The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018

Axe77 · 6th July 2018, 21:50

Agree Strawhat although I would say Brazil and Belgium in that order. Personally I hope Belgium wins tonight though. I have had enough of Neymar's theatrics.

naveenroy · 6th July 2018, 23:06

Good match but the second goal knocked the wind out of Uruguay - who already looked lackluster after missing Cavani.

strawhat · 6th July 2018, 23:41

Great start to the Belgium-Brazil match. Both attacks look fluid and pacy. Two, inside penalty box, chances missed already by Brazil.

Have to say Brazil's tight man-to-man marking has been impressive.

Edit: Nobody marking Kompany during corner which lead to the goal. Against run of play that goal, to be fair.

joe1980 · 7th July 2018, 00:17

So the World Cup is slowly changing into a Europe Cup with Brazil on the verge of being thrown out by Belgium!

strawhat · 7th July 2018, 00:28

Brazil have had many chances (some very close). They just haven't been clinical. Neymar's finishing was questionable having made some neat runs behind Belgium's defense. Coutinho and Neymar have to really step up for Brazil to have any chance in this.

joe1980 · 7th July 2018, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawhat

Brazil have had many chances (some very close). They just haven't been clinical. Neymar's finishing was questionable having made some neat runs behind Belgium's defense. Coutinho and Neymar have to really step up for Brazil to have any chance in this.

The chances for Brazil making it is very slim! I already see a Belgium vs France Semi finals!

naveenroy · 7th July 2018, 00:33

This counter from Belgium is killing me! Lukaku - what a player. Always knew he was strong but he is just holding the attack together.

If Belgium win this match, I predict them winning the World Cup!

joe1980 · 7th July 2018, 00:43

Just now Neymar should have gotten a yellow card. What an actor he is!

https://sports.ndtv.com/2018-fifa-wo...-lateststories

joe1980 · 7th July 2018, 01:28

So there it is! We have an European Semi-finals hence forth! Brazil was awesome in the second half! Belgium seemed very tired to do anything in the second half. If this is how they would play against France, then they stand no chance!

thoma · 7th July 2018, 01:33

No way Belgium are going to have a cake walk over Mbappe and Griezmann. Belgium depends mostly on counter attack and they are lucky that there has been a lot of chances missed by Brazil. If it was not for Courtois, Belgium would have wasted all their skillful dribbles, blocks and coolness. I feel that whoever wins the France vs Belgium will go on to take the cup, unless otherwise the final opponents are Croatia who by themselves are a different mettle, not unbeatable but will make it really difficult.

I really wanted Neymar to get a yellow card for all the diving in the box, though he has the best penetration inside the box than any other player.

strawhat · 7th July 2018, 01:33

France vs Belgium is going to be a fascinating contest. The two underachieving teams that many (including me) thought were more a collection of individuals rather than a group. Belgium have been the most impressive side in this tournament. I believe they have got the edge. The likes of Lukaku, De Bruyne, Hazard, Fellaini have flourished and I see it would be very hard for France to contain them.

anthusiast · 7th July 2018, 01:42

France vs Belgium should have played the finals. The remaining of Croatia, Russia, England, Sweden don't hold a chance against either. Just hope that the winner of France vs Belgium lifts the world cup.

Octane_Power · 7th July 2018, 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthusiast

France vs Belgium should have played the finals. The remaining of Croatia, Russia, England, Sweden don't hold a chance against either. Just hope that the winner of France vs Belgium lifts the world cup.

Well, one would really hope for that to happen right? But, given the number of upsets we have seen this World cup, I wouldn't be surprise if one of the teams you mentioned actually picks the cup!

Apart, from that, I do agree that Belgium is the strongest of them all.

-Bhargav

Rahul Bhalgat · 7th July 2018, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe1980

So there it is! We have an European Semi-finals hence forth! Brazil was awesome in the second half! Belgium seemed very tired to do anything in the second half. If this is how they would play against France, then they stand no chance!

I too think that France will beat Belgium if Belgium plays like they did in the second half.

England is lucky to get easier opponents in the round of 16 as well as the QF as well as the semi-final (if they reach).

Is it just me, who does not mind France or Belgium or Croatia or even Russia winning, but not England.

thoma · 7th July 2018, 02:12

Sweden is the only country left who has not received any votes in our poll. They came from the qualifiers upsetting Italy.

Even the Russians can be a dark horse with the backing of their twelfth man.

