World Cup match chat

[brassmonkey]

Glad France went through as they are more likely to beat brazil. Think we have a better chance against France or Belgium in the final.

 

[Concretebob]

Still fancy France to win the whole thing.

 

[Marked Ox]

Apart from laughing at the Goalie for that 2nd goal, I rather enjoyed Mbappe getting a caution after getting shot by the crowd sniper and the melee that followed.*

*Pogba should have been booked along with Mbappe and the Uruguayan.

 

[Paul Cannell]

Oh shit. Oh fucking shite.

No Cavani, a moment of genius from Griezman with the free-kick, from LLoris with the double save and we were in trouble. When the Old Man took off Bentancur and brought on Cebolla were were buried. So dreams die.

That's 4 great players we'll never see at a world cup again: Godin, Cavani and Suarez. I suppose in Doha Tabaraz will be on a gurney with a drip - as long as he doesn't go to 4-4-2.

Viva la Celeste!

 

[ZeroTheHero]

What is it with these South American teams and the dirty play? I had hoped that particular stereotype was dead and buried, but both Columbia and Uruguay deserved to get the early plane home.

Let's hope Brazil/Belgium is a better match to watch later, but I suspect Neymar will be rolling about on the floor again whether anyone touches him or not.

 

[Paul Cannell]

What is it with these South American teams and the dirty play? I had hoped that particular stereotype was dead and buried, but both Columbia and Uruguay deserved to get the early plane home.

Let's hope Brazil/Belgium is a better match to watch later, but I suspect Neymar will be rolling about on the floor again whether anyone touches him or not.

I'll bite.

I don't think you're even close to right to mention Colombia and Uruguay in the same sentence..

There were a number of robust-ish challenges from Uruguay but really nothing to mention until Cebolla (Rodrigues) had a (alleged) flick at Mbappe after he showboated. Which should have been a sending off. So should Pogba grabbing Nandez by the back of the neck and dragging him into his chest then pretending he (Nandez) was the aggressor.

Cebolla was knackered (he came on knackered, he's always knackered - fat, and blown, he shouldn't have been on and he knows it), his team were out and he was fucked off. If it was an Oxford player (and if he actually touched Mbappe) half the crowd would go 'Oh you stupid bastard, good lad.'.

That was it. Football. It was a good game, the result was right but France DID NOT dominate Uruguay. The sky fell in, it will be back tomorrow.

Fuck it.

 

[Concretebob]

2-0 Belgium. LOL

 

[unification]

Fab to see the Brazilians being roughed up a bit. I actually think they look better but Belgium have nous in that side - that breakaway goal with Lukaku, Hazard and De Bruyne (who has an English mum - why didn’t we nab him years ago?!) was a beaut.

I hope it stays like this. The last of the South Americans going home so Europe can prove we’re still kings of football ?.

 

[Foley]

Fab to see the Brazilians being roughed up a bit. I actually think they look better but Belgium have nous in that side - that breakaway goal with Lukaku, Hazard and De Bruyne (who has an English mum - why didn’t we nab him years ago?!) was a beaut.

I hope it stays like this. The last of the South Americans going home so Europe can prove we’re still kings of football ?.

If Belgium score the next one....
Brazil as so often is the case totally overblown. They come up against a very good side..
Brazil aren't out of it but Belgium front three have been immense.

 

[unification]

Neymar dives again after a ‘challenge’ from Fellaini. A booking would mean he’d miss the semi should they make it.

Why are refs such wimps at giving yellows for diving?

 

[tonyw]

Brazil just haven't been able to cope with the Belgian front three (who admittedly have all been at their best.....which is always a sight to behold).
Credit to Martinez though, for basically just telling them all to stay forward throughout the first half, so they could break at pace.

Belgium have ridden their luck (and a good goalie) a little at the back at times, but they've still been comfortably the better side.....

 

[unification]

Belgium’s attacking passes have been largely brainless this half though. So many underhit when a simple ball has been on.

Brazil look better with Firmino on. Why he hasn’t started any games I don’t know ...

 

[unification]

Bye bye Neymar.

Careful you don’t fall down the steps up to the plane.

 

[Concretebob]

Bye bye Neymar.

Careful you don’t fall down the steps up to the plane.

Or rolls all over the airport floor when he's given his boarding pass

 

[Marked Ox]

Brazil's attacking strength couldn't overcome their major weakness, the defence.

Johnathan Pearce must be utterly disconsolate at the moment after continually waxing lyrically about Neymar and Brazil for most of the game.

 

[tonyw]

What a great game - yet another one! It's been a really excellent tournament thus far.....and although I don't want to jinx it - it's hard to imagine Belgium vs. France being dull! (Russia vs. Croatia on the other hand........)

Not a great Brazil side, but they still created enough chances in the second half to win it, let alone take it to extras. Some bad finishing, and some terrific keeping.

They also really missed Casemiro (kudos to whoever said they would earlier on the thread). Without him, Fernandinho & Paulinho just got bullied in the middle of the park by Fellaini, and no-one was providing the cover the defense needed - because they clearly couldn't stop Hazard, De Bruyne & Lukaku on their own......

Of course today's results mean that the sides that have won 18 out of the 20 World Cups are now out.......

 

[Marked Ox]

Agreed. Lukaku, Hazard and De Bruyne were utterly outstanding in the 1st half.

 

[makv]

No fan of Fellaini, but boy is he effective

 

[brassmonkey]

Great result for us. Brazil were much better than Belgium.

 

[Paul Cannell]

good tactics from Martinez