Qatar Shitshow 2022 thread

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Belgium: Courtois, Dendoncker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco, De Bruyne, E. Hazard, Batshuayi.
Subs: Mignolet, Casteels, Theate, Faes, Mertens, Meunier, T. Hazard, Trossard, Onana, Vanaken, De Ketelaere, Openda, Doku, Debast

Canada: Hutchinson, Borjan, Johnston, Miller, Vitoria, Eustaquio, Hoilett, Buchanan, Davies, David, Laryea.
Subs: Adekugbe, Cavallini, Cornelius, Fraser, Kaye, Kone, Larin, Millar, Osorio, Pantemis, Piette, St. Clair, Ugbo, Waterman, Wotherspoon.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Oh Canada !

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Handball?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Davies pelanty saved by Courtois!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Handball?

Yep pen saved by Courtouis

Awful from David

Justice in my view, with this whole unnatural position bollocks when the ball gets leathered at you from point blank range.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Canada have been good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Batshit. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Canada are all over them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Batshuayi

[HCZ_Reborn]

Canada have been good.

Nah they haven’t, Belgium have been shit. Canada got two decent players David and Davies

They definitely don’t deserve to be behind, but for all their attacking they didn’t create loads

[HCZ_Reborn]

So breaking it down after 12 matches

Ecuador, England, France and Spain recorded convincing wins against terrible opposition

Netherlands and Belgium recorded unconvincing wins over opponents who deserved more from the game

Japan and Saudi Arabia had shock wins


The other games were draws, what have we learnt? Painfully little

[Mac76]

I've learnt I lost nothing by not watching a minute of it so far

holding out for Spain v Germany

[The Wengerbabies]

Not seen much football in the last few years, got the game on ITV now, what is this trend of female pundits? I just can't take them seriously at all.

Having said that Laura Woods would get it.

[Letters]

I've learnt I lost nothing by not watching a minute of it so far

holding out for Spain v Germany

You've missed a good England win and a couple of enjoyable shocks. And France being rather good the other evening.
I've watched more than I was planning to.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Uruguay vs S Korea up now

Held in Education City, Stadium

Which I love the name of, because as with all extreme authoritarian regimes….Education as a word carries ominous overtones

[Letters]

Heheheh, look at this country. U R Gay.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Heheheh, look at this country. U R Gay.

The country of tinned steak pies and footballers with prominent Teeth (Recoba, Suarez)

[Letters]

Finished 0-0. Sounds like I didn't miss much with this one then.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Thomas P starts for Ghana

[HCZ_Reborn]

Dickhead scores a penalty for Portugal

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ayew equalises

Will it be that another so called big team that wins a penalty to take the lead ends up losing 2-1 to an unfancied country

[HCZ_Reborn]

The answer is no 2-1 Portugal Jao Felix

[HCZ_Reborn]

3-1 Rafael Leao….looks like the equaliser woke them up a bit

Thomas P might be coming home early

No bad thing

[Marc Overmars]

3-2 now.

The Ghana scorer copies Ronaldo’s celebration :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

FT 3-2

Should have been 3-3. Ghana player snuck up on the keeper but slipped when attempting to turn and get a shot away. :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

No Jesus or Martinelli in Brazil line up.

Six of the team picked by Harry Grout are 30 or over

Alisson, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Thiago Silva, Casemiro and Neymar

[Letters]

Went in to the office today.
On the way home I was waiting for a train and the station announcer was giving out goal updates from the Portugal vs Ghana. :lol:
Kinda funny but annoying for anyone trying to avoid the result.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brazil 0-0 Serbia, HT

Play the same old shit and you get the same results.

Martinelli and Jesus should be on obviously.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Brazil 0-0 Serbia HT

Aside from lovely one touch movement that put Raphinia in and another pass from Casemiro that put Vinicius Jnr in (Raphinia struck without conviction straight at keeper and keeper came out brilliantly to intercept from Vinni jnr) not much from Brazil. Bossed possession and tactically disciplined as they keep a good shape but haven’t really worried a Serbian team which looks really composed in defence.

