2018 FIFA World Cup Megathread

by **Bombadil** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:11 am

Geneviev wrote:
Bombadil wrote:It would be awesome if Sweden managed a win over Germany.. come on Thor, make up for screwing up taking out Thanos and give your people a boost!

It would be more than awesome if Germany could win. They just have to put Reus in the game.

Mainly I'm worried the way things are going England meet Germany in the last 16.

by **Riemstagrad** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:12 am

The problem for De Bruyne is that there is someone called E. Hazard in the team. Hazard plays high, De Bruyne has peace with his role behind that front line. The goals today didn't come out of the sky, they where all the result of good attacks with good passing. I have no idea why people keep on saying that there is no 'team'.

by **Bombadil** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:16 am

Riemstagrad wrote:The problem for De Bruyne is that there is someone called E. Hazard in the team. Hazard plays high, De Bruyne has peace with his role behind that front line. The goals today didn't come out of the sky, they where all the result of good attacks with good passing. I have no idea why people keep on saying that there is no 'team'.

..but it feels as though they could play 3-4-1-2 rather than 3-4-3, with De Bruyne sitting up a bit and fulcrum'ing the attack. It's not to say there's no team so much as to wonder why they're always whinging at each other.

by **San Regada** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:12 am

Well... the ref has made correct calls so far (when he has called them that is), but has been terribly lenient on the cards. South Korea should have rightfully picked up at least 2 yellows by now. On top of this, South Korea has also got away with a lot of unnecessary late tackles/hits that should have at least been called up for a foul. Overall, its been decent refereeing so far.

Edit: And as I sent this, South Korea finally picks up a card. Absolutely cynical challenge, he knew he wasn't getting anywhere near the ball from behind.

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:47 am

Germany teamsheet just came out on twitter.

Out:
Plattenhardt, Khedira, Hummels, Oezil.

In:
Hector, Rudy, Ruediger, Reus.

by **Rio Cana** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:53 am

México beat South Korea 2 to 1. :clap:

SK. did manage to score in the few ending minutes but it was not enough.

by **San Regada** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:55 am

Brilliant goal from Son, but it was a case of too little too late. Yet another well deserved win for Mexico, so the party continues! South Korea is really up against it now: If Germany is defeated by Sweden, then that's the end of the line for South Korea as well as the Germans, so Germany vs Sweden is going to be a really decisive game for this group.

by **The South Falls** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:58 am

Rio Cana wrote:México beat South Korea 2 to 1.

SK. did manage to score in the few ending minutes but it was not enough.

I feel like the two shining stars in this game are Croatia and Mexico. They don't normally do this well. Maybe their groups are easy...

by **San Regada** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:59 am

The South Falls wrote:
Rio Cana wrote:México beat South Korea 2 to 1.

SK. did manage to score in the few ending minutes but it was not enough.

I feel like the two shining stars in this game are Croatia and Mexico. They don't normally do this well. Maybe their groups are easy...

I wouldn't call Germany or Sweden inherently easy...

Edit: Not to mention Argentina, Iceland (and a shout out to Nigeria) in Croatia's group.

by **Relikai** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:01 am

Mexico got their game plan right against an unbalanced and off-form Germany.

Lets see if Reus gets his game up on the Right, counted that the grass doesn't cause him an injury.

Would have preferred Goretzka and Sule instead for the injured Hummels and Draxler.

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:03 am

The South Falls wrote:I feel like the two shining stars in this game are Croatia and Mexico. They don't normally do this well. Maybe their groups are easy...

Croatia I can see, but Mexico? They had a great first half against Germany (and one that had been planned for literally months, according to their coach), and then held on for dear life through the second half. And this was hardly a dominant performance against the weakest team in the group.

I get that the Germany match was a great upset, and I wish them the best (their fans are so into it). But I am not convinced that they are that good just yet.

But then again, who has been?!

by **NewLakotah** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:57 am

Neu Leonstein wrote:
The South Falls wrote:I feel like the two shining stars in this game are Croatia and Mexico. They don't normally do this well. Maybe their groups are easy...

Croatia I can see, but Mexico? They had a great first half against Germany (and one that had been planned for literally months, according to their coach), and then held on for dear life through the second half. And this was hardly a dominant performance against the weakest team in the group.

