World cup thread

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:30 pm

F...me it's the mo salah show.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:38 pm

Almost every game so far has had a penalty. Are referees too soft perhaps?

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:42 pm

Murphy says “Smolov takes one for the team”
3-1 up, 7 mins to go!in Egypts half. I hope he ends up missing a big game.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:44 pm

Haven't most penalties been awarded by VAR,not by the on field officials.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:44 pm

Salah 1 season wonder? I think so

4:20 · Post by **4:20** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:49 pm

Shame about his shoulder though, can't be at 100% surely

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:49 pm

Some quarters said it was a fix when Russia got the easiest group with teams currently ranked 14, 45 & 67 but they have easily seen off 45 & 67 and 14 doesn’t matter. They are deservedly through.

duncandisorderly · Post by **duncandisorderly** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:04 pm

Russia have played well so far, but wait until the knock outs/quarters before denying the fix. Korea and Japan was borderline farcical in the latter stages don't forget.

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:21 pm

I said.

Polish football fans on a rampage in Moscow. Police say over 300 cars have been washed,waxed and hoovered".

duncandisorderly · Post by **duncandisorderly** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:02 pm

South West Claret. wrote:I said.

Polish football fans on a rampage in Moscow. Police say over 300 cars have been washed,waxed and hoovered".

We know what you said. It wasn't funny then. It's not funny now, and, unless they actually used Hoovers, which I doubt, they vacuumed.

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:07 pm

duncandisorderly wrote:We know what you said. It wasn't funny then. It's not funny now, and, unless they actually used Hoovers, which I doubt, they vacuumed.

Miserable git alert.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:10 pm

Russia get Spain or Portugal next

Been great so far though, but it will be interesting how they do against Uruguay.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 11:30 pm

KRBFC wrote:Japan have always been the best Asian team though and they were against 10 men from the start. I'm not saying lets kick all the Asian teams out, I think they should change the format and from the 2 groups of 12 in Asia, give the 2 group winners auto qualification and 2nd and 3rd from both groups added into the playoff round.

How did the bottom ranked team in the tournament get on tonight against africas most succesful ever nation?

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 11:39 pm

What's the goal tally so far this World Cup?

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:48 am

cricketfieldclarets wrote:How did the bottom ranked team in the tournament get on tonight against africas most succesful ever nation?

A European team? Host nation? A team that is currently the lowest ranked they have ever been, a false ranking probably dictated by the fact they haven't had to play any competitive games in how long? given they don't have to qualify for the World Cup they host. I wasn't shocked Russia won at all, infact I expected them to win that game.

Egypt's history has absolutely nothing to do with their performance in this years World Cup, they have only qualified 2 times for the World Cup, I'd argue the fact Egypt are Africa's most successful team when Cameroon have qualified for the World Cup 7 times.

I don't actually understand the point you're making, Egypt fully deserve to be there, the African national teams are actually strong, they always have been strong teams. Ghana and Ivory Coast in recent years have had good players. Ghana lost to Uruguay in 2010 World Cup 1/4 final on penalties, The Africa region is super competitive and I have no problem with African teams attending.

My problem was there is 4 automatic qualification spots given to Asian teams and 2 playoff spots, the Asian pool simply isn't strong enough to warrant 4 spots handed out. Infact I would rather they were given 2 and give 2 extras to the African national teams to fight over to make it a stronger more competitive World Cup in the group stages.

For a bit of understanding:

- there are 12 Asian teams, 4 of them given auto qualification, 2 of them make the playoffs.
- there are 20 African teams, 5 of them given auto qualification, 0 playoff spots.

Given the difference in quality between the two regions, how is it fair less African teams get a chance to qualify when there are more African teams? Ghana and Egypt got drawn into the same qualifying group and only 1 of them can go through meanwhile in Asia, 2 of Korea, Iran, UAE, Syria, China and Uzbekistan qualify from group automatically and 1 is into playoff round. It's a broken format.

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 1:04 am

KRBFC wrote:A European team? Host nation? A team that is currently the lowest ranked they have ever been, a false ranking probably dictated by the fact they haven't had to play any competitive games in how long? given they don't have to qualify for the World Cup they host. I wasn't shocked Russia won at all, infact I expected them to win that game.

Egypt's history has absolutely nothing to do with their performance in this years World Cup, they have only qualified 2 times for the World Cup, I'd argue the fact Egypt are Africa's most successful team when Cameroon have qualified for the World Cup 7 times.

I don't actually understand the point you're making, Egypt fully deserve to be there, the African national teams are actually strong, they always have been strong teams. Ghana and Ivory Coast in recent years have had good players. Ghana lost to Uruguay in 2010 World Cup 1/4 final on penalties, The Africa region is super competitive and I have no problem with African teams attending.