They will tire I suspect and I can see Brazil bringing on a few players (possibly Martinelli) and creating the chance they need to win.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Serbia nearly fucked it up at the start of the second half.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neymar getting a kicking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Quite an effort from Alex Sandro

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Richarlison.

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Richarlison.

Been coming

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Richarlison, that was brilliant.

[Letters]

Brazil didn't impress me in the first half but they've been excellent in the second. And whisper it quietly but Richarlison's second goal was outstanding.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus on. :bow:

[Letters]

He still looks like this though...

https://i.ibb.co/MPqnt0Y/richarliason.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Casemiro smacks the woodwork

[Letters]

Martinelli :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli on. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 FT. Martinelli MotM. :bow:

[Letters]

Iran 1 - Wales 0 :haha:

Hmm...although I think it'll be ruled out.

[Letters]

It was. Correctly.

[Letters]

0-0 HT. Bit cagey, no really clear chances.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Iran look more likely to win than Wales, but we could be on for our fifth 0-0 draw from 17 games

[Letters]

Wales 'keeper sent off :lol:

He did a Schumacher (sp), and only got a yellow. Upgraded to red after a VAR review.
Wales really on the ropes here.

[Letters]

1-0 IRAN! 98th minute. What a hit!

[Letters]

2-0 in the 100th minute :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Wales are shite.

[Letters]

Bale :haha:
Ramsey :haha:
Close harmony singing :haha:
Daffodils :haha:
Dragons :haha:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch :haha:

[Letters]

Wales are shite.

They were pretty good second half against USA. I thought they'd step up today after a drab 1st half but they just didn't really.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Now we get a very important question decided

Just how shit are Qatar?.

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Senegal Dia

Qatar shit the bed again and on course to be the first team eliminated from the tournament

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-0

And it is confirmed…Qatar actually are shit

[HCZ_Reborn]

Qatar get their first goal of the tournament 2-1

[Letters]

Ended 3-1 :lol:
Embarrassing

[Letters]

Ecuador 1 - Netherlands 1
Was 1-0 at half time, Ecuador just equalised :d

[Letters]

Ecuador just smacked the bar!

[Letters]

Finished 1-1. Ecuador did well 2nd half.
The Netherlands don’t look all that.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Finished 1-1. Ecuador did well 2nd half.
The Netherlands don’t look all that.

They didn’t against Senegal, Senegal very easily could have got a draw

Ecuador deserve to go into the last 16. Given Netherlands are playing Qatar you’d expect them to as well

[HCZ_Reborn]

Maguire starts as does Mount

Snubbing White is one thing he’s played most of the season at right back

But you have to be a moron to not see Foden is clearly better than Mount

[Globalgunner]

It is the eestory of England to only play the better players when already in a losing situation

[GP]

Loser has to keep James Corden

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save from Turner. :bow:

0-0 HT.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Watching Roy Keane’s beard in HD is a sublime experience, it’s irredescent

[McNamara That Ghost...]

England. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling off, Grealish on.

Bellingham off, Henderson on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka off for Rashford.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zim is playing for USA?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kane. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 FT.

Utter shit.

Boos ring out. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Clean sheet for Turner. :bow:

[Mac76]

I hope Iran win the group tbh, thwir players have made a really good stance on women's rights

And it would just be :pal: to Ingurlurnd, the Yanks and Wales :lol:

[GP]

Southgate out.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Crikey that was poor, just as well it won’t prove too costly. I would say it’s ominous but Scotland made us look like complete dog shit last year. I think this is Southgate’s last hurrah…I think most coaches last three tournaments only, and then it begins to look very stale.

Get a couple of suitcases of cash to speak the language of the Saudis and get Eddie Howe in, we’ve got emerging players that can make us serious competitors for the next two tournaments

[Marc Overmars]

The forward players looked shite by at least the defence were quite solid.

Not the end of the world but huge improvement needed for the next game. At least Wales needing to win should make it an open game.