Happy that all time winners and recent winners including Brazil, Germany and Spain are not winning again. Now I don't mind anybody winning the cup this time

View Poll Results: Who do you think will win the world cup ?
Russia	5	2.65%
Germany	46	24.34%
Argentina	18	9.52%
Australia	0	0%
Belgium	21	11.11%
Brazil	30	15.87%
Colombia	0	0%
Costa Rica	1	0.53%
Croatia	8	4.23%
Denmark	0	0%
Egypt	0	0%
England	9	4.76%
France	29	15.34%
Iceland	0	0%
Iran	0	0%
Japan	0	0%
Mexico	2	1.06%
Morocco	0	0%
Nigeria	0	0%
Panama	0	0%
Peru	1	0.53%
Poland	1	0.53%
Portugal	7	3.70%
Saudi Arabia	1	0.53%
Senegal	0	0%
Serbia	0	0%
South Korea	0	0%
Spain	7	3.70%
Sweden	0	0%
Switzerland	0	0%
Tunisia	0	0%
Uruguay	3	1.59%
Voters: 189. You may not vote on this poll

6th July 2018, 21:50	#271
Axe77 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,926 Thanked: 20,671 Times	The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Agree Strawhat although I would say Brazil and Belgium in that order. Personally I hope Belgium wins tonight though. I have had enough of Neymar's theatrics.
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6th July 2018, 23:06	#272
naveenroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,511 Thanked: 1,253 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Good match but the second goal knocked the wind out of Uruguay - who already looked lackluster after missing Cavani.
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6th July 2018, 23:41	#273
strawhat BHPian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: SBC/SC/VSKP Posts: 270 Thanked: 501 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Great start to the Belgium-Brazil match. Both attacks look fluid and pacy. Two, inside penalty box, chances missed already by Brazil. Have to say Brazil's tight man-to-man marking has been impressive. Edit: Nobody marking Kompany during corner which lead to the goal. Against run of play that goal, to be fair. Last edited by strawhat : 6th July 2018 at 23:46.
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7th July 2018, 00:17	#274
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 So the World Cup is slowly changing into a Europe Cup with Brazil on the verge of being thrown out by Belgium!
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7th July 2018, 00:28	#275
strawhat BHPian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: SBC/SC/VSKP Posts: 270 Thanked: 501 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Brazil have had many chances (some very close). They just haven't been clinical. Neymar's finishing was questionable having made some neat runs behind Belgium's defense. Coutinho and Neymar have to really step up for Brazil to have any chance in this.
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7th July 2018, 00:33	#277
naveenroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,511 Thanked: 1,253 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 This counter from Belgium is killing me! Lukaku - what a player. Always knew he was strong but he is just holding the attack together. If Belgium win this match, I predict them winning the World Cup!
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7th July 2018, 00:43	#278
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Just now Neymar should have gotten a yellow card. What an actor he is! https://sports.ndtv.com/2018-fifa-wo...-lateststories
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7th July 2018, 01:28	#279
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 So there it is! We have an European Semi-finals hence forth! Brazil was awesome in the second half! Belgium seemed very tired to do anything in the second half. If this is how they would play against France, then they stand no chance!
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7th July 2018, 01:33	#280
thoma Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kerala Posts: 1,980 Thanked: 1,447 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 No way Belgium are going to have a cake walk over Mbappe and Griezmann. Belgium depends mostly on counter attack and they are lucky that there has been a lot of chances missed by Brazil. If it was not for Courtois, Belgium would have wasted all their skillful dribbles, blocks and coolness. I feel that whoever wins the France vs Belgium will go on to take the cup, unless otherwise the final opponents are Croatia who by themselves are a different mettle, not unbeatable but will make it really difficult. I really wanted Neymar to get a yellow card for all the diving in the box, though he has the best penetration inside the box than any other player. Last edited by thoma : 7th July 2018 at 01:44.
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7th July 2018, 01:33	#281
strawhat BHPian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: SBC/SC/VSKP Posts: 270 Thanked: 501 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 France vs Belgium is going to be a fascinating contest. The two underachieving teams that many (including me) thought were more a collection of individuals rather than a group. Belgium have been the most impressive side in this tournament. I believe they have got the edge. The likes of Lukaku, De Bruyne, Hazard, Fellaini have flourished and I see it would be very hard for France to contain them.
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7th July 2018, 01:42	#282
anthusiast BHPian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 151 Thanked: 444 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 France vs Belgium should have played the finals. The remaining of Croatia, Russia, England, Sweden don't hold a chance against either. Just hope that the winner of France vs Belgium lifts the world cup.
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7th July 2018, 02:12	#285
thoma Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kerala Posts: 1,980 Thanked: 1,447 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Sweden is the only country left who has not received any votes in our poll. They came from the qualifiers upsetting Italy. Even the Russians can be a dark horse with the backing of their twelfth man. Happy that all time winners and recent winners including Brazil, Germany and Spain are not winning again. Now I don't mind anybody winning the cup this time Last edited by thoma : 7th July 2018 at 02:13.
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