The World Cup is the Euros now. 
Day 23: Uruguay vs France and Brazil vs Belgium
- Thread starter K2K
- Start date
Honestly the own goal changed the game. Belgium wasn't a much better team.
Shame that Casemiro couldn't play. Football is football I guess
Shame that Casemiro couldn't play. Football is football I guess
There are no great teams at this tournament, becomes more evident by the day. Even the better teams have some glaring flaws. Belgium had great individual performances from Lukaku and Hazard tonight in how they carried the ball long distances and relieved pressure. Fellaini also did an excellent job. Defensively they were rather fragile, they should be better if those 3 at the back are the level that some claim.
Amazes me that Jesus started ahead of Firmino and Willian ahead of Costa. Willain had a decent game against Mexico but was poor in all the other games while Jesus is so lightweight and superfluous when you already have Neyamr and Coutinho.
Amazes me that Jesus started ahead of Firmino and Willian ahead of Costa. Willain had a decent game against Mexico but was poor in all the other games while Jesus is so lightweight and superfluous when you already have Neyamr and Coutinho.
And it's true. But still they are better than Argentina and Uruguay.
Argentina was the worst defense and Uruguay was very poor technically, unable to create any attack and be dangerous without free kicks and corners. That's fact.
I just think that you focus on names and players to do you pre-game opinion and don't change it even if the game (or previous games) shows that you're wrong.
Uruguay have been very tough to break and don't concede much goals. Argentina aren't at their best but still have Messi upfront, and now France still have to beat Belgium and one of England/Croatia. Do the last 2 names they're going to face add up to make their path tougher ?
If England and France meet in the final, who would have played tougher opponents ? Even English fans will say France.
I'm very open to change my mind. Just convince me.
Disqualified for playing for Croatia as well.
France is great. Came back from 1-2 against Argentina, comfortably beat Uruguay. Their football is dull but it's all down to Deschamps and his cautious approach.
2010 Spain was very boring with their 80% possesion and 1-0 wins but no team was ever close to beating them
Why Modric and not him then ?
Brazil can be proud in the sense that they tried everything. Some wasteful finishing and Courtois stopped everything. Kudos to Belgium. But Brazil can still keep their heads high, unlike last WC.
Now the best 2 teams of WC will play and eliminate more competition for the other half.
Now the best 2 teams of WC will play and eliminate more competition for the other half.
So happy that Pogba or Lukaku is in the final after their fine displays. Come on England!
Martinez almost cost them the game in the second half. Changes (or lack of) were worrying. Brazil could have scored 3 in the second hhalfald.
Deschamps, Tite, Martinez - they should be glad they are spoiled with riches when it comes to talent, because tactically and selection wise they are not up to much.
Oh man, I don't know where to start. This is undoubtedly the greatest night I've ever had as football supporter. Brazil were fecking great, I still don't know how we beat them. But we did, we knocked out the best team in the competition. Incredible.
I'm going to be complete wreck tomorrow but I don't care. On to the semi final, where we really have a chance. I can't wait!
I'm going to be complete wreck tomorrow but I don't care.
On to the semi final, where we really have a chance. I can't wait!Naingollan must be finding this hard to watch though.
Never seen that happening on an internet forum.
It's funny because the other managers have not exactly did well in terms of tactic or selections. They are not lucky, they did better.
Please let it be Fellaini
Because we're all hard to get convinced.
Oh man, I don't know where to start. This is undoubtedly the greatest night I've ever had as football supporter. Brazil were fecking great, I still don't know how we beat them. But we did, we knocked out the best team in the competition. Incredible.
I'm going to be complete wreck tomorrow but I don't care.
Congrats on beating us. I consider it revenge for 2002. The good news is the team that usually beat us goes to the final. I hope you guys win the tournament.
Ok well let's try...
Uruguay have been very tough to break but in fact they didn't face big attacks: Egypt, SA, a A/B Russia (no Golovin, Smolov...). Even Portugal all the tournament was not incredible offensively, in the construction in particular: 6 goals in 4 games (1 pen, 1 mistake, 1 free kick, 1 corner with Pepe...). Against Iran when they needed to win, we could see their limits: Silva didn't bring a lot, Guedes was good in the game but not at the final shot, Silva too irregular... So I'm not sure how good they are at the back. Today they were really bad and were just giving the ball all the time. And all their offensive side lays on Cavani, so they were harmless.
Argentina, ok Messi. But we said the same against Iceland and Croatia. And you forget Masherano, Rojo, Guzman...
