Football World Cup - Russia 2018

[Beebo]

It was a splendid tackle, unfortunately the pundits were still blabbering on about "getting the ball first so that's the end of it..." No it's not you wallopers!!

Pat Nevin, the Scottish commentator, on Radio 5 said it was a penalty, but he admitted he was naturally biased towards the attacker.
I thought it was a reckless tackle in the box and lucky to get away with it.

 

[Reynard]

Pat Nevin, the Scottish commentator, on Radio 5 said it was a penalty, but he admitted he was naturally biased towards the attacker.
I thought it was a reckless tackle in the box and lucky to get away with it.

It was one of those that if you make it, it's brilliant, if you don't, you're in trouble...

 

[Beebo]

The Japan game has become a farce. Japan doing nothing.

 

[Reynard]

It's finished Japan 0 - 1 Poland.

One minute to go in this one...

 

[Reynard]

And that's the final whistle.

Colombia top group H, with Japan in second place.

Sad to see Senegal go out. That's it for the African teams, they have all gone home at the group stage - the first time since 1982.

Senegal do create some (unwanted) history. They are the first team to go out of the group stage on disciplinary records.

 

[Dayvo]

I can't compete with @Dayvo for trivia, but if anyone wants a taste of Senegalese culture, I can highly recommend the 1992 film Hyenas, based on the play Der Besuch Der Alten Dame by Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyenas_(1992_film)

After googling Senegal I've become interested in visiting. The beaches look magnificent and the food/culture has a French flavour. I'll have a look out for the film.

 

[Beebo]

No African team in the knockout stages is real shame.
Japan are the only team outside Europe and South America.

 

[smutchin]

I thought it was a reckless tackle in the box and lucky to get away with it.

I thought he was very lucky to get a touch on the ball.

 

[smutchin]

Japan are the only team outside Europe and South America.

Except for the one from North America.

 

[Reynard]

It's a real blow for African football.

Admittedly African teams have been unlucky in some of their games, but the bottom line is, they've not been good enough. You'd think, that after some great performances in the not-too-distant past, plus the tournament being held in South Africa, it'd have given the game incentive to develop more. They've really missed a trick here, because they've got some cracking players...

 

[Reynard]

England have made 8 changes for their upcoming game tonight.

 

[AndyRM]

The problem with African football is that it's always been more attractive for their players for "bigger" countries (with a few notable exceptions).

Take Algeria for example. Had they held on to Zidane, Nasri and Benzema things could have been so different.

Incidentally I have a rather nice Algeria top, because it's where one of my heroes is from.

 

[AndyRM]

England have made 8 changes for their upcoming game tonight.

Normally I'd say this was stupid, and it annoys me when teams do this in games they perceive as unwinnable, but they're in a no lose situation.

 

[smutchin]

So pleased to see Trent Alexander-Arnold being given a chance tonight. He's been superb for Liverpool all season and really deserves it. In particular, he has a good track record against teams with Kevin De Bruyne in them...

It's perhaps slightly unlucky for him that his is one of the most hotly contested positions in the team - can't really argue with Trippier being first choice based on performances so far!

 

[Beebo]

Except for the one from North America.

I always regard Mexico as South American for football purposes.