2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (Maidenfans WC Pool inside)

Dr. Eddies Wingman said:
Did he actually commit what you finished the previous sentence with?
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Sorry for bringing this also up, but I felt it was weird and funny (my son spotted it): tonight someone in the audience kept waving a Japanese flag during the whole match. Right opposite the main camera on the other side of the field, in the mid, near the stairs, below.

I honestly felt Japan could have a chance vs Brazil, Wiz. Definitely if Brazil would finish as bad as they did today.

Dr. Eddies Wingman said:
Did he actually commit what you finished the previous sentence with?
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Eh no, I chose that word for the continuous attacking at the end, when it was 2-2 and still wanted to win.
 
I just realized/remembered that both Belgium and France were semi finalists in that awesome 1986 World Cup:

World Cup 1986 semi finals:
France - West Germany: 0 - 2 (Brehme, Völler)
Argentina - Belgium: 2 - 0 (Maradona 2x)

World Cup 2018 semi finals:
France - Belgium
Russia/Croatia - Sweden/England
 
Russia and Croatia played three times against each other and Russia never won. In the Euro 2008 qualification both duels ended in 0-0. Croatia won an exhibition game in 2015 in Rostov with 3-1.

Three times earlier Russia was in the quarter finals. They only won in 1966, with 2-1 from Hungary.

Croatia only played one quarterfinal at a World Cup. In 1998 Germany were put aside with 3-0. 1998 was Croatia's greatest tournament, ending up 3rd (beating the Netherlands who could not bring up the motivation anymore in that last match for the bronze medal).

/ / / / / / /

Sweden and England met each other in 2002 and 2006 in the group stage. The duels ended in 1-1 and 2-2. Both teams reached the knockout stage.

They also played against each other at the European Championship twice. Host Sweden won in 1992 with 2-1, in Gary Lineker's last interland. In 2012, England won (3-2). Both times the winner won the knockout stage and the loser not.

Sweden can reach the semi finals at the World Cup for the first time since 1994. England for the first time since 1990.
 
Forostar said:
the Netherlands could not bring up the motivation anymore in that last match for the bronze medal
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Is that your excuse? :p

In the good old days of communism the Soviet Union had the upper hand on Yugoslavia: W10 D3 L1.

Praying for a Sweden win today. Scotland, Wales and Ireland are behind you today Sweden!
 
Not saying we'd have won if we went 100 percent for it but yeah, it's really true that there wasn't much fighting left in the team. They could not bring it up anymore. That semi final versus a not very good Brazil ended in a shoot out and the disappointment over not winning (and reaching the final) was enormous. They just did not care anymore. Most of the players had taken a beating by that loss vs Brazil so they were not "there". Croatia celebrated that victory as if they won the World Cup. Much more spirit during that match.

Frank de Boer said this about it: "Croatia counters three times and then also makes two goals. They have to abolish that comfort final. When you are out in the semi-finals, it's just over. Motivating yourself for such a comfort final is not possible anymore. Then you miss chances that you probably score against Brazil and Argentina. But hey, I'd rather be fourth with football as we played than third with football as it was played by Croatia."

With respect to the 1998 team, I'm glad that it went different in 2014. It's better to see your country going for it. Beating Brazil for the third place was highly satisfying. A special memory for me as well since it happened on the same evening I saw British Lion for the first time. Witnessed in the same venue.
 
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I think it's fair to say that Brazil had no motivation for the 3rd place match in 2014 though. :P

That's a poor attitude from Frank de Boer. Holland should have been more professional about the match in 1998.
 
Brazil sure was motivated in the 2014 match. It was an exciting match. I agree that the Netherlands should have been pumped up to get that bronze medal in 1998 (a few guys in the team, e.g. Edgar Davids, still went 200% for it). At least do it for the audience and your country. It was not a fine sight. One bad match in a great tournament.
 
Forostar said:
Croatia celebrated that victory as if they won the World Cup
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This marks the end of the highest ranking run in the FIFA history, from 122th or something like that to 3rd place in overall ranks. Croatia due to newly forged independence through wartime victory - 1st world cup the team was eligible for. The first major tournament was 2 years prior, Euro 96 and we reached quarterfinals and lost tightly. About half of stars in the Croat team played for Yugoslavia youth 1987 and won a world cup in Chile 1987. They were at the apex of their club careers, too. Highly motivated would be an understatement ;)
 
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