Match Day Thread World Cup Watch

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mmmmmm.... Not for me on that one. Russian Defender basically rugby tackles Ramos, doesn't even bother looking at the ball and it bounces off him. If he stands still then he probably heads it away.

That's not to say Ramos isn't a dirty ****er. Spain deserve to go in such a meek way anyway, barely any intent to get in behind (in any game)
So much possession, minimal penetration.
 
Spain for all their possession and their tiki taka game hardly created loads of chances. It is not as if they had 10 clear chances and drew. They were ineffective reminding me of the mancs under Van Gaal. Possession must lead to a chance otherwise it is just pointless. Spain is a much better team yet they wasted 90 minutes just passing the ball around the midfield. They should have taken a chance with crosses or pass the penetrating but risky ball.

They were too scared of losing the ball.

Spain reminded me of Barcelona. But the key ingredient in that system is missing. Messi plays for Argentina. Just like Messi missed his Barcelona team mates, they missed him too.
 
I don't believe that area of the USA has a Fifa recognised team. And if the US national team can't do it, then I don't think a small part would have qualified either.


COLOMBIA on the other hand

Can't believe my phone auto corrected to that, been correcting others since Thursday <laugh>
 
Spain for all their possession and their tiki taka game hardly created loads of chances. It is not as if they had 10 clear chances and drew. They were ineffective reminding me of the mancs under Van Gaal. Possession must lead to a chance otherwise it is just pointless. Spain is a much better team yet they wasted 90 minutes just passing the ball around the midfield. They should have taken a chance with crosses or pass the penetrating but risky ball.

They were too scared of losing the ball.

Spain reminded me of Barcelona. But the key ingredient in that system is missing. Messi plays for Argentina. Just like Messi missed his Barcelona team mates, they missed him too.
Tiki Taka is a thing of the past, Chelsea saw to that with their CL win. Park the bus and grab a breakaway goal. And then Bayern when they tore Barcelona apart.

Barca don't even use it anymore. But Spain with the lack of a manager that had done all the prep work for the World Cup panicked and reverted to old familiar styles, which teams know how to beat.
 
Tiki Taka is a thing of the past, Chelsea saw to that with their CL win. Park the bus and grab a breakaway goal. And then Bayern when they tore Barcelona apart.

Barca don't even use it anymore. But Spain with the lack of a manager that had done all the prep work for the World Cup panicked and reverted to old familiar styles, which teams know how to beat.
Tiki taka still works, it's the idea of keeping the ball so the other team barely has an opportunity to score. Spain just didn't move enough to open the holes and weren't brave enough to play through the gaps when they had it.

Any tactic will work with the right group of players and manager.
 
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Seriously.


Best team of tournament thus far is Croatia... they should now sail to semi final... should.

Russia showed their intent today. 5 at back and grind through.

England need to believe... not just say it but really do it now. The final is there if they want it bad enough.

I mean sterling and long are in particular.

I go back again to stones, walker, Maguire.... absolute mince.

This draw is so favourable.

Midfield is hardly full of talent either. Very limited and limiting choice.