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  • #61
    England v Sweden on now. England look confident. Hope they make something of it

    60 minutes in and England is two up

    And Sweden never responded, they seemed oddly overpowered. England was in control.

    England still hasn't been tested. That will have to wait for the semis. The only time they play a team that has won a WC might have to wait for the finals

    England have now beaten their 2006 performance
    Last edited by Double Edge; 07 Jul 18,, 20:47.

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    • #62
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      • #63
        Russia aren't getting dominated by Croatia the way i was expecting. Both are level at 1 all. By comparison the English were more in control over the Swedes.

        Fifa rankings mean nothing. Russia is at 70, Croatia is at 20. Both seem evenly matched despite Croatia dominating possession. Having the majority of possession means nothing, where are Germany, Brazil & Spain today.

        The Russian goal was spectacular, the Croat keeper is just watching it go in. Can't do a thing.

        Imagine if this goes to penalties. Both have already had shootouts to progress from the round of 16 which means one of them will have won two penalty shoots in the same tournament like Argentina.

        Croats have to conclude this in match

        They do not because the Russians equalised so we're going to penalties after all.

        And Croatia become the second team to equal Argentina's record of winning two penalty shootouts despite an injured goalkeeper.

        How well they manage against England is in question given the injuries they're carrying from this match.
        Last edited by Double Edge; 09 Jul 18,, 14:47.

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        • #64
          I thought Croatia was the dark horse but they haven't been very good those past two games. Lost a lot of spark and confidence and just seem overall tired. England, on the other hand, has been getting better with every match and seem to be now at the peak of their confidence and strength. This might be the key to beating Croatia, it's always better when a team gets stronger as the competition progresse rather than the other way around.

          As for France vs Belgium... Anything can happen. Undoubtedly two spectacular teams with a lot of assets. I reckon whoever wins this match will be the champion.

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          • #65
            Originally posted by John96 View Post
            I thought Croatia was the dark horse but they haven't been very good those past two games. Lost a lot of spark and confidence and just seem overall tired. England, on the other hand, has been getting better with every match and seem to be now at the peak of their confidence and strength. This might be the key to beating Croatia, it's always better when a team gets stronger as the competition progresse rather than the other way around.
            Agree, England does appear like they can turn it up a notch. That is if the Croats are not carrying any injured and recover in time.

            The odd thing about England is i never got the impression they've been tested yet. Will that happen with the Croats or will it have to wait for the final

            People say England haven't played any world class teams yet. Well Croatia has and see what they did to Argentina. Or S.Korea to Germany. Not to mention Russia knocking Spain out on penalties in the round of 16.

            As for France vs Belgium... Anything can happen. Undoubtedly two spectacular teams with a lot of assets. I reckon whoever wins this match will be the champion.
            Yep, some are saying it will be a FRA v ENG final

            How that will end is anyone's guess

            The best thing about this WC is it keeps you guessing till the end. Best WC i've seen in a good while
            Last edited by Double Edge; 09 Jul 18,, 18:57.

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            • #66
              Originally posted by Double Edge View Post
              The best thing about this WC is it keeps you guessing till the end. Best WC i've seen in a good while
              So who will win? I am rooting for France. Viva la France!!!
              Politicians are elected to serve...far too many don't see it that way - Albany Rifles! || Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it - Mark Twain! || I am a far left millennial!

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              • #67
                Originally posted by Oracle View Post
                And DE, it's not Group C, but Group F (Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea) that is the group of death.
                I think you got this one. Nobody would have predicted Germany losing though there is a trend of cup holders failing to get through. Still who expects S.Korea to score two against them, both in stoppage time. And they were proper goals not penalties.

                Sweden beating Mexico 3-0 to top the group and cup holders Germany finish bottom of Group F.
                Last edited by Double Edge; 09 Jul 18,, 16:32.

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                • #68
                  How is Gareth Southgate tweaking the England team as the tournament progresses.

                  This looks like their First XI with Tunisia

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                  He replaces Dele with Loftus cheek in the Panama game, England won 6 -1. This is England's most potent combo to date.

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                  The last group game with Belgium is a complete swap. They use their Second XI against Belgium of all teams. Only Stones is left. No Kane. England lost 1 - 0 to Belgium. Belgium also completely rejigged their team as well. If both progress, England & Belgium can meet again at the final

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                  Back to the First XI with Colombia

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                  Still the same with Sweden at the quarters

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                  Formation remains the same 3-5-2 throughout. The battle is won in the midfield. With five England looks strong and the mids can advance or fall back.

