The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018

joe1980 · 17th June 2018, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

The first goal by D'Costa was a foul on Pepe that was overlooked.

If you minus the foul, the way Costa cleared the Goal by tackling 3 Portugal defenders is simply awesome!

thoma · 17th June 2018, 22:31

Wow. A thriller and I liked the game of Mexico the most among all nations yet. Their long passes are beautiful to watch and accurate. How many chances they created though they lack the final conversion to goal.

Spain's tiki taka is mostly short passes and feel that the ball being somehow managed to be squeezed in between the opponents.

Ithaca · 17th June 2018, 22:33

Great reality check for my favorite team - Germany - today having lost to Mexico 1:0
Germany unable to convert even one of their 25 attempts on the goal is another story that needs serious introspection.
This loss is in keeping with the trend of last few world cups wherein the previous winner managed to lose their first matches.
Hope Germany does not make losing games a habit in this world cup.
All I can hope for is that the team play well from here on out and be one of the two teams in the finals.

harry10 · 17th June 2018, 22:33

Mexico deserve it. They gave it all and one could feel some jitters in the end when they became extra defensive but survived. Great match.

DDDHRUV · 17th June 2018, 22:37

If Germany end up in second place in their group they may face Brazil in the second round..

Chetan_Rao · 17th June 2018, 22:46

Germany very lucky to escape without getting massacred. A more clinical opponent and Germany's goal difference would be in tatters. Playing a high back line with Hummels and Boateng is suicide. Doesn't work for Bayern against good opposition, won't work for Germany either.

roby_dk · 17th June 2018, 22:50

What a match between Germany and Mexico. The Mexicans did a commendable job today while I am a bit disappointed with Germans.

Ithaca · 17th June 2018, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDDHRUV

If Germany end up in second place in their group they may face Brazil in the second round..

Maybe Brazil can then extract their revenge for the 7:1 beating Germany gave them in the last world cup.

NPV · 18th June 2018, 00:24

Brazil Vs Switzerland has also been a good game so far till half time.

Brazil leading 1-0, should be through with a win hopefully.

Edit: Switzerland get the equaliser, this is getting more interesting.

benbsb29 · 18th June 2018, 04:35

Woke up at 1AM to watch the Germany vs Mexico match, and wasnt disappointed.
Loved Mexico's counter strikes and long balls and quite pleased to see them emerge victorious.

Germany have a bit of homework to do to get back on track.

arunramaswamy · 18th June 2018, 07:22

What a cracker of a game. Mexico defended deep and hit Germany on the counter. I am not sure why Germany was holding a high line with Boeteng and Hummels in the heart of the defence. They are not exactly the paciest of guys in case of a counter attack. Mueller and Werner missed many chances and so did Mario Gomez. Germany definitely need to be clinical in the final third if they are to progress deep into the tournament.

Really difficult to predict the semi finalists at this stage.

Latheesh · 18th June 2018, 10:14

For a change I watched last 10 minutes of GER vs MEX match on SONY ESPN Malayalam. It was worth it!

Axe77 · 18th June 2018, 11:15

Let me start by saying I am a big Argentina fan since the days of Maradona.

In modern club football I am a big Messi and Barcelona fan - not a RM and Ronaldo fan.

BUT ...

What I have seen Ronaldo do for Portugal is consistently streets ahead of anything Messi or any other modern top footballers are doing for their country. Messi's performance was not a patch on the never say die approach of Ronaldo vs Spain. Where Messi missed a penalty (yes I know he had a great game otherwise but you need to deliver on these opportunities), Ronaldo scored an incredible free kick in the dying minutes to rescue a point in a critical game. Let me not even start on Neymar - who in my opinion is simply not in the class of the above two both in footballing terms, as a team player or generally in maturity.

Complete respect for Ronaldo on this front and I do wish their team well.

Even Argentina's self professed approach to organising the team around Messi is at some level totally demotivating for other top notch players in his team. Everything about how this ARG side is put together disappoints me. This is not how you assemble a trophy winning side - period!! And it saddens me to see that.

The cup in itself is completely entertaining for now. It's incredible to see so many upsets in the first group game. Hopefully all these big boys will be a bit more grounded before their next games - whether its Spain or Germany or Argentina or Brazil or France (while they got the points they had a slender victory)

volkman10 · 19th June 2018, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV

Portugal Vs Spain - just wow, what a match!

Ronaldo proved yet again why is regarded as one of the best ever in the game...

This is what the match was all about

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

Mnjdnght · 19th June 2018, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axe77

Let me start by saying I am a big Argentina fan since the days of Maradona.

In modern club football I am a big Messi and Barcelona fan - not a RM and Ronaldo fan.

BUT ...

...

Complete respect for Ronaldo on this front and I do wish their team well.

...

A post close to my own thoughts! I am a huge Messi, Barca and Arg fan too but have recently started to respect Ronaldo for what he does for RM and Portugal.

