BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 09:22 AM

I don't know anything about football and only saw snippets of the earlier games before catching about 75% of last night's match but I must say that England seem to be showing themselves as a world class team after years in the wilderness.

Very impressed with the accuracy of the passing and how they moved the ball about. Finishing and defense seem a bit weak but nowhere near as bad as previous teams.

But what do I know!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 10:50 AM

hi dave

For a man who professes to know nothing about football that was a good

appraisal.

BUT BIGGER THINGS LIE IN STORE.

This side is a team and play together and for each other, unlike previous teams that contained several " star players".

I hope when Gareth Southgate ( Manager) Plays his best team, many of whom sat on the bench last night.

The problem is that England has improved, but so have some they have to play.

I am not writing them off, just hoping they can play their best games. It will be difficult.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 11:01 AM

Hi Sen

I noticed when out walking today that many houses and cars that were displaying English flags have removed them. Temporally I hope.

My Old granny from Barnsley would have said " sithee them silly boogers did nowt "

Lets hop an improvement can occur.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 12:46 PM

Excuse me for being cynical, but I wonder if England lost "on purpose" in order to be in the "weaker" section of the knock out phase.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 01:19 PM

Haha Mike! This morning my neighbour-across-the road said, "Cor blarst gal. England weren't too cracky larst noit! Oi reck'n yew orter tairk them bloomin' flags down"

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 29 Jun 18 - 02:27 PM

hi Raggy

" Excuse me for being cynical, but I wonder if England lost "on purpose" in order to be in the "weaker" section of the knock out phase."

I am sure that this would have been discussed by both teams.

I don't believe that England deliberately Played to lose.

Colombia are by no means a weak team.

If they did deliberately lose they are walking on thin ice.

cheers

mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 11:18 AM

ARGENTINA, ARGENTINA !!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 01:00 PM

Hmmm...........

France 4 Argentina 3

Now I don't claim to know a lot about football but I think that means that France progress to the next round and Argentina make arrangements for their flight home.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 01:09 PM

Yes indeed, and likewise if England loses their its next match. But we are having a bife for dinner this evening washed down with a glass of Argentine Malbec, followed by helado con dulce de leche!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 06:39 PM

Splendidly batty song by two Londoners getting off on watching Iranian footballers:

https://www.facebook.com/ediranfest/videos/1829036267153044/

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 06:57 PM

And then there is Uruguay 2, Portugal 1.

Is it Uruguay
which has the fellow who bites people?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 07:31 PM

He used to bite people. But he must be forgiven as he once played for Liverpool. I have a feeling that he'll be back.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 01 Jul 18 - 09:02 AM

hi

Who would have thought that the two possibly best players in the Tournament would be going home at this early stage. Nobody would have forecast it.

But off they go and leave France and Uruguay to fight another day.

I watched both games France were easily the better team even though the final score was close. France's midfield overran Argentina. Pogba had a great game with some thrusting runs a searching passes. But the whole team excelled . As Messi walked of perhaps a new star was born in Mbappi. At his age he will have the World at has feet.

The other game was much closer with both teams sparring with each other until Uruguay broke through with a great goal scored by Cavani made by yer man Suarez laying it on.( One way or another he always leaves a mark !!!0 Portugal had to go for it but Ronaldo was blotted out by a tough Urugayan defence. The enivitable happened and Uruguay broke away and Cavani drilled home a second goal.

I think this Uruguay team will take some beating. Their defence is the best in the World and with two World class strikers they will give a fright to all the rest.

cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 01 Jul 18 - 12:46 PM

Spain out too. Some great players who we will never see again, Iniesta in particular (unless you are in Japan). On the plus side, we will get another chance to hear the magnificent Soviet anthem being belted out.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 01 Jul 18 - 01:32 PM

Hi David

Yes yet another top Team bites the dust.

It was not a classic in the football sense but interesting for all that.

Spain had virtually all the possession but could not breach a well ordered defense. Try as they did , Russia somehow survived. In fact on the counter-attack they looked more likely to score than Spain.

Another VAR incident when seconds from full time when two Spanish players were dragged to the ground in the penalty box ; Harry Kane style.

The decision was turned down. and the rest will be history.

Later If Spain's Penalty play off was anything to go by they still would have lost.

Steve - if you watched did Spain's performance remind you of anything ??

Cheers

Mike
Tonight Croatia ??

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 06:15 AM

Hi

Lat night's games - Brazil 2 - Mexico 0.

Poor game as both sides struggled to find top form.

Neymer scored but shortly after was a disgusting attempt to get a player sent off. Clearly he was not touched but he went to ground and from his actions you would have thought he had been electrocuted.

Referee took no action !!!

Belgium 3 - Japan 2

For me this has been the best game in the Tournament. Both teams attacked each other with Japan going two ahead. Belgium brought on substitutes which changed the game. Japan couldn't cope with the height of Belgium players and Belgium scored three with the last goal scored in the final seconds.

