Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

:tu:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

40/1 on Belgium and France win, BTTS. 80/1 if you back Uruguay. 22/1 if you take both France and Brazil and 40/1 for the last combo of Brazil, Uruguay. Worth a few quid punts. Obviously they're all BTTS.

I'm leaning towards Belgium and France. Brazil are another team absolutely there to be had at the back and mask it with attack which in fairness has been fairly overrated this far. Partly down to the questionable decision to leave Firmino out of the starting 11. It's not like he was the spearhead of possibly the most dynamic attacking three in Europe or anything.

France are well, France. They're up and down, hot and cold etc. What should be a great combination of all areas leading to a solid team just isn't. Inconsistencies, the scandalous decision to still have Benzema banned from the team. Great attack, midfield and defence on paper but rarely do you catch all three working in tandem. Their defence being fully on show against Argentina but going forward with mesmerising attacks led by Matuidi, Pogba, Mbappe and Griezeman. Matuidi is missing. Uruguay don't offer a great deal in defence and aren't massively stacked in midfield but they've got two of the world's best finishers waiting at the front in Suarez and Cavani who are absolutely capable of scoring at any second.

Belgium, again a fairly solid team on paper that rarely works in tandem with big games and such an open tournament. No doubt though, absolutely capable of beating Brazil. Decent defence, solid midfield and solid attack. Its all about who's on point. Hazard has so many up and down days as does Lukaku. De Bruyne hasn't really shone through at this tournament yet. All three though are capable of producing brilliance from nothing. Even more worrying if they're all on top form together. Potential to be devastating from set plays. Brazil need to be wary of being physically out matched here. The referee might be crucial in establishing what kind of game we're gonna have. I really can't be arsed with Neymar, I never paid the lad much attention but his attitude and gamesmanship has put him in the negative for me.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Here’s a stat to put a wry smile on Daves face, there are 9 former or current Sunderland players still involved in the World Cup, more than the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juventus.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Cavani out. 45 mins to a hefty clash. :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

l gather you have put a few pennies on.;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I have indeed picked one of the outcomes from the earlier post. France and Belgium.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yes that would be very agreeable if they both went through thus we would get rid of the South American histrionics that have beset this tournament.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Suarez apart Uruguay haven’t been that bad, only one yellow card, in fact less than any other side and no high foul count either, Godin alone is a class above any other defender in the competition.

On another point, has anyone else noticed the video from distance on ITV HD via VM stuttering very slightly on the odd occasion. Seen it all the tournament on ITV but not BBC.?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Now lets see Uruguay come out of their shell.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Uruguay had two cases for a penalty there. Giroud and Pogba both fouling their man.

---------- Post added at 16:19 ---------- Previous post was at 15:47 ----------

Faceroll.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Here we go its all kicking off now.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Referee has absolutely no bottle. It looks like Mbappe has made a mountain of that. Pogba lucky to still be on the pitch.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

When S American teams start to lose the cheating starts.

Just give red cards to stop this.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

It was Mbappe that dived holding his face. Most notable for being French. Followed by Pogba grabbing someone.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Mbappe studying his PSG teammate no doubt.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

He has learnt very quickly sadly..:td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Am I the only one that thinks Neymar is over rated?

If he didn't dive like a cissy he might.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

The Brazilians did not take long to resort to their usual tricks tonight.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

A goal made in Manchester.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Picked the two teams. Shame about the BTTS side of it.

Mitro's on fire, your defence is terrified. :shocked:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

May l say the right part of Manchester Jim..;):naughty:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Made by Lukaku, finished by De Bruyne.:p:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Neymar absolutely embarrassing himself.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

FFS ref how many more dives in the penalty area is Neymar alliwed before getting a yellow or red:mad:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Oh, that's a penalty. Literally little point in VAR if the team are that useless.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Kompany is a walking red card/penalty, ridiculous decision.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Another blatant dive by Marcelo this time.:td::(

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France would fancy Brazil over Belgium.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Would love this to go to ET, a good watch for the neutrals.:)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

And Neymar gets away with another blatant dive..:td::td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I've heard it all now.
My mum never swears, but she said refering to Neymar diving yet again.
"Stop being a p**** and get up" https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2018/07/14.png

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We celebrate your win tonight Belgium..:cleader::cleader::cleader::cleader:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well I've just lost £90 as I had Brazil in the works sweepstake.

But can we see a crying cheating Neymar please :D


If he played more rather than diving, they might have won.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Another result marred by a shocking VAR decision.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

its a nice all European Semi and Final :)



whos going through, I'm thinking France for sure as if they get going nothing will stop them, Croatia I think as well and sorry English people on the forum but think that Sweden is going to do England over.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

No need to apologise DocDutch as l would rather have someone say what they think rather then hiding behind their petticoats..

