The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[b3h]

Can’t work out why Jesus is starting ahead of Firmino, if I’m honest. Firmino links and brings the others in to play so much better.

Brazil v England would be a very entertaining game. Both good going forward and both a bit dodgy at the back.

Can't really be about workrate either as Liverpool are all about that

 

[White Wolf]

Can’t work out why Jesus is starting ahead of Firmino, if I’m honest. Firmino links and brings the others in to play so much better.

Brazil v England would be a very entertaining game. Both good going forward and both a bit dodgy at the back.

This has been a question people have been asking of Tite since the warmup matches. Jesus was rubbish in the game against Croatia at Anfield, failing to link the play up and generally inhibiting attacks and it has continued into the tournament. Strange decision to not play Firmino.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ah - at least the Germans are gone. If you think avoiding that lot is worth throwing a group then I am staggered.

 

[Jack Regan]

Easy in the end for Brasil, at least Serbia stopped Neymar's desperate attempts to get on the scoresheet.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Brazil look better than France, Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Uruguay but that's such a low bar. I've not been impressed with them at all. That centre half pairing can definitely be got at and the balance of both the midfield three and the front three looks off. Fernandinho and Firmino should both be playing, arguably Douglas Costa too. They'll get even worse too if Danilo recovers (Tite would definitely put him back in, even though he is horseshit).

 

[Freddeno]

Congratulations Fred!

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The extremely obvious pull on a defender that allowed them to score.

By who?

Mitrovic ended up on his arse but that's because he blocked off the run of Miranda, the goal scorer just had a clean run on the ever sluggish Matic.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Sorry page 2

I think Southgate deserves the plaudits. He's done really well

 

[YoungWolf]

One of Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Senegal, Japan or Colombia will be in the World Cup semi-finals. Three semis between them in the last 50 years.

I'd still rather we went for the win tomorrow. As others have said, momentum is key and I've not really seen us play this well at a tournament since 2004. Plus, if we were to finish second and get Colombia, they are no mugs. Equally, I think Mexico could give Brazil a few problems.

Do they think Southgate is going to make wholesale changes or go for the win. I saw quite a funny quote from him about getting himself sent off on purpose if it was real.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I think Southgate deserves the plaudits. He's done really well

He says with hindsight! I agree he is growing on me and so are England

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Serbias decision making was awful. All those attacks broke down as they made bad decisions in around the box. Off the ball I thought Serbia had some good movement, they got people in good positions, but you would see the Serbians crowding the box and them one of them would try a cut-back or a dink into the area and it killed the move.
They had players on the edge of the area ready for that second ball but they ended up ballooning it into the stands on a few occasions when a better option was to send it wide into space.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

I think Southgate deserves the plaudits. He's done really well

I was thinking about this. I think that maybe the reason everything is going well in the England camp is because Southgate is less domineering and authoritative. That article about Hoddle during WC 98 highlighted how strict he was and the dismay it caused the players in the camp.

I would imagine Southgate is quite easy going and a bit of a laugh behind the scenes, which is allowing the English players to be themselves a bit more and it removes some of the pressure. Obviously I'm speculating, I have no idea what Southgate is like in the camp so I could be completely wrong. But He comes across as someone who wouldnt be a strict authoritarian like Hoddle or Capello.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

He says with hindsight! I agree he is growing on me and so are England

I think you'll find I have backed him for a while

 

[machin05]

I was thinking about this. I think that maybe the reason everything is going well in the England camp is because Southgate is less domineering and authoritative. That article about Hoddle during WC 98 highlighted how strict he was and the dismay it caused the players in the camp.

I would imagine Southgate is quite easy going and a bit of a laugh behind the scenes, which is allowing the English players to be themselves a bit more and it removes some of the pressure. Obviously I'm speculating, I have no idea what Southgate is like in the camp so I could be completely wrong. But He comes across as someone who wouldnt be a strict authoritarian like Hoddle or Capello.

 

[White Wolf]

I was thinking about this. I think that maybe the reason everything is going well in the England camp is because Southgate is less domineering and authoritative. That article about Hoddle during WC 98 highlighted how strict he was and the dismay it caused the players in the camp.

I would imagine Southgate is quite easy going and a bit of a laugh behind the scenes, which is allowing the English players to be themselves a bit more and it removes some of the pressure. Obviously I'm speculating, I have no idea what Southgate is like in the camp so I could be completely wrong. But He comes across as someone who wouldnt be a strict authoritarian like Hoddle or Capello.

Isn't this what they said about Schteve?

 

[Freddeno]

Brazil look better than France, Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Uruguay but that's such a low bar. I've not been impressed with them at all. That centre half pairing can definitely be got at and the balance of both the midfield three and the front three looks off. Fernandinho and Firmino should both be playing, arguably Douglas Costa too. They'll get even worse too if Danilo recovers (Tite would definitely put him back in, even though he is horseshit).

How do you think Brazil has been better than Uruguay, good balance in all the team..

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Isn't this what they said about Schteve?

Did they? I don't know.

FWIW I don't think England have been properly tested yet, so it will be interesting to see his tactics for the Belgium game, but I just get the impression that off the pitch, Southgate is quite chilled.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I think you'll find I have backed him for a while

Cool. You were in the minority on here then as many thought he was dull and so we're England. The signs have been good.it's pleasing. But we have won nothing yet. If we are still talking about us progressing in the second week of July then fantastic!

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

Cool. You were in the minority on here then as many thought he was dull and so we're England. The signs have been good.it's pleasing. But we have won nothing yet. If we are still talking about us progressing in the second week of July then fantastic!

I expect us to go.out in the quarter finals which for the youngest squad since 62 will represent a success.

They have already put some.pride back in the team. Tomorrow will prove nothing neither team will be at full strength.

 

[AndyWolves]

England may lack individual talent, but they certainly seem like a team