OT: Official 2018 World Cup Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
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That reminded me of 4 years ago when Portugal tied the U.S. on a lat egoal. CR executed a beautiful long cross right on his teammates foot. I could have scored off of that pass.
I believe he broke the European record for International goals today.
This was a tie that felt like a win for Portugal.
Yeah, that was a beautiful pass he made and the subsequent goal felt like a loss for the US that day.
Hat trick today was first ever by an opposing player against Spain. He definitely rose to the occasion on the big stage.
Just finished watching on DVR - wow! That match had everything from absolute brilliance to bone-headed blunders. I've never seen DeGea fumble a shot that badly (he's my favorite player) and Pique made a really stupid foul on Ronaldo, who had his back to the goal 25 yards out, allowing Ronaldo to make that scintillating direct kick goal (I also think DeGea should've had the wall 2 feet further to his left - maybe the wall might've stopped that shot, then).
Costa's first goal, holding off 2 players, was fantastic (and yeah, he could've been called for a foul, but I didn't think it was that bad) and his 2nd, was off such a gorgeous set piece - and Nacho's screamer of a goal was awesome. Spain really played better and would've won, if not for the mistakes by DeGea and Pique. Also, just love watching Spain in possession. Looks just like our weekly match, lol.
Costa's first goal, holding off 2 players, was fantastic (and yeah, he could've been called for a foul, but I didn't think it was that bad) and his 2nd, was off such a gorgeous set piece - and Nacho's screamer of a goal was awesome. Spain really played better and would've won, if not for the mistakes by DeGea and Pique. Also, just love watching Spain in possession. Looks just like our weekly match, lol.
Missed the 2nd half too bad, looks like it was a good one. Just saw the highlights though, the serve in and the pass on Diego Costa's 2nd goal was nice as was CR's hat trick goal.
The contact by DC was pretty minor in my mind, and of course, the Portuguese player was not hurt at all but in order to try to draw a foul call, he's clutching his face in anguish while the contact was on the back of his head. If he plays through it like a real man then he's likely to stay in the play and provide help (you know, play defense which is his job) while DC is dribbling back and forth around a couple other defenders to clear space to get his shot off. Anyway, glad to see the ref didn't call it and unnecessarily waive off a well-earned goal.
That was the match of the day and it delivered!
Tomorrow 8am. Argentina vs Iceland is Saturday's must watch.
Tomorrow 8am. Argentina vs Iceland is Saturday's must watch.
Yeah, but Iceland qualified from Europe and are now ranked 22nd by FIFA - you can't fake that and they should be competitive, plus they're fans are so freakin' awesome. And Messi's worth watching all by himself.
I am sure the atmosphere will be great early, I will be watching but I am not expecting a great match. And FIFA rankings are not a real indicator.
I am more looking forward to seeing Erickson and Modric play in the midfield being the QB and running the show. Just like I watch Spain to see Iniesta, but Spain and Portugal was a much more intriguing match going in, and it lived up to it and even more. Hopefully it will be a good match, maybe Gilfi Sigurdsson can pull some magic and get the atmosphere jumping throughout.
Doesn’t necessarily make a great match to watch. I hope it is a fun match but not expecting it, Argentina has a lot of fire power up front lead by Messi.
The yin and the yang of soccer today. Morocco-Iran was the epitome of why we normally don't watch soccer. Iran had the weaker team, so their strategy was to break up Morocco's momentum by fouling. Not hard fouls, but fouls resulting in a throw in for Morocco.
And the second half featured innumerable guys collapsing to the ground and writhing around in fake agony. So much so that 5 minutes of stoppage time was added--and in that stoppage time, another stoppage caused another minute to be added. And near the end, the only goal was swatted into his own net by a Moroccan defender.
And then came a rare exciting soccer game--Spain-Portugal. Ronaldo kept an outclassed Portugese team in it. 3-2 Spain, and Portugal seemed spent, but they made that last run and a Spanish defender committed a needless foul and Ronaldo curved the free kick around the wall and into the net for a 3-3 tie. Hat trick for arguably the #1 soccer player in the known world. The announcers were beside themselves--instant classic. And that's all it takes to have an exciting soccer game--instant classic.
TL
And the second half featured innumerable guys collapsing to the ground and writhing around in fake agony. So much so that 5 minutes of stoppage time was added--and in that stoppage time, another stoppage caused another minute to be added. And near the end, the only goal was swatted into his own net by a Moroccan defender.
And then came a rare exciting soccer game--Spain-Portugal. Ronaldo kept an outclassed Portugese team in it. 3-2 Spain, and Portugal seemed spent, but they made that last run and a Spanish defender committed a needless foul and Ronaldo curved the free kick around the wall and into the net for a 3-3 tie. Hat trick for arguably the #1 soccer player in the known world. The announcers were beside themselves--instant classic. And that's all it takes to have an exciting soccer game--instant classic.
TL
Well said. I'd only quibble with the comment about "rare" exciting soccer games, but your descriptions of the two matches were spot on.
I guess your are missing my point that after Ronaldo's day the best we can see is Messi tomorrow plus I can see a close match between these two. All good. Enjoy all of them.
They're reviewing penalties too. I like it, scoring opportunities are at a premium in soccer so it's good to get it right. France with a PK off the review. France 1-0.
I don't know if they're doing this in the EPL, La Liga, etc..but I like the reviews being done in the few games I've seen in the World Cup.
EDIT: And another quick PK for Australia this time with the handball. 1-1.
I don't know if they're doing this in the EPL, La Liga, etc..but I like the reviews being done in the few games I've seen in the World Cup.
EDIT: And another quick PK for Australia this time with the handball. 1-1.
I didn't like the PK awarded to Griezmann, as the defender made a great play and I thought it was incidental contact after the tackle that brought him down, plus, it didn't matter, as the poke meant the ball was easily scooped up by the keeper. The French player throwing his hand up to hit the ball to give the Aussie PK was just stupid. Thought the French did not play well and Australia did.
I thought he clipped him myself but I do like the fact they replay these things. It's the first time for the World Cup as far as I know. I don't remember seeing replays like this in the Euro and I don't watch enough of the leagues to know if they've been doing it there.
Iceland holding its own against Argentina too through 1 half. Their coach is a dentist, I love it lol.
That would be more usefull if he was a hockey coach.
Has been pretty competitive. Great goal by Aguero and nice comeback by Iceland to score a few minutes later - plus, they definitely should've scored early in the game, after Argentina gave the ball away in their end. I get that Iceland sitting back compactly and defending might not be exciting, but it's fun to watch for me and when they get a chance to counter they really do attack well. Argentina should win, but you never know...
I never have a problem with teams with less talent playing that kind of strategy. No point in leading yourself out to slaughter. It's the better team's job to bust them out of a shell by getting that lead.
Really, in this game the flow hasn't been that bad. I think Iceland has done a solid job and it's not like they've been playing under consistent pressure by Argentina, thus far at least.
Huge, although not a great PK by Messi, who really hasn't played like Messi. Iceland have done a great job putting guys on him, frustrating his ability to create and he's given a couple of balls away and not always made the best passes, like that opportunity a minute ago.
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The "thus far at least" part of my post looks applicable because the last 1/2 hour so Argentina definitely has stepped up with consistent pressure but Iceland holding up with a few minutes left. A tie will be good result for them.
At Monmouth Park five minutes ago, I think a bunch of Americans discovered how exciting a tie can be. People going nuts everywhere.
It is a fun game to watch and play if people gave it a chance, especially an event like the World Cup.