FIFA World Cup: Russia 2018 [Archived] Soccer • Page 30

Quite impressed with Sommer’s performance

 

Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Germany going winless in the first round of games is nuts

 

100%, and Germany losing to Mexico is surprising enough on its own

 

Spain looked the best of any of the favorites. If De Gea wakes up its hard to not see them going the distance after seeing all but Belgium thus far play a match.

 

Yep, if de Gea does not fuck up for the 2-1 then Spain easily takes the win. They were by far the better team during that period.

 

France: lucky to win
Argentina: didn’t have enough to break down Iceland
Germany: vulnerable to counter attack and then couldn’t get the equaliser
Brazil: looked good for 25 mins and then very average
Uruguay: lucky to win

Portugal & Spain have been the best two teams so far! The other bigger teams have not impressed... yet!

Let’s see how Belgium and England do tomorrow.

 

Pretty exciting that all the top teams don't look exactly fluid makes it all the better and more unpredictable

 

Just won the World Cup on FM18 with England. Danny Welbeck scored 7 goals in 7 games and was the tournaments best player and top scorer. 100% realistic simulation of what will happen this month.

 

I got knocked out on penalties by Germany with Japan. Was winning one nil until the last minute of injury time.

 

Me & 2 friends did an FM game of this WC with the real groups, I was Portugal and they were England & France. England did best & came 3rd (Jamie Vardy golden boot) but Belgium won the final against Argentina!

I lost to Argentina 4-3 in QFs after being 3-1 up lol, Messi scored a 95th min winner after playing garbage all game. Painful.

 

I have to work through the second and third games tomorrow. Naturally the two I want to watch.

 

Spent the day watching football with my dad. He was born in Berlin and has a German passport but always roots against them. We had a great time supporting Mexico!

 

If anyone remembers @Dani we’re having a blast with these games

 

Oh hey World Cup thread... Thoughts so far to catch up with everyone

Nacho's goal!!! Ronaldo's frustratingly perfect, he loves the pressure of a moment like that free-kick.

Rogic would've had a much better game for Australia if yknow his teammates passed to him and trusted him. His main strength is taking balls in tight spaces and getting a ball through/shot off. Destined to finish bottom of their group but felt sorry for them with the VAR penalty for France.

Messi just wasn't good, he was frustrated with the pressure. His penalty record is shocking.

Croatia were crap but done the job, Nigeria were even worse. Peru were so much fun, really wanted a goal for them and would've loved if Guerrero's backheel had went in.

Gutted for Germany, that's the team I want to win but Lozano is just too fun. He's going to get his big move this summer you'd imagine. Perfect for Liverpool's style of play should Mane/Salah go.

Brazil need to work on defence so bad, they're going to get caught out with set pieces a lot if they defend like they did today. Interested to see Milinkovic-Savic against that Brazil team when they face Serbia.

Two more Celtic players play tomorrow so keen to see Lustig and Boyata. Oh and I'd be so keen for Tunisia to do some sort of good thing against England.

 

Struggled to get on board with the WC so far. I did watch Germany Mexico yesterday, which was pretty exciting. I was amazed at how wasteful Layun was. Was also a bit shocked that the whole Mexico team looked absolutely knackered by around the 70th minute.

Commentators have been saying that the games have been pretty open and decent so far, particularly after Spain Portugal. I now expect England to turn up and absolutely stink the place out. I'd like to see us turn up and give Tunisia a thumping, but I'm already having flashbacks to 2010 and Algeria.

 

That 2010 group was crazy.

 

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I saw England dominate a team and give a statement performance. But with every other team struggling to find high gear, I really hope England come out tonight and give the fans something to be proud of. Not even necessarily smashing them, just maybe 2-0 but with plenty of chances or something.

Course, we won't. It'll be 1-0 with 65% possession and 3 shots on target. But I can dream.

 

Are they still going with a 3 CB formation?

 

Every tournament I always hope that we will somehow pray attractive and enjoyable football - I don't care how far we get, I just want to see some good attacking football. As you say - something to be proud of. I'm always disappointed.

I'm hoping the lack of pressure on them helps them perform to the level that they can.

 

I think so. There was a piece recently on the BBC that said it was a very deliberate switch to 3 CBs for the friendlies, with a view to that being how we set up now. Guess we'll see tonight.

 

We went into the last tournament with no pressure though and other than having a good scrap with Italy, we were shit.

Like you, I just want us to play well. All of the players play in a fast, dynamic league, week in week out. I have no idea how they end up playing like a team of snails in every tournament.

 

Pickford
Dier, Stones, Maguire
Walker, Dele, Henderson, Lingard, Rose
Sterling, Kane

That’s the lineup I’d pick. I think using Walker’s speed on the outside is more beneficial than him at RCB. But if they put him there and Trippier at RWB it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

 

I think it's a real shame that with the formation we're dedicated to using and the other personel available, Rashford can't find a starting spot in this team. He's unpredictable and offers something different (namely, the ability to dribble), but there's no way he can start.

Controversial maybe, but I think I'd pick Loftus-Cheek over Dele too... Think he's the same, offers something different and seems a real talent (not that Dele isn't either).

 

In 2014 we still had Gerrard and Rooney though - there wasn't hype to win the whole thing but there was an expectation to progress further than we did least. I know they were old but Sturridge was in good form and Sterling had broken through at Liverpool. My memory is more hazy though as we did have a tough group and that was made tougher by the surprise package of Costa Rica.

I feel like there was expectation to progress further in the Euros two years ago as well.

I think this time there's even less expectation because the squad is young and, outside of Kane, I don't think there's anyone that people consider to be a 'world class' talent. I also think that the one important thing Gareth Southgate has done is introduce a more laid back, family vibe - I'm hoping this diffuses the natural tension of representing England in a World Cup and that the players can relax and play with fluidity and spirit.

Your point about snails is so apt - I don't get it. The one annoying thing about England is that we never seem to play to our strengths. We're not Spain, we're not Germany. Use what we've got. Do what we're good at! I wish we adopted the same mindset that allowed Leicester to win the PL... not the best team on paper but played to their strengths and had great spirit.

Come on England!

 

I agree about Rashford. I could see him replacing Lingard and having a front 3 of Rashford, Kane, Sterling. That’d put Dele in a deeper role with Henderson but he’s played there before and is capable.