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World Cup Discussion Thread - Day 18 (1 July)

cwy21

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2009
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Match #51 - Round of 16 - 15:00 BST
Spain : Russia

Moscow (Luzhniki)
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands)
VAR: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

Odds
Spain (8/13)
Draw (13/5)
Russia (5/1)
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Match #52 - Round of 16 - 19:00 BST
Croatia : Denmark

Nizhny Novgorod
Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina)
VAR: Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)

Odds
Croatia (17/20)
Draw (23/10)
Denmark (4/1)
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wirE

I'm a well-known member
Sep 27, 2005
4,676
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Spain up against Russia at home. Anticipating a really good match today. Maybe we'll see Russia drawing the longest straw
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
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Spain ??
Croatia ??
To go through for me... just think Russia might be a tad over zealous. That said I wouldn’t begrudge Russia progressing, don’t think Spain have been all that as yet.

Croatia look good. One of the few teams to play with a bloody midfield. (What is with this tournament and everyone playing 4-1-5?! ?)

Christian to hopefully perform well and then have a holiday (wouldn’t begrudge him going further in tournament of course, so a bit of a win win I guess).
 
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luptic

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2008
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Looking forward to seeing the best player ive seen in a Spurs kit against the best player we have at present. Croatia should be too strong for Denmark.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Spain will have 2002 in mind the second a dodgy decision goes Russia's way. Worst refereeing shafting in World Cup history.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,344
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Naturally rooting for our Chris today, but I feel this could be Modric's tournament. Seeing the two up against each other will be fascinating.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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I remember that. Against South Korea, wasn't it?
Yeah. Host nation benefiting from a pretty obviously bribed ref shocker Whether FIFA or Korea bribed him is unknown but it was likely Jack Warner's work.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
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Naturally rooting for our Chris today, but I feel this could be Modric's tournament. Seeing the two up against each other will be fascinating.

For the third time this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Eriksen score, but Modric guide Croatia into the next round.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
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Trumpism aside, pretty much. Arguably the ref who did Italy v Korea in the round before was even worse. That ref has since been done for drug trafficking and served time behind bars.
Didn't know that. But we know how much corruption there still is in football as a rule. Even with the removal of some of the bigger turds (Blatter, Platini, Blazer, Warner, etc), the waterpipe is still stuffed full of them.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
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For the third time this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Eriksen score, but Modric guide Croatia into the next round.
That's a good call, I think. I think Croatia are the dark horses of this tournament. I know we've only had the group stages to judge them on, but they've looked supremely comfortable right from the off.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
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That's a good call, I think. I think Croatia are the dark horses of this tournament. I know we've only had the group stages to judge them on, but they've looked supremely comfortable right from the off.
I think they were dark horses (again), before the tournament, I think they are squarely in the favorites bracket (alongside France) now.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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I think they were dark horses (again), before the tournament, I think they are squarely in the favorites bracket (alongside France) now.
I think the winner of the Spain v Croatia quarter final will win the tournament. The two strongest teams so far for me.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
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I reckon Dele will be key on Tuesday and he'll be loving it, not a nervous thought in his mind.
Hope so, he’s had an indifferent season by his standards and could do with a KO winning performance to cement his place and the nation behind him (as I think many non THFC neutrals are on the fence).
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
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I think they were dark horses (again), before the tournament, I think they are squarely in the favorites bracket (alongside France) now.
Well that's just it - they're still only listed as sixth favourites behind England on Oddschecker.

And the media aren't really speaking much about them - until yesterday it was all about Argentina and Messi and Portugal and Ronaldo, with bits of Russia and Uruguay thrown in. There's not been very much about Croatia. That's why I say dark horses, because only the fans seem to have picked up on them as a potential force at this tournament.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
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Well that's just it - they're still only listed as sixth favourites behind England on Oddschecker.

And the media aren't really speaking much about them - until yesterday it was all about Argentina and Messi and Portugal and Ronaldo, with bits of Russia and Uruguay thrown in. There's not been very much about Croatia. That's why I say dark horses, because only the fans seem to have picked up on them as a potential force at this tournament.
Which unfortunately just emphasizes how twisted the media are towards names over teams!

Ronaldo and Messi have constantly been playing in poor national teams and yes they have to a degree dragged them to finals, but a WC winning team is precisely that, a team.

And Croatia behind England is laughable. It wasn’t for Kane (another individual), no one in the media would be talking about England as potential winners. We are not collectively good or hard working enough.

Uruguay showed how you need to play in that regard and Croatia are similar, such hard work off the ball. Sterling, Lingard and Dele do not battle hard enough collectively to get that ball back (so far) and even Kane has been conservative in pressing so far this tournament. That wohnt be enough as Hendo will get overrun and our Defence + keeper are ok but not tournament winning quality in my opinion.

I think we have the ability to score against anyone, and that’s important, I just fear we are too soft and will be found out against a fast and physical team.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
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Which unfortunately just emphasizes how twisted the media are towards names over teams!

Ronaldo and Messi have constantly been playing in poor national teams and yes they have to a degree dragged them to finals, but a WC winning team is precisely that, a team.

And Croatia behind England is laughable. It wasn’t for Kane (another individual), no one in the media would be talking about England as potential winners. We are not collectively good or hard working enough.

Uruguay showed how you need to play in that regard and Croatia are similar, such hard work off the ball. Sterling, Lingard and Dele do not battle hard enough collectively to get that ball back (so far) and even Kane has been conservative in pressing so far this tournament. That wohnt be enough as Hendo will get overrun and our Defence + keeper are ok but not tournament winning quality in my opinion.

I think we have the ability to score against anyone, and that’s important, I just fear we are too soft and will be found out against a fast and physical team.
Yeah, absolutely. Uruguay are the other team to watch in my opinion.

And you're spot on about the names over teams thing - it's absolutely ridiculous. I saw a Spurs-related article today saying that if Spurs want to win the title next season, Son has to start every game! They just blithely ignore the fact that football is team game. Like the Portugal manager said recently, 'if I only played Ronaldo, we'd definitely lose'. If only so-called sports 'journalists' would keep that in mind...

Edit: not to mention the latest wankfest over M'bappe. It's all bloody hype, hype, hype, hype, hype.
 
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