2018 FIFA World Cup Finals

[Touring Mars]

Justice was done - Denmark were pretty uninspired as usual, and only survived to get to the penalty shoot-out by effectively cheating (see above)...

Croatia were equally disappointing - they've been so much better, but credit to Denmark for shutting them down.

I don't understand how most (if not all) of those penalty saves were not disallowed though - both keepers were well off their lines before the kicks were taken (including the save during the game)...

 

[Dennisch]

I don't understand how most (if not all) of those penalty saves were not disallowed though - both keepers were well off their lines before the kicks were taken

I can't even remember the last time that rule was enforced.

 

[ASH32]

I can't even remember the last time that rule was enforced.

True, it happens sometimes in the English Premier League (and likely other leagues) but not always though. In this World Cup it seems like it doesn't exist and everyone can come off their line as much as they want to.

 

[Touring Mars]

Slavan Bilic looks pretty pissed off! He's a pundit for ITV in the UK, but they just showed some 'highlights' of his reactions to the game, and he doesn't look very impressed - he even said 'Why are you showing this? No, seriously..." and looked pretty grumpy when the camera cut back to him. In fact, he seemed to be in a pretty bad mood throughout the game and seemed irritated by Martin O'Neill (ok, understandable...) and some of the discussions at half time...

 

[dacc10]

If England ever had a chance to reach the final, it's in this World Cup. With Spain out of that side, I don't see many teams now candidates to the title.

 

[Bram Turismo]

If England ever had a chance to reach the final, it's in this World Cup. With Spain out of that side, I don't see many teams now candidates to the title.

So far, I'd say the most complete team has been Uruguay. Other than them, there hasn't been an impressive showing as of yet.

 

[Famine]

If England ever had a chance to reach the final, it's in this World Cup. With Spain out of that side, I don't see many teams now candidates to the title.

Colombia are... okay - England really should be beating them, as skin-of-their-teeth qualifiers. Croatia were quite fearsome in some group stage games. Sweden only just lost to Germany and will be hard for anyone to break down. Switzerland are ranked 6th. And then Russia is at home.

 

[dacc10]

So far, I'd say the most complete team has been Uruguay. Other than them, there hasn't been an impressive showing as of yet.

Still Uruguay does not convince me one bit. We could win inside the 90 minutes if it wasn't for that Pepe mistake. Solid team for sure, but one strike of bad luck and they are out. Luckily for them they scored first and early in the match.

Colombia are... okay - England really should be beating them, as skin-of-their-teeth qualifiers. Croatia were quite fearsome in some group stage games. Sweden only just lost to Germany and will be hard for anyone to break down. Switzerland are ranked 6th. And then Russia is at home.

They are good teams, but not "great" per say. All the main candidates are stuck in the same side, so they will end up knocking each other's out, until one reaches the final. Not only that, but they will likely have more exhausting and fast paced games, while on the other side the games will be almost bland.

 

[TheOverdriver]

What’s going on here? Four of the worlds best teams fail to make the QFs?

Still, Amid all this chaos it’s a good time for teams like England Belgium and Croatia to capitalise on the failures of other teams

 

[adamp93]

The "weaker" side of the draw is making for some pretty tasty looking each way bets. Colombia 16-1 💡

 

[MoLiEG]

Over the years, I've seen several teams make their mark at the World Cup: USA, Costa Rica, Croatia, Turkey, South Corea (with LOTS of help and questionable decisions), list goes on...

I pray for this World Cup to be our turn to shine...

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Neymar puts Brazil 1-0 v Mexico.

 

[Woodybobs]

Yep - and Schmeichel was off his line too... yet no VAR!

I don't think VAR can be used in that situation. It's only for red cards/serious foul play, penalty decisions, offside decisions and infringements if a goal is scored, and mistaken identity. Using VAR to award the penalty to be retaken could be successfuly challenged unless FIFA have included it in the rule changes.

 

[Touring Mars]

Ochoa is keeping Mexico in this - two great saves, but Brazil are getting the better of the Mexican defence.

Willian is playing well for a change - his turn of pace in the box and cross set up Neymar's goal, and he could have had one himself now too.

I hope Mexico can find an extra gear from somewhere - they need it now!

 

[MoLiEG]

Well, we'll try again in Qatar...

 

[Robin]

A bit theatrical from Neymar but that definitely deserved some sort of card.

 

[Touring Mars]

Neymar has been shot... again.

Maybe the officials would be more inclined to take him more seriously if he didn't act like such a 🤬 all the time...

 

[MoLiEG]

Dear god Neymar...

Forget about the tie, just please, please, break him!

 

[Jimlaad43]

That is the kind of simulation that deserves retrospective bans for. Absolutely despicable.

 

[MoLiEG]

🤬

What a disgrace. They didn't even tried... se murieron de nada, AGAIN!!!

🤬

 

[andrea]

Only Neymar can score the winning goal for his country but make the bigger headlines for ridiculous and over-dramatic rolling around. If only such a talented player wasn't such a ****.

 

[MoLiEG]

Goodbye Vela, Guardado, Márquez, Chicharito, Ayala, Herrera, Layún, and the Dos Antos brothers. I don't want to see you in the National Team again...

 

[Woodybobs]

Mexico pushed them for 30 minutes, but a well deserved win for Brazil. They look a solid, well-balanced team with plenty of attacking threat.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Deserved win for Brazil.

