***Official FIFA World Cup 2018 Thread***

[srjclone]

Senegal just took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the 60th minute.

Happy to see them getting chances and getting out in space with their players. If there is one random team I'm keeping an eye on and rooting for it would be them. I think they could make some noise and surprise some people if they get playing their game.

 

[IaState95]

Senegal just took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the 60th minute.

Happy to see them getting chances and getting out in space with their players. If there is one random team I'm keeping an eye on and rooting for it would be them. I think they could make some noise and surprise some people if they get playing their game.

Poland got ****** on that second goal. I’ve never seen anything like that before. The ref shouldn’t have allowed the player to come on the field at that time, completely unfair to Poland

 

[srjclone]

Poland got ****** on that second goal. I’ve never seen anything like that before. The ref shouldn’t have allowed the player to come on the field at that time, completely unfair to Poland

Let's not act like that player didn't just flub that kick. I get your point, and Poland may have an argument, but that was completely preventable. Lofting a 50 yard pass backwards to your keeper from the center of the pitch is a red flag no matter the situation. Especially when you have the speed that Senegal does up front.

 

[harimad]

That Mexico vs. Germany was so fun to watch. To those that find soccer boring, that match had excitement the whole time IMO, and yes it was a 1-0 final.

It was just back and forth with Mexico getting run outs all day long. Very fun to watch. Glad Mexico won.

A 1-0 futbol match is a lot like our 14-7 win over TCU last year. You cannot tell me that ISU-TCU wasn't an exciting game.

 

[srjclone]

A 1-0 futbol match is a lot like our 14-7 win over TCU last year. You cannot tell me that ISU-TCU wasn't an exciting game.

I think that the people who complain about soccer and state low scoring as a reason for it not being exciting, are the ones who have never watched a match fully or seriously given it a chance.

 

[srjclone]

If Americans can get pumped up about Curling, and seemingly have people come out of the wood works talking about how awesome it is, and how intriguing the strategy of the game is. They could fall in love with soccer if they really had a want to.

 

[srjclone]

Poland scores on a header from a set piece, to bring it back within 1.

Poland -1
Senegal - 2
86th

 

[BryceC]

I think that the people who complain about soccer and state low scoring as a reason for it not being exciting, are the ones who have never watched a match fully or seriously given it a chance.

I complain about it sometimes. I'm a fringe fan though, much like the fringe fans of baseball that want to see more homers. Or wrestling fans that want to see more teams take shots. No offense to Cael Sanderson, but his wrestlers are much more aggressive at Penn State than they were at ISU. At ISU it was pretty boring wrestling in general.

I understand soccer well enough to get a lot of the strategy but admittedly, not all of it. Same with baseball. There are those that truly appreciate a pitchers duel. I am not one of them.

 

[srjclone]

I complain about it sometimes. I'm a fringe fan though, much like the fringe fans of baseball that want to see more homers. Or wrestling fans that want to see more teams take shots. No offense to Cael Sanderson, but his wrestlers are much more aggressive at Penn State than they were at ISU. At ISU it was pretty boring wrestling in general.

I understand soccer well enough to get a lot of the strategy but admittedly, not all of it. Same with baseball. There are those that truly appreciate a pitchers duel. I am not one of them.

I will admit, there are things I just can't stand. Most have to do with the "gamesmenship" aspect of it. Like when an inferior opponent goes up in a game, and then just sits on the ball, walks to get every throw in, milks every flop, etc. etc. But I know I'm not alone in that.

I think of soccer players like hockey players, or offensive linemen, though. Anyone can sit and watch them do it and say "that doesn't look that hard" but then if they were to try and go out there, run 11+ miles in 90 minutes all while having to do everything with your feet, it's a level of skill I just think is so underappreciated, due to the whole make up of the job. Like the other athletes previously mentioned.

 

[IaState95]

Let's not act like that player didn't just flub that kick. I get your point, and Poland may have an argument, but that was completely preventable. Lofting a 50 yard pass backwards to your keeper from the center of the pitch is a red flag no matter the situation. Especially when you have the speed that Senegal does up front.

The ref let the player run on right when Poland was playing the ball back so no of the Polish players saw him till he was close to the ball. I don't think the ref should have let him come on at that point.

 

[BryceC]

I will admit, there are things I just can't stand. Most have to do with the "gamesmenship" aspect of it. Like when an inferior opponent goes up in a game, and then just sits on the ball, walks to get every throw in, milks every flop, etc. etc. But I know I'm not alone in that.

