Round of 16: Spain v Russia, 1st July, 3pm(GMT)

[JimJams]

How shit is De Gea at pens though?

Dunno, I didn't see him take one.

 

[SALTIRE]

... or with a solid, packed defense ahead of him.

Tbf he doesn't have that at Utd. He's the reason for their strength at the back.

 

[Renegade]

Contender for worst game of the World Cup and Russia had some dodgy, dodgy decisions go their way, but glad to see Spain out. New blood in the World Cup final. Sir Gareth is a genius.

 

[Steve_Wafc]

Spain were so terrible. Russia were organised, worked hard and made it hard for Spain, but also Spain made it hard for Spain. So ponderous and slow, no one willing to take a risk and play the ball in behind. They played some good inventive football in the first game and since then, they’ve gone backwards.

 

[JimJams]

Contender for worst game of the World Cup and Russia had some dodgy, dodgy decisions go their way, but glad to see Spain out. New blood in the World Cup final. Sir Gareth is a genius.

Only one surely? The grappling at the end.

 

[SALTIRE]

Sir Gareth

Surely thats too lowly an embellishment after two wins in the group stages. Perhaps he should be ennobled a Viscount for his services to your nation, after all Del Bosque became a Marquis for what he did with Spain.

 

[JimJams]

He's not a mint chocolate biscuit Salts.

 

[SALTIRE]

He's not a mint chocolate biscuit Salts.

This is more like him...

 

[Leo]

Contender for worst game of the World Cup and Russia had some dodgy, dodgy decisions go their way, but glad to see Spain out. New blood in the World Cup final. Sir Gareth is a genius.

you think ? Sure I've watched more utter shit than today. Can't mind what games mind ye.

 

[SALTIRE]

you think ? Sure I've watched more utter shit than today. Can't mind what games mind ye.

France v Denmark

 

[Leo]

France v Denmark

seriously can't recall mate but I do remember saying to the wife....'wanna go to Aldis' ?

 

[Renegade]

Only one surely? The grappling at the end.

And ignashevich could probably have picked up two yellows four or five times in the game for persistent cynical fouling. It's not outright corruption, but like South Korea in 2002, they've been treated very kindly.

And yeah, France vs Denmark was a worse game, but this was a dreadful slog. Saved by the drama of penalties.

 

[SALTIRE]

seriously can't recall mate but I do remember saying to the wife....'wanna go to Aldis' ?

Pull the other one - surely you shop only at Waitrose and Marks?

 

[Renegade]

Surely thats too lowly an embellishment after two wins in the group stages. Perhaps he should be ennobled a Viscount for his services to your nation, after all Del Bosque became a Marquis for what he did with Spain.

I'm Irish mate. Just think Southgate's tactics for getting the 'easier' side of the draw are looking pretttttty prettttttty pretty good right now.

 

[SALTIRE]

I'm Irish mate. Just think Southgate's tactics for getting the 'easier' side of the draw are looking pretttttty prettttttty pretty good right now.

On paper maybe, but football is never played on paper; and Colombia will bite him in the bollocks.

 

[SF_]

That was utter balls.

 

[Bilo]

And ignashevich could probably have picked up two yellows four or five times in the game for persistent cynical fouling. It's not outright corruption, but like South Korea in 2002, they've been treated very kindly.

To compare this with South Korea 2002 is way, way off. Yes Russia got the rub of the green today but that's not why they progressed or why Spain went out. What went on in the 2002 World cup is the biggest farce in living memory. And that was, without a shadow of a doubt, outright corruption.

 

[JimJams]

THE BALL WAS IN!

 

[Leo]

Pull the other one - surely you shop only at Waitrose and Marks?

Eh?......

 

[blademan89]

Oh it's coming home

 

[Liam_SWFC]

If we can get past Colombia I will start to believe we can actually make the final, Colombia is probably the hardest game we'll have on route.

 

[JJ1532]

Thought it was a tough game to watch, seeing Russia defend for the majority of the game. But they have limited quality, limited pace and limited options. We saw Spain get the most joy when Russia opened up and committed numbers forward. They had to defend, especially after 60-70 minutes when most of them were knackered. Some of their defence could barely run towards the end of 90 minutes, let alone extra time. Yes, it's ugly tactics, but what else were they supposed to do.

