[Tiste Simeon]

Ugh. As it stands Argentina scrape through. So annoyed.

[Malankazooie]

Maradona giving someone the double middle fingers after that second goal. You stay classy, classy man. Dude looks crispy AF. Safe to say he's probably snorted up all of Peru's and most of Colombia's finest booger sugar in his day.

Really bummed for Iceland.

Oh noes! Two of my favs playing against each other tomorrow! Mexico v. Sweden. Is there a scenario (or scenarios) where both Mexico and Sweden can go through? Obviously Germany would need to lose to South Korea, right?

[Tiste Simeon]

BBC article on "Who Needs What" should answer your last question my dude.

World Cup 2018: Who needs what to qualify in the final round of group games? - http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/44587232

[Mentalist]

Malankazooie, on 26 June 2018 - 08:12 PM, said:

Maradona giving someone the double middle fingers after that second goal. You stay classy, classy man. Dude looks crispy AF. Safe to say he's probably snorted up all of Peru's and most of Colombia's finest booger sugar in his day.

Really bummed for Iceland.

Oh noes! Two of my favs playing against each other tomorrow! Mexico v. Sweden. Is there a scenario (or scenarios) where both Mexico and Sweden can go through? Obviously Germany would need to lose to South Korea, right?

Sweden needs a win. Or a draw, as long as Germany loses.

If both Germany and Sweden win, it's down to goal difference, then goals scored.

Ofc, if Sweden beats Mexico, that leaves Mexico with 6 points as well, meaning it gets even more complicated and goal difference is even more important.

In short: go, Germany, preferrably with a lot of goals!

[Mentalist]

Bah, humbug.
Good on Koreans for holding of ze Germans (presumably. Or possibly Germany played like crap, ionno. Oh, look, now Germany lost, )
Sweden tops the group. Hopefully they don't face the Swiss, since I'd like the non-floppers to not face each other for as long as possible.

[Thirteen]

WTF, Germany!!!

[Mentalist]

Should've put Klose on to finish at least one of their chances.

[Gorefest]

LOL!!😂

[Malankazooie]

AHHHHHHH SHUCKY DUCKY! ! ! ! ! ! YES! YES! YEEEEEEEESSSSS!

The results couldn't have gone any better for two of the teams I'm rooting for! Sweden and Mexico advance!

OH LEY OH LEY OH LEY! OHHHH LEEEEEEY!

Buh bye. Germs-a-Many!

[Gorefest]

This makes the tournament slightly bearable again.

[Mentalist]

I am disappointed.

Croatia and Belgium better not choke this time.

[Tiste Simeon]

Well now. Well now indeed. That just blew the whole thing wide open.

[Tiste Simeon]

I don't think it's going to happen but if Brazil go it, I'll have my first real thought that England actually might have a chance...

[Gorefest]

Of course they do. This is England’s year!

[Mentalist]

Mexico-Brazil will be a cracker. I did expect that one to happen, though.

Sweden took Germany's spot, so I have big expectations from them now.

[Malankazooie]

So guys. Considering how things have gone so far, do you feel better about England's chances? I think so far they have (along with Belgium) have been one of the more impressive teams. The match tomorrow (England v. Belgium) should be a bellwether on whether my excitement for England is warranted. LETS GO ENGLAND!

I would put Russia and Mexico in the "impressive" category, except for those last games for each in the Group stage. I'm telling you guys, keep your eyes on Russia. Shenanigans are sure to come into play.

Seeing how things have progressed so far this World Cup, I am even more gutted that the U.S. team didn't qualify. Damn, I think if we were able to barely qualify with a scare, it would have focused us and we could have turned some heads this time around. Dammit!

[Gorefest]

Well, we got knocked out of qualifying by an incorrectly disallowed goal of Bas Dost against Sweden. So the Netherlands should have been where Sweden is now. If ifs and buts were king, we would be freewheeling to the title. Sadly the way things are going we will even lose the moniker ‘best team never to win a world cup’ before long. Clever money is probably on Brazil now (gods I hate Neymar), but I am hoping for England all the way.

[Tiste Simeon]

World Cup 2018: Is it easier if England finish second in group? - http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/44620166

Found this interesting. There's been a lot of talk about England losing to Belgium in order to make their path "easier". Not sure I'm about this because you can't predict anything really, this world cup has shown that the "big" teams aren't infallible and winning all three games in the group will be an excellent confidence boost before the knockout stages.

[Gorefest]

I really hope they don't go this way. If you want to win the cup you need to be able to beat everyone. You cannot 'guestimate' your way to the final. Plus this is a national squad, not a club team. The same rules do not apply. Most of these players hardly ever get a chance to play together, so it takes time to get to understand what your teammates prefer. Every match is a chance to get more acquainted with each other and teammates' playing styles.


I remember when Van Basten was coach with Holland he decided to rest some players during the last group game. The twam had been playing stellar football up to that point and we were big favourites to win it. However, the knockout match after the one where key players were rested we lost because the team had lost it rythm. Players had been pulled out of their flow. Leave the team intact, let them grow in the tournament and get more used to each other's style.

[Dolmen 2.0]

A friend of mine had 90 to 1 odds on S. Korea beating Germany 2-0. to say he cleaned up would be an understatement.

I admit the German team looked a little shaky but I used to think South Korea was the Winston of the footballing world. I stand utterly corrected.

This post has been edited by Dolmen 2.0: 28 June 2018 - 10:33 AM