Yes, very ... but Casemiro is a miss, though Fernandinho should be an adequate replacement. I do wonder about how fragile the entire team might be "psychologically," if they go behind ....
2018 FIFA World Cup
- Thread starter DalilaD
- Start date
Yes, very ... but Casemiro is a miss, though Fernandinho should be an adequate replacement. I do wonder about how fragile the entire team might be "psychologically," if they go behind ....
It's not just the tikitaka, but the defense, too. Ramos was poor; and De Gea made, what was it, one save over 4 games? Those are 2 world class players, so wtf? I think Costa's a great #9 and had a wonderful game against Portugal, but if the midfield can't or won't pick him out, the guy's gonna get discouraged and stop making runs .... in any case, David Villa was terrific but Torres was hit and (mostly) miss for Spain in '08 to '10, and in 2012 they didn't even function with a traditional 9, so confident were they in their midfield munchkins!
De Gea was not good, and Spain was not good and did not deserve to win against Russia or be in the quarterfinals. Although Russia has been roundly criticized for doing nothing against Spain, the truth is, not much needed to be done to beat Spain, because they were not very good.
My picks for the Round of 8:
France 2 Uruguay 0
Belgium 3 Brazil 2
Croatia 1 Russia 0
England 2 Sweden 1
France 2 Uruguay 0
Belgium 3 Brazil 2
Croatia 1 Russia 0
England 2 Sweden 1
Sharky,
You got them all right except Brazil-Belgium will be the other way around, 3-2 favoring Brazil. Change the pick, then bet your money and win. Stop allowing hating on players to cloud your judgment. Bet with your wallet and be ruthless, not emotional. Just do it and you will thank me later on when you are counting your winnings.
You got them all right except Brazil-Belgium will be the other way around, 3-2 favoring Brazil. Change the pick, then bet your money and win. Stop allowing hating on players to cloud your judgment. Bet with your wallet and be ruthless, not emotional. Just do it and you will thank me later on when you are counting your winnings.
No No...EB! The fact that I am not a fan of Neymar (even though he his a decent player) has nothing to do with my pick. I don't go back on my word. Belgium is loaded and they can take Brazil.
I am in a business where there is no place for emotions...where sheep get slaughtered!
...However, I will admit that the selection that I had the most difficulty with is Croatia over Russia...if there is one game where there could be controversy this is the one...sometimes things are not as obvious as they may seem to be!...we'll see what happens!...1986 was the "Hand of God"and 2018 may be the "Hand of Putin"!
Yes, the English don't really have a creator in midfield, they rely on pace, power and crossing from the wings. Average, at best defence, too. Everyone has underestimated the Swedes, they've taken some big scalps, don't forget it was they who knocked out Italy in the qualifiers, and it's a delicious irony that they're doing better without Ibra, character guys with minimal talent proving the obvious once again, it's a team game after all; but I love that Granqvist guy!
I think this is legit, in which Costa tries to convince Hierro not to let his fellow Athletico teammate, Koke, take a (failed) penalty kick against Russia, then tells Hierro, I told you so .... say what you want about Costa, he may be a prick, but he's a winner, too.
https://youtu.be/aStYI7gPbQI
https://youtu.be/aStYI7gPbQI
Brazil Tops Quarterfinalists In Power Ranking; Russia Is Last
http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wor...ld-cup-power-rankings-ahead-of-france-belgium
http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wor...ld-cup-power-rankings-ahead-of-france-belgium
France Shows Uruguay Who is Boss
France 2-0, not a surprise. This keeps the potentially fascinating France-England or France-Russia finals in play.
France 2-0, not a surprise. This keeps the potentially fascinating France-England or France-Russia finals in play.
BTW I couldn’t remember the name of the famous Tchaikovsky composition written to memorialize Russia’s repulsion of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. It’s the 1812 Overture, and it will be played everywhere if France and Russia meet in the final:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BNatwyAJ6dI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BNatwyAJ6dI
Versaute, if your crystal ball is working well you gotta ride it hard- time to ask your employer for two months advance on your salary and put it down on your winners of tomorrow’s games. A hot crystal ball means $$$$$ and lots of SPs the next few months!!!
Good prediction ! I should bet for Belgium as New World Champions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvclq8h5YeE
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