This game was played in a sporting manner with very few cynical fouls nor playing for time etc.

Felt sorry for Japan.

Getting ready for tonight's England v Columbia game. Fingers crossed.

Cheer

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 06:44 PM

Good grief, that was a nail biter wasn't it? We'd almost given up.

Spent about 5 minutes dancing round the sitting room shouting for joy, and we could hear everyone in the village doing the same!

Our huge England flags can stay up on our front wall after all!
Next stop Sweden!

Whoohoooooooooo!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 06:58 PM

We didn't really deserve to win, though the cheating, play-acting and shenanigans of the Colombian team did tend to temper one's attitude. That wasn't all through the game, however, and Colombia were not without merit. Still, onward and upward!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 01:47 AM

Glad that Columbia only found their form after 75 or so minutes of we would have been coming home. Very pleased that the penalty bogey man has been defeated. We are out on Saturday so I will probably on my see snatches.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 02:54 AM

I found the jingoism of the ITV commentators quite disgusting, and they had me hoping for a Columbia win. Still hoping that Russia go far, as they have the best anthem.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 03:07 AM

It's a great shame that some of those Latins behave like boobies. Once again English team discipline was superb.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: peteglasgow
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 03:52 AM

i always turn off the commentary for an england game - but i don;t think england were above a bit of play acting and seemed to get down to the opponent's level for a time. i'd like to be able to get behind england but there is just too much history of oafish, violent, racist misbehaviour among some of our fans that mixed with current ukip and brexit matters leads to something really unpleasant (and a bit difficult as i support scotland and live in the north of england - so a 'traitor' and you get 'i would always support a british team etc etc') i'm very happy with the radical english traditions but those voices go silent at times like this. and looking at the way the draw has opened up for england this time - i fear the worst

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 04:41 AM

Amid all the euphoria, it's worth noting that England have now gone about 240 minutes without scoring from open play. In that time they've conceded three goals (one each to Panama, Belgium and a real sucker punch to Columbia). Much as I want England to do well (and self-loathers like Pete from Aberdeen make me sick), I can't see them getting much further on this form. Having said that, their next opponents Sweden were pretty frightful last time too.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 04:48 AM

Amid all the euphoria, it's worth noting that England have now gone about 240 minutes without scoring from open play
But they are winning (or keeping level until full-time) by scoring free-kicks or penalties.
Why are they getting free-kicks and penalties?
Because they are being illegally prevented from scoring from open play.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 04:51 AM

Very true Nigel, and I must say last night's referee seemed pretty weak.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 04:54 AM

Had it have been me suffering all the hassle before that penalty I would have sent half the Columbian team off. Good job I am not a referee I suppose :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 05:00 AM

Bring in the Rugby standard where only the captain speaks to the referee.

While they're at it, a deliberate foul preventing an obvious goal should be a card to the player committing the foul, and a goal given.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: peteglasgow
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 05:19 AM

'self-loathing' - sorry, do i know you? what are you on about?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 06:47 AM

"Self loathing" is a term used by small minded people who cannot get over the fact that its them we loathe, not ourselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 08:57 AM

Hi

England richly deserved to win in my opinion. They tried to open but the but the constant foul play prevented this. Give England the credit for not complaining at some ludicrous decisions from the American Ref.

VAR is by no means perfect. How one of the Columbia team was not sent off for an obvious head butt I just don't know..

I think Nigel has hit on the main problem. There should be rules about mobbing the Ref every time decisions to use Var and other decision times. Only captains should be allowed to approach the Ref as he rightly says happens in Rugby. If they ignore the ref then a Red card should be issued. The soon learn.

The sad part of this is that Columbia showed that they can play football, but they chose to use cynical tactics in the first half.

they got their comeuppance. Their manager should have intervened and got them to play properly. But what do you expect from a manager who tried to elbow Stirling in the face as they came off for half-time.
I feel sorry for their wonderful supporters. The team were not fair to them.
Ok we have to prepare to beat Sweden. Won't be easy they are a difficult team to beat.

cheers Mike


WQe thought the game over until that last minute goal.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 09:15 AM

'self-loathing' - sorry, do i know you? what are you on about?

Sorry, you're quite right, that was a stupid over-reaction.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 11:26 AM

Channel surfing and landed on the extra time of last night's match...
Too knackered to be bothered moving, so wife decided we'd watch it;
she's the sports fan...

She's Welsh, so immediately became a Columbia supporter...

That's the most football I've sat through for about 30 years,
it is so boring and dainty compared to rugby.
I didn't find any interest until the last 15 minutes,
when players started making mistakes and fouling out of exhaustion and desperation..
Now that was real human drama.

I actually enjoyed the tension of the penalty shoot out.. that was the best bit..

The wife gets carried away with over excitement and shouts at the telly,
whatever sport she's watching...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 01:43 PM

"We are out on Saturday so I will probably only see snatches."