England IMO will have to up their game today as Sweden will be very difficult to break down , Croatia will get through tonight and France well they are favourites now so lets see if they are affected by the favourite's tag.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

I assume you mean the disputed penalty by Kompany on Neymar, in which case you would have to thank karma after all Neymars previous antics. ;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Except bad decisions like that and the poor execution of VAR in it affects everyone not just two teams. Even 'Karma' is distorted. Neymar never received a single decision for a dive, they were then denied a stonewall penalty. Surely the idea would be for the referee to get all the decisions right.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Obviously paying attention then, I think you will find it was Jesus not Neymar.:rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

That Sir Bobby Robson segment though.

---------- Post added at 15:16 ---------- Previous post was at 14:43 ----------

Shearer was bang on the money though, the passing is abysmal at times and the creativity is lacking. Every time there's an opening or a chance to cross they turn back on themselves. So hesitant.

Unsure why we're entertaining them with hoofed balls to nowhere and clearing it back to them when you're under no pressure and there's 3 team mates around you.

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:16 ----------

That's it, now press the issue. Sweden can't just dig in now.

---------- Post added at 15:46 ---------- Previous post was at 15:32 ----------

How'd you have an entire goal in front of you and manage to find the keeper, offside or not. We got better as the half went on. We can't afford to start games like that against bigger teams though.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Long passes down the channel as they cannot cope with pace..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

There's only Trippier willing to make that pass. There's still a bit of hesitancy about, it's the same with crossing. It's never first time it's always after Sweden have regrouped at the back.

I can't even be bothered to argue about Sterling.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

If Sterling had the tools of a Mo Salah or other top forwards this match would have been over but my fear is Sweden will somehow conjure a goal from nowhere and get back into the game..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

And Alli has given away or lost the ball so many times I lost count.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Lost and been invisible for the rest of the time. Its like playing with 10 men at times and still winning. Should be taking full advantage of having 11. Deploy the Rashford, or the Dwight Gayle. :D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Indeed he has been terrible thus so far in this tournament.:td:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Dele Alli the wizard. Invisible until he's not. PELE ALLI

Great football though by England here. Putting Sweden to the sword.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We were all saying..:D:D:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Pickford has made two top class saves so far.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Indeed Jim.:tu:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Phenomenal second half performance from England. If you discount the obvious names from that match you can credit Ashley Young, Lingard and Harry Kane. Young given the stature of the match had arguably his best performance in an England shirt, an absolute workhorse. Lingard the same, was constantly moving the ball forward. Kane didn't score but his passing and IQ were just off the scale.

England can give absolutely anyone a run for it with performances like that.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

26 years long years and revenge is a dish best served cold!!!!!!!!!!

Turnips 2 Swedes 0:cleader::cleader:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

28 :dunce: :D

Unless you're referring to Euro 92 which I've just been informed of. But I thought the key stat was 28 years since England got this far

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...nips-1.2614748

:D:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Wow, what a headline. I'm not old enough to want revenge for that. I can see the amusing side though bet it wasn't that amusing at the time. :D

---------- Post added at 17:30 ---------- Previous post was at 17:17 ----------

Croatia or Russia? Can imagine the media frenzy if we get Russia.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Can't say either of these bother me that much. Russia would be the easier of the too though. They won't get away with camping in their box against us.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yes l quite agree adzii.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

England will be up for Croatia. I think Lingard, Sterling and Trippier will give them a nightmare. Mark Modric out of the game. England will get more chances going forward than we did against Sweden. Croatia won't sit back and they'll be open at the back. The way they've played tonight I can see Kane getting through the middle all night if Sterling and Trippier drag it out wide.

England will naturally be favourites to win but its also a chance to dish out some revenge for that McClaren Euros failure.

If their keeper flies out like that against England though he'll get punished.

---------- Post added at 21:30 ---------- Previous post was at 21:25 ----------

OH MY. This is a story.

That marking has England licking their lips. They will fancy either of these two. It's coming home.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well its looking like penalties now..

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Absolutely amazing. I'm nearly rooting for them to win. The atmosphere. If Russia score again though.

---------- Post added at 21:39 ---------- Previous post was at 21:32 ----------

One hell of an atmospheric shoot-out incoming.

Again, absolutely confident England will punish either of these teams. England will batter Russia with balls into the box until the breakthrough comes. If its Croatia we'll see a repeat of Sweden with more attacking intent from Croatia, leaving them far more open than the Swedes. If Sterling can sort his final play out...

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

OOPS yes you're absolutely right. Luckily Karma isn't that fussy ;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Oh that was just silly. Absolutely silly. What a time and place to do that.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Good grief that was a poor pen.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

They won't die - Chelsea 2012 Champions League final.

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:46 ----------

Maybe not, dear God. What an absolute nugget.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Some poor penalties thus so far.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Roll on Croatia.

Feel for Russia, great run. Shame about that first Penalty, what a clown.

Our chance to bury the McClaren umbrella memory is upon us.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Respect them but not fear them as if England play to their best l am confident about the end result

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Think i'd prefer Croatia to Russia Den, crowd less of an issue and the Russians were massively over performing until now. We can definitely beat Croatia.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Ronaldo is 1/4 on to win the Ballon D'or.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Champions League winner and outscored his only real competition at the world cup.

