Day 14: Mexico vs Sweden, South Korea vs Germany, Serbia vs Brazil, Switzerland vs Costa Rica

[DrRodo]

Nonsense. The quality has been crap overall. Way worse than usual.

Im sorry but i have to agree with @bosnian_red
Too much idealization of previous WC around. If you watch highlights compacts of previous WC it looks like winning teams were killing machines but if you follow matches closely i remember that matches are usually very close and a lot of times teams that get to the final rounds have not impressive tournaments at all like argentina 2014, spain 2010 (What a wankfest of a team that was zzzzzzz), italy 2006 etc.

 

[Sarni]

Mexico won't be easy. They know each other well.

Brazil will find it comfortable enough. I think Sweden would have been a much tougher match up for them because of their defense. Mexico are a bit naive and will approach them offensively, it’s hard to outscore Brazil if you are leaving yourself wide open at the back.

 

[whatwha]

Serbia gave up completely after 2-0. Bit sad to see.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

I'm thrilled we made it through. Had no expectations tbh but this team has heart and grit.

Same here, and now we have Switzerland with a possibility of getting England in the quarters. Won't risk meeting Argentina, Brazil, France or Portugal before the final either.

 

[Scarlet_Emperor]

Im sorry but i have to agree with @bosnian_red
Too much idealization of previous WC around. If you watch highlights compacts of previous WC it looks like winning teams were killing machines but if you follow matches closely i remember that matches are usually very close and a lot of times teams that get to the final rounds have not impressive tournaments at all like argentina 2014, spain 2010 (What a wankfest of a team that was zzzzzzz), italy 2006 etc.

People always tend to romanticize the previous WC as time goes by and moan about the current quality-level. It has always been this way. If we take a careful look at them, we're going to see how unimpressive some finalists and winners were during some stage of the tournament. Even some santificied squad nowadays like Germany'74 and France'98 revealed some shaky moments against weaker teams.

 

[Charlie Foley]

Poor guy...

Lol. Thankfully 2-2 means I'm still first (guy in second had 1-1)

 

[Hausen]

So, this is exactly what worried me about Mexico’s team.

They’ve been playing this extremely high risk/high reward game ever since this manager has been around.

We can bust these surprising victories or get completely humiliated from one game to another. It’s very uneasy on the fans.

Apparently we learned nothing from the friendly vs Denmark a few weeks ago. Mexico struggles against very good defensive sides, but usually step it up against teams who “come out to play”.

Mexico and Brazil are familiar with one another and these always tend to be very close matches. Should be a great watch.

 

[Ola]

Can’t believe we’re going to have to put up with Sweden and Switzerland in the last 16. Hopefully Sweden play their hearts out and do them.

Well Germany were to busy thinking of
...
We're going to Ibiza
Back to the island
We're going to Ibiza
We're gonna have a party
In the Mediterranean Sea
...

I think both Sweden and Mexico deserve their spots in the last 16.

 

[Ballache]

God forbid someone criticise Zlatan or not take part to his bandwagon.

As a Swede with foreign background I got plenty of Swedish footballers to be proud about; an ex-captained that refused to be part of the national team except if the team was built around him, rather than getting the best out of the team - or who nowdays take every opportunity he has to belittle Sweden - well, a person like that is obviously not one of my idols.

But go ahead. Use another race card just to cover your own ignorance, only because I managed to touch your nerve. It makes it more enjoyable for me.

Touch my nerve? Not my fault you don't know your football pal.
You build your team around your best players, Zlatan is heads and shoulders above anyone that played for Sweden. Not his fault he was playing with shit players under a shit manager.
Credit to Janne he's managed to get this team playing with heart and fantastic discipline but bringing Zlatan into this (like many people are doing, hence my initial comment) is extremely petty and ignorant.
If you, someone with a foreign background, can't be proud of a guy that's a symbol of success for us and an idol for 2nd generation immigrants to look up to then I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

Being a Swede, the R16 is fecking awesome! All interesting games except for maybe Croatia - Denmark which I think will be a mauling.

 

[Bojan11]

Serbia gave up completely after 2-0. Bit sad to see.

They had to score 3 goals.

Wasn’t going to happen.

 

[Loublaze]

Brazil haven't impressed me at all in these games.

