World Cup Russia 2018!!!!

As far as I'm aware, it's only for goal-scoring opportunities (offsides, penalties etc) or mistaken identity (saw someone booked the other day, and it was overturned)

 

New stars will be born here... Mbappe

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Let’s just bring a vet on and put a few of them down. It would be a mercy.

 

No 'hand of god' or the 'winker'.

 

World Cup 2018: Kylian Mbappe emerges on world stage as Lionel Messi departs - BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44669325

 

Somewhere Kurt Nogan is watching Pique give away that penalty and thinking about Luton v QPR circa 1999.

 

If England progress far enough I’ve seen nothing fro Spain or Russia to worry us

 

Very pedestrian the Spanish side.....pass, pass, pass, pass, lose ball......

 

Plus a lot of that passing is without any decent runs being made. It's actually quite weird. I don't really quite know what they're waiting for.

 

Hard to see how a penalty was not given by VAR there

 

All the footy luddites will be out having a go at tiki taka as usual after this, and to be fair it hasn’t worked for Spain today, even if they score now (how was that not a penalty?) or win the shootout. Of course that forgets that it’s brought them 2 European Championships and a World Cup. And it’s a bit more tricky when you only have Iniesta out of Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso.

 

Wow favourites Spain out, what a weird but fascinating World Cup.

 

I honestly think that that style of play is on it's way out as it's been found out by lesser teams. Today was aperfect example... so much passing and so many players staying in position whilst in possession... not many attempted runs being made. Not stretching the opponent. It's not working anymore.

 

Or they just didn’t play it well enough.

 

very surprised with that result, sad as well, dour football has prevailed

 

You could say that about any type of footie. But without those world class players in there then it doesn't work. Look at Barcelona's recent successes, it hasn't been done by playing tiki taka (although they do dominate possession). That's not the sole aim.

Even city have fast direct players and hit on the counter

 

Spain were slow, preferred possession to risk.
I think they are old, stale and passed it.
Russia were less able but had a plan which they stuck to.

Can not see past France or Belgium but we are not that far off this time.
Get passed Colombia please...and you never know

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