The 2018 World Cup Superthread

gimli2112

Will I Am Not wrote: »

Maradona is a disgrace. The state of him tonight, embarrassing.

I'd have some sympathy for Maradona. When you consider where he came from. He has to have some mental health issues and whether he was born with them or brought them on himself is anyone's guess. Certainly some of the characteristics that made him a fantastic footballer make him a lousy human being.

There's something majestic about his rags to riches story. What he did in 86 and winning two titles with Napoli when before that no Southern Italian team had won one. I don't know if he could have been better but being addicted to drugs at his peak can't have helped.

Adamocovic

It's actually so frustrating to watch Argentina.

All that fire power up front and void of ideas. They constantly look for Messi, can't blame them with his ability, but end up passing to him when they shouldn't.

The short corners to Messi leading to nothing, passing to him surrounded by defenders when men were free, it's just so annoying. It hampers not only the team but Messi too. If you have players like Dybala, Higuain and Aguero, then midfielders who can play a pass like Mascherano, Banega, Biglia, and DiMaria you should be doing much better with the ball.

For all their possession in opponents half they are woeful. France haven't been firing on all cylinders and they could shock them, but they really need to sort themselves out, and I'm not sure if they have the time. Stop trying to force the ball to Messi and let it come naturally.

MD1990

A problem for Argentina is they have little pace in the squad.
Di Maria looks past it now. Pavon should start against France saturday. Would provide some pace.

Biglia needs to come in for Masherano. The main problem is Argentina lack the fitness to press for long periods. Very lucky last night because they were out on there feet in the 2nd half against a poor Nigeria side.

France will pick them off in the 2nd half on the game on saturday.

Billy86

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

He has been the best commentator bar none at these World Cup games....some of his one liners have been classic and he has all his research done on every single team.

Not watching kn rte this year because nearly every other aspect is unbearable, but would agree here from 2014. I groaned when I heard his voice in the booth having not expected it, but found him to be excellent. Almost like a baseball or cricket commentator in that he knows exactly how to fill 'dead time' where absolutely nothing is happening on the pitch. Doubt it would happen but I'd be delighted to see him get a fat pay bump is Sky, BT or a US station picked up on him. I also reckon the Yanks would love him.

Billy86

Blazer wrote: »

Slightly more than that. He did sodall in the last World Cup or the copa America.
He’s a fantastic player and I rate both him and Ronaldo the same.He’s far more natural skill than Ronaldo but Ronaldo works damn hard to get where he is and without a doubt he has one of the highest work ethics in a footballer.
The whole who’s better or not annoys me.both are without a doubt the best footballers by a huge margin we’ll see in our lifetime.

Oh come on now, it wa SA bit of a joke giving him player of the tournament when he wasn't even the best on his own team (Mascherano takes that with ease) but t say Messi did nothing in the last world cup is taking the mick. Despite a piss poor final and semis, he was almost surely -at least- in the top 10-12 players that tournament regardless of who you ask.

Will I Am Not

gimli2112 wrote: »

I'd have some sympathy for Maradona. When you consider where he came from. He has to have some mental health issues and whether he was born with them or brought them on himself is anyone's guess. Certainly some of the characteristics that made him a fantastic footballer make him a lousy human being.

There's something majestic about his rags to riches story. What he did in 86 and winning two titles with Napoli when before that no Southern Italian team had won one. I don't know if he could have been better but being addicted to drugs at his peak can't have helped.

There’s only so much you can let slide. Addiction isn’t an excuse for being a horrible human being.

Stephen15

Sampaoli's touchline antics look like an over enthuistic under 8s manager

Adamocovic

Speaking to the French at work they seem very happy with getting Argentina. Most saying they'd rather just worry about nullifying Messi than Croatia as a whole. Some even saying they're happy they avoided Nigeria!

Goes to show the opinion of the Argentina squad at the moment. I reckon there could be a rude awakening. France haven't hit the ground running performance wise yet. Will be an interesting Saturday anyway!

eigrod

Will I Am Not wrote: »

There’s only so much you can let slide. Addiction isn’t an excuse for being a horrible human being.

Horrible human being ? Not so sure about that.

Addiction and/or alcohol substance abuse causes people to do all sorts of rotten things in all walks of life.

In the Sporting arena, Maradona, George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Paul Gascoigne, Alex Higgins, Stan Collymore etc have all been guilty of dreadful acts away from their sport. Doesn't mean they are all horrible human beings, but alcohol/substance abuse/addiction is a common denominator.