I think of soccer players like hockey players, or offensive linemen, though. Anyone can sit and watch them do it and say "that doesn't look that hard" but then if they were to try and go out there, run 11+ miles in 90 minutes all while having to do everything with your feet, it's a level of skill I just think is so underappreciated, due to the whole make up of the job. Like the other athletes previously mentioned.

It's hard. I know that from trying to do the drills with my sons. I'm worse than my 7 year old at playing the game.

As you said though, soccer is a game that is set up for stalling. The rules really give no incentive to teams, especially underdogs who get a lucky goal like you said, to play an attacking game. And unless I have a rooting interest like the US men's team, or Sporting KC, I just have no interest. I'm a huge basketball fan, but you won't see me tuning in to watch a UNI game either. It's a painful exercise trying to watch teams take the air out of the ball.

 

[Chitowncy]

Let's not act like that player didn't just flub that kick. I get your point, and Poland may have an argument, but that was completely preventable. Lofting a 50 yard pass backwards to your keeper from the center of the pitch is a red flag no matter the situation. Especially when you have the speed that Senegal does up front.

Respectfully, I don't think it was a flub. It looked like the kick of a player playing it back to his goalie / defensive player without a concern as to the presence of an offensive player anywhere near the intended target lying in wait.

That was a crazy play. I agree and think it was unfair for the referee to wave on a player in that circumstance just for that player to pounce immediately and unsuspectingly, but you can't blame Senegal for taking advantage of the situation. It was just an error in judgment / referee discretion if you ask me. Unbelievable play though and I wonder if it will lead to rule changes? It seems like a good idea to wait until there's a stoppage in play - like a ball is out of bounds - to allow an injured player to come back on. Those of us who watch or know soccer see it all the time, but it just strikes me as unfair in this particular situation. Crazy. That may have been the difference between a 2 - 1 result and a tie.

 

[srjclone]

Respectfully, I don't think it was a flub. It looked like the kick of a player playing it back to his goalie / defensive player without a concern as to the presence of an offensive player anywhere near the intended target lying in wait.

That was a crazy play. I agree and think it was unfair for the referee to wave on a player in that circumstance just for that player to pounce immediately and unsuspectingly, but you can't blame Senegal for taking advantage of the situation. It was just an error in judgment / referee discretion if you ask me. Unbelievable play though and I wonder if it will lead to rule changes? It seems like a good idea to wait until there's a stoppage in play - like a ball is out of bounds - to allow an injured player to come back on. Those of us who watch or know soccer see it all the time, but it just strikes me as unfair in this particular situation. Crazy. That may have been the difference between a 2 - 1 result and a tie.

I meant flub as in he mishit it completely. If he was playing it back to the keeper it was a terrible idea, if it was to the closest CB then it was a really poorly hit ball. I haven't watched it since it happened and the initial replay I didn't think he needed to make the play, he was moving back with it but the hit seemed unnecessary to try and hit it when he did, to me. I'll have to look back re watch, cause there may have been a Senegal player closer on him than I thought.

I think you can certainly make a case for Poland, as I said, but I didn't think the referee sent him on as he was making that kick, it was a few steps before and you could see the Senegal player stutter because he thought he was sent on then stopped, then sent. But again, I'll go back and re-watch it.

Edit: Went back and re-watched it. The player was sent on when the ball was in the air, right before a Sengal player was about to head it. I don't think it was the best time to send him on, but I don't think it was wrong necessarily. I will admit, however, I am not up to date on the proper re-entry of an injured player rules so I may just be catering my bias haha

 

[IaState95]

Wow Egypt is trash

 

[srjclone]

Can Russia follow in the footsteps of past host countries with sketchy political regimes that win the world cup?

 

[srjclone]

Spoke too soon? Salah is Allah.

 

[Cyfan1965]

Hope he gets through this uninjured all I want in the WC. Healthy Mo for next season

 

[srjclone]

Hope he gets through this uninjured all I want in the WC. Healthy Mo for next season View attachment 55731

He's awesome. So much fun to watch. Wish he would've stayed at Roma a bit longer, but can't blame him at all.

 

[Cyfan1965]

With Nabby Keita, Fabinho and possibly Nabil Fekir coming in next year Mo is going to look even more electric next season. It could be historic if he is 100% fit.

 

[OnlyCyclones]

With Nabby Keita, Fabinho and possibly Nabil Fekir coming in next year Mo is going to look even more electric next season. It could be historic if he is 100% fit.

I don't think Fekir's happening if Liverpool weren't pleased with his physical at the France training camp. Great player though.