My problem was there is 4 automatic qualification spots given to Asian teams and 2 playoff spots, the Asian pool simply isn't strong enough to warrant 4 spots handed out. Infact I would rather they were given 2 and give 2 extras to the African national teams to fight over to make it a stronger more competitive World Cup in the group stages.

For a bit of understanding:

- there are 12 Asian teams, 4 of them given auto qualification, 2 of them make the playoffs.
- there are 20 African teams, 5 of them given auto qualification, 0 playoff spots.

Given the difference in quality between the two regions, how is it fair less African teams get a chance to qualify when there are more African teams? Ghana and Egypt got drawn into the same qualifying group and only 1 of them can go through meanwhile in Asia, 2 of Korea, Iran, UAE, Syria, China and Uzbekistan qualify from group automatically and 1 is into playoff round. It's a broken format.

looked at this, saw the length and thought "it's him, it'll only be a crock of ****" so didnt bother reading

Ty for the effort tho

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:51 am

starting_11 wrote:looked at this, saw the length and thought "it's him, it'll only be a crock of ****" so didnt bother reading

Ty for the effort tho

Pathetic comment to be honest.
The point KRBFC made was in response to a debate around qualifying nations. Everything he said seems very valid to me and it’s hard to argue he is anything but spot on that their seems to be a big discrepancy between Asia and Africa which is hard to justify.
The only reason of course that this injustice exists is the respective GDP and wealth of the respective continents. When you have countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, UAE lobbying for more places from Asia it’s not hard to see how FIFA officials have been “persuaded” to give them an unfair number of places.

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:11 am

TVC15 wrote:Pathetic comment to be honest.
The point KRBFC made was in response to a debate around qualifying nations. Everything he said seems very valid to me and it’s hard to argue he is anything but spot on that their seems to be a big discrepancy between Asia and Africa which is hard to justify.
The only reason of course that this injustice exists is the respective GDP and wealth of the respective continents. When you have countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, UAE lobbying for more places from Asia it’s not hard to see how FIFA officials have been “persuaded” to give them an unfair number of places.

Oh noes.... It's YOU again!

Shore claret · Post by **Shore claret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:18 am

TVC15 wrote:Pathetic comment to be honest.
The point KRBFC made was in response to a debate around qualifying nations. Everything he said seems very valid to me and it’s hard to argue he is anything but spot on that their seems to be a big discrepancy between Asia and Africa which is hard to justify.
The only reason of course that this injustice exists is the respective GDP and wealth of the respective continents. When you have countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, UAE lobbying for more places from Asia it’s not hard to see how FIFA officials have been “persuaded” to give them an unfair number of places.

septic Blatter has done everything he can for African football in his tenure, they couldn't of been given any more help.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:55 am

starting_11 wrote:Oh noes.... It's YOU again!

Aye - I see you are still spouting the same sh-ite.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:59 am

Shore claret wrote:septic Blatter has done everything he can for African football in his tenure, they couldn't of been given any more help.

except more places than Asia ?
Both continents got the World Cup. What else did Africa get over and above the dodgy deals and backhanders that Blatter gave out and took indiscriminately across the world ?

Shore claret · Post by **Shore claret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:46 am

TVC15 wrote:except more places than Asia ?
Both continents got the World Cup. What else did Africa get over and above the dodgy deals and backhanders that Blatter gave out and took indiscriminately across the world ?

according to the program I watched a phenomenal amount of money.

South West Claret. · Post by **South West Claret.** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:08 pm

Well after seeing all the teams so far I think Senegal have impressed me the most (not that I think they’re win it) but their energy and positive attitude to the game.

Also generally pleased with the general quality of the teams with the exception of the awful challenges that seem to go on and on without the refs giving fouls and booking more players. Yellow and red cards are the only way they will learn right from wrong.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 1:20 pm

Welcome to the Ronaldo show again

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:47 pm

Ronaldo dived to try and get a penalty. Yes there was contact and Ronaldo seemed to think that’s all there needs to be as he called for a VAR review. He should be booked for diving then booked for demanding VAR.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:59 pm

No need for a new thread 'of it's own':

Stuart Pearce was asked today for his ' Dark Horse' prediction, he said: Morocco!

Morocco! He did say it, honestly.

See what I did here, World Cup related, so popped it on the World Cup thread.

KRBFC wrote:I watched them recently against Slovakia(full strength aren't a bad side), they were excellent and made Slovakia look awful, they haven't lost in 18 games. I think they could cause a lot of surprises but definitely won't win the tournament.

