The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018

NPV · 7th July 2018, 22:57

So, the first semi final will be played between France and Belgium.

England is through to the semis after beating Sweden by 2 goals and will now meet the winner of the Russia-Croatia match in the semi final.

Let's see if Russia can beat Croatia to make things a bit interesting.

nairrk · 8th July 2018, 08:41

Croatia beat Russia 4-3 (Penalty shoot-out)

++

Semi-final fixtures

Tuesday 10 July

France vs Belgium - St Petersburg, 11:30 Pm (IST)

++

Wednesday 11 July

Croatia vs England - Moscow (Luzhniki), 11:30 pm (IST)

thoma · 8th July 2018, 09:11

As someone mentioned here, I'm somehow beginning to feel that Luka Modric is going to lift the cup.

Anybody watched yesterday's match? How resolute was Croatia, is their determination going to sail them through?

EDIT

Will anybody miss out from the semis? When are the yellow cards wiped out?

NPV · 8th July 2018, 18:06

Will it be a France Vs England final this time ?

Just checked the poll results so far and here's what we have for the semi finalists :
Belgium ~10%
France ~10%
England ~3%
Croatia ~1%

So, it has been seemingly unpredictable thus far!

avingodb · 9th July 2018, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV

So, it has been seemingly unpredictable thus far!

Unpredictable from the point of view of how much one knew of the present football scenario! And as such India votes for Brazil, Argentina and German en masse.

Previous winners exiting first round is a shocker but shows how complacent they were just like the ones before them, the Spanish team, who thought what worked in 2010 will do in 2018.

Chetan_Rao · 9th July 2018, 09:57

England will face in Croatia what they haven't so far, a world-class midfield pair. Southgate's tactical nous will be tested.

b_naresh · 9th July 2018, 16:32

England vs Croatia will be interesting. My head says England, heart says Croatia. Going by their performance in the last couple of matches, England have an edge. The Croatians couldn't win in 120 minutes and had to rely on their goalkeeper Subasic to save them in 2 consecutive penalty shootouts. Also, Subasic sustained a hamstring injury during the Russia match. Don't know how serious it is and if he will be able to play against England.

thoma · 10th July 2018, 10:08

So, who will be lifting the cup this time, Hazard or Kane or Lloris or Modric?

The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018-unnamed.jpg

For today's game, I think it will be mostly Mbappe vs Courtois than Lukaku vs Umtiti. But overall, we will be in for some fascinating game today, with more of set pieces and counter attacks.

Chetan_Rao · 10th July 2018, 12:09

Very interested how England will handle Modric/Rakitic/Perisic. That could very well define the game, not the forwards. England have the pace, but can they get their tactics right?

Belgium have Meunier absent at right-back, so will be interesting who plays there as France will definitely leverage their pacy wingers on either side.

joe1980 · 10th July 2018, 12:23

I predict Belgium to win today even though I voted for France. It should be a 2-1 win for Belgium! This is just my prediction.

thoma · 10th July 2018, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Belgium have Meunier absent at right-back, so will be interesting who plays there as France will definitely leverage their pacy wingers on either side.

I thought yellow cards were wiped off going into the semis!

Chetan_Rao · 10th July 2018, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoma

I thought yellow cards were wiped off going into the semis!

Single yellows only. His booking against Brazil was his second.

joe1980 · 11th July 2018, 00:41

It is 1:0 for France. Looks like they have very good advantage over Belgium! Heart says Belgium but mind says France!

Somehow Belgium is slowing down the game. When they get the ball they keep it circling around the mid field and could not get it into the D box. These are just signs of loosing!

Lukaku - Is he in the playing eleven?

Chetan_Rao · 11th July 2018, 00:50

Some exquisite one-touch play by France. Belgium should've made their opening dominance count. France look more threatening now but plenty of time for Belgium to find a way back into this.

Why didn't Martinez play Mertens from the start?

joe1980 · 11th July 2018, 01:17

Belgium kind of picked up speed now. These idiots should have done this much earlier! It is very late now - Verdammt spät!

Game over for Belgium. They can focus on winning at-least the 3rd place!

So all those that voted for France, the choice was correct!

