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Topic: The World Cup Thread

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Exetermiller
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The World Cup Thread
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I'm actually bothered by how we can be so easily overloaded in midfield. We have got to transition behind the ball quicker and smarter when we lose the ball, the gaps between the advanced midfielders and the back 3 is scary, ultimately leading to the back 5 having to deal with more situations (and more squeaky bum scenarios than they should). We have got to sort this, before Columbia.

Can't take too much from last night though as it was an entirely different team. Stones did OK and I think Maguire will end up being a sensation, they said GS always did better for England than club level, Maguire could be the same. International football and 3 at the back suits him.

We can beat Columbia and the Swiss / Swedes, with a bit of tournament luck. But just as easily could get beaten by Columbia so quite exciting to see what happens. Interesting that Rashford went wing back for last 10 mins or so, maybe a tester that if we're chasing a game and need goals, throwing strikers on that's what he'll do?

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GlennMiller
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Like every other team at this World Cup, we have some points of weakness. From England's perspective, I think the team spirit and the ability to score goals should be enough to mask those vulnerabilities - much like the mighty RUFC last season! However, I think Southgate has the ability to improve the first XI to give us an even greater chance of progressing beyond the last 16.

Sterling has offered nothing so far. There's only so long you can wait for a player to realise his potential but I see little chance of this happening during this WC. I believe Rashford has to start and that he will pose a more potent threat and will also provide more quality service to Kane. I don't believe Alli is fit, otherwise he should have played a part against Belgium. In which case I would play Fabian Delph alongside/just ahead of Henderson. He has more mobility than Henderson and could give our midfield a more attacking feel.

Columbia were dreadful against Senegal and were lucky to progress. If they play the same against England, we should have no problems. However, they did show some quality against Poland. I think it depends which Columbia turns up on the day.

Whatever happens, it's not bad being a Rotherham/England supporter at the moment. Promotion to the Championship, last 16 of the World Cup, whitewash of the Aussies in one day cricket and a 20-20 drubbing plus a Rugby Union victory in South Africa. It could, and has been, a lot worse!

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T71
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If you check what I say I'm not usually far out. I said about Pickford after 2nd group game. I don't like how he dives after the ball has gone past him. I'm not impressed by him. Don't think Bukland is reliable. I'd start with Pope against Columbia, probably the weakest side we are going to meet from now.

Loftus-Cheek didn't impress last night, hope Dele Alli is fit for next Tues. Rose just did enough to take the place of Young, hopefully that game has brought him on. Rashford feel if he get's the chances he's more likely to score than Sterling. Know he missed that one last night but were the players fully switched on. They knew they had gone through to the knock out stages & also in an easier part of the draw if they'd finish 2nd in the group.



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Exetermiller
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Rashford missed that on purpose, and keeper didnt even save it - it was well wide, nobody is saying anything because of the resulting corner. Loftus-Cheek had 3 chances to shoot instead didn't, one of them being this weird ball out to the left channel. The worst though was Pickford's dive, far too animated and for me he jerks his hand down away from the ball. Lee Dixon's 'keeper coach mate' said he went with the wrong hand - I don't buy that but the motion of the entire dive is wrong.

All that being said, and GS rather more flustered responses in the interview with Gabriel Clark straight after - all point to a joint understanding we wanted to finish runners up. The perceived 'easier half' is of course rubbish, all games are tough in their own way at knockout football - we all know that. But when you see it on paper...

Japan > Brazil? > France? or...

Columbia > Swiss? Spain?

Which would you choose? - I know which I'd go for, anything can happen in the semi-final and other than the Portugal game Spain have been all passes no trousers.

Yes we could go straight out against Columbia, might not be able to break the Swiss down etc, but I say fair play to the England camp. It's a very very fine line between bringing the game / competition into disrepute, but it wasn't just us was it? - Belgium did exactly the same - they were just idiotic enough to score (I bet Martinez was fuming behind closed doors).

It comes down to 2 things, it either works and we get to that semi and it's a masterstroke OR GS is gonna get it in the neck for making too many changes and 'losing the momentum'. No middle ground - we'll wait and see what it is (although totally hoping for the former).

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T71
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On a site we don't mention nearly all are saying Suarez is the business. All I see with him is those teeth & rolling about holding his head when no contact was made with his head. Mbappe is the next coming after Messi & Ronaldo have played their last world cup.

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wotsisname
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T71 wrote:
wotsisname wrote:
wotsisname wrote:


Today the Gizas of Egypt play the Montevideo Marijuana aka Uruguay.

Might even watch the kif in the rif aka Morocco play the Iranian Repression later on. I'll be watching with a jaundiced eye.

 The Geezers of Egypt beaten 1-0  by the Montevideo Mavericks.

The Iranian Repression 1 Kif in the Rif 0

This is a World Cup thread. England aren't the only team in the competition making up the numbers.

 

Uruguay are a very good outfit. 

 It's like saying there's other sides than Roth U in the championship but whose bothered about them. I'm English so when it comes down to it they are the only side that matters. But I can appreciate world class players. Spain against Portugal is an open game. Ronaldo that's how to take a penalty, Costa took his goal well. 

 So, Uruguay beat Portugal. Uruguay are a very good outfit.

I'm sure I might be seeing what other people don't. 



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wotsisname
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wotsisname wrote:

It's early days but the host nation, Russia is still negotiating gas and oil prices with other nations. Woe betide any of the other competitors who decide to step on the Great Bear's toes as it ambles through to the semi-finals.

 So, Russia knock out Spain after a penalty shootout. Am I seeing things that other pundits don't? 



