Alternately, it could sound like...…someone just making an observation. A challenge for you: Who is this year's 2010 Spain or 2014 Germany? A team that strikes fear into others? BTW, Italians are never afraid of the Germans, speaking on everyone else's behalf of course. It is a matter of fact. Name me one iconic team that will be remembered for their class above others? As I said, maybe France qualifies and should take another win. It isn't a bad thing, or a knock on a tournament that doesn't have Italy. I am following the WC, but only really watching Canada (my country), Poland, or Portugal as I have close friends from both and I am rooting for them. I do watch all highlights and will stream some bigger games in the background on my CPU at work on occasion. Give me one player from England and it is Bellingham 10/10 times. I understand Weah is playing well, but Reyna off the bench for USA? Surely there has to be a way to get him on the field from the start.
Bit of a nerve-wracking injury time for you in that game, I would imagine, especially that last minute penalty appeal. You just never know when those might be given, although I think it was the correct decision as not enough for the Iran player to go down. Great goal from Pulisic, and was surprised he had to come off as it looked an innocuous injury he picked up. They definitely missed him, as never looked as threatening after that. I was a little surprised that Dest was substituted as well as he was close to the best player up until there and still offered a threat down the right side. Your coach seemed to go for holding on to a 1-0 lead, which is never going to be good for the fan's nerves! Netherlands haven't been great so far, so I'd give USA a chance in the last 16, although Netherlands will be the favourites. Pulisic recovering in time might be crucial.
It's probably France as the team that strikes fear into opponents... maybe Spain (although they are short a true striker really). France is missing Benzema too, so without him, they have their sores too. It's an open WC. I'll make my bracket predictions when it's been finalized as to who is playing. This could be the year a surprise team not only makes the final 4 but wins it. Playing in the middle of the league season has had an effect as well, teams not as sharp as they can't practice together for as long as they normally do (right?). As for the US, if Pulisic is not going to be healthy for Saturday, that could put Weah as the striker, with Aaronson and Reyna on either side of him (Sargent might be out too). That would be an interesting front three.
Iran were just never a normal threat other than knocking the ball down and attempting 2nd chance shots off that. Some struggles defending it for sure though lol. I think Pulisic got knocked right in the nuts. He couldn't walk straight after that lol. I always find it a bit strange that these guys don't wear cups anymore (football players too). He'll probably be pissing blood for a few days.
I don't know why I never remember this forum is here. Props to Claymore for reminding me. I'm still tense from the US game yesterday. Sitting on a 1-0 lead with this new extended injury time is brutal. Unfortunately, we lost most of our counterattacking talent when Christian went to the hospital. I think if he had stayed in the game, we would've added another goal or 2. Lots of heart out there, and quite a bit of talent as well. Although the midfield is always immense, I think Dest and Ream were our best players last night. Not to discount Christian taking one for the team...
Well, well, well...so much for Australia not winning any games, they win 2 after losing to France and are through to the last 16! A limited team, but they play with a lot of heart and effort. Of the Hearts players, Rowles has started every game and been impressive. Atkinson played the first game and had the unenviable task of trying to slow down Mbappe...needless to say, he lost a few battles but did ok at times. Picked up an injury though, so hasn't played in the other games. Devlin hasn't had any minutes yet. Rowles' CB partner, Harry Souttar, has probably been even more impressive...and he's Scottish but chose to play for Australia as Scotland weren't picking him. D'oh! His brother John does play for Scotland but has had a lot of injuries.
I've been very impressed with the USA team in this World Cup, a lot of young, talented players with plenty of skill. The midfield three have been very impressive, especially Adams. If they can keep progressing and maybe add a goalscorer then I reckon they'll be a big threat in the '26 tournament on home turf.
heh, at my son's high school, they were all crowded around watching the Mexico game. What a heart break. Still, it was their own fault. Glad they didn't go out on fair play tiebreaker... which would have been the case had the Saudi's not scored at the end.
There is a lot of stupid rules in sports, but this is one of the stupidest. It's completely obvious to anyone that watches any amount of soccer, that different referees, have vastly different thresholds for giving yellow and red cards. To put someone out of the World Cup on the basis of which random referees they've drawn during their group matches, is both naïve and stupid.
One of the commentators here suggested that shots on target would be a better tiebreaker after goal difference and goals scored, and I have to agree with him. As you say, number of cards is a stupid tiebreaker due to different referees being more or less card-happy.
Nuts for Belgium. Tremendous defending by Lukaku how a side with the best player at the cup didnt advance is beyond me. Martinez will have managed his last game for the national team. Give Croatia all the credit in the world for not playing overly defensive until the end. And u could see why they didn’t play that way to start. Lovren as CB and u invite pressure wont end well. Gvardiol was immense.probably the best game ive seen this tournament so far. Such crispness by both teams. Didnt see teams wasting time. Croatia certainly deserved it but woeful from Lukaku. then theres Morocco. Good on them. Crowd is huge for them. Canada on their way to the future but they must find a better keeper.
Looks like order has been restored in group E. Spain and Germany up 1-0 and dominating so far. Dont know why Japan didnt start #9. He was awesome albeit in a loss v Costa Rica.
Japan and Costa Rica to qualify...surely not. And as I'm just typing that, I see CR have gone ahead. Wow!
And now Germany equalise. This is going back and forth from minute to minute. Still could all change again...and probably will!
Germany now in the odd position of helping Spain. Germans need Spain to do their part and return the favor. And Germany needs to score again. Wild scenes.
Germany scored again. The announcers are saying Spain is out if results hold. Think thats wrong. Goal difference.
Three surprise teams through to the last 16 so far, Australia, Morocco and Japan. Always good to see when some big guns go out and unfancied teams go through.
Ill post my bracket predictions tomorrow after the games but needless to say there will be some surprises. Japan my favorite team not counting England and USA.
Japan beat Spain and Germany...and lose to Costa Rica. Work that one out No idea what they'll do in next game!
I thought Japan would concede as they are too nice to play the style of play that kills out the clock. Staying down after being fouled etc etc. good on them.
A cynic might look at just the results and say that Spain wanted to finish runners-up, as they now face Morocco rather than Croatia, and it's also knocked Germany out. However, they clearly were trying to win the game right up until the final whistle, and the after match pictures showed that it was obvious they didn't even clearly know whether they'd done enough to go through themselves.
Crazy WC so far. I've been discussing with my friends that each tournament the skill gap gets closer and closer. I am not surprised to see juggernauts losing to underdogs.
Reminds me of the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea. Lots of crazy upsets... Yet final was Brazil 2 Germany 0.
Only has to be a sliver of the ball overhanging the line and it's still in. I thought it was out from the pictures they've shown, but I can see from a still like this that it does look like it wasn't 100% out....only 99.9%! You can bet those pictures will be all over the German papers tomorrow.
