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The FIFA 2018 World Cup Thread (pg. 20)
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| SYSTEM-J |
I like the look of Uruguay. First time I've seen them in this tournament. Very well organised and athletic, but skillful as well at the sharp end of the pitch. Not good enough to lift the trophy, but a nightmare for any team to play against.
Portugal look much like they did two years ago: deeply unimpressive bar Ronaldo, who's struggling to get into the game at the moment. Still, this team is like the living dead: they just won't go down no matter how much punishment they take. Wouldn't be surprised if they somehow grind out a ty win on penalties having been outplayed all game. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Bang. Great play from Suarez and Cavani. Usually in a World Cup things get much less exciting in the knock outs. Let's hope this mad tournament breaks that trend. |
This is turning in to one of the best WC's, at least in my lifetime. You can't predict what's going to happen and magic is being created when least expected.
Uruguay deserve the win if they hold the line now, their passing play is really tight and they look hungry. Agree that i don't think they're a real final contender but they're certainly look better than Portugal right now. |
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| SYSTEM-J |
Portugal have been ing rubbish for years now. Their win at the Euros in 2016 was one of the jammiest sporting victories in history. So glad they've been booted out, and it was quite amusing to watch Ronaldo take on about five desperate long-rangers that were blocked about six inches after leaving his boot.
I'm actually quite glad he and Messi are packing their bags. This tedious "GOAT" debate has been raging online for the last fortnight, despite the fact that neither player had any real chance of lifting the trophy. |
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| DJ RANN |
Yeah, as great finishers as they are, the GOAT talk was getting incredibly tiresome and overblown. Ronaldo had a couple of moments of brilliance like the first match against Spain but other than that, he wasn't so dangerous that could change the course of a match, then factor in the team which was mediocre at best and they deserved to go home.
First time Uruguay have been past this stage since 1930.
I'm actually glad for Messi that he found some form after a poor start but as a team they simply didn't deserve to go any further. They squeaked in the 16 and today showed that also deserved to go home.
At this moment it's only Brazil as the last remaining "titan", but if France truly have found their form now, they could take it all the way.
England have never had a better chance. |
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| LoveHate |
| all them Portuguese fans are about to go root for brazil. |
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| Jon_Snow |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
I love them! Not just because I love their jerseys, but because my dad always asks me who "the airport water tanks" are, and it's hard to disagree with him on that one :p
:stongue: |
Checkers is a beautiful game too. 
Dam had work today sounds like I missed a classic |
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| SPANIARD |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Not good enough to lift the trophy.
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Seriously? Can't disagree more. They would be my odds on fav right now considering how things are shaping up. |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
First time Uruguay have been past this stage since 1930. |
Eh? They won it in 1950 and have been semi-finalists three times since then, most recently in 2010. You could scarcely be more wrong, old chap.
And I thought Lira was bad for scratching off Poland's achievements! |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by SPANIARD
Seriously? Can't disagree more. They would be my odds on fav right now considering how things are shaping up. |
Er, did you see Belgium play, not to mention the France that played today would crush Uruguay. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Eh? They won it in 1950 and have been semi-finalists three times since then, most recently in 2010.
And I thought Lira was bad for scratching off Poland's achievements! |
Really? I literally read that off the Fox sports site as I revised the highlights. What the ? more Faux news lol
Edit: Went back to check, and they've updated the stats. It's the first time they've more than 3 opening games since 1930. they've now added in the 2010 stat too. Can't ing trust Americans to narrate football :whip:
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
You could scarcely be more wrong, old chap.
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Don't test me, I promise I can :p |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by SPANIARD
Seriously? Can't disagree more. They would be my odds on fav right now considering how things are shaping up. |
Even setting side the fact that Cavani appears to have busted his hamstring, they don't have the midfield to be genuine heavyweights, or the options from the bench. Watching Middlesbrough reject Christian Stuani replace Cavani in the second half was a slightly surreal experience, and I'm a Middlesbrough fan. |
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| SPANIARD |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Even setting side the fact that Cavani appears to have busted his hamstring, they don't have the midfield to be genuine heavyweights, or the options from the bench. Watching Middlesbrough reject Christian Stuani replace Cavani in the second half was a slightly surreal experience, and I'm a Middlesbrough fan. |
The midfield argument has some validity if you haven't been following the team closely. To my knowledge and don't quote me on this, Tabarez has had the longest tenure of all the remaining coaches. He's purposely made the team play better without the ball than with it (look at some of the BBC/ITV commentary questioning why they were giving the ball up seemingly purposely to Saudi Arabia). They have an extremely efficient defense which concedes very little and an attack with Suarez/Cavani that have goal scoring numbers that speak for themselves. They absolutely reek of quality Italian sides of the past and in a world cup with so much instability, they seem to have a (key word) efficient system that most teams will fear greatly.
It's a fair point to say that they lose a lot with Cavani. I'm not aware of his status but yes, if he's out it's a major blow. However I can assure you that Stuani was a top 5 scorer in La Liga last season at Girona. He is basically another Iago Aspas in that he failed miserably in England but more than regained his reputation in Spain. I would not equate the Stuani at Middlesbrough to the one at Girona for a second. Not to say that he's Cavani but he has come off a fantastic season which should be noted. |
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