I'd better get my haircut this weekend now. The local barbers is owned by and staffed mainly by Colombians, and if they win they'll be unbearable and if we win - well, they've got scissors and razors and I've (currently) got ears.
Looking forward to Tuesday already!
Disappointing game and although I think it wasn't the correct decision to change the starting line up that much, I won't read too much into the result.
@ theotherjonv - I'm certain we use the exact same barbers in Stoughton and I agree, they'll be insufferable!
I reckon Japan is an easier game than Colombia.
All last night taught us is that A) we didn't really want to win and B) Belgium have more depth to their squad than us.
Think the group stage was a success overall - our first 11 is well rested, our path to the semi final is as easy as it can be at this stage (yes I know we can easily lose to Colombia, but playing two of the so called "lesser" teams is better than one easier and then a much harder tie.)
To those who didn't like the changes/performance/result - The bottom line is we're in a far better position today because of it.
France, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico & Belgium will be knocking each other out so only one remains.
Spain & Croatia will do the same.
I'd equate this to Leicester's title win - we have a pretty good starting 11 who are quite hard to beat, and look a threat from set pieces. The more talented opposition aren't playing at their capabilities, and if we keep grinding out results you never know.
Ranos ...you might well be right but I don't see either game as being particularly " easy " ..
It's a knockout cup game where anything can happen ..
Ranos …you might well be right but I don’t see either game as being particularly ” easy ” ..
I said "easier" not "easy"!
Colombia will fancy their chances against us. Still, that could be ok as we tend to do well on the counter.
*engages tired footballing cliche mode*
There are no easy games at this stage of a world cup
*disengages tired footballing cliche mode*
What we need to hope for is that Falco displays the same ruthless eye for goal and clinical finishing as he showed at Old Trafford.
Most.
Overrated.
Player.
Ever.
What we need to hope for is that Falco displays the same ruthless eye for goal and clinical finishing as he showed at Old Trafford.
Most.
Overrated.
Player.
Ever.
Aye, cos no-one else bombed under LvG!
Colombia will fancy their chances against us. Still, that could be ok as we tend to do well on the counter.
I hope they spend hours going over the video from last night, they will master how to stop that long ball strategy we employed....
As professionals and momentum it's a bike like a league cup game in between other important fixtures
Not strictly world cup news ..but welcome Ki the South Korean captain & midfield player to Newcastle United ..always looked a decent player for Swansea..whom he is leaving and joining us on a free transfer ..good work by Rafa given the limited or should that be the non existent transfer budget he currently has at his disposal ..
I don't know if you've had five live on, but if you missed it then this is well worth a listen
Colin Murray interviews England football legend Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce
He comes across brilliantly, unsurprisingly enough.
So it's business time! Knockout stages. WOOOHOOOOO. I'm going Uraguay and France on form so far.
No VAR required for that decision
Whaf the hell was Rojo doing?!! 😳
aye daft. thought argentina started well enough tae.
Warm welcome back to the defensive clowns. Poor Messi.
Wow!
brilliant, been a decent game.
Got to admit that the Argies have some of the best goals this WC.
That is one of the best strikes I have ever seen
That is one of the best strikes I have ever seen.
Really?? Great goal, but seen plenty better!
That ones better!
Now that was a strike!!!😮
It is indeed. Golly
Second for France.....pure ability.
Like a tennis slice shot, very difficult to do never mind score with.
You’re getting your eyes opened today!
Cut me some slack, I’m a bolton and England fan
😆
Shocking keeping there, don't think this is finished yet, hope not anyhow!
Jings!!!
it is now!
Two absolutely world class finishes in this game. What a start to the knockout stage!
Wow fantastico......amazeballs!!
Well I'd rather Portugal won and got knocked out next time 😉 Uruguay look decent and well organised there.
Uruguay. I want you to lose.
Edit: Pepe? Not like this! Not like this!
and WOW!! I'm really looking forward to the 2 blue sides on the 1/4 finals
Bravo Uruguay.
Tiny population - brilliant footballers. Kinda like the Sparta of the football world.
Yep - they, and many other smaller nations, really show what can be achieved. We (Scotland) really have no excuses. We are utterly gash.
And Ireland too. Maybe we play too many other sports, or the weather is crap, or just not producing this type of quality.
Too much focus on boys who are big and strong rather than skilful. From the grassroots all the way up to some of the hammer throwers in the SPL.
Weather? See Iceland, Sweden, Denmark......
I think whatnobeer has it. Looks like England are beginning to produce technically better players, given the success recently of their young teams. Don't see anything similar happening up here.
And Ireland too.
Football (soccer) is what, the fourth sport now in Ireland after GAA and rugby? I remember thinking as I read that rugby had overtaken football as number 3, that Ireland would struggle to ever qualify, let alone challenge at a major tournament after the hey-days of the late 80s/90s. Euro 2012 was an embarrassment. Yeah, tough group but utterly thrashed by Croatia, Spain and Italy.
Small nations like Uruguay being successful are a combination of “the-sport-everybody-plays” and a lucky crop of players - Suarez and Cavani, say. Throw in a decent coach who can drill them to defend like lions and you can achieve a team greater than the sum of its parts in a knockout competition. If every kid in Scotland suddenly decided that there was nothing other than football, and every parent was happy to put in the tens of thousands of hours requires to be world class, then Scotland would be doing what Uruguay are doing in this tournament.
Until any of that happens, because of seeding in qualifying and subsequent seeding in the competition itself should they perform miracles and actually qualify, the smaller European nations will struggle to do anything in the Euros and the WCs. Sure, you’ll get an Iceland (who defended rather than attacked) every so often, but it’s just a fluke.
Yep agree.
And then you’ve got Neymar who’s effectively signed up to play in the French equivalent of the SPL, who just looks pissed off and angry because he took the money to play what is effectively Sunday League football every week, and now he’s surprised he can’t cut it at World Cup level, so he throws himself to the floor every 30 seconds
You made your bed....
****!