Arg has a huge disadvantage, in my opinion, since their team is a heterogenous mix from various clubs with their main man Messi from Barca which unfortunately has a style very different from others. I think Arg team game doesn't blend well with Messi's Barca instincts which reduces Messi's effectiveness and his influence on outcomes. They have to figure out a strategy and improve their team dynamics that leverages Messi better. Hope they do that soon.

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

17th June 2018, 22:31	#77
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 Wow. A thriller and I liked the game of Mexico the most among all nations yet. Their long passes are beautiful to watch and accurate. How many chances they created though they lack the final conversion to goal. Spain's tiki taka is mostly short passes and feel that the ball being somehow managed to be squeezed in between the opponents.
	() Thanks

17th June 2018, 22:33	#78
Ithaca BHPian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: MH 43 // MH 46 Posts: 343 Thanked: 893 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Great reality check for my favorite team - Germany - today having lost to Mexico 1:0 Germany unable to convert even one of their 25 attempts on the goal is another story that needs serious introspection. This loss is in keeping with the trend of last few world cups wherein the previous winner managed to lose their first matches. Hope Germany does not make losing games a habit in this world cup. All I can hope for is that the team play well from here on out and be one of the two teams in the finals.
	() Thanks

17th June 2018, 22:33	#79
harry10 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Faridabad/Delhi Posts: 2,713 Thanked: 3,627 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Mexico deserve it. They gave it all and one could feel some jitters in the end when they became extra defensive but survived. Great match.
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17th June 2018, 22:37	#80
DDDHRUV BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 116 Thanked: 13 Times	If Germany end up in second place in their group they may face Brazil in the second round..
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17th June 2018, 22:46	#81
Chetan_Rao Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,900 Thanked: 24,084 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Germany very lucky to escape without getting massacred. A more clinical opponent and Germany's goal difference would be in tatters. Playing a high back line with Hummels and Boateng is suicide. Doesn't work for Bayern against good opposition, won't work for Germany either.
	() Thanks

17th June 2018, 22:50	#82
roby_dk BHPian Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: New Delhi Posts: 753 Thanked: 2,155 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 What a match between Germany and Mexico. The Mexicans did a commendable job today while I am a bit disappointed with Germans.
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18th June 2018, 00:24	#84
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 Brazil Vs Switzerland has also been a good game so far till half time. Brazil leading 1-0, should be through with a win hopefully. Edit: Switzerland get the equaliser, this is getting more interesting. Last edited by NPV : 18th June 2018 at 00:39.
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18th June 2018, 04:35	#85
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,968 Thanked: 13,223 Times View My Garage	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 Woke up at 1AM to watch the Germany vs Mexico match, and wasnt disappointed. Loved Mexico's counter strikes and long balls and quite pleased to see them emerge victorious. Germany have a bit of homework to do to get back on track.
	() Thanks

18th June 2018, 07:22	#86
arunramaswamy BHPian Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Chennai/Sydney Posts: 337 Thanked: 672 Times	What a cracker of a game. Mexico defended deep and hit Germany on the counter. I am not sure why Germany was holding a high line with Boeteng and Hummels in the heart of the defence. They are not exactly the paciest of guys in case of a counter attack. Mueller and Werner missed many chances and so did Mario Gomez. Germany definitely need to be clinical in the final third if they are to progress deep into the tournament. Really difficult to predict the semi finalists at this stage.
	() Thanks

18th June 2018, 10:14	#87
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,243 Thanked: 10,090 Times	Re: The Football World Cup Thread - Russia, 2018 For a change I watched last 10 minutes of GER vs MEX match on SONY ESPN Malayalam. It was worth it!
	() Thanks

18th June 2018, 11:15	#88
Axe77 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,923 Thanked: 20,665 Times	Let me start by saying I am a big Argentina fan since the days of Maradona. In modern club football I am a big Messi and Barcelona fan - not a RM and Ronaldo fan. BUT ... What I have seen Ronaldo do for Portugal is consistently streets ahead of anything Messi or any other modern top footballers are doing for their country. Messi's performance was not a patch on the never say die approach of Ronaldo vs Spain. Where Messi missed a penalty (yes I know he had a great game otherwise but you need to deliver on these opportunities), Ronaldo scored an incredible free kick in the dying minutes to rescue a point in a critical game. Let me not even start on Neymar - who in my opinion is simply not in the class of the above two both in footballing terms, as a team player or generally in maturity. Complete respect for Ronaldo on this front and I do wish their team well. Even Argentina's self professed approach to organising the team around Messi is at some level totally demotivating for other top notch players in his team. Everything about how this ARG side is put together disappoints me. This is not how you assemble a trophy winning side - period!! And it saddens me to see that. The cup in itself is completely entertaining for now. It's incredible to see so many upsets in the first group game. Hopefully all these big boys will be a bit more grounded before their next games - whether its Spain or Germany or Argentina or Brazil or France (while they got the points they had a slender victory)
	() Thanks