Football

[The_Train]

There is something I quite like about Uruguay. They are definitely not pretty on the eye but their resilience, organisation and work ethic is superb. The story of their manager suffering some sort of degenerative illness and still leading his nation is pretty heart warming as well.

As for Portugal, they looked devoid of ideas with regards to breaking Uruguay down and and their star man played, at times, as though he was the only player in a Portugal shirt

 

[VauxhallandI]

Good couple of games today.

Has anyone thought that the rest of this side of the draw were celebrating when England ended up in it rather than Belgium?

 

[Mag_seven]

The World Cup "proper" started today.

 

[DarloRich]

Don't cry 4-3 Argentina!

Intresting little factoid: Emile Heskey has scored more world cup knock out goals than Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi combined.

Heskey. More. Goals.

 

[Iskra]

There is something I quite like about Uruguay. They are definitely not pretty on the eye but their resilience, organisation and work ethic is superb. The story of their manager suffering some sort of degenerative illness and still leading his nation is pretty heart warming as well.

As for Portugal, they looked devoid of ideas with regards to breaking Uruguay down and and their star man played, at times, as though he was the only player in a Portugal shirt

Completely agree with all this post. Uruguay were also very clinical going forward.

 

[The_Train]

Completely agree with all this post. Uruguay were also very clinical going forward.

Indeed they were. Their style means that they will create limited opportunities so they need to be clinical with their few chances. I guess having ruthless strikers like Cavani and Suarez up top helps

 

[Cowley]

Completely agree with all this post. Uruguay were also very clinical going forward.

Letting one goal in in four games could take them a long way.
Tomorrow being:

Spain v Russia
Croatia v Denmark

Does anyone think Russia or Denmark have any chance whatsoever in those ties?

 

[richw]

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


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

Safe from that bogey team!

Arguably can’t exit at the semis as get to return for the third place match!

Don't cry 4-3 Argentina!

Intresting little factoid: Emile Heskey has scored more world cup knock out goals than Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi combined.

Heskey. More. Goals.

Was Heskey record as made out, 1 goal in every 5 games roughly is far from bad!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Letting one goal in in four games could take them a long way.
Tomorrow being:

Spain v Russia
Croatia v Denmark

Does anyone think Russia or Denmark have any chance whatsoever in those ties?

Any chance whatsoever? Absolutely- shocks happen. That's one of the reasons football is the biggest sport worldwide.

Very much of a chance? Absolutely not!

 

[Cowley]

Any chance whatsoever? Absolutely- shocks happen. That's one of the reasons football is the biggest sport worldwide.

Very much of a chance? Absolutely not!

You’ve summed it up there 61653.
Which match could most likely provide an upset? Probably neither, but a bit of me would quite like to see Russia stay in for one more round...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You’ve summed it up there 61653.
Which match could most likely provide an upset? Probably neither, but a bit of me would quite like to see Russia stay in for one more round...

I'm hoping that Denmark will pull a shock off, simply because their squad includes Town's Matthias "Zanka" Jørgensen and Jonas Lössl... on the other hand, don't want any injuries or for them to make TOO much of a name for themselves. Not that Lössl will play unless something happens to Schmeichel.

As long as the games are entertaining though, I don't really mind. I like the underdogs to do well usually but as long as we get the drama of a shootout in one game (note NOT England's!) this round I'll be happy.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Interesting to note that in the first two matches of the "knockout" stages, the side that finished top of their group stage beat the side that finished second in their group stage.

 

[DarloRich]

Bye bye bye Ronaldo ( apologies T.Jones)


(and he was booked for diving!)

 

[SS4]

(and he was booked for diving!)

I thought it was dissent. Either way is remains the biggest shock at the world cup so far

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I thought it was dissent. Either way is remains the biggest shock at the world cup so far

Think it was dissent, after Quaresma was denied a free-kick. Couldn't tell if Quaresma also got booked for diving, as CR7 lost his head pretty much straight away. If the ref had had a body-cam, I imagine the footage captured wouldn't be dissimilar to Diego Maradona's infamous cocaine-fuelled celebration at USA '94.

 

[DarloRich]

So after the excitement of yesterday who is for 2 x 0-0 draws today...............

I thought it was dissent. Either way is remains the biggest shock at the world cup so far

Think it was dissent, after Quaresma was denied a free-kick. Couldn't tell if Quaresma also got booked for diving, as CR7 lost his head pretty much straight away. If the ref had had a body-cam, I imagine the footage captured wouldn't be dissimilar to Diego Maradona's infamous cocaine-fuelled celebration at USA '94.

It seems one cant have everything. Never mind.

 

[EM2]

Looks like Iniesta, Thiago and Carvajal dropped for Spain.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looks like Iniesta, Thiago and Carvajal dropped for Spain.

You don't often see the name Iniesta and the word "dropped" in the same comparative sentence

 

[SS4]

So after the excitement of yesterday who is for 2 x 0-0 draws today...............

Extra time and penalties are always fun for the neutral. Whilst Spain Russia is currently 1-1 at half time the former are certainly known for passing the ball 50 times and getting nowhere

Also I don't know why they're debating the handball leading to Russia's penalty, it was clearly handball

 

[DarloRich]

A clear and silly hand ball.

 

[BlueFox]

penalties are always fun for the neutral.

I hate penalties, even if I don't care who wins.
I always end up feeling sorry for the poor player who misses the decisive penalty and takes the blame for the defeat. I'd rather they found a way to do it that was based on positive play, rather than failing to score a penalty.

 

[Antman]

I hate penalties, even if I don't care who wins.
I always end up feeling sorry for the poor player who misses the decisive penalty and takes the blame for the defeat. I'd rather they found a way to do it that was based on positive play, rather than failing to score a penalty.

I don't mind pens and I think Russia would have settled for that at the outset.

 

[Mag_seven]

I hate penalties, even if I don't care who wins.

Look away now!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Penalties. Great drama if your team isn't involved!

Also, glad the stupid ABBA experiment has been shelved.

 

[AlterEgo]

Russia ahead in the shootout.

 

[BlueFox]

Does anyone think Russia or Denmark have any chance whatsoever in those ties?

I do.

 

[Domh245]

Spain out!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

¡Adios, España!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Sergio Ramos crying. Excellent.

 

[Cowley]

Bonkers World Cup. Absolutely loving it.