FIFA World Cup 2022
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For anyone who follows football, the ideal place for Ronaldo is on the bench - a great man to bring on if you're behind and you resort to lumping it into the box. Of the remaining teams, Brazil, France, England, and Portugal have seriously stacked squads, lots of genuine talent on the bench. Of the other 4, Argentina and the Netherlands have good bench options but largely untried while Morocco and Croatia need their first XI to fire.
Interesting that the teams who were qualified after 2 games (Brazil, France, England, and Portugal - although England were "all but qualified") looked the freshest in their Round of 16 games. It shouldn't be underestimated how tough it has been for team playing the same XI for must win games in the group having to go straight into a knockout game. Korea played 4 games, their first on 24 Nov and Brazil on 5 Dec. 4 games in 11 days in those conditions - hard to have a spring in the step for the final game while Brazil were able to rest their first choice players for the 3rd group game to give them a week to prepare.
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@KiwiPie a striker who won't work without the ball is worthless in modern football.
but as you say, he's still great to have if you desperately need to score
@mariner4life said in FIFA World Cup 2022:
@KiwiPie a striker who won't work without the ball is worthless in modern football.
but as you say, he's still great to have if you desperately need to score
Agree. His athleticism (plus height) is still a decent weapon with a midfield that wants to just lob it into the box seeking an equaliser or winning goal. But he’s basically an extra time player with this Portugal side.
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Playing not to lose
Disappointing 90 mins
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Fucking hell Croatia
That was the match
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Fuck
Great finish from Neymar
Croatia 0-1 Brazil
End of first period of extra timeCan’t see Croatia coming back from this
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Never say die
Fair play Croatia
They’ve taken it to Brazil
Croatia 1-1 Brazil
3 mins of extra time to go -
Penalties it is
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LOL. Only caught the penalties but well done Croatia.
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Crazy
Croatia go 4 for 4
Brazil have one saved and fourth hits the postNeymar didn’t even have a go
Both Spain and Brazil underestimated their opponents and got punished
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Smaller population than NZ. They are some footballing country. This is not a one-off they are often in the mix.
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Smaller population than NZ. They are some footballing country. This is not a one-off they are often in the mix.
@Billy-Tell said in FIFA World Cup 2022:
Smaller population than NZ. They are some footballing country. This is not a one-off they are often in the mix.
Losing finalists last time round
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Normally support the Durch as my second team, but only when they don't butcher their normally 'best kit in the world' by either going all orange or fluorescent. So, often last 20 years, they have lost the coveted support of me at the big tournaments.
This year, they're all orange, so I hope they fuck off.
Fashion tip Dutchies (and Nike). Orange only looks good if it is balanced by white or black (shorts).
Come on Argies!
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Brazil only have themselves to blame
Like Spain
It looks pretty but sometimes you need to be direct and physical
Sat on their lead
Got punished
@MiketheSnow said in FIFA World Cup 2022:
Brazil only have themselves to blame
Like Spain
It looks pretty but sometimes you need to be direct and physical
Sat on their lead
Got punished
Actually I thought they didn't sit on their lead enough - 4 minutes left and holding midfielder Fred is battling for the ball by the attacking corner flag. It gets cleared and suddenly it is 4 on 4 as all the Brazilian show ponies are too lazy to cover for Fred. Very lucky goal as the shot was limp but they allowed him the shot on goal. Croatia deserved to go out for playing for penalties from half-time but then Brazil deserved to go out for not defending that lead after Croatia had not looked remotely close to scoring all game.
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Man that was magnificent from Messi. Such a good pass.