[GP]

Mount is shit

[Mac76]

Mount is shit

I think you've united the whole of GW there :gp:

[GP]

I mean, I didn't watch it, I just mean in general.

[The Wengerbabies]

https://i.ibb.co/DGTHC5N/20221125-214148.jpg

Most embarrassing picture of the tournament?

English players protesting a (fake) American issue while the Americans themselves are not. Sad!

[dazthegooner]

Frankie Boyle has a post on Tic-toc on his view on the England team and Qatar quite funny.

[Mac76]

I mean, I didn't watch it, I just mean in general.

Well I didn't watch it either, I meant in general too :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tunisia 0-1 Australia, FT!

First win for Australia at a World Cup since 2010.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poland 1-0 Saudi Arabia, Zielinski!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty to Saudi Arabia!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Szczesny saves it and the rebound goes over!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It was a double save. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Szczesny digging Poland out of it again.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Old copy and paste doing a good job in goal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Lewandowski finally for his World Cup goal!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 FT.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

France: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.
Subs: Pavard, Disasi, Guendouzi, Kolo Muani, Fofana, Veretout, Mandanda, Saliba, Coman, Areola, Konate, Camavinga, Thuram

Denmark: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Andersen, Nelsson, Christensen, Maehle, Hojbjerg, Damsgaard, Eriksen, Lindstrom, Cornelius.
Subs: Khjaer, Jensen, Braithwaite, Skov, Olsen, Dolberg, Norgaard, Christensen, Stryger Larsen, Wassa, Wind, Poulsen, Ronnow, Skov, Bah.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe pulled back

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kounde strike, Hoibjerg scuffs clearing it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mbappe blazes it over!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

Bit shit really.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Mbappe!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Christensen!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How has Tchouameni not scored?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So close for Braithwaite!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Mbappe again!

[Marc Overmars]

2-1 Mbappe

[HCZ_Reborn]

Making up for his poor showing in the Euros

I don’t think he and Benzema play well together, too similar in style. Works better with Giroud

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 FT. France have qualifieed.

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-1 FT. France have qualifieed.

I thought that was one of the better games in the tournament

No real sympathy for Denmark, didn’t show enough ambition…showed more or less none until going behind.

They defended well and France had to be patient to break them down, I think it was a difficult game and a few defensive question marks aside must admit they played well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Argentina: E Martinez, Montiel, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Acuna, De Paul, Rodriguez, Di Maria, Messi, Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez.
Subs: Armani, Foyth, Tagliafico, Paredes, Pezzella, Alvarez, Rulli, Romero, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Gomez, Dybala, Jeremias, Molina.

Mexico: Ochoa, Montes, Araujo, Moreno, K Alvarez, Herrera, Guardado, Chavez, Gallardo, Lozano, Vega.
Subs: Talavera, E Alvarez, Vasquez, Arteaga, Romo, Rodriguez, Jimenez, Funes Mori, Cota, Gutierrez, Pineda, Sanchez, Martin, Antuna, Alvarado.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Argentina doubling down on the side that lost to Saudi Arabia I see

[GP]

If Mexico win I will order a burrito.

[GP]

Ordered a burrito anyway

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Solid choice.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rough challenge from Araujo, booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT. Wow that was deplorable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Messi freekick, over.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MESSI!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fernandez with the strike, lovely goal.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Fernandez with the strike, lovely goal.

I second that, what a lovely strike up there with Richarlison’s second for Brazil

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 FT.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The only game I watched throughout today rather than in bits and pieces was France-Denmark which for me was one of the better games in the tournament.

France well and truly broken the curse of teams who have previously won the tournament.

[Letters]

Messi :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

The morning game which I have very little interest in, keeping up the trend in this tournament for goals scored in the first half

If this game is 0-0 at half time as seems likely, it will be the 13th game from 25 to be goalless at half time. A mixture of teams being defensive and getting tired in the second half, and teams not getting going quickly

In fact less than a third of the overall goals in this tournament are being scored in the first half. In fact only about 15% of them have been scored in the first thirty minutes of games.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Japan 0-0 Costa Rica still.