First team out.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:19 pm

Diesel wrote:No need for a new thread 'of it's own':

Stuart Pearce was asked today for his ' Dark Horse' prediction, he said: Morocco!

Morocco! He did say it, honestly.

See what I did here, World Cup related, so popped it on the World Cup thread.

First team out.

Yeah surprised, I thought they were the better team in both games just couldn't put the ball in the net.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:39 pm

I hate Portugal. Every nasty trick in the book and boring.

And before anybody comes back with what about the Spain match.. they scored a pen, a FK and a pea roller that Mrs. Broke would have saved.

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:46 pm

Suarez will have this Saudi defence for breakfast

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:22 pm

Well, it’s been a joy to watch Uruguayans rolling around feigning injury at every opportunity.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:36 pm

Neville says Uruguay are trying to go further than they’ve ever been before!
They’ve only won it twice.

Ashingtonclaret46 · Post by **Ashingtonclaret46** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:38 pm

Claret wrote:Well, it’s been a joy to watch Uruguayans rolling around feigning injury at every opportunity.

They had obviously been watching Portugal earlier in the afternoon! If Morocco had had a striker they would have walked that match and the Saudis have had a similar afternoon.
Could be that both Portugal and Uruguay are playing well within themselves --but I don't think so.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:56 pm

piston broke wrote:Neville says Uruguay are trying to go further than they’ve ever been before!
They’ve only won it twice.

f'kin female commentators/pundits

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:26 pm

They might as well play the Egypt - Saudi Arabia game at the airport.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 6:44 pm

FactualFrank wrote:They might as well play the Egypt - Saudi Arabia game at the airport.

The Saudi's were just awful, embarrassing they're deemed good enough to make the World Cup group stage ahead of competitive sides like Chile & Italy.

Imploding Turtle · Post by **Imploding Turtle** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:05 pm

Are vuvuzelas back?

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:12 pm

KRBFC wrote:The Saudi's were just awful, embarrassing they're deemed good enough to make the World Cup group stage ahead of competitive sides like Chile & Italy.

Do you know how qualification works?

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:15 pm

Gareth Southgate dislocates shoulder out running, or falling.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:23 pm

Imploding Turtle wrote:Are vuvuzelas back?

They were back at the very start of the tournament

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:33 pm

Look at the state of this game, disgraceful mismatch with 1 team not even trying to leave their own half let alone create a chance to score.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:34 pm

KRBFC wrote:Look at the state of this game, disgraceful mismatch with 1 team not even trying to leave their own half let alone create a chance to score.

It’s like Man City v Chelsea from last season.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:35 pm

piston broke wrote:Gareth Southgate dislocates shoulder out running, or falling.

That definitely made me chuckle when they told us that.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:36 pm

Woooo they won a corner kick lets all celebrate

TonbridgeClaret · Post by **TonbridgeClaret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:36 pm

Can we please sign up the two Iranian centre backs! Should be a lot cheaper than other alternatives and they certainly defend the Burnley way.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:37 pm

KRBFC wrote:Woooo they won a corner

Meat pie.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:39 pm

KRBFC wrote:
Egypt's history has absolutely nothing to do with their performance in this years World Cup

And neither does the history of Italy or Holland (or anyone elses for that matter Chile et al) who arent good enough to qualify.

I dont now what the issue is. IF anything its The South Americans and Europeans who have too many teams there.

Its a world cup. Its not the best teams in the world cup.

Asia have 5 representatives there. Or around 8% of all of their teams who entered qualifying. That includes Australia which makes it even harder for them as Australia dont enter the Oceania qualifiers.

Africa have 5 also. But thats closer to 10% of those who entered the qualifiers.

North America have 3. Again less than 9%.

Then you have Europe - 13 (26%) and South America who have 5 of their 10 entrants (50%!!!) there.

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:39 pm

Look at the state of this horses**t timewasting before half time, disgusting

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:39 pm

Imploding Turtle wrote:Are vuvuzelas back?

Bloody nuisance.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:40 pm

Does anyone else get the feeling that the ref has a dose of small man syndrome?

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:42 pm

KRBFC wrote:Look at the state of this game, disgraceful mismatch with 1 team not even trying to leave their own half let alone create a chance to score.

If Spain cant break Iran down thats there problem. Its actually an intriguing game. Defence is as much part of the game as attack.

You may as well watch basketball if you want end to end goals.

Iran have defended phenomenally first half.

Spain should and probably will break them down. But excellent performance from Iran. If they get a 0-0 chances are they go through and spain go out. Why should they try anything else?