They'll probably win the world cup but I agree. There's absolutely nothing magical about this Brazilian team, Nothing

 

[Offside]

Well Germany were to busy thinking of
...
We're going to Ibiza
Back to the island
We're going to Ibiza
We're gonna have a party
In the Mediterranean Sea
...

I think both Sweden and Mexico deserve their spots in the last 16.

They do yes. Sweden have surprised me how well they’ve done but looking at who they got past in qualification it probably shouldn’t have.

 

[whatwha]

They had to score 3 goals.

Wasn’t going to happen.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

 

[Seven Seas Sardines]

They do yes. Sweden have surprised me how well they’ve done but looking at who they got past in qualification it probably shouldn’t have.

You mean beating France, Holland and Italy?

 

[Winrar]

I know ultimately ifs and buts don't matter... but if we played with more heart and effort like we did against Germany from the beginning, especially against Sweden, I have no doubts this team would've made last 16 given that two of the important goals conceded in those first two games came from careless mistakes leading to penalties that ultimately cost us in this competition. (the said player who made those mistakes are currently getting crucified by the fans)

Elated with the win and overall pleased with our performance in the WC given our comparative lack of talent. I think we went out with our heads held high but at the same time it's a bittersweet feeling knowing what could've been. Congratulations to Sweden and Mexico for making it to last 16

Also shout out to our GK who deservedly got the MOTM. He was very composed throughout the tournament despite being an unknown at the highest stage of the game, I hope he earns a move to Europe soon

 

[Offside]

You mean beating France, Holland and Italy?

Exactly.

 

[OutlawGER]

but if we played with more heart and effort like we did against Germany from the beginning, especially against Sweden, I have no doubts this team would've made last 16

That's probably the biggest problem every world champion has to face. Every team is playing their hearts out, even if they have no chance to reach the last 16.




Besides playing like trash as we did this year.

 

[Winrar]

That's probably the biggest problem every world champion has to face. Every team is playing their hearts out, even if they have no chance to reach the last 16.




Besides playing like trash as we did this year.

By that logic Bayern Munich, Juventus should not be winning the title every year and Real Madrid should not have won the CL 3 times in 4 years, and so on...

Yes I know you're joking

 

[FootballHQ]

I know ultimately ifs and buts don't matter... but if we played with more heart and effort like we did against Germany from the beginning, especially against Sweden, I have no doubts this team would've made last 16 given that two of the important goals conceded in those first two games came from careless mistakes leading to penalties that ultimately cost us in this competition. (the said player who made those mistakes are currently getting crucified by the fans)

Elated with the win and overall pleased with our performance in the WC given our comparative lack of talent. I think we went out with our heads held high but at the same time it's a bittersweet feeling knowing what could've been. Congratulations to Sweden and Mexico for making it to last 16

Also shout out to our GK who deservedly got the MOTM. He was very composed throughout the tournament despite being an unknown at the highest stage of the game, I hope he earns a move to Europe soon

Most important question....who has/hasn't done their national service yet? Will the penalty giver have to do it again if he's already partaken?

 

[OutlawGER]

By that logic Bayern Munich, Juventus should not be winning the title every year and Real Madrid should not have won the CL 3 times in 4 years, and so on...

Yes I know you're joking

Well, even though i believe that club and international football is not comparable for different reasons at all, you are basically proving my point. Why is it that no team was able to defend the champions league title until Real Madrid, the exception of the rule (with an incredible amount of luck btw), did it? Why weren't the golden generations of Barcelona(Spain) and Bayern(Germany) able to do it? Didn't Real Madrid play their hearts out against Bayern in 2014 for example? They even parked the bus in their own stadium. The proud Real Madrid.

 

[Winrar]

Most important question....who has/hasn't done their national service yet? Will the penalty giver have to do it again if he's already partaken?

I don't know the situation with every player but I know Son hasn't served yet. I don't know what the current consensus is on him but I hope he doesn't have to serve until he reaches his later years. Mandatory service is a big controversial talking point here in korea so for now I'm not going to delve too deep into this matter.

