The football (soccer) thread

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Very brave of the Iran team to make that protest. It is reported there will be consequences when they get back home.

Oh my Lord! Minnows Saudi Arabia beat the favourites for the World Cup, Argentina! Betting has no interest for me but.... Listening to the game on "Talk Sport" while gardening, with Argentina 1-0 up at halftime they had a sponsor on from Betfair who was discussing odds such as how many goals would Messi score. As a throwaway line he mentioned for Saudi to actually win the game after being 1 down at HT Betfair were offering 80 to 1! This is for an outcome that only can go one of three ways!

I am worried about the Iranian players too. Iranian people are nice, intelligent people with high moral imprisoned in the vicious system.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Incredible, how disappointing! I support Germany in this World Cup, I hope this was just a false step....

My sympathies to you LW.  Sadly, one team has to lose (or tie?  I don't know exactly how this works in terms of proceeding/winning--I hate to say    ).  I do know that Germany has an excellent reputation in terms of football and *Fifa Cup wins though....*four times I believe?

Best,

PD

[Madiel]

Before play, I thought that Group F (Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia) was going to be the toughest of the groups. I've seen nothing to alter that opinion.

[Madiel]

One thing that I was curious about was wondering how many of the Saudi Arabia's team are actually from Saudi Arabia?  From what I understand, good football players are often courted by other teams to come and play for them.  I believe that they can be "traded" during a certain window of time (like Dec/Jan)?  How all does this work?

In any event, good on them for winning!

PD

You're confusing club trading with shifting countries. One occurs at certain times of year. The other is a question of naturalising and obtaining citizenship.

While some countries have recruited players born elsewhere, I'm not aware of Saudi Arabia taking that route.

[Irons]

Before play, I thought that Group F (Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia) was going to be the toughest of the groups. I've seen nothing to alter that opinion.

Canada let Belgium get away with one there. I'm supporting Morocco because Nayef Aguerd plays for them.

Germany have their work cut out after the shock of losing to Japan, up next Spain!

Talking of Japan, their supporters cleared up discarded rubbish in the stadium when the game ended.

[Lisztianwagner]

My sympathies to you LW.  Sadly, one team has to lose (or tie?  I don't know exactly how this works in terms of proceeding/winning--I hate to say    ).  I do know that Germany has an excellent reputation in terms of football and *Fifa Cup wins though....*four times I believe?

Best,

PD

Thank you, PD, it's ok anyway. Results like that at least make football unpredictable and full of surprise, so worth watching!
Yes, Germany has won four World Cups.

[Madiel]

Canada let Belgium get away with one there. I'm supporting Morocco because Nayef Aguerd plays for them.

Germany have their work cut out after the shock of losing to Japan, up next Spain!

Talking of Japan, their supporters cleared up discarded rubbish in the stadium when the game ended.

Yeah, Japanese fans did that last World Cup. Welcome to World cultural differences.

[Florestan]

I'm rooting for Spain or England. Gods of football, no more Germany or Brazil, please! 

[Lisztianwagner]

I'm rooting for Spain or England. Gods of football, no more Germany or Brazil, please! 

No way, Deutschland über alles! But as a matter of fact, it wouldn't be bad if Spain or England won, Spain has an amazing playing and it would be time for England to win something with the national team.

[Florestan]

No way, Deutschland über alles!  

Obviously not über Japan... 

If Spain beats them --- which in all probability they will --- Deutschland is in big trouble.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

You're confusing club trading with shifting countries. One occurs at certain times of year. The other is a question of naturalising and obtaining citizenship.

While some countries have recruited players born elsewhere, I'm not aware of Saudi Arabia taking that route.

Thanks!

Yeah, Japanese fans did that last World Cup. Welcome to World cultural differences.

Wow!  Way to go Japanese fans! ❤️

PD

[Jo498]

I think the German team that destroyed Brazil and won the WC 8 years ago was already a bit past their best (they had been a bit unlucky in 2010, but played in some ways better in that tournament than in 2014).
Then they failed to replace the coach (or what the Brits call "manager" I think) in time for getting properly reorganized and even after the disaster 2018 (failed the group phase, something that had never happened before, and it was a weaker group than now) they stuck with Löw. I fear the current one (Flick) is also mediocre but they didn't play that bad. They were complacent after the goal, missed lots of good chances and Japan bounced back. (FWIW both japanese scorers and several more of their team play in the Bundesliga  )

[Irons]

After watching 0-0 draw between Uruguay and South Korea, which I enjoyed, an interesting statistic emerged. In the whole of the previous World Cup only one 0-0 draw in the whole competition. So far and we have only just started, there has been four! I think that tells us although Brazil may be the fly in the ointment as they haven't played yet, all nations have evened out and anyone can win it.     

[Papy Oli]

That Uruguay-South Korea game was very entertaining indeed, Lol.

As for the Korean striker that missed that sitter in front of the goal (Hwang Ui-Jo), he used to play for Bordeaux and that brought me flashbacks He either scored worldies for us or missed sitters... That said, he was always running all over the pitch and giving 200% at every game. We could have done with another 10 of him in the team on that basis alone in the last two years.

[Florestan]

Portugal beats Ghana 3-2, best match so far. Ghana could have made it to a draw in the very last minute of extra time. I would have loved it.

[Brian]

Ghana's opportunity at the very end was so surprising! Almost stole the ball from the keeper. If he hadn't fallen down...

[Florestan]

Ghana's opportunity at the very end was so surprising! Almost stole the ball from the keeper. If he hadn't fallen down...

Why almost? He did steal it alright. 

[Madiel]

After watching 0-0 draw between Uruguay and South Korea, which I enjoyed, an interesting statistic emerged. In the whole of the previous World Cup only one 0-0 draw in the whole competition. So far and we have only just started, there has been four! I think that tells us although Brazil may be the fly in the ointment as they haven't played yet, all nations have evened out and anyone can win it.     

Several of the 0-0 draws have been highly entertaining. Defence has been on top, but not for want of trying.

There have really only been a few teams that were disappointing and uncompetitive in the first matches. Unfortunately, Australia was one of them. Too passive. The same for Qatar and Iran. Costa Rica was just overrun.

Pretty much everyone else made a decent fist of it. As well as the upsets, there were several draws where a more fancied team was held, and several more where the favourite was seriously pushed.

Only another 48 matches to go...

[Irons]

A jaw-dropping second goal by Richarlison but although Serbia were good I wasn't blown away by Brazil.
That 6'8" Serbian goalkeeper! I would not like to be the one who knocks his beer over in a bar.

[Florestan]

Only another 48 matches to go...

I missed only the matches on Sunday and Monday (wasn't aware the WC had started already). Their timing is very convenient for me, Romanian time 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00. I guess in Australia it's not that convenient.