Ha ha EB, working on it!...
This has to qualify as a major upset as most experts had picked Brazil.
2018 FIFA World Cup
- Thread starter DalilaD
- Start date
Ha ha EB, working on it!...
This has to qualify as a major upset as most experts had picked Brazil.
The Japan game was a wake up call to Belgium to address its defensive liabilities especially in midfield where KdB, Mertens, and Hazard were all more offense than defense. I really like the defensive midfield adjustments that the Belgium coaching staff made. Fellaini was fantastic, the backline was phenomenal and Courtois showed why he's one of the top 3 GKs in the world today. The better team won today!
I just realized that if Sharkman changed his pick from Belgium to Brazil as I urged him to do, I cost him some money. Sorry about that Sharky! Better luck next time, my crystal ball was only 1 for 2 today.
Here is the video on all 3 goals in Belgium win over Brazil:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAmuQ4iDXY
The first Belgium goal was an own goal, off a corner kick. The second Belgium goal was a rocket by DeBruyne but it looked like the Brazil defenseman did not put himself in the right position to defend that shot.
The last goal was a beautiful header by the Brazilian player.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAmuQ4iDXY
The first Belgium goal was an own goal, off a corner kick. The second Belgium goal was a rocket by DeBruyne but it looked like the Brazil defenseman did not put himself in the right position to defend that shot.
The last goal was a beautiful header by the Brazilian player.
Match stats show Brazil domination:
Possession: Brazil 57%, Belgium 43%
Shots (on goal) Brazil 26(9), Belgium 8(3)
Fouls: Belgium 16, Brazil 4
Yellows: 2-2
Frankly, Belgium should be ashamed to win this game, but they will take it.
Possession: Brazil 57%, Belgium 43%
Shots (on goal) Brazil 26(9), Belgium 8(3)
Fouls: Belgium 16, Brazil 4
Yellows: 2-2
Frankly, Belgium should be ashamed to win this game, but they will take it.
That’s funny logic. Considering Brazil played from behind for almost the entire game, it makes sense they would control ball possession and be in attacking mode while conversely, Belgium would be on defense. So stats make sense. Belgium should be very proud of what it achieved today.
In my view, Belgium was a far better team and won quite deservedly. After the first time I was wondering if we are watching a replay of the 2014 semifinal (Germany -- Brazil.)
Big time! A more joyous sound was not heard in Belgium since V-E day in 1945.
I think Brazil was shellshocked by the own goal. If you take away the period of shellshock they dominated the game. However they once again appeared to be mentally fragile and this has been an ongoing criticism of their team as they consistently seem to have great talent and mental fragility. The Europeans are mentally tougher. Part of all professional sports is dealing with adversity when your team is not frontrunning. Not all of the best teams are capable of doing it. When Belgium went down 2-0 to Japan they played their best soccer of the entire tournament. Brazil needed to score first and front-run; the own goal killed their spirit.
Belgium did strengthen themselves defensively by starting Fellaini next to Witsel in front of the back three. Things might have gone better for Brazil had they started Costa instead of Willian and Firmino instead of Jesus, as Brazil didn't really turn up until well into the second half; but perhaps more importantly, Courtois and the Belgian front three were immense, including Lukaku who looked just about unplayable at times. Is there a better front three at any club in world football. Not after Friday .... to think all three of those guys were at Chelsea not long ago:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=luka...AUIESgB&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=0SedPGKjuXGWyM:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=luka...AUIESgB&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=0SedPGKjuXGWyM:
That's right, Meta. I think it takes a guy like Roberto Martinez who has coached a long time in the EPL to visualize how he can put together a formidable backline with players who have made their names playing for top tier clubs in the EPL. The previous Belgian coach at the WC, Marc Wilmots had put together this roster but couldn't quite figure out how to make everyone gel.
France-Belgium semifinal winner is quite likely the World Cup champion. If the much anticipated France-England “Waterloo rematch” final happens, it will be with irony as France will have disposed of Belgium (where the Battle of Waterloo took place, although Belgium did not exist as an independent state at that time). We also still have the France-Russia “Borodino rematch” in play so there are some interesting possibilities still remaining. England-Belgium would also have interesting historical implications ........as Belgium was part of the UK at one time....
Is there anyone from Sweden/England who would even get into the starting 11s of Belgium/France. Sterling, I think ... and Kane for Giroud, but that's about it. Trippier looks good, too ....
Maguire just picked up a silly yellow card. The game is in hand and Sweden is impotent on offense so there was no need for it. Just play it out!
This is now England's best showing at the WC since the Linecker/Gascoigne team of 1990 ...
... for gentlemen of a certain age, lol, the best "soccer" song ever:
https://youtu.be/Re4aDJL3heA
... for gentlemen of a certain age, lol, the best "soccer" song ever:
https://youtu.be/Re4aDJL3heA
England has had some decent teams since 1990, but one of their problems was that their star players, guys like Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, were prima donnas. Now they have slightly better talent, a good defense and a little bit of chemistry. They have a good shot at making the finals where they will probably lose.
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