 

[Dan_]

Only Neymar can score the winning goal for his country but make the bigger headlines for ridiculous and over-dramatic rolling around. If only such a talented player wasn't such a ****.

I assume you're talking about this specific moment, when he was fowled and rolled onto the sideline apparently without any reason to do so:


Miguel Layún stepped on this ankle, the very same he was nursing since the game against the swiss. He does have some childish antics, but always takes shots off the ball and the refs never get to see them, this was straight up criminal and should have been a direct red card.

Great match by Ochoa, phenomenal peformance by the keeper. Made this into a close game when in reality, it just wasn't.

 

[Michelin]

I assume you're talking about this specific moment, when he was fowled and rolled onto the sideline apparently without any reason to do so:


Miguel Layún stepped on this ankle, the very same he was nursing since the game against the swiss. He does have some childish antics, but always takes shots off the ball and the refs never get to see them, this was straight up criminal and should have been a direct red card.

Great match by Ochoa, phenomenal peformance by the keeper. Made this into a close game when in reality, it just wasn't.

On this moment, Neymar did some acting (exagerated IMO) but come on, Layún stepped on purpose on the ankle he's been recovering for the last three month. That for me is an agression and is a direct red card.

I'm more than happy for beating Mexico, I had that 0-0 tie in the last WC against Mexico irritating me because of Ochoa. Great.

 

[GTFan24]

Brazil hoping Belguim doesn't win against Japan most likely

 

[ASH32]

He does have some childish antics, but always takes shots off the ball and the refs never get to see them, this was straight up criminal and should have been a direct red card.

I don't disagree about how it should have been a red, or on the amount of players intentionally fouling him but because of how it reacts to any challenge is why lots of the bad ones also go unpunished, the refs have no idea whether he's really hurt or just play acting again.

Even in that incident he instigated it by rolling about and grabbing the ball so Mexico couldn't take the throw, he doesn't do any of that rubbish and the Mexican guy has no need to come near him and he wouldn't have stood on him. Likely the previous incidents were also on his mind when he saw Neymar acting up again and thought I'll show him and stood on him. Not that I'm saying he should have done that or that he shouldn't have been shown a red card either of course.

As for the match it could have been a lot closer had Mexico shown any composure at all but as in all the games I've seen them play this tournament, as soon as they got near the goal they just shot trying to get the glory when with one pass they would have had a much better chance. In the end because of this Brazil won quite easily and it was fully deserved.

 

[Touring Mars]

So, the 'Distance Covered' stats are starting to look a bit more damning for Russia now... here is the average number of miles covered in each game by each team so far... Russia lead on 74 miles per game, although Denmark are not far behind on 72. However both are well above the average of 65.5 miles per game. Mexico are the lowest on just 60.25 miles per game - below even lowly Panama. It's funny to see how 5 of the bottom 6 teams are South or Central American, while the top 6 are all European... (source)

RUS 74.0
DEN 72.0
SER 70.33
SPN 69.75
GER 69.67
CRO 68.5
AUS 68.33
EGY 68.0
SWI 67.0
SKO 66.33
MOR 66.33
CRC 66.33
(AVE 65.53)
POL 65.33
URU 65.0
SWE 65.0
ICE 65.0
TUN 64.67
ENG 64.67
BEL 64.67
IRN 64.33
POR 64.25
JPN 64.0
SAU 63.66
PER 63.66
SEN 63.33
FRA 63.25
BRA 63.0
COL 62.33
ARG 62.0
NIG 61.67
PAN 60.33
MEX 60.25

 

[Dan_]

I'm more than happy for beating Mexico, I had that 0-0 tie in the last WC against Mexico irritating me because of Ochoa. Great.

Ochoa is simply put a world class keeper, I'm surprised Real Madrid is pursuing Alisson which is decent, but Ochoa looks vastly superior. Alisson is sometimes insecure and terrible with his feet.

Brazil hoping Belguim doesn't win against Japan most likely

Both Belgium and England look like champions, I'd love if the belgians advanced no shame in losing to a better team.

I don't disagree about how it should have been a red, or on the amount of players intentionally fouling him but because of how it reacts to any challenge is why lots of the bad ones also go unpunished, the refs have no idea whether he's really hurt or just play acting again.

Even in that incident he instigated it by rolling about and grabbing the ball so Mexico couldn't take the throw, he doesn't do any of that rubbish and the Mexican guy has no need to come near him and he wouldn't have stood on him. Likely the previous incidents were also on his mind when he saw Neymar acting up again and thought I'll show him and stood on him. Not that I'm saying he should have done that or that he shouldn't have been shown a red card either of course.

Agree completely and it's been happening since he was 17, my local team never got to beat Santos with Neymar in the lineup, man he was frustrating to play against and the defenders hated him with passion. ( I've been away from this forums for years, I don't even know how use the emojis anymore..., so here goes nothing: )

As for the match it could have been a lot closer had Mexico shown any composure at all but as in all the games I've seen them play this tournament, as soon as they got near the goal they just shot trying to get the glory when with one pass they would have had a much better chance. In the end because of this Brazil won quite easily and it was fully deserved.

Osorio was the manager of my local team here and he was fantastic, but after Mexico fell down 1-0 he had no choice but to open up the midfield and hand the ball over to Brazil. Lozano looks very promising if a bit individualistic, did not know about him until now.