Board 8 > World Cup Discussion Topic 5

(+) Yeah! (+)

Only 6 games left after this! Hard to believe it's almost over.

Matches remaining after Belgium/Brazil finishes:

QFs (tomorrow):
England/Sweden
Croatia/Russia

SFs (Tuesday/Wednesday at 7pm BST/2pm EST):
France vs. Winner of Belgium/Brazil
England/Sweden vs. Croatia/Russia

Third/Fourth place playoff is Saturday night, final is Sunday night.
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This world cup been trash so far
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ya go my belgium
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I've really enjoyed it

A few duds but you expect that in modern football with teams often being cagey. Maybe not quite as spectacular as 2014 but leagues better than 2010.

This game, for example, has been really good so far.
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Ahaha haha neymar where you at
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Belgium are really clicking here. That Hazard first touch before playing in De bruyne was really good.

Kind of game that suits Martinez's football I suppose? This is as good as I've seen them, especially taking into account quality of opposition.
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Belgium playing with the spirit of Samurai Japan!
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What an unbelievable goal.

Belgium are fucking outclassing them here. I didn't expect that at all. Lukaku looked unstoppable there and then the finish. Perfect
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7-1 incoming
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Brazil have learned a few lessons and aren't as overwhelmed by the occasion as the semi last time, but they're still leaving themselves much too open on the counter, which is suicidal against Belgium when they have De Bruyne, Hazard etc.

They're more pragmatic and less absurd than they were 4 years ago but still a bit naive, tbh
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Also - this is why you have games like Colombia/England

When you are facing a team with pace and quality on the counter it is so, so hard to recover. Brazil are just being picked off here and right now Belgium still look more likely to score despite Brazil's attacking. 3 at the back helps too.
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See look right there. Brazil's move breaks down on the edge with absolutely no danger and suddenly there was an enormous amount of space for Belgium to break into. Brazil tracked back but it was dicey.
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I can't wait for 2022 where Brazil are considered favourites again until they play their first really good team and get wrecked.

Surely it can't happen three times in a row?
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Where is your God now neymar

Soooooo fucking delicious
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I'm dying guys I'm so nervous
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Well I got this one majorly wrong.

Hopefully they don't sack Tite if they go on to lose this.

He's implementing a process that can pay off big time, don't cut him at the knees before he ends up being on stage short of Scolari.
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At least I may have half of my Belgium/Spain final correct.

Also, I did some random Googling yesterday, and if Brazil loses here, it will be the first time that neither they or Germany have made the top 4... since the first World Cup in 1930. Incredible consistency between those two.
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Holy fuck the ref throwing shade at Neymar might be my favourite moment of the tournament. He's such a little shit.
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XIII_rocks posted...

Holy fuck the ref throwing shade at Neymar might be my favourite moment of the tournament. He's such a little shit.

On top of that he dated his sister so I mean
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Scoreline aside, this is a great half so far.

Really good skill level from both sides.
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By far the best I've ever seen them. They're finally maximizing their potential.

Brazil's naivety in the first half helped but this might be the best performance I've seen at the tournament. It'd be shitty if Brazil won now tbh.

They're getting no luck centrally at the moment.
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The Costa sub is p good, gives Brazil threat on both wings.

No way can either team sustain this pace.

No Meunier vs France could be key.
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buckle up
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Superb ball by Coutinho

This great game is getting the finish it deserves
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This game is seriously amazing.

So many big tackles and interceptions being met with even more attacking play.

This is just fun to watch.
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Fuck

For as much as I said it'd suck if Belgium didn't win, I want another 30m of this
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Chadli suffered bad, maybe mbappe can exploit this.

How is Marcelo still standing though
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Martinez not hedging his bets taking Lukaku off there. They're in trouble if they concede another - if it goes to ET, the lack of Lukaku as an outlet will just mean Brazil put on more and more pressure.
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Hazard has been game, Matuidi and Kante will really have to work hard to contain him
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Neymar is such a little shit.
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I hope we get Neymar crying at match end if they lose

WHAT A SAVE wows
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Congrats Belgium! Fantastic performance. Brazil had great chances but I think they definitely deserved it.
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aww yusssss
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Another overhyped Brazil team OUT.
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On my feet for those last ten minutes. WHAT A GAME.
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So long South America. You will be missed by nobody.

Only European* nations remain.

(well, France and Belgium might properly be described as African teams, but whatever)
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Cry, Neymar, Cry

That was two great teams slugging it out.
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Crazy how I was just visiting Europe a few weeks ago and only went to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. And now its Belgium vs. France! Ill root for both.
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SmartMuffin posted...

So long South America. You will be missed by nobody.

Only European* nations remain.

(well, France and Belgium might properly be described as African teams, but whatever)

Have you had a single good-natured post in 15 years on this board.
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All the footballing Superpowers bar France are out!

Best World Cup EVER!
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Legend:
QTF = Quarter Final
SMF = Semi Final
TPP = Third Place Playoff
FIN = Final

[A1] = [Uruguay 4W-0D-0L] - 2
[B2] = [Portugal 1W-2D-1L] - 1

QTF>[A1] = [Uruguay 4W-0D-1L] - 0
QTF>[C1] = [France 4W-1D-0L] - 2

[C1] = [France 3W-1D-0L] - 4
[D2] = [Argentina 1W-1D-2L] - 3

SMF>>>>>[C1] = [France 4W-1D-0L]
SMF>>>>>[G1] = [Belgium 5W-0D-0L]

[E1] = [Brazil 3W-1D-0L] - 2
[F2] = [Mexico 2W-0D-2L] - 0

QTF>[E1] = [Brazil 3W-1D-1L] - 1
QTF>[G1] = [Belgium 5W-0D-0L] - 2

[G1] = [Belgium 4W-0D-0L] - 3
[H2] = [Japan 1W-1D-2L] - 2

FIN>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]
FIN>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]

TPP>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]
TPP>>>>>>>>>[??] = [---]

[B1] = [Spain 1W-3D-0L] - 1(3)
[A2] = [Russia 2W-1D-1L] - 1(4)

QTF>[A2] = [Russia 2W-1D-1L]
QTF>[D1] = [Croatia 3W-1D-0L]

[D1] = [Croatia 3W-1D-0L] - 1(3)
[C2] = [Denmark 1W-3D-0L] - 1(2)

SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]
SMF>>>>>[??] = [---]

[F1] = [Sweden 3W-0D-1L] - 1
[E2] = [Switzerland 1W-2D-1L] - 0

QTF>[F1] = [Sweden 3W-0D-1L]
QTF>[G2] = [England 2W-1D-1L]

[H1] = [Colombia 2W-1D-1L] - 1(3)
[G2] = [England 2W-1D-1L] - 1(4)
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ShatteredElysium posted...

I hope we get Neymar crying at match end if they lose

Yeah, Fuck him!
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just gotta get France and England out so we can have a new winner!
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Martinez vs. Deschamps

The world cup semi-final equivalent of a punch in the nuts vs. a kick in the nuts
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I'm backing Croatia > Russia tomorrow. Shoot me.
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illuminatusbubu posted...

Cry, Neymar, Cry

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Hardcore_Adult posted...

I'm backing Croatia > Russia tomorrow. Shoot me.

I'm rooting for Russia so
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