All Japan in the second half.

Tomiyasu is on the bench

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Joel Campbell still there I see.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The morning game which I have very little interest in, keeping up the trend in this tournament for goals scored in the first half

If this game is 0-0 at half time as seems likely, it will be the 13th game from 25 to be goalless at half time. A mixture of teams being defensive and getting tired in the second half, and teams not getting going quickly

In fact less than a third of the overall goals in this tournament are being scored in the first half. In fact only about 15% of them have been scored in the first thirty minutes of games.

Next World Cup being 48 teams could make this seem thrill a minute.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Was that a clear goalscoring opportunity?

Probably not.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Next World Cup being 48 teams could make this seem thrill a minute.

Yes although the format is going to be interesting. Sixteen groups of three teams with the top two progressing to a round of 32 knock out round. Which could mean there will be more pressure on teams to win games rather than simply not lose.

But of course let’s not pretend that this was FIFA’s intention and not just pure avarice


What it does mean is that continuing the trend since 1974 that the winner of the tournament will have to play seven games. But in this case two group games and five knockout fixtures

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Japan 0-1 Costa Rica, Fuller!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Costa Rica 1-0 up

This could open up the group if this stays the same

It also means Germany can afford to get a draw tonight and as long as they beat Costa Rica and Spain beat Japan, they and Spain will advance

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wouldn't have happened with Tomiyasu there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chaos in Costa Rica's box, cut back from Mitoma and then pinball.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Save from Navas to keep Costa Rica ahead and then a goalmouth scramble which led to a free kick going their way

[Letters]

Yes although the format is going to be interesting. Sixteen groups of three teams with the top two progressing to a round of 32 knock out round. Which could mean there will be more pressure on teams to win games rather than simply not lose.
I think that’s often the issue in World Cup group games. It’s often must not lose than must win. It can make it all a bit cagey. There was one World Cup recently, I can’t remember which one, where the group games were mostly brilliant. But that’s not often the case.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think that’s often the issue in World Cup group games. It’s often must not lose than must win. It can make it all a bit cagey. There was one World Cup recently, I can’t remember which one, where the group games were mostly brilliant. But that’s not often the case.

Dunno

Japan and South Korea 2002 - plenty of shock results but it rather killed the tournament as a contest after 1/4 final stage

Germany in 2006 started really well and then kind of petered out with the exception of the really good semi final between Germany and Italy (then again that game wasn’t that great it just had a dramatic ending)

South Africa was poor throughout (fucking Vuvuzelas)

Brazil was my favourite World Cup since France 98, loved the evening games so I didn’t miss the football by being at work and there were some really good games (one of the semi finals was a bit of a yawn fest, but that’s the way it goes)

Russia….quite a bit of drama but that felt like that was more VAR related

Take your pick basically

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Japan 0-1 Costa Rica, FT!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Have to say I don’t think this World Cup will live long in the memory but it hasn’t been a complete shit show either

The two worst tournaments in my living memory are South Africa and controversially for some the World Cup in Italy in 1990, which because England got the semi final people have this rose tinted memory of it being something other than a snooze fest.

USA 94 was a better tournament even though the semis and the final were a big disappointment.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Where’s Bono?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Belgium 0-0 Morocco still.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Belgium 0-0 Morocco still.

Another game likely to be goalless at half time.

If Belgium make it even as far as the 1/4 finals it won’t say much for the quality of this tournament. They were for me even worse than England against Canada than we were against the Yanks

[Letters]

1-0 Morocco! Right at the end of the half.

[Letters]

Possibly chalked off for offside

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Belgium 0-1 Morocco, straight in from Ziyech!

[Letters]

No goal :rolleyes:

0-0 it is.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh.

[Letters]

Oh.

