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***Official*** 2018 World Cup thread (and Drinking Guide) (1 Viewer)

Brazil just never felt like they could reach that next gear this tournament.  You would think all the attacking talent (Neymar, Coutinho, Willian, Jesus, and Firmino) could produce more goals, but it didn't come together.  Felt out of sync and Jesus in particular was poor.  No true target man or great buildup through the middle. Reminiscent of Argentina.

They needed a some moments of brilliance from Neymar and Coutinho that they didn't deliver enough of.  Even today, Coutinho balanced a great assist with some bad shooting.  I wonder if today's result would have been different with Casiemero to help shut down Belgium's rampant attack in the first half.  Going with him and Fernadinho in a double pivot would have been interesting.  I like Paulinho, but that isn't his strength and the guy has played way too many games (96 since the start of 2017) to be fresh/expected to cover a ton of ground.

Disappointing result and Neymar really needs to grow the #### up.  He had gotten better at this crap his last couple years at Barcelona, but he is all the way back to his worst.  Brazil needs his leadership, not his acting.

 
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Just watched Brazil-Belgium.  Glad I went to the beach first.  

- Agree with the posts about Neymar.  He played well, but his well-deserved reputation as a diver has hurt him and his team.  He might have had a chance at a penalty towards the end of the first half, but his rep means he won't be seeing most 50/50 calls go his way.  I hope he hears the criticism and takes it to heart because it would be a shame to see him waste that wonderful talent with those clown antics. 

- Brazil could/should have scored multiple times in the first 20-25 minutes or so, and those two wide open misses late were shocking.  Neither one on goal at all.  Awful.

- I don't understand Tite's fascination with Gabriel Jesus.  That nutmeg was great, but that was the only positive thing he did all day (or all tournament for that matter).  He was not ready for the biggest stage and still kept getting starts.

- Take the over on France-Belgium.  Neither defense looks that solid, in my opinion.

- Courtois was excellent.

- Coutinho's assist was ridiculously good.  Wow.

- I thought Brazil actually played very well.  The bounces just didn't go their way, and they didn't convert two great opportunities.  This is a cruel sport, as we all know.

 
rockaction said:
Well, that was exciting.  Enjoyed reading all your comments.  I'm still surprised they took Lukaku out. That seemed to even surprise him, but I don't know tactics at this level or Belgian personnel, so what the heck am I even saying? 

Good game, Belgium. That's what I'm saying. 
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I was shocked.

I get it on a certain level of finishing the game out. However, an extra  30 min without him if Brazil score would have been very tough for Belgium.

Glad it worked out. He and KDB look primed for the semis 

 
The Kansas Comet said:
Just watched Brazil-Belgium.  Glad I went to the beach first.  

- Agree with the posts about Neymar.  He played well, but his well-deserved reputation as a diver has hurt him and his team.  He might have had a chance at a penalty towards the end of the first half, but his rep means he won't be seeing most 50/50 calls go his way.  I hope he hears the criticism and takes it to heart because it would be a shame to see him waste that wonderful talent with those clown antics. 

- Brazil could/should have scored multiple times in the first 20-25 minutes or so, and those two wide open misses late were shocking.  Neither one on goal at all.  Awful.

- I don't understand Tite's fascination with Gabriel Jesus.  That nutmeg was great, but that was the only positive thing he did all day (or all tournament for that matter).  He was not ready for the biggest stage and still kept getting starts.

- Take the over on France-Belgium.  Neither defense looks that solid, in my opinion.

- Courtois was excellent.

- Coutinho's assist was ridiculously good.  Wow.

- I thought Brazil actually played very well.  The bounces just didn't go their way, and they didn't convert two great opportunities.  This is a cruel sport, as we all know.
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The lack of adjustments from Tite was pretty frustrating to me.  Brazil needed a new idea or a spark but he kept the same idea he started the tournament with....

 
Anyone else find the announcers today to be absolutely unbearable? Especially this guy John Strong (will give Stu a pass though he also brings weak sauce).

Must he remind us every five minutes that the winner plays France on Tuesday? How many times can they call Belgium the 'golden generation'? Do they have nothing else important to say?

How many statistics must we endure? Did you know Brazil hasnt come back from a two goal defect since 1938? You did not? Well you must have had your volume down because he said it MANY times. Clearly its important.

Oh, and they completely flubbed the call on Brazil's goal. A moment of unsurpassed high drama that floated innocently past them.

Breaking a taboo here, but this reminds me of Paul McGuire and Mike Patrick on Sunday Night Football many years ago. Pure drivel. I often get these irrational fears that American TV will ruin soccer the same way that we ruined all our other sports.  :bag:   

@The Gator pass me the cucumber vodka please. 

 
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Been in France and Belgium the last week.  The crowds at the bar have been fun.  Headed to the Netherlands next, but will be back in Paris in the night of the finals.  If France makes it., should be a wild night.  

 
Native said:
Anyone else find the announcers today to be absolutely unbearable? Especially this guy John Strong (will give Stu a pass though he also brings weak sauce).

Must he remind us every five minutes that the winner plays France on Tuesday? How many times can they call Belgium the 'golden generation'? Do they have nothing else important to say?