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T71
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Brazil v France semi final. Belgium might have other ideas, looks that way. Whoever plays out of those three looks an epic. Will there be enough left for the final whoever get's through. England will never get a better chance. UTE UTM FROM August 4th



-- Edited by T71 on Sunday 1st of July 2018 06:04:35 PM

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Exetermiller
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World Cup continues to amaze. As T71 says will we ever have such a potential easier router? - I say easy in the context that we have pace, like France, we have goals in us the others potentially to get through from our side don't have. Croatia are technically good but don't have raw pace like ourselves and France.

This is the England DNA in action by the way, todays game is played by athletes with pace, it's how to win, the technically gifted (sadly) is being eroded from the game.

France v England World Cup final ?

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Trevor Likely
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A France -v- England final would not surprise me at all, although I think Brazil -v- England is just as likely. Why England? Because they are now the bookies favourites in the second half of the draw and providing they keep some of the dross who played against Belgium off the pitch, they are a half-decent outfit. I'm a bit nervous about Colombia though.

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Exetermiller
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The standout for me is pace, the other teams just don't have any. Croatia have struggled to get behind another stubborn team in Denmark.
(Writing this before the pens).

Brazil are class, but have not been tested at the back with those old timer centre halves and I think France will punish them as the pace they have is frightening.

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Exetermiller
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And after the pens gotta say justice was done.

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smiler
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One of the striking things for me is that there really are no outstanding teams in this World Cup. No one side has more than a couple of truly world class players, and very side has its weaknesses. We have a fighting chance but no more than several others. Just when I think we can do it I find it all too easy to imagine Pickford dropping a clanger, or a bad VAR review of a dive, or someone like Mbappe running at Young/Maguire. Truly, anything could happen so its best not to expect much and just enjoy watching it all unfold.



-- Edited by smiler on Monday 2nd of July 2018 07:28:01 AM

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T71
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England if all are fit would say the weaknesses are Pickford Young Sterling.

Columbia is the game to put it right. Pope in goal cause don't think Butland is any better than Pickford. Rose on the left. Rashford for Sterling. Dele Alli if he's fit for Loftus-Cheek but wouldn't say Loftus-Cheek is a weakness. He's raw but there's talent there.


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Exetermiller
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I'm sure GS will be telling this group of players it's theirs to take, to get the opportunity to play in a World Cup final - it's not even once in a generation thing (for us historically anyway).

Rotherham's unexpected promo back to the Champ and England in a World Cup final - that will be a year to remember for sure!

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T71
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What I've seen today Belgium can beat Brazil. Neymar why he's not the player he thinks he his. He's got no pace. Mbappe has.

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smiler
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What an absolute disgrace Neymar is. He isn't the only cheat at the World Cup but he is by far the worst. His antics yesterday were about as embarrassing as when someone kicked the ball into Rivaldo's thigh and he rolled round on the floor holding his face (2002 World Cup). The guy is a wonderfully talented footballer - what a shame that he can't behave like a man instead of a petulant, cheating U11 schoolboy. If he was a decent individual he would be idolised and admired the world over, but instead he has a deserved reputation as a cheat and will be remembered as such. Not that he cares, more is the pity.

Your average international rugby player takes more real hits in ten minutes than Neymar has taken in his career, but they get up with body parts hanging off and go into the next crunching tackle head-on. Football needs to have a look at why players think they have a right to 'go down' whenever they are touched and why they roll so pathetically at the slightest contact. It really is a joke.

My solution would be for Neymar to play at outside half for the Brazilian rugby union side against the Argentinians for half an hour. That might teach him a bot about real pain. Now there is something I would happily pay to watch.


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Exetermiller
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Can't stand Neymar, and although I appreciate your sentiments, from the extensive schoolboy football I've seen over the years, nearly all kids play with honesty and integrity - in fact you want to see football at it's most humble purest and beautiful form - go watch kids footy. But Neymar is an embarassment to himself, his family & whoever he represents. If I was playing against him as a defender I'd play him at his own game, go down on every nudge, get every free kick, and roll around - get up and say each time - that's how stupid you look.

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smiler
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Exetermiller wrote:

Can't stand Neymar, and although I appreciate your sentiments, from the extensive schoolboy football I've seen over the years, nearly all kids play with honesty and integrity - in fact you want to see football at it's most humble purest and beautiful form - go watch kids footy. But Neymar is an embarassment to himself, his family & whoever he represents. If I was playing against him as a defender I'd play him at his own game, go down on every nudge, get every free kick, and roll around - get up and say each time - that's how stupid you look.

If it was the 90th minute and I was on the end of a losing scoreline (in other words if it wasn't going to impact on the outcome of the game) and he had been behaving in his usual way, I wonder to myself whether I might be provoked into taking a red card in return for delivering a painful blow (no permanent or lasting damage) on behalf of football lovers everywhere.  But I will never have the opportunity.  I wouldn't encourage anyone to behave like that in reality, of course.  It would be quite wrong.

Whether we like it or not Ex kids do mimic their heroes, and kids the world over see Neymar as someone to aspire to be like.  I do watch a lot of kids football and although your point is a fair one to a large extent, I do occasionally see behaviour that I don't like which can only have been picked up from kids watching the professional game.

I can't stand to see players who act as though they are near death, only to get up and run around like spring lambs within seconds.  It is cheating, it is pathetic, it is unjustifiable, and it should be stopped.



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Exetermiller
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Of course they do - they're the kids heroes, I don't think IFAB have done enough, it was a real opportunity along with VAR to show the world that that kind of behaviour won't be tolerated. It shouldn't deserve a yellow card, but if a player is deemed by the referee to have used histrionics they should get a sin bin for 5 minutes, it would stop it instantly. The game can go on while VAR review it, then next break in play referee sends them off.

I agree, it is horrible to watch - the tech is there - use it is my opinion.



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