World Cup 2018 - Russia

Belgium attack is unstoppable right now. De Bruyne could be more selfish. Probably be 6-1 instead of 3-1 if he took a few of those shots instead of trying to distribute in the box.

Never any doubt that Belgium has the talent.

Not sure if there's a stymie defensive team in the tournament that can grind them down.

Wouldn't mind if they went all the way.

Stele wrote:

Oh that was pretty.

And I do love Belgian beer.

Edit: Tunisia not quitting. Wow.

I love Belgian beer, too. Might grab some Belgium wheats if Mexico gets knocked out.

I think I might have some Croatian ancestry, too...Do they make good beer?

Me and my girlfriend have been planning someone meals/snacks themed off the teams playing. One problem is that we'd need to make a lot of it from scratch though, which would come at quite the cost. The UK supermarkets tend to have large sections for Italian, Chinese and Indian food here, unfortunately for our World Cup of food hopes.

Still, we had piri piri chicken and Spanish fried potatoes for the Spain V Portugal game, which was really nice. I've got some Belgian beer in for Belgium too.

We did settle for sausage and mashed potato for the first England game though In retrospect we should've saved sausage for Germany and had pie for England. We'll probably have a cheese board or camembert for France one night and possibly falafel for someone like Egypt?

My inner dialogue since that halftime camera of the players emerging from the tunnel:

Oh, look! It's Thierry Henry *butterflies*...NO, NO, NO, NO, NO YOU HATE BELGIUM...look at Thierry, giving Hazard advice, it's Thierry!!!!...NO, YOU HATE HAZARD. HE HAS HURT ARSENAL IN SO MANY WAYS AND DIVES 24/7...did you see how Thierry was there, in the tunnel, like the old times...NO, NO, NO, YOU HATE BELGIUM, THEY HAVE RIVALS LIKE DE BRUYNE AND LUKAKU...did you hear the commentators talk about Thierry and his impact on the Belgium team...THEY HAVE FELLAINI, YOU HATE HIM!!!!...did you hear the commentators mention Thierry was up on the sideline and not Martinez for that last set play coaching the Belgium players?...THEY HAVE THE TWO CBS FROM YOUR LITERAL ENEMY WHAT ARE YOU DOING...but he's there, it's Thierry...VERTONGHEN PLAY FOR SPURS...Henry...ALDERWEIRELD PLAYS FOR SPURS...omg, the camera just showed Thierry on the sideline <3 <3 <3...OMG OMG OMG I LOVE THIERRY HENRY

This can't be happening...

Sorbicol wrote:
slazev wrote:

What did he do? I don't remember him doing bastardly things. Did I miss it?

Frankly after that I'm surprised we aren't all in mourning and the world cup suspended while he's given a state funeral.

Oh, I thought he punched someone. Very theatrical, sure, but the Moroccan player shouldn't have done that.

Felt sorry about Tunisia. Mistakes, injuries and Kahzri's performance dropping before half time were a death sentence. Belgium needs to improve as a team. England seemed better.

Did anyone notice that Xhaka and Shaquiri made a bird symbol after they scored? Apparently, it's for the Albania symbol (2 headed eagle). FIFA might punish them.

Saw an article on that about Xhaka/Shaqiri.

Good for them. I'm sure they will happily pay.

Stoke city under Pulis vs Mexico right now.

Steely is English commentator code for I'm going to kick the sh*t out of you.

The commentator from Fox for this Mexico game is my favorite.

Man, South Korea has conceded obvious pens in consecutive games. Still, I like some of the chances they've created.

Belgium has joined Russia as the only teams to have scored 2 Ronaldos. Croatia with work to do to catch up.

The value of a Ronaldo is surely going up in the final group game now that he's been tied by Lukaku. But think, if Lukaku had been given the penalty chance, he'd probably be leading for the boot!

bigred wrote:

The commentator from Fox for this Mexico game is my favorite.

He's like Geddy Lee. I wonder if he sounds like that when he's just talking.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Man, South Korea has conceded obvious pens in consecutive games. Still, I like some of the chances they've created.