:lol:

That’s what I thought

[HCZ_Reborn]

See I don’t mind that putting off the goalkeeper is seen as infringement

But again where’s the consistency

VAR team clearly didn’t think there was an issue when Douglas Luiz (who we didn’t buy because we only are allowed to have Brazillian players called Gabriel and that’s why Marquinhos hardly plays) scored direct from a corner against us for Villa and clearly Ramsdale was being impeded

[HCZ_Reborn]

Anyway that attempt to make me look silly by Ziyech when pointing out the amount of 0-0’s at half time that we’ve had was not allowed to stand, and rightly so.

[Letters]

Anyway that attempt to make me look silly by Ziyech when pointing out the amount of 0-0’s at half time that we’ve had was not allowed to stand, and rightly so.
Yes. I was all ready to :pal: at you, but alas it was not to be.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Belgium look a bit better than they did against the Canadians (although to be fair they could hardly have been worse) but still seem slow. Even on the break it feels laboured

[Letters]

There’s a woman holding the electronic board for substitute numbers.
A woman!
It’s political correctness gone mad I tells you!

Also, 1-0 Morocco!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That one counts, Sabiri!

[Letters]

That Belgium ‘keeper seems dodgy, that’s the second free kick which has just sailed past him. He got away with the first one - it was offside but that’s not why it went in.

[HCZ_Reborn]

They can’t even be consistent about rulings within the game, if Saiss is impeding Courtois before, how is he not here?

Either both goals are legitimate and Morocco should be 2-0 up, or neither of them are and it should be 0-0

Utterly ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong not trying to defend Belgium, they’ve been truly terrible in this tournament and deserved to lose to Canada let alone today

But just decide what the rules are and stick to them

[Letters]

Isn’t the difference he was offside the first time but not the second?
So I guess the argument is that he was a distraction to the ‘keeper when in an offside position?
Obviously bollocks, it would have gone in anyway, but I guess thems the rules.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How is Martinez still their coach?

[Letters]

2-0!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2!!

[Letters]

Well that was fun.

I don’t think this has been a high quality World Cup so far. Only a couple of sides have looked much good.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Isn’t the difference he was offside the first time but not the second?
So I guess the argument is that he was a distraction to the ‘keeper when in an offside position?
Obviously bollocks, it would have gone in anyway, but I guess thems the rules.

That’s it though, it’s complete bollocks either Saiss is involved in play or he isn’t. It just relegates it to being completely arbitrary and not a consideration as to whether his positioning had an impact on the goalkeeper and if so whether that’s fair or not. Now I honestly don’t mind if it’s yes or no but they should pick one.

Morocco for me are an underrated team and executed a smart game plan, so they deserved to win in my view but we need to get the technology right.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well that was fun.

I don’t think this has been a high quality World Cup so far. Only a couple of sides have looked much good.

Yep agree, this is why I favour Brazil

I think they played well against Serbia but not the best Brazil side I’ve ever seen. But so many other sides just look mediocre

Belgium’s best players like De Bruyne have never really been what you’d call athletic (relative of course) and in their thirties which Hazard, De Bruyne, Witsel are….it really shows. Canada and Morocco had more energy than them, and Croatia are a bit more solid at the back (Vertonghen and Alderweireld are decent or were but they always had an error in them)

[Globalgunner]

Player for player, given the talent at his disposal, enough to field 2 WC teams. Martinez has to be the worst coach at this WC. The man can turn gold or silver into lead.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Player for player, given the talent at his disposal, enough to field 2 WC teams. Martinez has to be the worst coach at this WC. The man can turn gold or silver into lead.

Dunno I still think Southgate has that one

Four years ago unquestionably Belgium were a better team than England. But now they are old and ponderous, and the England side has some really good players in it (World Cup winning good? Maybe maybe not…but certainly better than the big old load of shit they coughed up against the yanks)

Martinez is a distinctly average coach though…no argument there

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Golden generations :rose:

Martinez is an abysmal coach.

Why couldn't Courtois have chucked them in in May the prick

[HCZ_Reborn]

Golden generations :rose:

Martinez is an abysmal coach.

