Day 4: Morocco vs Croatia | Germany vs Japan | Spain vs Costa Rica | Belgium vs Canada

Spain crushing Costa Rica. I was expecting a low scoring affair. Guess I was wrong
 
Scarecrow said:
I don't see how that's relevant though. Transfer values are independent of the estimated market value on the site.

The answer is no, not necessarily. I don't think I ever had an absolutist framing like this. Anyway, it's more likely that the more expensive is better. And the bigger the sample is (I started with teams, for example - 26 players), the more likely.
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So in the figures that you shared someone like Rashford, Saka or Kane were valued at 0?
 
Good chance we see Nico Williams and fati in the 2nd half then?

Spain hammering them without breaking a sweat. Please god it's too soon to have another dominant Spain team...
 
This always had the feeling of being one of the least competitive games in this World Cup.
 
The way Spain control games they are always going to have a good chance at winning the whole thing. Surprised not many people are mentioning them as potential winners.
 
I put money on Spain to score more than 3. now I'm sorry I didn't chose 5 or 6.
 
Bit of England game vibes. One team looks good and one team looks really bad. Does the good team look so good because the other team is so bad or is the bad team looking so bad because the other team is good?
 
I find this Spain team far more entertaining to watch than the great ones from a decade ago. Obviously not on that level quality wise, but they're much more aggressive and dynamic with the ball.
 
Going to have to unleash McTominay against those two in the Europa League
 
Sly said:
Spain crushing Costa Rica. I was expecting a low scoring affair. Guess I was wrong
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This World Cup has had a good mix of results.

Saying that CR look like one of the worst teams along with Iran and Qatar.
 
Gringo said:
The way Spain control games they are always going to have a good chance at winning the whole thing. Surprised not many people are mentioning them as potential winners.
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Spain was the best team in the Euros. They dominated Italy in the semis, Morata just missed a million easy chances.

Most people discount Spain because Spain lacks a goalscorer. However, if they can chip in across the field, Spain is the best footballing side in the world.
 
Gringo said:
The way Spain control games they are always going to have a good chance at winning the whole thing. Surprised not many people are mentioning them as potential winners.
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I'm with you on this. Against any team in the competition I'd still back them to have 65-70% possession. That almost always makes you favorites in my book.
 
Costa Rica looking like the contender for the worst side of the tournament so far. Even Iran looked more threatening.
 
Wow Spain playing some fine football here. Luis Enrique is a very good manager.

And that midfield, can't believe they all play for Barca. Why do they even need FDJ?
 
2mufc0 said:
This World Cup has had a good mix of results.

Saying that CR look like one of the worst teams along with Iran and Qatar.
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Your taking away merit from Spain, we don't know how bad is Costa Rica until the group stage is finished.

Germany was trashing Japan earlier, before Japan scored the equalizer Germany wasted many chances that could have killed the game like Spain did now, if they did most people would have said "Japan is the worst team on the tournament so far".

Scoring your chances is the difference between trashing a lesser opponent and letting an lesser opponent make a comeback.
 
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Most one sided game of the tournament so far. To the part it’s bloody demoralising for Costa Rica.
 
simonhch said:
Yeah, I think when the only viable winners from outside of Europe are two nations in South America, one who hasn’t won it since 1986, it’s fair to say that Europe dominates this tournament. Especially when 81% of the last four world cup semi finalists have been European, with only 40% of the teams in the tournament being European.
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The tournament? Football in general although maybe club football could be said to have changed dramatically in the last 30-40 years.

What I'm disputing isn't Europe's status but the talk of an era of dominance as if it were something happening the last 15 years. For some time one of Argentina or Brazil managed to alternate in mixing it up, which was a remarkable exception to the rule.

They were never afforded the luxury Italy has of going Win-Groupx2-DNQx2 without it affecting "European dominance"
 
kouroux said:
Busquets is brilliant when they are in control of games but if the intensity gets higher, he becomes a ghost
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Fair enough, he's been class today. But still, does FDJ rotate with him? I feel like they are different midfielders, and that FDJ instead of Busquets makes that midfield too weak.
 
Spain are working together as a team, keeping shape, knowing how they want to play, pretty good stuff. I hope Enrique makes a couple of changes here, get the bench some minutes and keep people fresh.
bosnian_red said:

I wouldn't put it past Germany to turn it around, but tough ask for Germany and Spain to both make it. Either all 3 of Spain/Germany/Japan to end of 6 points, or they have to hope for a Costa Rica result vs Japan (no idea how those 2 compare to each other). Goal difference is the tie breaker
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If germany beats Costa Rica, draws against Spain and Japan loses against Costa Rica.

If Spain beats Japan it puts

Spain 7
Germany 4
Costa Rica 3
Japan 3

even if Spain beats Germany (Germany with 3) Spain could end up with 9 and as long as Germany puts a bunch of goals against Costa Rica they would be second
 
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antohan said:
The tournament? Football in general although maybe club football could be said to have changed dramatically in the last 30-40 years.

What I'm disputing isn't Europe's status but the talk of an era of dominance as if it were something happening the last 15 years. For some time one of Argentina or Brazil managed to alternate in mixing it up, which was a remarkable exception to the rule.

They were never afforded the luxury Italy has of going Win-Groupx2-DNQx2 without it affecting "European dominance"
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The last paragraph is key when it comes to comparing the 2 continents. It never made any sense to me cause of all the many differences
 
bosnian_red said:
Yeah Pedri definitely above Gavi. Gavi looks good but also one of those "seen plenty like him". Pedri is Xavi reborn.
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That's how I see it with Gavi. Definitely good, but not on the same level. Pedri just oozes class and makes it all look so effortless.
 
FrankFoot said:
Your taking away merit from Spain, we don't know how bad is Costa Rica until the group stage is finished.

Germany was trashing Japan earlier, before Japan scored the equalizer Germany wasted many chances that could have killed the game like Spain did now, if they did most people would have said "Japan is the worst team on the tournament so far".

Scoring your chances is the difference between trashing a lesser opponent and letting and lesser opponent make a comeback.
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Japan showed some heart and glimpses of attacking threat. Costa Rica have shown absolutely nothing so far, they could turn it around second half but from what I've seen so far that's highly unlikely.
 
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