                  Semis: exact same lineup as the last two against Croatia. Southgate has evidently found the right mix

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                  Last edited by Double Edge; 11 Jul 18,, 19:22.

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                  • #69
                    Hate to say it, but on current form, England are looking far better than Croatia. Its their game to lose.

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                    • #70
                      How is Didier Deschamps cooking it up

                      This is the squad he picked for the first group game with Australia. 4 -3 -3

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                      He thought this formation lacked in dynamism so he moved people around Pogba moved to centre right, Kante to centre left and replaced Dembele & Tolisso with Giroud & Matuidi for the game with Peru 4 - 2 - 3 -1

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                      France already qualified so the last group game means getting others onto the pitch. Dembele returns and Kante moves right again. He's found his formation with Giroud up front and 4 - 2 - 3 -1

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                      For Argentina he goes back to his Peru formation. Keeps Kante where he is and moves Pogba back to centre left

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                      With Uruguay he subsitutes Tolisso for Matudi. Pogba & Kante swap sides, yet again

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                      France also has 5 in the midfield but 4 in defense compared to 3 for England. Defenders of both sides can and have scored.

                      Deschamps seems more unpredictable, willing to swap players around for each game compared to Southgates more consistent line up

                      For the Semis, Deschamps has used his identical team from the Peru game. He's kept the same formation, Martinez has changed his.

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                      Last edited by Double Edge; 10 Jul 18,, 19:36.

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                      • #71
                        So apparently after Croatia beat Muscovy some of the Croatian players (one of who apparently used to play for Dynamo Kyiv) made a video dedicating their win to Ukraine in which they say "Slava Ukraini!" (Glory to Ukraine). It was alleged this pretty common greeting (particularly during the revolution) was "ultra nationalist" (like saying "Heil Hitler" maybe?) and FIFA threatened action against Croatia. This has resulted in Ognjen Vukojevic being sacked by the Croatian Football Federation for publishing a politically-charged video on social media following the penalty shootout win over Russia.

                        So much BS.... Loads of PMs, Foreign Minsters, even Presidents have been heard saying "Slava Ukraini!" when referring to their support of the revolution or independence of Ukraine. It is by no means an "ultra nationalist slogan". It's akin to saying "Vive La France!" or something of the sort. Sure it is said by those inside and outside Ukraine who support the revolution cause of Ukraine but if this is extremist politics interfering in football why was Putin allowed near any game?

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                        • #72
                          Going for a Belgium v Croatia final. Would cope with France v Croatia, but very keen for England to get knocked out.
                          sigpic

                          Win nervously lose tragically - Reds C C

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                          • #73
                            Like Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez had an idea what formation he wanted right from the start. It's 3 -4 - 3

                            With Panama he went with this line up

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                            Since that worked he stuck with it for the next game with Tunisia which they won 5 -2

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                            After Belgium qualified it was time to get the subs into action for the last group game with England, complete revamp, this is his second XI. Only goalie and Boyata remain

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                            For the game with Japan he reverts back to the earlier formation and substitutes Kompany for Boyata

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                            He tweaks slightly for Brazil, Mertens gets benched, De Bruyne moves up and Fellaini takes his place. Chadli comes in for Carrasco.

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                            Thierry Henri is Belgium's assistant coach. Where will his loyalties lie when Belgium play France tonight : D

                            Martinez is as organised as Southgate it seems with a consistent lineup and options. Chadli seems the only player at ease playing centre right or left

                            Belgium only has 4 in midfield but there is a nice triangulr play possible, if you follow 22 to 10 to 6 to 9 and 15 to 7 to 8 to 9. Same pattern between defense and midfield as well. No wonder this team moves as fast. It's got symmetry.

                            Looks like Martinez has changed the formation for the semis, its 3 -5 -2 and Belgium do have 5 in midfield now. Some players have been moved around too. De Bruyne & Fellaini are on the left now. Let's see how this new formation does

                            Last edited by Double Edge; 10 Jul 18,, 19:30.

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                            • #74
                              Originally posted by Bigfella View Post
                              Going for a Belgium v Croatia final. Would cope with France v Croatia, but very keen for England to get knocked out.
                              Pommie hater.....
                              “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                              Mark Twain

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                              • #75


                                Might want to also think that 22 Ukrainian servicemen have died since the start of this Berlin Olympics re-run.

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