The 2018 World Cup Superthread

Corholio

Heartbreak for the Japanese. Hope Brazil put these out in the next round. That first goal was some fluke.

RobertKK

What a game.

kerplun k

Harsh on Japan, but Belgium fully deserved it. Japan should have played for Extra time at the end. Lukaku needs to be dropped, Belgium can’t afford to miss chances like that against the bigger teams.

ThunbergsAreGo

Really feel for Japan

blueser

Martinez got away with that one. When Kev is played in his best position, you see what he can do in that third goal.

MisterAnarchy

Kamikaze tactics ,feel sorry for the Japanese but they completely lost their heads in the last 20 minutes.

adox

kerplun k wrote: »

Harsh on Japan, but Belgium fully deserved it. Japan should have played for Extra time at the end. Lukaku needs to be dropped, Belgium can’t afford to miss chances like that against the bigger teams.

Pure hyperbole.

You don’t drop your all time goal scorer and second highest goal scorer in this World Cup for one underwhelming game.

Corholio

The Belgians not far off blaming another manager for underperforming players. Martinez's subs changed it.

castletownman

My god your heart would go out to Japan.

Classy gesture to salute their fans though despite the undoubted heartbreak they are surely suffering.

The Talking Bread

Lukker- wrote: »

About the best thing Lukaku did all night was leave that ball for Chadli. Superb counter though

It was a beautiful dummy though.

He got himself into brilliant positions in and around the box for those headers and as unlucky with at least 2 of them. Ronnie "he's got to score that" Whelan was doing my head in.

The Talking Bread

castletownman wrote: »

My god your heart would go out to Japan.

Classy gesture to salute their fans though despite the undoubted heartbreak they are surely suffering.

All teams do that after exiting to be fair.

Sprinter Sacre

How the f*ck does Dembele not get his game? Whatever about not bringing Naingolan but playing Witsel over Dembele is madness. Just the player De Bruyne needs to be at his best too. Martinez really is butchering the countries chances.

Hitchens

DeBryne really orchestrated that winner

PhlegmyMoses

The Talking Bread wrote: »

He got himself into brilliant positions in and around the box for those headers and as unlucky with at least 2 of them. Ronnie "he's got to score that" Whelan was doing my head in.

The Belgian players seemed to ignore a lot of his runs as well. Hazard in particular was super greedy on the ball and KDB was as poor as I've seen him. He got very little service but should have scored one of those headers. He normally puts those away

Lukker-

The Talking Bread wrote: »

He got himself into brilliant positions in and around the box for those headers and as unlucky with at least 2 of them. Ronnie "he's got to score that" Whelan was doing my head in.

I watched it on the BBC so didn't get any of the Ronnie Whelan hyperbole. At least 2 he was unmarked, the one straight at the keeper I'm more forgiving. But it's international football, he's not gonna get so many bites against the better teams.

kerplun k

The Talking Bread wrote: »

He got himself into brilliant positions in and around the box for those headers and as unlucky with at least 2 of them. Ronnie "he's got to score that" Whelan was doing my head in.

Guarantee you if that was reversed, and Japanese created those chances, Whelan would be lauding the Japanese players for great play. It’s so f**king double standard. It’s almost like they have this small nation mentality. I can’t stand it.

Lukker-

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

The Belgian players seemed to ignore a lot of his runs as well. Hazard in particular was super greedy on the ball and KDB was as poor as I've seen him. He got very little service but should have scored one of those headers. He normally puts those away

I think that's nonsense. He doesn't make himself available in the build up. (He has the least touches of any outfield player in the tournament in the group stages)

I really can't recall any moments where he had a made a good run and felt that he could have been picked out. Maybe once or twice Menuier made bad choices on the right, but I don't think Lukaku was available anyway.

Son Of A Vidic

The first World Cup I really remember in it's entirety, was way back in 1978 in Argentina. And I've never seen a World Cup like this one, what a game of football. As a neutral I've never been as gutted to see a team lose. But what an effort by Japan. Brazil will need to wake up fast and start playing like Brazil if they want to beat Belgium. The thing is, it's been a very long time since I've seen a Brazilian team playing like Brazil.

PhlegmyMoses

Lukker- wrote: »

I think that's nonsense. He doesn't make himself available in the build up. (He has the least touches of any outfield player in the tournament in the group stages)

I really can't recall any moments where he had a made a good run and felt that he could have been picked out. Maybe once or twice Menuier made bad choices on the right, but I don't think Lukaku was available anyway.

You'll have to watch again so. Loads of little runs in behind when he doesn't get it, especially first half.

CSF

The Honda criticism is weird. He takes a corner. Keeping it at the corner flag would have made no sense there. You hold it out to 90, you just have to go 30 minutes against a superior Belgium team (and you definitely deem them superior if you're keeping it at the corner flag while drawing).


