World Cup of the Damned
- Thread starter Frogfish
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Was linked with Man Utd earlier this summer.
Prediction Time 2
After 8/8 correct forecasts in the Last 16 my reputation is firmly on the line here !
Friday December 9
Croatia vs Brazil - 3pm - 1-2
South Korea were far from their best version, tired and 3 at the back strategically suicidal, often leaving 3 vs 3. Croatia are not that naive and I don't think Brazil have a great defence - Ali aside who has been imperious. After struggling to unimpressive wins against Serbia (2-0) and Switzerland (1-0) I'm guessing Brazil's firepower will edge a close contest.
Netherlands vs Argentina - 7pm - 2-1 AET
The NL showed real class against the USA without having to expend too much energy. VvD - De Jong - Depay+Gakpo is a very good spine. Argentina on the other hand have still to show any real quality, even losing to Saudi Arabia in their opener and following up with workmanlike wins, scoring no more than 2 goals in any match, against Mexico, Poland & Australia. When you look through the Argentina starting team & squad there isn't a bucketload of top quality players. I'm taking NL to score an upset here despite a Messi goal.
Saturday December 10
Morocco vs Portugal - 3pm - 0-2
I was delighted Morocco beat an impotent Spain but this is the easiest of the quarter finals and I can't see anything but a Portugal win by 2 or 3 goals.
England vs France - 7pm - 3-2 AET
Both defences look to have weaknesses (none of Lloris, Koundé, Varane and Upamecano are top level any more and all prone to errors) so I'm going for England based on the overall strength of their attack, with 12 goals to date that's 3 more than France have scored in this WC, despite having had an easier schedule, and England have done it with 8 different goal scorers. M'Bappe can't do it all alone (5 goals) and only Giroud (3) and Rabiot (1) have contributed.
France love to cross, I think I'm right in saying more than any other team in the WC. If Maguire has any strengths, then heading is it. If England stick to 4 at the back, and with their strength in depth, then they have a real chance, this isn't the France of 4 years ago.
After 8/8 correct forecasts in the Last 16 my reputation is firmly on the line here !
Friday December 9
Croatia vs Brazil - 3pm - 1-2
South Korea were far from their best version, tired and 3 at the back strategically suicidal, often leaving 3 vs 3. Croatia are not that naive and I don't think Brazil have a great defence - Ali aside who has been imperious. After struggling to unimpressive wins against Serbia (2-0) and Switzerland (1-0) I'm guessing Brazil's firepower will edge a close contest.
Netherlands vs Argentina - 7pm - 2-1 AET
The NL showed real class against the USA without having to expend too much energy. VvD - De Jong - Depay+Gakpo is a very good spine. Argentina on the other hand have still to show any real quality, even losing to Saudi Arabia in their opener and following up with workmanlike wins, scoring no more than 2 goals in any match, against Mexico, Poland & Australia. When you look through the Argentina starting team & squad there isn't a bucketload of top quality players. I'm taking NL to score an upset here despite a Messi goal.
Saturday December 10
Morocco vs Portugal - 3pm - 0-2
I was delighted Morocco beat an impotent Spain but this is the easiest of the quarter finals and I can't see anything but a Portugal win by 2 or 3 goals.
England vs France - 7pm - 3-2 AET
Both defences look to have weaknesses (none of Lloris, Koundé, Varane and Upamecano are top level any more and all prone to errors) so I'm going for England based on the overall strength of their attack, with 12 goals to date that's 3 more than France have scored in this WC, despite having had an easier schedule, and England have done it with 8 different goal scorers. M'Bappe can't do it all alone (5 goals) and only Giroud (3) and Rabiot (1) have contributed.
France love to cross, I think I'm right in saying more than any other team in the WC. If Maguire has any strengths, then heading is it. If England stick to 4 at the back, and with their strength in depth, then they have a real chance, this isn't the France of 4 years ago.
Always glad to see the back of Spain, tedium beyond belief. The play the same shape and game as they did 10-15 years ago but now with players who are nowhere near as good. Good riddance.
It might not suit us but for England they absolutely need him to start games :
Harry Kane:
“Hendo, I've always said, is one of the best leaders I've played with. He's really vocal, he pushes players to their absolute max and that's why he's been great.
“In the games he has played outstanding with and without the ball pushing everyone. I feel like the way we've been pressing, it's good to hear him behind me.
“You need different types of leaders in your team and we have that with four or five different personalities. Hendo is someone, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've done, he'll keep pushing you.
“As you saw yesterday, it was an amazing performance, great to see him score and a lot of the other good stuff was down to his role in the team.”
Harry Kane:
“Hendo, I've always said, is one of the best leaders I've played with. He's really vocal, he pushes players to their absolute max and that's why he's been great.
“In the games he has played outstanding with and without the ball pushing everyone. I feel like the way we've been pressing, it's good to hear him behind me.
“You need different types of leaders in your team and we have that with four or five different personalities. Hendo is someone, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've done, he'll keep pushing you.
“As you saw yesterday, it was an amazing performance, great to see him score and a lot of the other good stuff was down to his role in the team.”
I’ve seen paint dry a lot more excitingly.
Still can't surpass the pain felt by Ronaldo (the fake one).
So this time round there’s no more psychic octopuses ? Camels ?
Or maybe ChatGPT knows a thing or two since it’s the rage these days.
Or maybe ChatGPT knows a thing or two since it’s the rage these days.
I told someone before the Spain game that I had a hunch they might pull it off. Wish the heck I'd backed my judgment.
Of course, Portugal are going to batter them now. And then I’ll have to watch Southgate’s boys bore their way to a fluke 1-0 after Kane dives for a pen.
Ffs
Careful with those post-WC purchases Eugene. Thinking of Diomede, Diouf and Diao, do we have any success stories?
Louis van Gaal responds to Ángel Di María claiming he was the worst coach he's ever had:
“Here next to me sits Memphis. He was also at Manchester. And now we kiss on the mouth. We're not going to do that… but that's how it goes in football!”
“Here next to me sits Memphis. He was also at Manchester. And now we kiss on the mouth. We're not going to do that… but that's how it goes in football!”
Well just don't buy anyone whose name starts with 'D' ya?
You have too little faith in the French dear Buddha. There's no need to be angry.
Agree to an extent but we might need to wait a whole new generation because there simply doesn't seem to be that many around.
Who do you see from the newer/upcoming generation (in quantity) you would put next to the crop that was around between 2002-2012
This missionary is captured by cannibals. As they're about to eat him he pleads for his life and the chief says they'll spare him if he (a) drinks a pitcher of their palm toddy, (b) extracts a sore tooth from this lion who lives in a nearby cave and (b) satisfies the tribe's nympho. The missionary drinks the hooch and staggers into the cave, from which emerge assorted roars, grunts and howls. Then to the cannibals' amazement the missionary staggers out again and asks:
"Right, where's the woman with a sore tooth?".
"Right, where's the woman with a sore tooth?".
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