Why couldn't Courtois have chucked them in in May the prick


Did you have a defender potentially obstructing his Vision like a low sun for a driver early in the morning?

Because if you didn’t, you’ve only yourselves to blame

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-0 Canada

God damned Canadians with their flappy heads and beady eyes

[GP]

Looks like they've had therir Kraft dinner.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think a lot of teams have held on to the same players, for too long and it shows.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Kramaric!

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-1 Kramaric!

Played for Leicester City in their first season back in the prem when they were managed by the charming Nigel Pearson

Bugger scored against us, but we were 2-0 up at the time and we held on for a 2-1 win

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Croatia 2-1 Canada, Livaja!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 Kramaric with his second!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Miller. :haha:

4-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Croatia 4-1 Canada, FT.

Canada are out. :rose:

[Letters]

Gary :haha:
Moose :haha:
French :haha:
Politeness :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spain: Simon, Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Jordi Alba, Gavi, Busquets, Gonzalez, Ferran Torres, Asensio, Olmo.
Subs: Sanchez, Azpilicueta, Garcia, Pau Torres, Llorente, Morata, Koke, Williams, Raya, Balde, Guillamon, Pino, Carlos Soler, Sarabia, Fati.

Germany: Neuer, Sule, Rudiger, Kehrer, Raum, Kimmich, Gundogan, Goretzka, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala
Subs: Ginter, Havertz, Fullkrug, Gotze, Trapp, Klostermann, Brandt, Hofmann, Sane, Gunter, Ter Stegen, Schlotterbeck, Adeyemi, Kotchap, Moukoko.

[Mac76]

What's that Spuds reject Ponce doing in the studio?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Good God what a hit from Olmo :blink:

And save from Neuer!

[Letters]

What a hit! Good save too.

[Letters]

Good God what a hit from Olmo :blink:

And save from Neuer!
I didn’t realise the ‘keeper got a hand to it when I saw it in real time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He absolutely hammered it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Simon was out alert.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nor sure I fancy us going up against Pedri and Gavi in the Europa League. :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not sure what Simon was thinking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neuer showing he can give it away too.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Torres, what a miss, offside or not!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

RUDIGER!

Spain have been the better of the two, but forget how to mark.

NOPE! Rudiger forgets how to beat an offside.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poor defending said Schmeichel. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spain probably the best technical team at the tournament, they can play through quite an intensive press. But a bit suspect defensively. Always felt the Spanish team even at its best would pass the ball to death but this seems to have a bit more cutting edge and purpose to it.

You suspect though they are liable to looking a bit silly against more street wise teams, Germany almost caught them cold and will certainly try to again if they don’t mind themselves

[Mac76]

Ponce is so full of shit, he's saying nothing and he can hardly speak anyway

[Marc Overmars]

In Paris at the moment so missed most of the last couple days worth of games. The locals are very convinced they’re going to retain it.

[Letters]

In Paris at the moment so missed most of the last couple days worth of games. The locals are very convinced they’re going to retain it.
Only a couple of teams have impressed me so far but they are one of them.
Brazil being the other in that second half.
So yeah, certainly plausible.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Only the 6 offside at that free kick :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Retaining a World Cup is a bonkers achievement so however they manage it, would be incredible.

Not since Brazil 1962.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Morata on for Torres.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Simon's distribution. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kimmich laying one on them there.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

MORATA?

[Letters]

1-0 Spain! Great goal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kimmich. :haha:

Dreadful free kick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ooh 1-0!

[Letters]

Great move by Spain. Asensio nearly hits the moon.

[Letters]

Ooh 1-0!

Are you in a different time zone?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Asensio. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Are you in a different time zone?!

That's BBC iPlayer for you!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Musiala had a billion years to place it, and he boots it straight at Simon :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falkirk. :lol:

[Letters]

:doh:

Germany really should have equalised.
Shearer does the “what a save” thing when the ‘keeper couldn’t have got out of the way if he’d tried, it was blasted at him. He stood up well I guess but either side of him and that’s a goal.

