World Cup 2018 - Russia

It's an interesting question, but I bet Russia loses to any solid team they play.

- They gave the ball away a lot, even against weak teams like Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Their passing completion rate for both games was 76%. Even taking into account their style of play, it's just not very good. I saw both of their games, and often they'd intercept an opponent's pass, give it right back, then intercept the next pass. A better team isn't going to give them that second chance. Egypt and Saudi were largely awful. Turnovers will kill Russia.

- Both Saudi and Egypt struggled physically against the size and strength of Russia, in particular at forward. A team with a bit more heft and height will nullify that edge.

They do have confidence and the home field advantage, which do count for something. Still, I think they lose to Uruguay, then likely lose their first round of 16 game, unless they get a super easy opponent.

Such a cool toy, thanks for sharing!

A Brazil vs. Germany round of 16 match up looks very possible as well. If Brazil gets 1st and Germany gets 2nd, there we are.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Such a cool toy, thanks for sharing!

Humorously, it's the World Cup in my FM game, and the final is the two teams listed here with the best chance of winning the whole thing, Brazil and Spain.

As a Liverpool fan, and entirely for selfish reasons I’m quite relieved that Egypt are effectively out. Mo needs the rest for next season after Ramos’s ‘tackle’ in the CL final.

Sorry any Egyptian fans on the forums!

Prederick wrote:
Mr Bismarck wrote:

The Senegal coach was pumped.

By a distance the best gif to come out of the WC thus far.

That guy looks intense af.

slazev wrote:
Prederick wrote:
Mr Bismarck wrote:

The Senegal coach was pumped.

By a distance the best gif to come out of the WC thus far.

That guy looks intense af.

Aliou Cisse. Was part of the Senegalese team that got to the Quarter Finals in 2002. He knows what it takes to do well in the competition. Only African team to win a game so far this year too.

Aaaaaand Ronaldo opens his scoring for the game.

At this rate, Ronaldo is going to give "Own Goal" a run for it's money in the Golden Boot race.

Ref is awful both ways.

Use your yellow cards.

jowner wrote:

Ref is awful both ways.

Use your yellow cards.

Agreed. I understand "let them play", but he seems to be on the verge of losing control. Someone's gonna get hurt.

If Morocco had played like this against Iran they'd have three points already and be top of this group.

On behalf of my nation, I'm sorry for how the team played. That was rough to watch. But hey, 3 points, right?

it was vintage 2016-era Portugal.

I would disagree on that point. The 2016 version didn't lose the ball so easily. Most had legs and brains then...
IMAGE(https://i.gyazo.com/11cf74d34570f2a37ae77826611acf61.png)

That was a really undeserved win for Spain. I was seriously pulling for Iran.

It is time for Neymar to start playing for the team, not himself - Marcel Desailly

I'll take "things that will never happen" for $1600, Alex.

Mr Bismarck wrote:

it was vintage 2016-era Portugal.

Least they have to finish in the top 2 of the group at the World Cup, unlike the joke of a format the Euros is now.

Interesting critique on Messi and Argentina:

Lionel Messi the Sun King Makes Argentina Blind to New Tricks

"With the opening seven days of Russia 2018 now done, one outfield player has run less over 90 minutes than anyone else in any position in any team. His name? Why, it’s Lionel Messi!"

Mr Bismarck wrote:

it was vintage 2016-era Portugal.

Also, I caught the highlights today and Jesus Christ, Pepe cannot be allowed to prosper.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Interesting critique on Messi and Argentina:

Lionel Messi the Sun King Makes Argentina Blind to New Tricks

"With the opening seven days of Russia 2018 now done, one outfield player has run less over 90 minutes than anyone else in any position in any team. His name? Why, it’s Lionel Messi!"

I don't know how they do it, but you can always tell a Ronay article from the headline.

Running stats are generally garbage, playing into the "skill, or anything that required thinking too much, was not to be trusted but physical toughness was the ultimate virtue" thing that plagues Anglosphere sporting culture.

The game still revolves around him without running though, he has a gravitational pull that affects how the opposition plays even when he's standing still or walking without the ball. Llast World Cup Germany were the only side who didn't completely shift their shape to shut him down, everybody else kept their rightback back and a holding midfielder on the left side of the pitch nearby. Couldn't remember this piece/video Messi Walks Better Than Most Players Run but it was a 538 piece.

Simon Kuper had a better "Argentina are too reliant on Messi" piece before the World Cup started. Argentina's reliance on Messi to progress the ball takes him away from where he's most dangerous, close to goal.

Prederick wrote:
Mr Bismarck wrote:

it was vintage 2016-era Portugal.

Also, I caught the highlights today and Jesus Christ, Pepe cannot be allowed to prosper.

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

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.

Dammit Sorbicol, you have to spoiler that stuff, or at least mark it as NSFL. I didn't need that kind of sh*t first thing in the morning.

There needs to be a new card introduced for that sort of thing, assigned retrospectively on video review.

A sienna or magenta card - when you earn two you have to play the next game in a floppy sunhat with a flower in it.

I wonder if football floppers are so intense about their craft that if you lightly graze them at say a club they'll crumble to the floor.

Don't think France had to touch that in but best to make sure i guess

Stele wrote:

Don't think France had to touch that in but best to make sure i guess

Yeah, I think that's the bottom line. Crazy stuff happens, and the keeper was trying to get to it. Imagine Mbappe not wanting to steal the goal, and then somehow it gets saved. This is the World Cup!

Nuke it from orbit, only way to be sure.

HOW IS DYBALA NOT STARTING THIS TIME? HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?!?!?!

I'm going to set the over/under for players on the field at the end of this game to 20.5.

And then take the under.

Messi is getting touches way, way too far from goal. There's no passing in midfield and basically wasting two subs on straight swapping Higuain for Aguero and Pavon for Salvio was such a bad move when you needed to bring on Banega or even stuff Di Maria into central midfield so you have somebody there who can play a pass forward.