziness in failing to differentiate between FC Santa Coloma and UE Santa Coloma who were competing in the Europa league on the same day.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Something of a relief yesterday, with no World Cup matches being played.

 

[Cowley]

Uruguay not an easy team to score against.
I don’t see Portugal turning this around.
(Well they might do now I’ve made a prediction of course)

 

[Cowley]

. I really mustn’t make predictions. 1-1 literally ten seconds after I posted.

I predict that England have no chance in this World Cup whatsoever...

 

[Cowley]

2-1 to Uruguay. Lightening quick counter attack finished beautifully by Cavani. Turning into a good game now.

 

[DarloRich]

What a day. Argentina and Portugal out! Bye.

 

[507021]

2-1 to Uruguay. Lightening quick counter attack finished beautifully by Cavani. Turning into a good game now.

I enjoyed that game too, Cavani's second goal was excellent.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

What a day. Argentina and Portugal out! Bye.

GOAT curry.

Or seeing as we're in Russia, GOAT borscht.

Would've liked it to go to pens though, I like a shoot-out if England aren't involved!