You take a corner, you have a chance to score and win the game. It is hardly kamikaze to take a corner. Some of the defending of the counter attack, however left alot to be desired.

Lukker-

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

You'll have to watch again so. Loads of little runs in behind when he doesn't get it, especially first half.

Maybe you see what you want:)

PhlegmyMoses

CSF wrote: »

The Honda criticism is weird. He takes a corner. Keeping it at the corner flag would have made no sense there. You hold it out to 90, you just have to go 30 minutes against a superior Belgium team (and you definitely deem them superior if you're keeping it at the corner flag while drawing).


You take a corner, you have a chance to score and win the game. It is hardly kamikaze to take a corner. Some of the defending of the counter attack, however left alot to be desired.

Its ridiculous criticism. He absolutely should take a proper corner there and try to win.

The Talking Bread

Lukker- wrote: »

I think that's nonsense. He doesn't make himself available in the build up. (He has the least touches of any outfield player in the tournament in the group stages)

I really can't recall any moments where he had a made a good run and felt that he could have been picked out. Maybe once or twice Menuier made bad choices on the right, but I don't think Lukaku was available anyway.

Not true.

eagle eye

Well my opinion is that Belgium have one match left in this World Cup. If you give up yep against Japan you are giving up more against Brazil.

They've no idea how to defend which has always been the Achilles heel of a Roberto Martinez coached side.

Berserker

Feel for Japan, really feel for them. They gave it absolutely everything. Played some nice football, two classy goals, the second was an absolute beaut in my opinion. They can go home with their heads held high. Hope our lads are watching that. That's a lesson on how to go about your business. Credit to Belgium also, they worked very hard to get the win there. Proves that they are a real force in this competition, not that we needed confirmation. Need to do some work at the back for the Brazil game but they'll get through.

ThunbergsAreGo

The Talking Bread wrote: »

He got himself into brilliant positions in and around the box for those headers and as unlucky with at least 2 of them. Ronnie "he's got to score that" Whelan was doing my head in.

Ronnie is dreadful

PhlegmyMoses

Lukker- wrote: »

Maybe you see what you want:)

My argument is that I'm watching Lukaku make runs and not get the ball to feet and in behind at all. I'm watching Hazard over dribble, KDB and Mertens struggle to find teammates with good passes. And the stats you provided back it up. If Lukaku isn't getting touches, it could be because of him, or maybe he also isn't getting good ball. For me, I didn't see any good ball along the ground into Lukaku to work with and the only time he got on the ball was wide left when he ran the channels. It is as much a responsibility if the guys behind him to get him the ball and the simply aren't doing that.

eagle eye

Imo Lukaku was not great tonight. The thing about him though is that he works extremely hard and reads the game very well. His finishing is not up to the standard expected of someone with his price tag but that doesn't matter a lot in the World Cup. He did very well to create space and bluff the defense for the winning goal

Hitchens

Brady never tracked back in his life

corny

Great game of football. Referee a non factor, no diving, lots of endeavour and some some brilliant performances. The winner was a worthy, but cruel, end to the game.

I'm not watching RTE again. Too many people with low IQ's talking gibberish.

CSF

CSF wrote: »

The Honda criticism is weird. He takes a corner. Keeping it at the corner flag would have made no sense there. You hold it out to 90, you just have to go 30 minutes against a superior Belgium team (and you definitely deem them superior if you're keeping it at the corner flag while drawing).


You take a corner, you have a chance to score and win the game. It is hardly kamikaze to take a corner. Some of the defending of the counter attack, however left alot to be desired.

Yep, pundits going on about never doing it clearly forgot the 1999 CL Final...

ERG89

CSF wrote:

You take a corner, you have a chance to score and win the game. It is hardly kamikaze to take a corner. Some of the defending of the counter attack, however left alot to be desired.

They were so out on their feet I think they needed to win in normal time or it would have ended 4 or 5 - 2 to Belgium in ET.

The Talking Bread

#PrayforNeymar

StringerBell

The game changer doing what he does best

Other than that I am gutted for Japan and furious at Honda.

Some game though!

gormdubhgorm

The Talking Bread wrote: »

#PrayforNeymar

Is he officially more annoying then Pepe now?

Martin O'Neill said 'I would hate to see Neymar after a visit to the doctor for a flu jab'

StringerBell

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Its ridiculous criticism. He absolutely should take a proper corner there and try to win.

They hadn't won a header in about 20 minutes, they were heavily outgunned physically at set pieces and lobbing it in on top of a 6'7 GK was never the right move.

Trying to win, absolutely. They had the short corner option and the a 2 on 1 out wide, try work that and fizz a ball across anything can happen.

Vacate the centre of the pitch and lob the ball into the goalkeepers hands in that scenario and you are going to face criticism, rightly.