MD1990

Quite a few parallels between Gascoigne & Maradona.

Watched Gascoigne's documentary recently. Very sad what happened too him explains alot of his troubles.

Will I Am Not

eigrod wrote: »

Horrible human being ? Not so sure about that.

Addiction and/or alcohol substance abuse causes people to do all sorts of rotten things in all walks of life.

In the Sporting arena, Maradona, George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Paul Gascoigne, Alex Higgins, Stan Collymore etc have all been guilty of dreadful acts away from their sport. Doesn't mean they are all horrible human beings, but alcohol/substance abuse/addiction is a common denominator.

Plenty of addicts are genuinely nice people. You have to have it in you to bring it out of you.

Chardee MacDennis

Billy86 wrote: »

Not watching kn rte this year because nearly every other aspect is unbearable

Mark Lawrenson brought me right back to RTE :mad:

Billy86

Chardee MacDennis wrote: »

Mark Lawrenson brought me right back to RTE :mad:

Stream city over here! :pac:

To be fair I use a projector and PC over TV these days so it's a lot easier. But if I had a reliable stream I would watch that on the TV or laptop over what the TV stations have on offer with the state of things lately.

Ultimate Seduction

MD1990 wrote: »

Quite a few parallels between Gascoigne & Maradona.

Watched Gascoigne's documentary recently. Very sad what happened too him explains alot of his troubles.

Do you know anything about Maradonnas troubles?

SlipperyPeople

Chardee MacDennis wrote: »

Mark Lawrenson brought me right back to RTE :mad:

I haven't been able to watch Mark Lawrenson for years as he fancies himself as a comedian. A **** one.

Was it me or was he good back in the day. It's been so long since that I can't remember.

Ultimate Seduction

Lawerenson, Danny Murphy, Glen Hoddle and Hargreaves and Steve Mcmanaman are actually unbearable, I've watch alot of football on mute the last few years.

I will admit Lawerenson comment about the UHD Milk made me giggle though.

Will I Am Not

Neuer with a boo boo. Almost gifting Korea a goal.

Gbear

Germany really do look ****e. Not sure why they brought Khedira and Ozil back in.

Ozil's done alright but between the two of them they're a drag on the intensity of the team.

SK look the likelier of the two to score so far.

osarusan

Is the RTE Mexico Sweden stream wrong for anybody else - showing content from the news channel?

irishguitarlad

I think it's arrogance with this German team. I reckon they Saw the group and said to themselves, we'll piss this. Then they Saw that they had to win today against SK and they had the same attitude. They just look so uninterested and not willing to burst a gut.

ERG89

Gbear wrote: »

Germany really do look ****e. Not sure why they brought Khedira and Ozil back in.

I'd go with Goretzka, Kroos & Gundogan(only because of lack of options as his form is very up & down the last few years) in behind Brandt, Reus & Werner.
Muller & Ozil don't deserve to be guaranteed a place anymore; their unimpressive club form has eventually bled into the national team. Even Hummels & Boateng haven't played well since ending up together in Munich.
Neuer hasn't played a game since last autumn & looked more impressive than those I named.

5star02707

Still hoping for a 3 way tie

Sweden win and Germany win so the 3 of them with Mexico levels on points which will go to goal difference and goals scored :L :L

osarusan

osarusan wrote: »

Is the RTE Mexico Sweden stream wrong for anybody else - showing content from the news channel?

Anybody?

On their twitter account it says that the Mexico Sweden match is on the News Now channel (which is 7 on their player) but it is actually just showing news content for me - after clicking on the link in their tweet.

Their RTE 2 player is working alright (it is channel 10 on the player), but not the other one.

could somebody click on this link, then press play, and tell me what they see?

https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/live/7/

Is it the Mexico Sweden match, or an interview of a farmer with his cows?

ArmaniJeanss

5star02707 wrote: »

Still hoping for a 3 way tie

Sweden win and Germany win so the 3 of them with Mexico levels on points which will go to goal difference and goals scored :L :L

A 3way tie on 3 points for second place is also possible if South Korea and Mexico win.
Not sure who has the splitters there. Looks like South Korea would need a 2-goal win I think? Ah maybe not, Boateng sending off probably gives SK a better fair play count so 1-0 might be enough. Fcuked if I know.

An Ciarraioch

Is Ray Stubbs doing the Mexico-Sweden analysis on the HT feed?

yourdeadwright

Its been a very exciting world cup but all the fav's have failed to shine, if Brazil fail to shine tonight, Then its very very hard to pick a fav ,
You'd almost have to say whoever wins between Belgium and England tomorrow have been the most impressive side so far,
Oh I forgot Croatia who have looked like a very good side,

An Ciarraioch

osarusan wrote: »

Anybody?

