Discussion Football (Soccer) Thread

[bergholt]

Portugal v Switzerland should be a classic, both good sides to watch and very evenly matched.

I was very wrong

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Morocco with a massive upset win. Into the quarters v Portugal

Geez for a Spanish supporter that penalty shootout would've been torture, it was hard to watch as a neutral supporter!

 

[bergholt]

Geez for a Spanish supporter that penalty shootout would've been torture, it was hard to watch as a neutral supporter!

Penalty shootouts are always torture tbh

 

[George]

Croatia v Brazil about to start - if not England am hoping Brazil go all the way

 

[George]

Neymar in the 106th minute puts Brazil in front and equals Pele's national goals record

 

[George]

And Croatia score in the 117th minute! Drama late on, what an ending to this game

 

[George]

We go to penalties

 

[George]

Croatia go on to win it 4-2 on penalties. What an incredible comeback. Don't think the Croats ever get the respect they deserve but they are one of the most consistent sides in the world. No world beaters (Modric but he's getting on a bit) but they play for each other and are the ultimate team.

They'll play Netherlands or Argentina in the semi final

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Croatia go on to win it 4-2 on penalties. What an incredible comeback. Don't think the Croats ever get the respect they deserve but they are one of the most consistent sides in the world. No world beaters (Modric but he's getting on a bit) but they play for each other and are the ultimate team.

They'll play Netherlands or Argentina in the semi final

Saints could learn a bit from the Croats

 

[gringo2011]

Croatia go on to win it 4-2 on penalties. What an incredible comeback. Don't think the Croats ever get the respect they deserve but they are one of the most consistent sides in the world. No world beaters (Modric but he's getting on a bit) but they play for each other and are the ultimate team.

They'll play Netherlands or Argentina in the semi final

Well they were favourites for the whole thing last World Cup and lost to France in the final but otherwise...

They are a country with half the population of Victoria and spend less on their football program than Australia do. A good portion of the Aussies best ever players were of Croatian descent too. They were meant to have been over the hill last World Cup but some how keep on finding players. The guy with the phantom of the opera mask, Gvardiol is 20 and looks like a future superstar. They will miss Modric though, he's already 37, he won the Balloon d'Dor in 2018 over the best players in football so he's not going to be an easy one to cover when he does go.

 

[George]

Argentina v Croatia in the first semi and Morocco/Portugal/England/France in the other.

Could still see a Messi-Ronaldo final but think it'll be Argentina France

 

[Plugger35]

Croatia punch above their weight at World Cups that's for sure, they had the better of Brazil last night and should have won it without going to penalties.

They have a good chance of knocking off Argentina in the semis, the Argies only beat the Socceroos 2-1 so they aren't exactly setting the world on fire.

 

[gringo2011]

Croatia punch above their weight at World Cups that's for sure, they had the better of Brazil last night and should have won it without going to penalties.

They have a good chance of knocking off Argentina in the semis, the Argies only beat the Socceroos 2-1 so they aren't exactly setting the world on fire.

They are a better side than people give them credit for. Modric was Ballon dOr winner a few years back over Ronaldo and the best players in the game. They have a heap of good players. They are probably the most skilful and well drilled side in football due to age, they don't panic but have no firepower. They have to rely on stopping sides scoring and try to snack one themselves. There is a bit of Geelong about them.

 

[Plugger35]

They are a better side than people give them credit for. Modric was Ballon dOr winner a few years back over Ronaldo and the best players in the game. They have a heap of good players. They are probably the most skilful and well drilled side in football due to age, they don't panic but have no firepower. They have to rely on stopping sides scoring and try to snack one themselves. There is a bit of Geelong about them.

Their defence was bloody impressive last night, they barely gave Brazil a sniff, constantly shut down their attacks going forward.

Modric is a great player but they don't totally rely on him, they have a lot of lesser names that step up when they play for Croatia.

Just seems to be in their DNA, I played rugby with a guy that played for the Croatian rugby team and he was an absolute warrior.

I converted him into a St Kilda supporter when I took him to a St Kilda v West Coast game here, he loved it even though we lost.

I think Croatia is more like St Kilda, downtrodden underdogs that punch above their weight and love sticking it up the big teams.

 

[gringo2011]

Their defence was bloody impressive last night, they barely gave Brazil a sniff, constantly shut down their attacks going forward.

Modric is a great player but they don't totally rely on him, they have a lot of lesser names that step up when they play for Croatia.

Just seems to be in their DNA, I played rugby with a guy that played for the Croatian rugby team and he was an absolute warrior.

I converted him into a St Kilda supporter when I took him to a St Kilda v West Coast game here, he loved it even though we lost.

I think Croatia is more like St Kilda, downtrodden underdogs that punch above their weight and love sticking it up the big teams.

They've always batted above their weight in sport. They have a population similar to Melbourne but have produced a huge number of sports stars. I reckon they are more like Geelong, a divey shit-hole with nothing better to do than play sport, so they produce plenty of talent.

 

[Plugger35]

They've always batted above their weight in sport. They have a population similar to Melbourne but have produced a huge number of sports stars. I reckon they are more like Geelong, a divey s**t-hole with nothing better to do than play sport, so they produce plenty of talent.

Yeah but they don't win much in the way of silverware unlike Geelong the last 15 or so years, they make it to the pointy end like us but just fall short.

They also have the best football outfits going around like us, their red and white check outfits are almost as good as our red, white and black outfits.

 

[George]

They've always batted above their weight in sport. They have a population similar to Melbourne but have produced a huge number of sports stars. I reckon they are more like Geelong, a divey s**t-hole with nothing better to do than play sport, so they produce plenty of talent.

Just relax mate, we all know your connection to the Croats.

They're underrated, star team as opposed to team full of stars. Won't be surprised if they knock out Argentina too.

 

[gringo2011]

Just relax mate, we all know your connection to the Croats.

They're underrated, star team as opposed to team full of stars. Won't be surprised if they knock out Argentina too.

I reckon they get down played. It's a bit more than grit and luck. Like Geelong they play very team orientated and systematic game. They defend hard but are skilful enough to hurt the other way despite lacking any real firepower at the moment.

 

[George]

I reckon they get down played. It's a bit more than grit and luck. Like Geelong they play very team orientated and systematic game. They defend hard but are skilful enough to hurt the other way despite lacking any real firepower at the moment.

I was never talking down about them I was actually complimenting the way they play, disciplined and stick to the plan. They are a no bullshit side and show up the fancier teams

 

[George]

Wow, Morocco leading at half time

 

[George]

Morocco the first African nation to make it to the semi finals of a World Cup. Unbelievable stuff!

Massive opportunity for England or France, who will play Morocco in the semi

 

[PoppedCorn]

C'mon!!

Win this and it's an other step towards getting revenge for 86

 

[PoppedCorn]

 

[PoppedCorn]

That's a penalty ffs

 

[George]

Surprisingly had more of the ball than I thought we would. Last pass/phase letting us down, need to start creating more chances.

Would say we pretty much need the next goal, if France go 2-0 up it's pretty much done for I would say.

Thought Kane also should've got a penalty and a few decisions not gone our way but for what it's worth we are still in it and against a team like France it's all you can ask at this point.