Berserker

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Is he officially more annoying then Pepe now?

Would love to see his reaction if he was on the receiving end of a proper tackle.

Quazzie

corny wrote: »

I'm not watching RTE again. Too many people with low IQ's talking gibberish.

You might want to stay off Boards too if that's the logic you're using

CSF

StringerBell wrote: »

They hadn't won a header in about 20 minutes, they were heavily outgunned physically at set pieces and lobbing it in on top of a 6'7 GK was never the right move.

Trying to win, absolutely. They had the short corner option and the a 2 on 1 out wide, try work that and fizz a ball across anything can happen.

Vacate the centre of the pitch and lob the ball into the goalkeepers hands in that scenario and you are going to face criticism, rightly.

Honestly, what were the chances they concede a goal from their own corner? It’s hardly kamikaze. If the delivery is slightly better and someone gets their head to it they’re being lauded for their bravery. The real answer is somewhere in the middle.

CSF

Football mentality is weird. Nobody has too much of a problem with players that kick people around for a living, but they’re full on enraged by the guy who exaggerates injury.

Like I’m no fan of it either, but that mentality is weird.

corny

Quazzie wrote: »

You might want to stay off Boards too if that's the logic you're using

Touche but none of these saps get paid for it. Its not as galling.;)

764dak

It's funny how the media and neutral fans were criticizing Japan for passing the ball against Poland and now they're criticizing them for not passing around and keeping the ball in the corner.

CSF

CSF wrote: »

Honestly, what were the chances they concede a goal from their own corner? It’s hardly kamikaze. If the delivery is slightly better and someone gets their head to it they’re being lauded for their bravery. The real answer is somewhere in the middle.

Indeed it was. KDB couldn't believe his luck when he set off on that run....

jacool

corny wrote: »

Great game of football. Referee a non factor, no diving, lots of endeavour and some some brilliant performances. The winner was a worthy, but cruel, end to the game.

I'm not watching RTE again. Too many people with low IQ's talking gibberish.

I'm glad the referee was a non-factor.
He wouldn'tr have been had this gone to extra time.
Belgium made one brilliant attack at either 2-1 or 2-2, and two Belgians were hauled back, but both managed to release their passes. he never went back and booked either player, even though both were cynical, professional fouls. I was convinced we were going to extra-time, and that both of those guys would have a "free foul" bacause at that stage Belgium were really turning it on, and the Japanese had to foul them to slow them up.

Ultimate Seduction

Some world class managers on here should be getting a top PL job any day now.

Japan gave it there all and were going for a winner, they should be commended.

Wasting time in the corner is an idiotic thing to do when there is extra time after the 90 and the score is level!

StringerBell

There is another option besides wasting time in the corner and playing a low % lob into the box that they choose while leaving nobody covering the middle of the field.

And sure yeah, just pack up the entire forum since it is not possible to discuss football without being a top class manager in a PL job.

CSF

StringerBell wrote: »

There is another option besides wasting time in the corner and playing a low % lob into the box that they choose while leaving nobody covering the middle of the field.

And sure yeah, just pack up the entire forum since it is not possible to discuss football without being a top class manager in a PL job.

For me, the issue is the player that vacates his position outside the box to make a run to the back post, and then some of the positioning once the counter begins. They’re all over the place.

Jelle1880

We really got lucky in the end when they decided to give that corner, instead of playing it short. But what a fantastic dummy by Lukaku, many strikers would have tried to go for glory.

Benimar

StringerBell wrote: »

There is another option besides wasting time in the corner and playing a low % lob into the box that they choose while leaving nobody covering the middle of the field.

And sure yeah, just pack up the entire forum since it is not possible to discuss football without being a top class manager in a PL job.

Totally agree.

A lot of lads here are in the ‘if you don’t 100% agree with me you must be 100% disagreeing with me’ camp.

I have no problem with Japan trying to win the game, it’s how they tried to do it. Belgium were taller and more physical and were winning practically every header, so the odds on scoring from a high cross from the corner were low enough.

To leave themselves that open to the counter was sheer stupidity - the defender nearest to Courtois should have blocked the throw and taken the yellow because once KDB got the ball they were screwed.

Finally, Honda putting the ball into the keepers hands was just silly. Even if a defender headed it clear Japan would probably have been ok. The only way Japan were losing from their own corner was to put it straight into the keepers hands and have put too many men forward.

Very few, if any, said they should have kept the ball in the corner. As Stringer said in an earlier post, Japan probably should have looked to create a 2 on 1 and get a low cross in, or a pull back to the edge of the box for a shot.

NIMAN

The Japanese were dead on their feet and had to win it in the 90mins, cos they would definitely not have held out for another 30min extra time v a strong Belgian team.

Honda crossed it in to try to win the game. Fair play I say. Wasting time in the corner, they would have lost anyway.