World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 19 (2 July)

[LSUY]

Fellaini's elbow vs. Neymar. Gonna be more painful and one-sided than Bruno vs. Tyson II.

 

[mpickard2087]

Another great watch for the neutral. Two teams who were trying to play the right way. I felt tbh that Belgium should have found the breakthrough in the first half, but Japan then launched something of a smash and grab and looked comfortable after that playing some composed pass and move as Belgium demonstrated all the classic worst parts of a Martinez team by doing nothing off the ball and leaving huge spaces between the lines.

However there was one question remaining... After seeing Japan looking unconvincing throughout with balls into the box, you wondered what was going to happen when Fellaini time came and they had to deal with a lot more of the aerial stuff. Well the time came, it fairly predictably wasn't dealt with, and game on. It was a deadly counter attack at the end, but I think that was fairly poor from Japan to get caught short at the back like that, and goes to show the smallest margins - that you cant afford to put the ball into the keepers hands at that stage and provide the opportunity to counter.

Should be a good quarter final, I'd make Brazil favourites but both teams can do each other damage.

 

[Indisguise]

I think this WC is going to remembered for its attacking defenders as much as anything else.

 

[ohtottenham!]

He meant it, immediately looked for Chadli in the aftermath and celebrated like he scored himself...thought it was great play.

Yep, great dummy by Lukaku. Just saw the replay. Shit corner by Japan, and then no-one tracking, or ahead of, De Bruyne, big mistake! Still, Japan showed any team's there for the taking.

 

[Yid-ol]

I think this WC is going to remembered for its attacking defenders as much as anything else.

And Kane!

 

[Amo]

Martinez is a fucking terrible manager.

 

[tototoner]

Belgium will still win.

I agreed with you, bet placed just after Japan went 2-0 up

 

[riggi]

 

[Mate]

I agreed with you, bet placed just after Japan went 2-0 up
View attachment 39201

Fair play but those are awful odds. Should have been at least 16/1 at that point

 

[Gassin's finest]

I could watch that Inui goal all night...

Really heartbroken for Japan, they play such good football. But Belgium's quality had to tell in the end.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Think Mexico played to their full potential, like they did against Germany. They made it count against the Germans, and they couldn't against Brazil.

They got worn down, fatigued, because that's what a pressing game does to a team defending against a superior attacking team. Then when they get fatigued, they still have to close down attacking passes through the lines, keep two defenders close to Neymar, chase runners like Willian throughout the game; it was just a matter of time.

Sure, Mexico had their chances, but I thought Brazil won pretty comfortably in the end.

Agree they played to their full potential, but they applied themselves differently today than against Germany, where it was pure deep block and counter. Today they actually tried to go more toe to toe with Brazil, and I don't think they made a bad fist of it but, as you say, the better quality personnel of Brazil just told.

 

[BuryMeInEngland]

Two pretty cracking games today. Let' hope for the same tomorrow.

 

[Gbspurs]

I agreed with you, bet placed just after Japan went 2-0 up
View attachment 39201

I nearly did the same but bottled it. fortune favours the brave.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

You fucking jammy jammy bastards.

Japan were superb, far more cohesive with and without the ball than Belgium, and the best player on the pitch by a mile was Kagawa. This wasn't about counter attacking, Japan were tactically so much better than Belgium, and controlled the midfield, and exploited the space left by Martinez's lazy wide forwards and WB's, with Kagawa dropping in and outnumbering Belgiums 2CM's.

Undone by a fluke, a lump into the box and a "Stalteri" at the death, you have to feel for Japan. They deserved to win that game IMO. Martinez got so fucking lucky. When your saviours are Fellani and Chadli, you know youve made a fucking pigs ear of it.

 

[Mullers]

You fucking jammy jammy bastards.

Japan were superb, far more cohesive with and without the ball than Belgium, and the best player on the pitch by a mile was Kagawa. This wasn't about counter attacking, Japan were tactically so much better than Belgium, and controlled the midfield, and exploited the space left by Martinez's lazy wide forwards and WB's, with Kagawa dropping in and outnumbering Belgiums 2CM's.

Undone by a fluke, a lump into the box and a "Stalteri" at the death, you have to feel for Japan. They deserved to win that game IMO. Martinez got so fucking lucky. When your saviours are Fellani and Chadli, you know youve made a fucking pigs ear of it.

Their winning goal was absolutely brilliant to be fair, great awareness by Lukaku. I'm so pleased for Nacer, good value for money for us, unfortunate with the injuries.

 

[Mullers]

France is my team but I would like them to be knocked out, I think if they are then there will be two new finalists who have never won the world cup before.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

France is my team but I would like them to be knocked out, I think if they are then there will be two new finalists who have never won the world cup before.

Brazil and Uruguay ?

 

[Mullers]

Brazil and Uruguay ?

No they won't be getting to the final.

 

[fortworthspur]

Its shaping up nicely for England. If you can get by Colombia Croatia is the toughest obstacle between you and a WC final. Well Croatia or Russia with a bribed and intimidated referee in Russia.

 

[fortworthspur]

and Brazil. watching them roll around for 90 minutes with that kind of quality on the pitch brought shame to the game.