It's a deserved penalty, for sure. You can't slide with your arm up like that and claim innocence. It's a bummer because this has been a fun, open game and a PK goal changes that.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Man, South Korea has conceded obvious pens in consecutive games. Still, I like some of the chances they've created.

Belgium has joined Russia as the only teams to have scored 2 Ronaldos. Croatia with work to do to catch up.

The value of a Ronaldo is surely going up in the final group game now that he's been tied by Lukaku. But think, if Lukaku had been given the penalty chance, he'd probably be leading for the boot!

He didn't need the penalty. He failed some obvious chances. So did Batshuayi.

And Mexico is through. Wow

That sucked. South Korea played well, but they lacked clarity in the end. I think Mexico's second goal is preceded by a foul.

As a side note, I hate the "olés".

That will probably put a bow on South Korea's hopes for this tournament. At least Son had that beautiful goal just now.

Two penalties conceded in two games which were lost by one goal each. =/

bigred wrote:

The commentator from Fox for this Mexico game is my favorite.

That was the most Latino broadcast on Fox since House of Buggin' was on the air.

Germany on the ropes.

What's wrong with Germany? They look so stiff (don't make jokes).
At the beginning, VAR should've acted in favour of Sweden. One was a penalty. The refs in the booth must be taking a nap.

That first half was great and had everything. Wasn't tuning in to cheer for either side but the two non-calls early on put me in the Swedish camp - Sweden should have had a free kick and then a penalty on their first two counterattacks.

slazev wrote:

What's wrong with Germany? They look so stiff (don't make jokes).
At the beginning, VAR should've acted in favour of Sweden. One was a penalty. The refs in the booth must be taking a nap.

Their midfield is non-existant when they don't have the ball.

So, a Germany win keeps South Korea's hopes alive.

A Sweden win eliminates Germany, and I don't want them repeating (not much of a concern now that we've seen their form in two games).

So obviously, they're tied.

Oh, Dr. Joe saying that FIFA has voluntarily decided that the kinds of fouls Boateng committed can't use VAR. Because we need even more opportunities for the refs to get it wrong. Kudos for a good decision in the end, this time.

I think the story on VAR so far is that it has been a positive almost every time it has been used, and we're already getting angry when it apparently isn't used.

What a header and save in the 88th. Holy sh*t.

Germany lives.

Wow!

KROOSLAND UBER ALLES

What a game. What a match day. Being Belgian maybe not a 100% objective statement, but still

Kroos gets the winner seconds away from elimination by Swedish-Mexican collusion in the final match?

That was fun.

That's harsh on Sweden, but man, that's what champions are made of.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

So, a Germany win keeps South Korea's hopes alive.

A Sweden win eliminates Germany, and I don't want them repeating (not much of a concern now that we've seen their form in two games).

So obviously, they're tied.

Oh, Dr. Joe saying that FIFA has voluntarily decided that the kinds of fouls Boateng committed can't use VAR. Because we need even more opportunities for the refs to get it wrong. Kudos for a good decision in the end, this time.

I think the story on VAR so far is that it has been a positive almost every time it has been used, and we're already getting angry when it apparently isn't used.

As long as the ref doesn't run off the field to look at a screen, I'm ok with VAR.

Did Germany deserve 5 minutes of extra time? I didn't see Sweden wasting time or many injuries/fouls. Oh, well. Germany worked for that goal, even with only 10 players and Sweden stil kind of sucks.

I haven't watched a game with VAR intervention but by all accounts it's been great, better than any of the non-rugby sports (and maybe even better than that).

As a skeptic I've been pretty much converted (though I still think VAR for offsides is an abomination).

Wowsa, what a free kick. Sweden could have used one more guy in front of that ball.

Mexico is still not through, either, although I can't imagine Sweden beating them. The thought of Germany and Sweden each winning by 1 on Wednesday is amusing, as that would cause a 3-way tie in the table with all 3 teams being +1.

Roke wrote:

Kroos gets the winner seconds away from elimination by Swedish-Mexican collusion in the final match?

Yes, now Sweden has to play because a draw is (probably) not good enough for them.