On their twitter account it says that the Mexico Sweden match is on the News Now channel (which is 7 on their player) but it is actually just showing news content for me - after clicking on the link in their tweet.

Their RTE 2 player is working alright (it is channel 10 on the player), but not the other one.

could somebody click on this link, then press play, and tell me what they see?

https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/live/7/

Is it the Mexico Sweden match, or an interview of a farmer with his cows?

Working fine on the Player app, if that helps.

chopperbyrne

Uruguay have been good too.

Personally, I think it's great that it's so unpredictable.

Gbear

ERG89 wrote: »

I'd go with Goretzka, Kroos & Gundogan(only because of lack of options as his form is very up & down the last few years) in behind Brandt, Reus & Werner.
Muller & Ozil don't deserve to be guaranteed a place anymore; their unimpressive club form has eventually bled into the national team. Even Hummels & Boateng haven't played well since ending up together in Munich.
Neuer hasn't played a game since last autumn & looked more impressive than those I named.

I think they can afford another attacker in there instead of one of those midfielders, particularly against much weaker opposition. Draxler hasn't been great but he's as good a shout as anyone. He can beat a man he's a decent finisher, and any of that four could swap positions so you might see a bit off movement and presence in the box.

But even with that 4-3-3 I think they'd be a fair bit quicker in possession and actually stretch the play occasionally, beyond relying on Kimmich.

ERG89

osarusan wrote:

Is it the Mexico Sweden match, or an interview of a farmer with his cows?

Now I want to see Brian Kerr interview a farmer asking about his cows or kyews as he'd put it.

marklazarcovic

I'd live for a new team to win it outside the usuals, even Uruguay or Mexico..who gave I know, just not Brazil,Germany,Italy,france

Minderbinder

Anyone else think Korea should have had a penalty for the incident with Son in the final minutes of the first half? If it was referred to VAR it would have been impossible not to give it, probably why it wasn’t referred.

GreNoLi

Ze Germans are in a spot of bother old chap.

ebbsy

Panic stations.

An Ciarraioch

Hmm, currently looking at Sweden v Switzerland in the last 16, with the winners potentially facing Senegal/Japan in a QF.

CalamariFritti

Minderbinder wrote: »

Anyone else think Korea should have had a penalty for the incident with Son in the final minutes of the first half? If it was referred to VAR it would have been impossible not to give it, probably why it wasn’t referred.

I wouldn’t think so. Germany are pretty poor but that doesn’t make it a peno.

nullzero

Well Germany are sh1te.

Minderbinder

yourdeadwright wrote: »

Its been a very exciting world cup but all the fav's have failed to shine, if Brazil fail to shine tonight, Then its very very hard to pick a fav ,
You'd almost have to say whoever wins between Belgium and England tomorrow have been the most impressive side so far,
Oh I forgot Croatia who have looked like a very good side,

Don’t buy into the England hype at all. Croatia have played three fairly decent sides with pedigree. England scraped passed Tunisia and hammered the San Marino impressionists. What will make their nonsense even more unbearable is if they beat Belgium reserves.

Germany and Brazil are just getting warmed up.

CalamariFritti

I could see Germany going out here. And even if they don’t nobody will be too worried about them.

Billy86

Minderbinder wrote: »

Germany and Brazil are just getting warmed up.

Germany have a half na hour to not be getting a plane home in the morning.

5star02707

again Germany needs to score and win the game if they want to progress. Phew easier said than done

sligeach

There's still half an hour left and Germany could yet score or maybe Mexico will rescue them.

Gbear

marklazarcovic wrote: »

I'd live for a new team to win it outside the usuals, even Uruguay or Mexico..who gave I know, just not Brazil,Germany,Italy,france

I think there's a decent chance we might see something like Belgium or Uruguay against Colombia or Croatia.

GreNoLi

That was a foul, expect some VAR shenanigoats in favour of ze Germans.

gmisk

Sweden now 2-0 up....
Germany in trouble....

sligeach

O.K. So with Sweden now 2-0 up, it's up to Germany themselves to save their own bacon.

thecretinhop

do Germany need to score 2 now?

irishguitarlad

Germany might yet be punished for taking off khedira and goretzka for forwards.

Wheeliebin30

Amazing if Germany win they could top the group and Mexico be going home even after winning their first two games.

GreNoLi

Could do with a Klose right about now.