I get that the Germany match was a great upset, and I wish them the best (their fans are so into it). But I am not convinced that they are that good just yet.

But then again, who has been?!

They did a decent game against Korea, without that last minute shot, they more or less handled Korea the whole game. Mexico certainly is no all-star team and has a rough patch, even to get out of the Group Stage. Even then, it really depends on their seeding to see who they face against. I mean, they might have just "hung on", but they did it against arguably the best team in the tournament, at least the most dangerous team and the best overall team that there is, how that plays out is still to come. But 2 wins is 2 wins, either way you slice it. It doesn't have to be pretty.

by **Cryptomypt** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:15 am

ouch. penalty for sweden missed by both the referee and var. i assume var decided it wasn't clear and obvious enough? looked obvious to me. boateng hacks him down right as he goes to shoot.

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:19 am

I get the idea: if you need to break down teams who play by building a wall out of two banks of four, you want more bodies forward to have more passing options, more people for the opposition to watch and surprise runners. But I'd really rather Germany give themselves a couple fewer options and have Rudy and the centre-backs staying back in preparation of the counter.

EDIT1:
Question: How many litres of blood does one have to lose before it has a negative effect on doing a cardio-heavy sport? Rudy wants to know.

EDIT2:
They've decided not to conduct the experiment, and Guendogan is on for him.

by **Fartsniffage** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:31 am

Neu Leonstein wrote:I get the idea: if you need to break down teams who play by building a wall out of two banks of four, you want more bodies forward to have more passing options, more people for the opposition to watch and surprise runners. But I'd really rather Germany give themselves a couple fewer options and have Rudy and the centre-backs staying back in preparation of the counter.

Question: How many litres of blood does one have to lose before it has a negative effect on doing a cardio-heavy sport? Rudy wants to know.

About 300ml will do.

by **San Regada** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:33 am

Germany 0-1 down... what a world cup this is!

Sweden could very well send Germany home.

by **Relikai** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:37 am

If Germany can’t be bothered to have a shred of precision in their final third, kindly piss off the World Cup and save us that pathetic attitude.

Like, take a walk back home, Doucheland, and try again four years later with a proper squad with a proper attitude.

Edit : Mueller and Kroos lack the motivation. Seems like winning the prev Cup means they can drag their team down with them.

Also didn’t know that Germany’s main playmakers are their defenders. No need for the front four to build play if the ball goes back to their rear after five impotent passes forward.

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:51 am

Not seeing a good outcome for this one right now... I mean, let one of those first couple of 95%'ers go in and the game looks very different. But now they're up against it.

EDIT: Gomez for Draxler. Someone to be the recipient for those crosses.

EDIT2: Reus gets the ball in the knee, but remains uninjured!

by **Relikai** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:06 pm

Reus remains injury free to get the draw. Come on you Dort-boy!

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:18 pm

Boateng trying to play the risky pass at the edge of the Swedish box. Why? Just give the ball to Kroos and Guendogan and run back to your line. They'll handle it.

Theory: Drop Kroos and play Rudy with Guendogan. Kroos has all the ability in the world, but I agree that he is not playing as well as he could. He gave away the ball ahead of the 1:0 and just did it again.

EDIT: It's not going well, is it... Boateng gets a second yellow.

by **San Regada** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:40 pm

Boateng rightfully sent off. I think that was VAR. Absolutely cynical challenge from behind, and considering he was already on a yellow, good riddance.

by **Relikai** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:42 pm

It’s good news for the World Cup. A team playing with such standards does not deserve to play in it.

by **Fartsniffage** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:43 pm

San Regada wrote:Boateng rightfully sent off. I think that was VAR. Absolutely cynical challenge from behind, and considering he was already on a yellow, good riddance.

It wasn't VAR. They can't look at yellow card events. It was likely his linesman said something.

by **Relikai** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:49 pm

Is Thomas Mueller interested in getting the WC for his teammates? Maybe all he wants is to be part of one for himself.

Guendogan’s also not bringing his club form in, more backpasses than anything.

Hell this is more a Louis van Gaal team than anything.

by **Neu Leonstein** » Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:50 pm

Let it stand for the record that whatever happens from here, it was a few centimetres and that Brandt shot is the winning goal.

2018 FIFA World Cup Megathread

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