How many statistics must we endure? Did you know Brazil hasnt come back from a two goal defect since 1938? You did not? Well you must have had your volume down because he said it MANY times. Clearly its important.

Oh, and they completely flubbed the call on Brazil's goal. A moment of unsurpassed high drama that floated innocently past them.

Breaking a taboo here, but this reminds me of Paul McGuire and Mike Patrick on Sunday Night Football many years ago. Pure drivel. I often get these irrational fears that American TV will ruin soccer the same way that we ruined all our other sports.  :bag:   

@The Gator pass me the cucumber vodka please. 
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I've switched to Telemundo for these exclusively

 
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?

 
Frostillicus said:
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?
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Just flip it in for background when you see it on. See if you take to it. Or dvr a weekend highlight show when the leagues start up. 

 
I'm off to Vegas for a few days. In the morning I'll be in a pub with some mates having a few pints with a proper morning fry up. Go get this, lads.

 
Well, with Brazil out I'm not sure who I think is the favorite or who I want to route for.  All of the remaining teams, perhaps save Russia, are not too disparate on quality  I don't want Russia or England to win, although I like this England team better than usual.  Belgium and France are probably the best two, but neither make me confident they will put in a consistent 90 minutes.  Croatia will be interesting to watch tomorrow.  They don't have the most talent, but they have enough at the right places.

 
Frostillicus said:
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?
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Join an EPL fantasy league for one year. Forces you to learn players. I did it a few years ago and haven't looked back. Love it.

 
I think Grant Wahl just called me a premier league hipster :oldunsure:

 Premier League hipsters love to slam Roberto Martínez, and when his team succeeds they say it's because of Belgium's talent. But Martínez got it right tonight, and there's a reason he has always been a good knockout tournament coach.
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Frostillicus said:
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?
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Bet on it

Half serious as that is how i got into it now i love it and follow so many different leagues.  The EPL games you can catch staring in august sat and sun mornings on NBC and NSNBC are all high intensity and great atmosphere type games. German league matches are on FoxSports1 and 2.

Then in the afternoon you can usually catch the Spain and Italian legues games om Bein.

 
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France and England the only past winners left alive ... and both one time winners.  I'm really hoping England is out tomorrow.

While I would be ok with France winning, at this point I want to see a new team win it.  I picked Belgium to be in the finals, so kind of pulling for them.  I would be very happy with Croatia or Sweden too.

 
comfortably numb said:
Bet on it

Half serious as that is how i got into it now i love it and follow so many different leagues.  The EPL games you can catch staring in august sat and sun mornings on NBC and NSNBC are all high intensity and great atmosphere type games. German league matches are on FoxSports1 and 2.

Then in the afternoon you can usually catch the Spain and Italian legues games om Bein.
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I think that's part of why I love the World Cup, actually.  Have had at least one bet on every game.

 
Frostillicus said:
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?
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I’m busy tonight but I’ll respond tomorrow.  4 years ago I was you.  Today I can barely watch an nfl game and am counting the days until the new epl season.  My tips are coming soon.  In the meantime study the following team:

www.lfc.com

 
Frostillicus said:
I love the World Cup.  Watch every game.  And I do this every 4 years, and then completely lose interest in futbol.  What advice would you give me to become a soccer guy?
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Just don't listen to people suggesting you follow their perpetually underwhelming EPL teams

 
shader said:
I’m busy tonight but I’ll respond tomorrow.  4 years ago I was you.  Today I can barely watch an nfl game and am counting the days until the new epl season.  My tips are coming soon.  In the meantime study the following team:

www.lfc.com
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Lol. Amen

Portugal just annouced their schedule today and im so excited for August. My team has no shot at winning the title but staying in the 1st league is the goal and a europa league qualification would be a huge cherry on top.

 
How about that Hazard guy from Belgium.  I like him.  I kind of like Harry Kane too, but I also feel like I'm not supposed to for some reason.  Are there any good American guys these days?

 
Frostillicus said:
Are those the Yankees?
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Manchester United, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona are commonly the top three most valuable clubs in the world.  United had a pretty dominating run in England under Sir Alex Ferguson, but has struggled to find non domestic cup success since he left.  Still, they have so much money that they can buy quality players to attempt to regain prior highs.  Like Lukaku and Pogba (who plays for France).

 
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Frostillicus said:
How about that Hazard guy from Belgium.  I like him.  I kind of like Harry Kane too, but I also feel like I'm not supposed to for some reason.  Are there any good American guys these days?
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Not quite these days, but in the days very soon to come, and the best part is they're not all rich, white guys.

 
Frostillicus said:
How about that Hazard guy from Belgium.  I like him.  I kind of like Harry Kane too, but I also feel like I'm not supposed to for some reason.  Are there any good American guys these days?
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Hazard - Chelsea. 

Kane - Tottenham

American - Pulisic - Dortmund in Bundesliga (Germany)

there are others, a few play in Germany. 

 
Frostillicus said:
How about that Hazard guy from Belgium.  I like him.  I kind of like Harry Kane too, but I also feel like I'm not supposed to for some reason.  Are there any good American guys these days?
Click to expand...
Hazard plays for Chelsea and Kane plays for Tottenham, although both could be on the move this summer.  Kane is really fun to watch

 
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