[Letters]

Rubbish free kick from Germany.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

SOME GERMAN!

Great finish.

[Letters]

1-1!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hammered it in.

[Letters]

Shearer now saying that the ‘keeper stood up well again but there was too much power in that one.
No, Alan. It was just not hit at him. He wouldn’t have saved the other one had it been either side of him, you berk!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

That's the Morata I remember.

Forgets to dribble with the ball when in on goal.

[Letters]

Brilliant challenge from some German bloke.

[Letters]

6 minutes added

[Marc Overmars]

Ridiculous decision to not shoot from Sane at the end there. :doh:

Very good response from Germany after going a goal down though. They should have won.

[Mac76]

If Germany start with some of those subs in the next game they've got a chance

[Letters]

Looking at the group they’re pretty likely to qualify.
They’ll surely beat Costa Rica and Spain are pretty likely to do them a favour

[HCZ_Reborn]

Cameroon 1-0 Serbia

A place in Italy the goalscorer

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nobody watching the far post.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1!

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-1 Serbs

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cameroon 1-2 Serbia, Malinkovic-Savic!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Awful keeping. Dropping your No. 1 goalkeeper can be risky.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Quite the collapse from Cameroon.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-3 Mitrovic. Serbia walked it in!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cameroon 2-3 Serbia, Aboubakar.

VAR gives it!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cameroon 3-3 Serbia, Choupo-Moting!!! Wow.

[Letters]

Knickers. I'm actually missing a good game!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Knickers. I'm actually missing a good game!

Same, not at work either…concentrating on college work. Will watch the highlights later. Nice stand alone game but one I doubt will have much overall impact on the group (as I suspect neither will qualify from it) let alone the tournament (apart from increasing the goals per game tally

[Letters]

College work, eh? Are you a youngling? You seem older (intended as a compliment, you are wise beyond your years if you are young).
I started watching just in time for everyone to stop scoring :)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-3 FT. Nuts.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Not at all, I’m 39. I work full time but I also returned to studying four years ago

Whilst I am a qualified counsellor (which I’ve mentioned before) I am still in the process of gaining qualifications, in the hope that when I leave my current job I have enough certificates to be competitive with other people in the same field (I have no desire to work for an agency or for the NHS)

[Letters]

:good:

I realised after I posted that from other things you've said you clearly aren't a kid.
Another friend of mine just turned 50 and has just finished whatever exams you need to do to become a solicitor. I'm super impressed at anyone studying at that age! It is good to keep learning but I'm not too keen on doing any more exams if I can help it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Korea 0-1 Ghana, Salisu!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Korea 0-2 Ghana, Kudus! What a ball in from J. Ayew.

[Letters]

2-0 now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-2!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-2. :wacko:

Same goalscorer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cho with both goals.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Korea 2-3 Ghana, Kudus!

:wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cleared off the line!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

10 added minutes.

The amount of time added on in this tournament. :lol:

[Letters]

Good save near post.

[Letters]

This is like an attack vs defence training session :lol:

[Letters]

3-2 FT

Ghana :bow:
Partey :bow:
Son :pal:
Squid Games :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

South Korea 2-3 Ghana, FT!

[HCZ_Reborn]

So with no Neymar, Harry Grout could have opted to play Rodrigo, Jesus or Pedro but instead he opts for an extra midfielder and it’s Fred.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brazil: Alisson, Militao, Marquinhos, T Silva, Sandro, Fred, Casemiro, Paqueta, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, Richarlison.
Subs: Weverton, Alves de Silva, Fabinho, Alex Telles, Guimaraes, Gabriel Jesus, Antony, Rodrygo, Everton Ribeiro, Ederson, Bremer, Pedro, Martinelli.

Switzerland: Sommer, Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Rieder, Sow, Vargas, Embolo.
Subs: Fernandes, Zakaria, Seferovic, Steffen, Omlin, Aebischer, Fassnacht, Comert, Frei, Kobl, Schar, Shaqiri, Kohn, Jashari.