Harry Kane would be in with a fair chance of second if he wins the world cup. If he'd won the Premier league though he'd be challenging for the award.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France or Belguim?.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Given the almost 100% premier league make up of the Belgian side I would say ‘better the devil you know’ and the pace of Mbappe and Griezmann frightens me, so should England get to the final then I hope it’s Belgium. Anyway Kompany is due one of his kamikaze, back of the legs red card challenges soon. ;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

l don't know as l feel we if we reach the final and that is a big if l would prefer to play the French as l see vulnerability's in the defence and midfield.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

When do previous yellow cards get cancelled, I thought Mbappe got booked against Uruguay in the quarters. I was thinking back to Gazza’s tears when he got a yellow in the semis against Germany?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Was wiped before this game.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Yep, just checked it out. When did they change that ruling?

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Not that long ago.

---------- Post added at 21:13 ---------- Previous post was at 21:12 ----------

And Mr Lineker making gestures to the manager as he knew how upsetting it was for Gazza.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Let’s hope Telegraph sports correspondent Sam Wallace (on screen now ) is right.
So far he has predicted the correct winners of all last 16 games, quarters and tonight’s semi.

He has tipped England to beat Croatia but hasn’t yet predicted the winner of the final.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Didn't have a preference of who I'd want to play. Both teams were absolutely hesitant at times and that's understandable, I'd expect France to show the same hesitancy in the final and that absolutely suits us. Throw the kitchen sink at them but for the love of God don't play with that same hesitancy. France can be had. Bully them. Set pieces will be absolutely crucial. France will be concerned with marking the likes of Maguire, Kane and Stones so this is a good time to earmark another player for set pieces.

Get a good showing against Croatia to roll in with.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well l think l will worry about tonight's match first Jim as l remember the old saying "don't run before you can walk".:walk::walk:;)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Well their defence coped very well with Belgium and as for midfield I think the general consensus is that both Pogba and Kante have had a good campaign thus far.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Personally l thought Martinez tinkered too much and played into the hands of France.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

France and England have both won the cup before so I'm hoping Croatia make it. Nice to spread it around a bit. Else France. Anyone but England. It would be unbearable for England to win.

I really don't care about the game but the way the media still go on about 1966... It's just a game, win - cheer, celebrate a bit then move on, lose - congratulate the winners, drink to their success and move on.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

For someone who ‘really doesn’t care ‘ you seem to be making several anti England posts. :rolleyes:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Democracy as we know means everybody can have a different view Jim even if one disagrees with it.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

That’s why I was exercising my right to comment Den. :p:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

l would be rather disappointed if you did not offer your pearls of wisdom Jim.:)

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

TBH Den, if I REALLY didn’t care about something I wouldn’t waste my time posting negative comments about it. However to say ‘I really don’t care’ on one line and then ‘anyone but England’ on another is a total contradiction. Unless of course tweetipooh has Celtic ancestry, then it’s par for the course.:D

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Could have a team GB similar to the Olympics. Except Gareth Bale is the only person I can think of that'd make a squad filled with English players. Just have to make do with being hated.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

William is starting to look like a respectable Alan Shearer with a bigger forehead.

---------- Post added at 19:05 ---------- Previous post was at 18:53 ----------

Football is coming home. Croatia are going for it now and they're massively exposed at the back. This could go from bad to worse shortly, whichever way that second goal goes could change this massively. They want back in the game early.

---------- Post added at 19:14 ---------- Previous post was at 19:05 ----------

Hopefully without cursing it, Croatia look out of their depth here.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

A second goal would relax us in this household.:Yikes::eeek:

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Not marking as tight as we could be. Plenty of space for Croatia. Modric getting a bit too much time.

---------- Post added at 19:30 ---------- Previous post was at 19:21 ----------

Fluffed. Bet Sterling scores tonight after that. Ashley Young is having a dangerous game. He's gone full circle from Sweden. I should start berating them more. He absolutely had to make that challenge.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Alli has turned up at last, Lingard should have done better.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Still questionable decisions in the final third. Sterling had two outside the box ready to collect that.

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

Haha did that actually just happen? He got up from being 'injured' broke into a full sprint to charge into the back of young. That's a yellow for heavens sake.

---------- Post added at 19:46 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Need to tidy up a bit. Use the wings more. They're bricking it against Sterling every time. Bit tighter at the back and less hoof. It's clear who the better team is. Alli again though is fairly invisible bar a few moments. Credit to him if he scores but I'd swap him and Sterling around and consider Rashford or Vardy for Alli giving Kane someone to properly work with.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Half time has just come up the right time for them and our household.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

We're waiting for Croatia to score at this point. Pretty empty start from England.

---------- Post added at 20:21 ---------- Previous post was at 20:18 ----------

Sterling again with 86 touches too many. England seriously need to wake up.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

So so conflicted tonight. On the one hand, want England to win as would be great to see them win. On the other, if they do win, work is cancelled on Sunday which means I don't earn.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

There it is, absolutely awful from England. Shocking second half performance. They're bottling this massively.

Re: 2018 FIFA World Cup.
 

Saw that coming 20 minutes ago . . letting them play too much :(