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

[Forostar]

The Swedish Wall looked like a Swiss cheese today. Disappointing. But so special for England, this.

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

2nd half was more entertaining, because Sweden had to take more risks and did. England deserved to win though.

And if any of the Swedish chicks that the TV producer chose to focus on towards the end need some comfort and consolation, they're welcome to drop by.

 

[matic22]

The downside:

Swedish girls are going home.

 

[matic22]

I'm smelling a Belgium - England final.

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

I'm smelling a Belgium - England final.

They're not going to rest their best players again, methinks, so this time it won't be Belgium B vs England B.

Now come on Hrvatska. It's been nice to have Russia get this far, but now it's time to get serious here.

 

[matic22]

But that said, if De Bruyne and Hazard play like yesterday, nobody can beat them IMO.

 

[Black Wizard]

Swedish women are amazing. Their men's football team is not.

England in the semi-final is sickening. I blame Germany for this. Their shitty performances allowed this to happen. It should have been a Germany vs. England quarter-final.

England have done their job efficiently but have yet to play anyone of significance. Croatia are a quality team with a much stronger centre midfield than England and Russia have home advantage. Whoever wins this semi-final will be a big underdog in the final.

 

[Brigantium]

Shit. That means another week of crap blasting music and arseholery in next door's garden.

 

[Black Wizard]

So much patriotism from you Brigs.

 

[Shadow]

Disappointing performance from Sweden today. The team's offensive weaknesses were clearly visible after the first goal. There's not enough to skill to create any sort of sustained pressure, even against a far from impressive English side, and the counterattacks are too slow and imprecise. That said, considering that two years ago I didn't expect this team to even qualify, a quarterfinal is a great success.

Remarkable quality contrast between this and yesterday's matches, by the way.

 

[Forostar]

About half of stars in the Croat team played for Yugoslavia youth 1987 and won a world cup in Chile 1987.

Probably not all of these played in that team but these were memorable as well: Stojković, Savićević, Pančev & Prosinečki. This was a hell of a squad:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_FIFA_World_Cup_squads#Yugoslavia

Spoiler

1 GK Tomislav Ivković 11 August 1960 (aged 29) 26 Sporting CP
2 DF Vujadin Stanojković 10 September 1963 (aged 26) 16 Partizan
3 DF Predrag Spasić 13 May 1965 (aged 25) 18 Partizan
4 DF Zoran Vulić 4 October 1961 (aged 28) 15 Mallorca
5 DF Faruk Hadžibegić 7 October 1957 (aged 32) 45 Sochaux
6 DF Davor Jozić 22 September 1960 (aged 29) 17 Cesena
7 MF Dragoljub Brnović 2 November 1963 (aged 26) 20 Metz
8 MF Safet Sušić 13 April 1955 (aged 35) 47 Paris Saint-Germain
9 FW Darko Pančev 7 September 1965 (aged 24) 14 Red Star Belgrade
10 MF Dragan Stojković 3 March 1965 (aged 25) 33 Red Star Belgrade
11 FW Zlatko Vujović (c) 26 August 1958 (aged 31) 63 Paris Saint-Germain
12 GK Fahrudin Omerović 26 August 1961 (aged 28) 0 Partizan
13 MF Srečko Katanec 16 July 1963 (aged 26) 26 Sampdoria
14 FW Alen Bokšić 21 January 1970 (aged 20) 0 Hajduk Split
15 MF Robert Prosinečki 12 January 1969 (aged 21) 7 Red Star Belgrade
16 MF Refik Šabanadžović 2 August 1965 (aged 24) 4 Red Star Belgrade
17 MF Robert Jarni 26 October 1968 (aged 21) 1 Hajduk Split
18 DF Mirsad Baljić 4 March 1962 (aged 28) 28 Sion
19 MF Dejan Savićević 15 September 1966 (aged 23) 13 Red Star Belgrade
20 FW Davor Šuker 1 January 1968 (aged 22) 0 Dinamo Zagreb
21 DF Andrej Panadić 9 March 1969 (aged 21) 3 Dinamo Zagreb
22 GK Dragoje Leković 21 November 1967 (aged 22) 3 Budućnost Titograd

 

[Black Wizard]

Remarkable quality contrast between this and yesterday's matches, by the way.

Exactly. The disparity between the two halves of the draw is large. Look at Uruguay vs. Russia in the group stage and France vs. Uruguay yesterday. The winner of France vs. Belgium will win the World Cup. What a semi-final that will be.

 

[Forostar]

Some of you think not very high of Croatia. I still think they could do it.

 

[Black Wizard]

Some of you think not very high of Croatia. I still think they could do it.

I think they are a better team than Russia, and better than England in some positions. I don't think they're good enough to win the tournament though, sadly. I would love it to happen though.

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

I think France and Belgium have both shown more quality than Croatia in the tournament, but Croatia has enough skill to cause real trouble for either of them.

I still think England don't have the collective tempo to beat the best teams. Their main strength is set pieces, but that can still be enough to win games even at this level.

 

[Black Wizard]

Their main strength is set pieces, but that can still be enough to win games even at this level.

 

[Black Bart]

But that said, if De Bruyne and Hazard play like yesterday, nobody can beat them IMO.

Nobody... except...

Spoiler

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

Well, you've got to give this to the Russians: They have a great anthem.

 

[Black Wizard]

Slav derby!

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

Go Hrvatska!