Day 13 | Slovakia vs Romania + Ukraine vs Belgium | Czech Republic vs Turkey + Georgia vs Portugal

DJ_21

Evens winner of 'Odds or Evens 2022/2023'
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Messages
14,126
Location
Manchester
Come on England does have the talent even if Gareth is stumbling upon it. Belgium don't look very talented or very well coached. England will win if the two meet.
Love your optimism mate. We couldn’t score past Slovenia so what makes you think we could score against Belgium?
 

VorZakone

What would Kenny G do?
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
33,993
Love your optimism mate. We couldn’t score past Slovenia so what makes you think we could score against Belgium?
What's the point of such arguments? Every game is a new game with new chances.
 

RobinLFC

Cries when Liverpool doesn't get praised
Joined
May 20, 2014
Messages
21,145
Location
Belgium
Supports
Liverpool
Lowest point in a decade probably. At least against Croatia we tried in Qatar, now we were time wasting for a draw when a win could’ve seen us through on the nice side of the bracket. Just a shameful performance all around.

Ginger cnut shit as usual for Belgium.
 

PoTMS

Full Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2016
Messages
16,841
Best outcome is for a Czech win today.

Would make for some cracking quarter finals and semi finals. I could easily see the following:

Spain v Germany
France v Portugal
-----------------------------------
Netherlands v Austria
England v Italy
 

Utd heap

Models for Coin.
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
21,907
Belgium can theoretically be saved if someone manages to hack into the VAR system and prevent Lukaku's goals from being overturned.

There's no saving England from the scourge of Southgate.
People are very dramatic.

Southgate made a final and lost on pens, and just won his group.

Two things Belgium have not managed.
 

Cheech Wizard

Liverpool fan
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
6,895
Location
Lé Fylde Coast
Supports
Liverpool
England may have as well finished 3rd looking at the bracket now, could have got one side with Romania, Austria.. or other with Portugal, France, Belgium. Watch Slovenia get Romania and England the Dutch.
 

Red Stone

Full Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2011
Messages
9,043
Location
NZ
Well obviously not. Adjust the number of teams in the tournament accordingly.
So back down to 16 teams and have them go straight to the quarter final or increase it to 32 teams and deal with more dreadful teams like Greece and Norway regularly qualifying?

As a Norwegian... I'd pick the first option, personally.
 

Gonçalo Motta

Full Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
665
Location
Porto, Portugal
What's the point of such arguments? Every game is a new game with new chances.
I mean, he has a point. It's not like England is showing a lot more than this Belgium team in the tournament so far. Having "more talent" means jack sh*t if that isn't translating to anything on the field
 
Last edited:

DJ_21

Evens winner of 'Odds or Evens 2022/2023'
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Messages
14,126
Location
Manchester
Best outcome is for a Czech win today.

Would make for some cracking quarter finals and semi finals. I could easily see the following:

Spain v Germany
France v Portugal
-----------------------------------
Netherlands v Austria
England v Italy
It’s funny Netherlands and Austria being in the same group and could meet in the quarters.
 

DJ_21

Evens winner of 'Odds or Evens 2022/2023'
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Messages
14,126
Location
Manchester
People are very dramatic.

Southgate made a final and lost on pens, and just won his group.

Two things Belgium have not managed.
And we’ve also gotten worse since we reached that final.
 

VorZakone

What would Kenny G do?
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
33,993
I mean, he has a point. It's not like England is showing a lot more than this Belgium team in the tournament so far. "Having more talent" means jack sh*t if that isn't translating to anything on the field
Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 WC and won the thing. One can grow during the tournament.
 

Stadjer

Full Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Messages
8,212
Location
The Netherlands
Come on England does have the talent even if Gareth is stumbling upon it. Belgium don't look very talented or very well coached. England will win if the two meet.
If England play Belgium, the best player on the pitch is Kevin de Bruyne. England would be heavy favorites but one quality KDB pass to Doku during a counter could be a 1-0 and England hasnt been great going forward this tournament.

England hasnt been good enough to not fear any country
 

Insanity

Most apt username 2015
Joined
Aug 4, 2014
Messages
4,987
Location
Location
Love your optimism mate. We couldn’t score past Slovenia so what makes you think we could score against Belgium?
I think you guys will grow as the tournament progresses now that Southgate has discovered Mainoo and need for a better midfield set-up. You also have better weapons on the bench than some of the other teams.
 

MadMike

Full Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2015
Messages
11,742
Location
London
Feel for Ukraine. Likely to be the only team on 4 points not to make the knockouts. Unlucky.
 

Red Stone

Full Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2011
Messages
9,043
Location
NZ
Dalot starts, Bruno gets a rest.
Punishment for the only player who has revolted against the team tactic of feeding their dictator at every opportunity. Ronaldo is going to get carried by his team and flat track bully his way to the top of the scoring charts in yet another insignificant dead rubber.
 

Gonçalo Motta

Full Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
665
Location
Porto, Portugal
Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 WC and won the thing. One can grow during the tournament.
I don't disagree with that at all. I'm just saying, based on what we saw so far, I wouldn't be surprised if Belgium won although I consider England the better team by a mile.
 

MalaysianRed7

Full Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
761
Is there any Turkish dressing room unrest? Came across a video of Montella telling Guler to train alone the other day.
 

marktan

New Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
7,078
Punishment for the only player who has revolted against the team tactic of feeding their dictator at every opportunity. Ronaldo is going to get carried by his team and flat track bully his way to the top of the scoring charts in yet another insignificant dead rubber.
Whatever the reason it's nice to see Bruno get a rest since he pretty much never does. Also nice to see an international manager actually understand the concept of rotation. Southgate and Deschamps take notes. Maybe I might move Martinez from my fraud tier list.
 

Gonçalo Motta

Full Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
665
Location
Porto, Portugal
They rested players but Ronaldo demands to play every game :lol:
It's funny how people always assume that Ronaldo has that amount of power. Maybe Martinez thinks that Ronaldo playing and getting a goal could be beneficial for the KO stages.
If that's the logic behind that decision, I can't even disagree with that because Ronaldo frustrated for not scoring could harm the team while an in-form Ronaldo can still be important in terms of crucial goals.
 

Rockets Redglare

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
2,847
It's funny how people always assume that Ronaldo has that amount of power. Maybe Martinez thinks that Ronaldo playing and getting a goal could be beneficial for the KO stages.
If that's the logic behind that decision, I can't even disagree with that because Ronaldo frustrated for not scoring could harm the team while an in-form Ronaldo can still be important in terms of crucial goals.
But surely resting a 39 year old would make more sense than starting him every game? He can barely run as it is.
 

ManUtd1999

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
3,930
But surely resting a 39 year old would make more sense than starting him every game? He can barely run as it is.
Yes, and I would prefer that he stays out. But, he’s the captain and scoring a goal today could help. I also think, or at least hope, that he will be subbed in the 2nd half. No reason for him to play 90 minutes.
 

Gonçalo Motta

Full Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2013
Messages
665
Location
Porto, Portugal
But surely resting a 39 year old would make more sense than starting him every game? He can barely run as it is.
The first 2 games he was pretty decent, but I think he was barely wasting energy playing in the role he was playing. His fitness levels should be somewhat fine compared with the rest of the team that actually presses and covered a lot more ground
 

Ramos

Full Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2019
Messages
773
Pathetic display by Tedesco. Swapping a creative mid in Tielemans for Mangala, subbing off Doku. So scared of going out. Instead of going for the win and ending up in a quarter with Slovenia, Turkey and Austria now they play France and they can pack their bags after that. But at least they got out of the group or something. One good half in the entire tournament.