It's a team... (9 goals conceded)
So France's quality is their attack. Did they faced an amazing defense - not really... maybe Denmark and Uruguay
Did they face a strong attack which could break Umtiti and fullbacks weaknesses? Definitely not and they managed to take 3 last game.
I'm not saying that it was easy-peasy, just that they faced opponents with a weakness (attack) adapted to their Weakness.
Of course their path stays difficult and the last 2 would make it tougher. But you forget that you said it was the hardest road "by far". I do think it's more balanced.
France: Argentina, Uru, Belgium, (?)
Belgium: Japon, Brazil, France, (?)
Russia: Spain, Croatia, (England) (?)
Croatia: Den, Russia, (England) (?)
England: Colombia, Sweden, (?), (?)
Sweden (big group), Swi, England, (Croatia?), (?)
So Belgium, Russia and Sweden if they make it to the final would have as tough road as France. Belgium would have beaten the most balanced squads, Russia 2 of the most technical teams, Croatia, 2 good defenses. Brazil could have beaten the best offensive sides (France, Mex, Bel)
...
Well I did all my best to give more credits to the "lower/Europa" part
Even today Uruguay still lost on a set piece and a stupid GK mistake from a long shot. So I didn't think France didn't have it easy or stream roll past their defense so it's not just Uruguay facing weak attacks.
Fair on Argentina point though as they have been poor over all.
From the paths you have listed I think France, Belgium and Russia are the only tough ones, but both France and Belgium will play each other and one of them will get KOed so the one who will reach the final will have passed the toughest route. The other half of the draw are all having an easy route except Russia because they're fighting above their limit only.
And I think my point stands, if the final is France/Belgium and England/Croatia, the one who had a tougher run to reach it was France/Belgium.
Fair points on Russia route though I have to admit.
Cant believe kdb got MOTM. Clearly should have been fella or hazard. Kdb was awful in the second half
Cheers man, you deserved it as much as we did tonight. You can be proud and just looking at your players after FT you could see how much it would’be meant to them. It was in the margins tonight.
If not us, always wanted England or Brazil to win it. You just cannot dislike Coutinho.
Hazards attempt on goal instead of squaring was beyond daft but throughout the WC so far De Bruyne seems to have a great degree of difficulty passing to Lukaku. It's weird.
Not necessarily revenge, we probably would've lost that match anyway, we were not very good. This was a sort of coming of age for the current side, a side with real aspirations, unlike that side back then.
I still think Brazil are the stronger side and probably would've won the tournament if they won this match. I don't know what the reaction is in Brazil but they gave a lot, I died over and over when they attacked. It was a great game.
This!!! For all the fecking hate he gets on here, to channel my inner Keegan, I would love it if Fellaini lifted the world cup... And also, Lukaku.
He had more important worries today, I think he didn't even watch the match lol
https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/inter-nainggolan-involved-in-ferrari-crash-40687
And thats the zillionth time he shows why he's not called by Belgium and why he's kicked out of Rome.
Well, I couldn’t get two games more wrong in my predictions even if I tried
Brazil certainly deserved to win tonight but I'm happy they are out. Not a very likeable team.
Not sure how much it has been discussed but Coutinho was shocking today, despite the assist. Lost count of how many times he tried to shoot when there was 5 defenders in the way.
Wasn’t that effective tonight but Mbappe is the best young player we will see in a very long time. He’s fecking frightening.
Well done to Belgium. They were immense from the start, and Hazard was in absolute top form, man of the match.
Belgium bullied them in the first half, which was enough to get them over the line.
Glad Brazil are out.
Glad Brazil are out.
I'm seeing that some of the flak for Martinez (which he received a lot of!) is slowly making room for praise.
Are you warming to him aswell now? Especially seeing that he's ex-Everton and all that.
Belgium you beautiful bastards!
I think most in Belgium are warming to him now, he got that first half spot on. We can't say that was all just the players, he helped us to a semi-final. He certainly surprised me.
Fontaine was last seen 1-2 months ago
Was a bit lucky too because Brazil could have scored first and the game could have been completely different. Brazil hit the post and then concede an OG. Belgium were very lucky and looked a bit meh in the second half. A performance like that won't be enough vs France. And Hazard should pass it more often. Those amaizing dribbles do little more than winning fouls and time. He created very little yesterday but got away with it because Augusto/Coutinho missed great chances to level it and VAR fecked up with Kompany's foul.
I'm not against Belgium at all, I'll be for them against France. Argued in another thread prior to the game that they can win vs Brazil. But they were more lucky than great yesterday, in my humble opinion.