This is an inditement entirely on Spain and nothing on Russia. Spain were pitiful in this game, only troubled Akinfeev on a few occasions. They were so limp in an attacking sense. They had a big bustling centre forward yet didn't put one cross into the box for him. Brainless. They have dozens of great midfielders, but they just look like a jumbled mess when things aren't working. I don't think they should have fired Lotupegi, but we'll never know if that was a mistake or not.

Be interesting to see where they go from here. Clearly got a good squad, but it just seems imbalanced and in need of some fresh thinking, as teams have clearly sussed tika taka. They'll be back in 2 years I'm sure.

 

[Jockney]

Thought it was a tough game to watch, seeing Russia defend for the majority of the game. But they have limited quality, limited pace and limited options. We saw Spain get the most joy when Russia opened up and committed numbers forward. They had to defend, especially after 60-70 minutes when most of them were knackered. Some of their defence could barely run towards the end of 90 minutes, let alone extra time. Yes, it's ugly tactics, but what else were they supposed to do.

This is an inditement entirely on Spain and nothing on Russia. Spain were pitiful in this game, only troubled Akinfeev on a few occasions. They were so limp in an attacking sense. They had a big bustling centre forward yet didn't put one cross into the box for him. Brainless. They have dozens of great midfielders, but they just look like a jumbled mess when things aren't working. I don't think they should have fired Lotupegi, but we'll never know if that was a mistake or not.

Be interesting to see where they go from here. Clearly got a good squad, but it just seems imbalanced and in need of some fresh thinking, as teams have clearly sussed tika taka. They'll be back in 2 years I'm sure.

Can't argue with a word of that. Certainly it seems that sides are wiser to Tiki Taka now. Pretty much every side this WC bar Iceland has shown that you can be successful with fast, direct passing football. There aren't any outstanding sides this time around, but I think the overall quality has been much better.

 

[GodsGift]

Russia will fall apart in extra time. Not fit enough.

They're the fittest fuckers at this tournament! Whether they're doing it by legitimate means is another matter...

Oh well, glad to see Spain go out (and not just cos it's coming home). Do they not realise that tika-taka stopped being effective at the top level about 6 years ago?!

 

[Pagnell]

Brazil going out tomorrow would be the cherry on the cake in terms of unexpected results.

 

[Renegade]

To compare this with South Korea 2002 is way, way off. Yes Russia got the rub of the green today but that's not why they progressed or why Spain went out. What went on in the 2002 World cup is the biggest farce in living memory. And that was, without a shadow of a doubt, outright corruption.

Yeah, you're probably right, I had to refresh my memory of that world cup. I don't remember it being as blatant as what I've just read. Though I would not be surprised if Russia get similar favouritism in the next round. There was no way that VAR team was going to give a penalty against Russia with a few minutes left, no matter how obvious.

 

[Predator373]

With Spain, Argentina and Portugal going out our game against Colombia just keeps getting bigger, massive opportunity for England.

 

[Bilo]

There was no way that VAR team was going to give a penalty against Russia with a few minutes left, no matter how obvious.

Which will be true for most teams this knockout stage. Yeah, at the death of a knockout game the bar for penalty gets higher. That's nothing new or unique.

I was genuinely worried that we'd get to see something similar to 2002 this World cup. But truth is, there has been absolutely nothing to suggest it and what went on today was no worse than you'll see in most rounds of the Premier league. I think it's your own suspicion of Russia hosting a world cup (a fair one) leading you wrong here to be honest with you mate. When there's corruption, it bloody well shows.

 

[Super_horns]

TBF They had a man sent off in the last game so maybe they aren't getting all the decision their own way!

 

[Bilo]

Oh it's coming home

If we can get past Colombia I will start to believe we can actually make the final, Colombia is probably the hardest game we'll have on route.

With Spain, Argentina and Portugal going out our game against Colombia just keeps getting bigger, massive opportunity for England.

You might want to stop this.