 

[Winrar]

Well, even though i believe that club and international football is not comparable for different reasons at all, you are basically proving my point. Why is it that no team was able to defend the champions league title until Real Madrid, the exception of the rule (with an incredible amount of luck btw), did it? Why weren't the golden generations of Barcelona(Spain) and Bayern(Germany) able to do it? Didn't Real Madrid play their hearts out against Bayern in 2014 for example? They even parked the bus in their own stadium. The proud Real Madrid.

On a more serious note you're not entirely incorrect as it's not uncommon to see lesser teams raise their game to take a big scalp, especially in a stage as huge as WC. In this particular case I think we played better against Mexico as well even though we lost.

I have to go to work soon so I'll be brief on this one but I think defending champions' underperformance can be attributed to overconfidence.

 

[SfcNervion]

Touch my nerve? Not my fault you don't know your football pal.
You build your team around your best players, Zlatan is heads and shoulders above anyone that played for Sweden. Not his fault he was playing with shit players under a shit manager.
Credit to Janne he's managed to get this team playing with heart and fantastic discipline but bringing Zlatan into this (like many people are doing, hence my initial comment) is extremely petty and ignorant.
If you, someone with a foreign background, can't be proud of a guy that's a symbol of success for us and an idol for 2nd generation immigrants to look up to then I don't know what to tell you.

You build a team, to get the best out of your players at this level. Cristiano plays for Portugal, not other way around. Neymar plays for Brazil, not other way around. Argentina plays for Messi, which explains why they have been suffering. Unless you are Beckenbauer or Maradona himself, then there is no point in building a team around a star at international level. Building a team was never done under Hamrén, Zlatan joined solely on the premise that it should serve him and the whole team was wasted 8 years because of it. 90 % of current squad is similar as 2 years ago and as years prior to the euros; difference is that we have a team nowdays, hence the over-achievements. Bringing in Zlatan into this did clearly touch your nerve since you felt the need to answer it; I have my swedish idols that also have similar background as me; someone who used the national team solely for his own benefit and ego is not one of them, despite the fantastic goals and career he has had. On top of it, he got the nerve of belittle Sweden, depsite being the one who said no to the national team - only to stay relevant nowdays. This makes it completely justified to throw in his name in the mix, whether you like it or not.

 

[SteveJ]

Ecstatic Mexico fans mob South Korean embassy after Germany upset:

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...s-celebrate-at-south-korean-embassy-world-cup

 

[TheReligion]

Neuer has done nothing wrong.

He's looked pretty poor IMO

 

[StillPlayingFooty]

I am, even after a good night's sleep, happy about Germany bottling it. It's sack sniffing at home then for Low & co.

Yesterday I took absolute delight from Germany getting knocked out. Delirious joy. Pure nirvana. They so deserved it. No drive or gusto in their games except vs Sweden when they were playing their back on the wall.

I know this ain't the best deep analysis of the game, but I simply can not contain my joy even today. Nothing is more boring than same old same old teams and champions. Especially if they play tiredly and with arrogance. Years ago I rooted for Spain before they established the hegemony. After them winning the WC and Euros the tiki-taka became so boring to watch. Spain became the old Germany who won games 1-0. Extremely joyous moment when they got kicked in the teeth similar to what happened Germany yesterday.

 

[GhastlyHun]

He's looked pretty poor IMO

Agendas aside he really hasn't. Leaving his goal at 1-0 down with less than 2 minutes to play and certain elimination guaranteed was justified, it was all or nothing at this point anyway.

 

[Ban]

The Sun is really milking it today, something like Gareth, sir Bobby, Psycho, Waddle, Lamps, all England fans, this is for you.

 

[FootballHQ]

Agendas aside he really hasn't. Leaving his goal at 1-0 down with less than 2 minutes to play and certain elimination guaranteed was justified, it was all or nothing at this point anyway.

Nearly fumbled that free kick over the line first half.

Beaten comfortably at his near post in Mexico game.

 

[rollingstoned1]

That's your opinion. I'm not saying that Spain are bad on the ball but they have lacked the true authority on the ball that they've had in previous tournaments. And that goal was due to faulty possession play, it wasn't a defensive blunder because Morocco didn't have the ball. 2010 Spain would not have conceded possession like that leading to a goal.

I could give you a dozen different occasions in Brazil games if you want to go down that road. The brazil team don't even play like 11 skillful ball players who hog the ball to begin with.

 

[cyberman]

VAR yet again proving its worth.