World Cup 2018
- Thread starter El Flaco
- Start date
El Flaco
Active member
Our defensive solidity has been brilliant throughout the tournament.
Hardly a walk in the park for Kane and co tomorrow.
Also, Chelski could have had Hazard - Lukaku - De Bruyne up front by now
It was because of that stupid Mourinho.
That's why they have updated their transfer policy.
Now, the Chelsea Board decides which player they'll sell/buy, the manager has to just manage what he has got.
te amo barca
Blaugrana al vent
I was just jumping on the meme train. Actually expect a dull game with Kane's penalty on the 95th minute. But seriously, if Sweden opt to park the bus as they did against Germany we are in for a borefest. Looked lots better against Switzerland.
West Saxon
Member
There's nothing wrong with the rules or the structure of the game. Belgium converted their chances, Brazil didn't. Brazil have themselves to blame for a poor team selection and basic errors all over the pitch in the first half, and in both boxes. The scoreline is what counts, not the possession count or the shots count.
BruceWayne11
New member
As a Barca fan I'm not sure anymore. In what other sport would the more dominant team be so poorly rewarded?
BBZ8800
Senior Member
This is just my view, but this is what I have learned from the last 2-3-4 years of Champions league, World cup and Euros, when two big teams meet:
(So, I am NOT talking about Barca vs Getafe, but Barca vs Atletic, Real vs Atletico, NT teams vs NT teams):
Majority of goals in tight big matches are scored:
1. from counters
2. headers after corners
3. penalties
4. free kicks
5. long range shots/Gk's mistakes
And possession-style goals when you totally outplay and outsmart opponents are extremely rare.
Yet, we (Barca and Spain) rely only on that, lol.
Further, World cup's semifinalists:
France is fast, strong, tall and technical.
Belgium is fast, strong, tall and technical. (Average height of 10 Belgium outfield players tonight was 187 cm, lol. Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Coutinho had problems in breaking them. Who would have predicted that?)
Probably Croatia/England: fast, strong, tall and technical.
Other big NT and club teams have evolved.
They have a technique.
But also a lot of pace, muscles, some thugs, stamina.
We, on the other hand, rely ONLY on possession, passing and technique.
And then we wonder why we won only 1 CL in 7 years, inspite of having Messi, plus Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets-Alves in majority of those years...
Yeah, it is only a bad luck when we are not winning lately
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West Saxon
Member
By dominant, you mean had the most possession and most shots, right? Thing is, those statistics simply aren't relevant, it's the one in the top left of the screen that counts. There is more than one way to win football matches, and they're all equally valid, so long as teams stay within the laws of the game. Belgium took full advantage of Brazil's ineptitude in the first half and then held on to win in the second. They deserved their win because frankly, they attacked the other team's goal and defended their own, better than the opposition.
Givenchy
Senior Member
not that I'm against Belgium as a team (brexit, fuck Brussels EU though etc) but its turned into the Euros now which is pretty lame. WC needs some of that south american flair.
the ref was pretty poor and although Neymar is insufferable at times, a ref shouldn't go into the game with the attitude of 'boy who cried wolf'. VAR is fucking useless if the referees aren't even going to look at it, clear penalty not given to Brazil.
the ref was pretty poor and although Neymar is insufferable at times, a ref shouldn't go into the game with the attitude of 'boy who cried wolf'. VAR is fucking useless if the referees aren't even going to look at it, clear penalty not given to Brazil.
West Saxon
Member
Like at Englefield, Ashdown, and Stamford Bridge, the Vikings will fight hard, but the Anglo-Saxon spirit will prevail.
BBZ8800
Senior Member
Interesting, but not 100% right.
I would expand it to: teams who play possession football and who are better during the match, most often lose in the end, like Barca, Brasil, Spain and similar.
Real in a CL is usually the better team, and they are never losing.
Because: when they have the ball, they try fast counters, direct football and don't slow down the game.
Barca, Spain, Brasil, play possession around the opponent's box and most often can't break the physical bus and then lose on counters since they are attacking with way too many players.
So, maybe being better is not flawed.
But being better and play slow-possession-based football and letting the opponent to organize their defense each time=is a recipe for a disaster in 2018'.
Except in a league competition.
This recipe works well if you are a WAY BETTER team (Barca vs Getafe, City vs Stoke etc).
It doesn't work against Atletico, Juve, Liverpool, more or less against anyone.
Luftstalag14
Culé de Celestial Empire
If direct and fast is the way to go, I guess the EPL will own the future.
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