FIFA World Cup 2022

[Billy Tell]

So far round of 16 has had no upsets. Japan vs Croatia should be tight. Logical final will be Brazil vs France.

[broughie]

@canefan i've always been a fan of Brazil. The game is second nature to them. They might have problems against a bigger side, like the French or English perhaps.

[Bovidae]

I've got to give some love to Giroud becoming France's top goal scorer. He doesn't get much praise but his record at both club and international level is very impressive.

[ACT Crusader]

@broughie said in FIFA World Cup 2022:

@canefan i've always been a fan of Brazil. The game is second nature to them. They might have problems against a bigger side, like the French or English perhaps.

I’m not a fan of how this Brazilian side play. Far too conservative/defensive. It may get them the choccies, but for a game that lasts as long as football - 100 minutes - I actually want to be entertained with lots of attack!

[broughie]

@ACT-Crusader I agree they don't match the great Brazil's of past, but they are good at controlling possession and pressuring when they lose it. Can't stand Neymar but he is good and is additive to this team.

[MiketheSnow]

Japan 1-0 Croatia
Halftime

Thoroughly deserved

Croatia have been wasteful in the box

[MiketheSnow]

Croatia have woken up, finally

Brilliant cross and header

Japan 1-1 Croatia
55mins

[MiketheSnow]

Japan 1-1 Croatia
After extra time

Penalties it is

[MiketheSnow]

Absolutely rubbish penalty taking from Japan gives Croatia the win

Japan had plenty of opportunity to win this in regulation

Not their time

[Billy Tell]

Japan committing harakiri with that run of penalty “attempts”. Dont think I’ve seen worse at this level.

[Billy Tell]

Wondered what Leicester Fainga'anuku was doing playing for Brazil. Turns out it’s his cousin Éder Gabriel Militão.

[MiketheSnow]

This could get ugly

[Billy Tell]

Men against boys.

[Bovidae]

Brazil are looking scarily good.

[canefan]

@MiketheSnow said in FIFA World Cup 2022:

This could get ugly

Invoke mercy rule?

[pakman]

[Billy Tell]

For all the talk about soccer being more competitive than rugby, we have 8 winners

Uruguay
Italy
West Germany/Germany
Brazil
France
Spain
England
Argentina

Don't see that changing this tournament either. Would be stunned if winner was Morocco, Switzerland, Croatia, Netherlands or Portugal.

[canefan]

@Billy-Tell said in FIFA World Cup 2022:

For all the talk about soccer being more competitive than rugby, we have 8 winners

Uruguay
Italy
West Germany/Germany
Brazil
France
Spain
England
Argentina

Don't see that changing this tournament either. Would be stunned if winner was Morocco, Switzerland, Croatia, Netherlands or Portugal.

Of those, only France and Spain have broken into the club in the last 30 years? IIRC

[dogmeat]

@Billy-Tell compared with rugby's four...

Add to that four France, Argies Ireland, Wales, Scotland and you have nine teams have made RWC semis

16 teams have made the FIFA WC semi's but have yet to win it. Six of them (Netherlands, Croatia, Portugal, South Korea, Turkey) in the last 20 years

As you would expect from the global game, football is way more competitive

[mariner4life]

@dogmeat Ireland ain't ever made no semi

Quarters and out is their tradition