Nudist camp or red light district, Dave? Heheh!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 01:59 PM

The point about our lack of goals from open play is well made. Sweden have a solid defence and are way too canny to be seen wrestling Harry to the floor in the penalty area. I think we can't rely on being awarded penalties. Another thing: we crumbled psychologically after their last-ditch goal and nearly blew it in extra time. That's not good enough at this level. Finally, about half an inch thickness of crossbar in the penalty shootout made the difference between Gareth Southgate being today's national heroic all-round good egg and a national disaster. If I were a yank I'd be saying "go figure."

(The true hero was Jordan Pickford who beautifully saved a penalty in the shootout and who made the save of the year near the end of the 90.)

And for crissake, Gareth, PLEASE drop Alli and Sterling...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 02:36 PM

hi Steve

hi Steve

Both teams had some luck in the game. With a good Referee Colombia would have lost at least two players for deliberate foul play in the first half hour.

Granted in the second half England was under some pressure but it was only until the very last second of injury time did Colombia score.

AS for the penalty shootout England looked calm except for Henderson who had had a poor game earlier on.

I don't believe that hitting the bar from a penalty is unlucky if you can't get the ball in the net is bad shot selection.

I agree that the goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Rashford took his penalty calmly without any sign of nerves as did Dier. So we were through.

I agree about Sweden being difficult but I just have a feeling that we will come through. No red lights or nudists for you and Dave....lol

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 10:46 PM

Question: Can one side fully deserve to loose (on the basis of, apparently, some awful tactics by Columbia that every report I've read confirms) and the other side not fully deserve to win (on the basis that in the only fragment of the game I saw - 10 minutes to full time whistle and early extra time, Columbia, to me, looked the better side)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 12:27 AM

yes you only saw a but of the game for most of the first 90 minutes england were better

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 03:54 AM

Very good, Steve :-)

I suppose I should revise my statement and say I'll only see bits... err... see odds and ends... err... Oh, it's so hard...

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 09:58 AM

Wow, if England gets to the finals,
emotion is going to run really high.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 01:39 PM

Some believe that England is too traditional to win the World Cup.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 02:12 PM

Too traditional in what way?

That we still love our red telephone boxes and red post boxes, that the red London buses are a tourists attraction, that Stonehedge, Edinburgh Castle and Whitby Abbey are still standing?

Sorry Donuel, few of you posts make any sense and this one makes none at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 02:24 PM

Donuel's post makes perfect sense to me, and red telephone boxes are only left in place now for vandals to smash. England in a way has abandoned its tradition and this is the problem. Englands football tradition is that of Tom Finney, Stanley Mathews, Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore. Someone, can't remember who now, described Lionel Messi as Tom Finney reborn. Diego Godin reminds me a lot of Bobby Moore. We used to have players of that quality, and now we don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 02:25 PM

Thousands of years from now,
our few remaining descendants on a far away colony planet
will be singing mythic songs about the time England won the world cup...

Though by then it might have got a bit folk traditioned and mashed up into involving Camelot,
and Sir Bobby Moore and the holy players of the roundish Wembley stadium...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 03:03 PM

Well, the English, bless the lot of youse,
are going to have an uphill battle regardless.

David Carter makes a fair point:
there are some hungry ambitious young fellows
on those opposing teams,
and some of them get the job done, and more.

This could be a really thrilling conclusion,
whoever defeats whom.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 03:14 PM

Normally I'm not a jingoist nationalist xenophobe,
and although I think football is cack since the 1970s...
There are far too many mercenary for hire foreign players in clubs,
at the expense of nurturing top division British talent...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 03:29 PM

No, pfr, I don't think thats the case. The problems start much, much earlier, with school and age group football. This is dominated by the biggest and strongest. I remember when Cesc Fabregas came to Arsenal at 16, fabulous player then, and I thought then that if he was English he would have been kicked out of the game years before. The top clubs hire top foreign players because they have to.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 06 Jul 18 - 04:59 AM

Looking at the draw, the four best teams are playing each other today, so two more will be knocked out. The four comparative 'minnows' (sorry England, Sweden, Croatia, Russia) play tomorrow. So England have a good chance of reaching the semis, but that's about it I reckon.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jul 18 - 05:10 AM

Pointed out on the radio this morning

All 4 quarter finals have one country with 6 letters and one with 7 letters

They are being played on the 6th and 7th

Losers and winners also have 6 and 7 letters respectively

Any more? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jul 18 - 05:38 AM

Oh yeh, 6 + 7 = 13. The number of letters in

It's coming home

:-D

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Donuel
Date: 06 Jul 18 - 06:35 AM

I wish you luck Dave but Raggytash personally makes that hard.
After the Belgium win over Japan I daresay anything could happen and Great Britain will have a turn around by actually winning penalty kicks. To get ahead of things I am hoping for a stunning showdown of England's eventual win over Russia.