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

7th July 2018, 22:57	#286
NPV Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 7,220 Thanked: 10,264 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 So, the first semi final will be played between France and Belgium. England is through to the semis after beating Sweden by 2 goals and will now meet the winner of the Russia-Croatia match in the semi final. Let's see if Russia can beat Croatia to make things a bit interesting.
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8th July 2018, 08:41	#287
nairrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kannur Posts: 2,441 Thanked: 674 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Croatia beat Russia 4-3 (Penalty shoot-out) ++ Semi-final fixtures Tuesday 10 July France vs Belgium - St Petersburg, 11:30 Pm (IST) ++ Wednesday 11 July Croatia vs England - Moscow (Luzhniki), 11:30 pm (IST)
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8th July 2018, 09:11	#288
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 As someone mentioned here, I'm somehow beginning to feel that Luka Modric is going to lift the cup. Anybody watched yesterday's match? How resolute was Croatia, is their determination going to sail them through? EDIT Will anybody miss out from the semis? When are the yellow cards wiped out? Last edited by thoma : 8th July 2018 at 09:24.
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8th July 2018, 18:06	#289
NPV Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 7,220 Thanked: 10,264 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Will it be a France Vs England final this time ? Just checked the poll results so far and here's what we have for the semi finalists : Belgium ~10% France ~10% England ~3% Croatia ~1% So, it has been seemingly unpredictable thus far! Last edited by NPV : 8th July 2018 at 18:13.
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9th July 2018, 09:57	#291
Chetan_Rao Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,899 Thanked: 24,081 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 England will face in Croatia what they haven't so far, a world-class midfield pair. Southgate's tactical nous will be tested.
	() Thanks

9th July 2018, 16:32	#292
b_naresh BHPian Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mumbai/Pune Posts: 25 Thanked: 13 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 England vs Croatia will be interesting. My head says England, heart says Croatia. Going by their performance in the last couple of matches, England have an edge. The Croatians couldn't win in 120 minutes and had to rely on their goalkeeper Subasic to save them in 2 consecutive penalty shootouts. Also, Subasic sustained a hamstring injury during the Russia match. Don't know how serious it is and if he will be able to play against England.
	() Thanks

10th July 2018, 10:08	#293
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 So, who will be lifting the cup this time, Hazard or Kane or Lloris or Modric? For today's game, I think it will be mostly Mbappe vs Courtois than Lukaku vs Umtiti. But overall, we will be in for some fascinating game today, with more of set pieces and counter attacks.
	() Thanks

10th July 2018, 12:09	#294
Chetan_Rao Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,899 Thanked: 24,081 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Very interested how England will handle Modric/Rakitic/Perisic. That could very well define the game, not the forwards. England have the pace, but can they get their tactics right? Belgium have Meunier absent at right-back, so will be interesting who plays there as France will definitely leverage their pacy wingers on either side.
	() Thanks

10th July 2018, 12:23	#295
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 I predict Belgium to win today even though I voted for France. It should be a 2-1 win for Belgium! This is just my prediction.
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11th July 2018, 00:41	#298
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 It is 1:0 for France. Looks like they have very good advantage over Belgium! Heart says Belgium but mind says France! Somehow Belgium is slowing down the game. When they get the ball they keep it circling around the mid field and could not get it into the D box. These are just signs of loosing! Lukaku - Is he in the playing eleven? Last edited by joe1980 : 11th July 2018 at 01:04.
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11th July 2018, 00:50	#299
Chetan_Rao Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,899 Thanked: 24,081 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Some exquisite one-touch play by France. Belgium should've made their opening dominance count. France look more threatening now but plenty of time for Belgium to find a way back into this. Why didn't Martinez play Mertens from the start? Last edited by Chetan_Rao : 11th July 2018 at 00:52.
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11th July 2018, 01:17	#300
joe1980 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Andromeda Posts: 336 Thanked: 155 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Belgium kind of picked up speed now. These idiots should have done this much earlier! It is very late now - Verdammt spät! Game over for Belgium. They can focus on winning at-least the 3rd place! So all those that voted for France, the choice was correct! Last edited by joe1980 : 11th July 2018 at 01:25.
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