[Football] World Cup - Day Eight

[Swansman]

Well well

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Should really be an award for the Leaden Boot = the most under-performing over-hyped millionaire superstar tw@t of the tournament. Harry Kane faces some quite stiff opposition for once

 

[The Wizard]

Also I’m not sure if it’s just me but there’s a serious reluctance from the other Belgian players to pass to Trossard? Even then, Vertonghen saw it was Tross and turned away completely, very strange, noticed it in the first game as well.

 

[1066familyman]

Belgium getting exactly what they deserve here. Same too for Morocco, who have been by far the better team.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Similar from the Japanese earlier, very slow build up play, little movement.
Like watching Potterball at it's worst.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Should really be an award for the Leaden Boot = the most under-performing over-hyped millionaire superstar tw@t of the tournament. Harry Kane faces some quite stiff opposition for once

Do you mean the "David Beckham" award?

 

[Swansman]

Also I’m not sure if it’s just me but there’s a serious reluctance from the other Belgian players to pass to Trossard? Even then, Vertonghen saw it was Tross and turned away completely, very strange, noticed it in the first game as well.

Not just Tross I think... seems everyone wants to give to to KDB/Hazard wherever they are.

 

[Stato]

Belgium are awful, poorly coached and don’t play as a team

The coaching is an interesting point. The gap between the player ability of the more fancied and lesser nations has been narrowing for some time. This tournament has suggested that the coaching has now caught up too. The upsets haven't really been backs to the wall, grab something on the break performances. The underdogs have carried out game plans that have been designed to best specific opponents. It'll be good for international football going forwards.

 

[Easy 10]

Similar from the Japanese earlier, very slow build up play, little movement.
Like watching Potterball at it's worst.

This.

Absolutely no urgency on the ball, just rolling it around the back at walking pace. Zero movement, players plodding around. Only when they went behind did Belgium look vaguely interested. They were played off the park by Canada the other night and fluked a win, they then played exactly the same again today and came unstuck. Delighted for Morocco, Belgium got exactly what they deserved.

These "lesser" nations are showing much less fear against the so-called big guns and its great to see.

 

[WhingForPresident]

Martinez is a terrible manager. Still dining out on a couple of half decent seasons with Wigan (with a relegation) and Swansea 10 years ago. Having him in charge is a total waste of one of the strongest squads in the world. Sound familiar?

 

[Shooting Star]

Belgium need to drop Hazard - does not work with KDB. I’m biased but Trossard is the only player willing to take on defenders, they’ve got to start him. People thinking Southgate has wasted English talent should take a look at Martinez!

 

[Stato]

Not just Tross I think... seems everyone wants to give to to KDB/Hazard wherever they are.

That's how Argentina were playing with Messi too. It's so easy to counteract. De Bruyne has looked weirdly frustrated and seemed to spend the whole game looking for a hopeful long pass into crowded areas.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Great performance by the Moroccans, thoroughly deserved win.

Are there usually this many upsets in the group stages? Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, Japan beating Germany, Morocco beating Belgium and we're only half way through the group phase.

 

[Easy 10]

Morocco were well up for it. Whereas Belgium played as though they thought all they had to do was turn up.

 

[Swansman]

Martinez is a terrible manager. Still dining out on a couple of half decent seasons with Wigan (with a relegation) and Swansea 10 years ago. Having him in charge is a total waste of one of the strongest squads in the world. Sound familiar?

Just like the English one, it isn't one of the strongest squads. Four years ago maybe, but not now.

 

[WATFORD zero]

The coaching is an interesting point. The gap between the player ability of the more fancied and lesser nations has been narrowing for some time. This tournament has suggested that the coaching has now caught up too. The upsets haven't really been backs to the wall, grab something on the break performances. The underdogs have carried out game plans that have been designed to best specific opponents. It'll be good for international football going forwards.

It appears that a well coached tactically set up team can not only get an occasional result against a team with better individual players that aren't as well coached, but can also outplay them on a fairly consistent basis.

Apparently it's being called 'The Albion effect'

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Judging by the elite levels of under-performance today, probably worth going large on a Canada win v Croatia

 

[Swansman]

Hoping for a Canada win but if they leave as much spaces as they did against Belgium, Croatia will probably punish them hard.

 

[Comrade Sam]

Have you all been bias voting in the BBC player ratings, because every Albion player has got top marks for their team in every game. Some have only been on for 10 minutes!

 

[Quebec Seagull]

The odds of Canada making the round of 16 have dwindled considerably.

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