The Round Ball Game - II

[antongould]

Hangers 3 Harrogate 1

Cracking

[johncorrigan]

Hangers 3 Harrogate 1

Cracking

Brilliant, anton.

[Nick Armstrong]

It’s amazing that the “building to a crescendo” solecism persists among commentators

[Alison]

Brilliant, anton.

Yes

[jayne lee wilson]

After all the criticism of England's dull, cautious, sideways tactics agains USA (a game they could and should have won with earlier, livelier substitutions), a nervous Argentina were scarcely any better against Mexico (just grinding out two late goals) and the World-ranked No.2 side Belgium were very poor against a tightly organised Morocco today, losing 0-2. So many group games have been very cautious and slow (the alienating atmosphere doesn't lift their spirits, unless like Mexico or Brazil or Morocco, they have a big following...) with several 0-0s. Caution was by no means always the case in earlier tournaments.

In fact England-Iran was one of the best games so far, with some brilliant attacking football. But we do need the win against Wales to avoid Netherlands in the last 16. Probably needs Foden and Grealish to do it. TAA on the right of a 5-man midfield, swinging those balls across?

But what a strange event it is (another excellent piece from Barney Ronay in the Observer today "Welcome to the Warhol World Cup in a postmodern Milton Keynes").

For me it is the watch-and-protest World Cup.....the great Mihir Bose seems to feel the same.
As one who protested early on about the Qatar and Russia stagings, I say to hell with FIFA, Infantino and sportswashing, I still love this game, even at this morally and financially tarnished level.

(Best football so far? Brazil in the latter stages against Serbia....whoa...!)

[cloughie]

Owls 2 Stags 1

In the draw for the big boys round - we’ll probably be away to the Hangers, anton!

[teamsaint]

After all the criticism of England's dull, cautious, sideways tactics agains USA (a game they could and should have won with earlier, livelier substitutions), a nervous Argentina were scarcely any better against Mexico (just grinding out two late goals) and the World-ranked No.2 side Belgium were very poor against a tightly organised Morocco today, losing 0-2. So many group games have been very cautious and slow (the alienating atmosphere doesn't lift their spirits, unless like Mexico or Brazil or Morocco, they have a big following...) with several 0-0s. Caution was by no means always the case in earlier tournaments.

In fact England-Iran was one of the best games so far, with some brilliant attacking football. But we do need the win against Wales to avoid Netherlands in the last 16. Probably needs Foden and Grealish to do it. TAA on the right of a 5-man midfield, swinging those balls across?

But what a strange event it is (another excellent piece from Barney Ronay in the Observer today "Welcome to the Warhol World Cup in a postmodern Milton Keynes").

For me it is the watch-and-protest World Cup.....the great Mihir Bose seems to feel the same.
As one who protested early on about the Qatar and Russia stagings, I say to hell with FIFA, Infantino and sportswashing, I still love this game, even at this morally and financially tarnished level.

(Best football so far? Brazil in the latter stages against Serbia....whoa...!)

We have to be ready respect peoples views on how to treat this world cup.
I haven’t watched any so far. Not saying I am boycotting. It, but the FA have IMO shown their lack of back bone once too often.
And the issues with stadium building and LGB rights were obvious a long time ago.
We each have our own limit, tipping point etc.
Anyway, enjoy the football Jayne.

[antongould]

We have to be ready respect peoples views on how to treat this world cup.
I haven’t watched any so far. Not saying I am boycotting. It, but the FA have IMO shown their lack of back one once too often.
And the issues with stadium building and LGB rights were obvious a long time ago.
We each have our own limit, tipping point etc.
Anyway, enjoy the football Jayne.

My feelings too ts

[cloughie]

My feelings too ts

That makes three of us, anton. I’ve only been interested in one cup this weekend! (I drink my tea and coffee from mugs!)

[eighthobstruction]

.....I blame Liz Truss.....she killled the Queen and ruined the World Cup....

....Rovers knocked out by the Woods at Dunsinane apparently....(but,we can now concentrate on consolidating 15th place)

[johncorrigan]

I've watched a few bits of games in the World Cup and a couple of complete games. I've generally been disappointed though not always. There's not the usual fan involvement.

I don't think England have anything to worry about tomorrow. I watched twenty minutes of Wales playing Iran and thought it was one of the poorest performances I've seen in a long time; and I'm used to watching Scotland. Wales could hardly make a pass. I suppose they'll lift themselves against England, but I don't think that'll be enough as Southgate's crew only need a point. Iran/USA looks potentially much more exciting in that group on so many levels, very few of them football, but it's quiz night so I won't see it.

Costa Rica did Germany a favour yesterday when Japan couldn't recreate their energy in the first game, so the Germans are still in the hat and I still get the feeling they'll sneak through. I watched them against Spain last night - it was cagey, but quite interesting. I didn't watch Belgium being beaten by Morocco yesterday, but they didn't look great in their opening game, squeezing past Canada. They've got a tough game against Croatia to come. Croatia sailed past Canada after an early scare. I expect the Moroccans will progress although Canada are no mugs. I think the World number twos are in trouble here.

I watched the second half of Argentina/Mexico, and Argentina looked very poor, but Messi came up with one bit of magic against a dreadful Mexican crew and they sealed the points. Tough game against Lewandowski and co to come for them.

Best looking teams so far are the French and the Brazilians, as you might expect. Mbappe is a delight to watch and they've got a class goalie as well. The Brazilians looked like the Brazil of old in their opening encounter against a bunch of bruisers from Serbia - Neymar is out for a couple of games, but not sure that will adversely affect them, though Switzerland are capable of putting it about too. I will try to watch Uruguay/ Portugal this evening - I was impressed by the Portuguese against Ghana. Sadly there's not been great strides by the sub-Saharan African teams on what I've seen so far.

Personally, if I were England, I would prefer to play Holland than Ecuador in the next round, though Ecuador/Senegal looks like a potential cracker tomorrow afternoon. I enjoyed watching the young South Americans against Holland. They look dangerous. If they want to progress Senegal have to go for it because you would expect Holland to beat the hosts by some.

[eighthobstruction]

....I've been using Evo-Stick this afternoon, so I apologise if my sense of humour is a bit awry....Surely as we see some World Cup greats like Ronaldo etc coming to the end of their careers, SURELY it is time for a changing of the guard to come to ITV's pundit bench/and commentators assistants....people who have forgotten just how mediocre they were themselves when talking of technical ability, precise placement, and clean striking....shove off lads....please....ed: some better than others, some famous because of panel games, life accidents, planting flags in oppositions centre circle etc....phhhft....Yeah and you too Roy -Shocking....

[eighthobstruction]

....and another thing....Team A has reached the Team B Third....they have 3 in the box, 3 in a triangle all with crossing potential with the opposition perplexed, BUT they will not venture a cross into the box....seemingly because they are afraid the Team B might counterattack....gor blimey mother pppppphffft....

[Nick Armstrong]

....I've been using Evo-Stick this afternoon, so I apologise if my sense of humour is a bit awry....

Agreed though, the lugubrious cliché-spouting pundits and commentators are dire. Outclassed by some of the bods from overseas e.g. Didier Drogba, Nigel de Jong, apparently effortlessly deploying far better English despite it not being their mother tongue…

[johncorrigan]

A couple of forum derbies in the FA Cup 3rd round, if me old eyes don't deceive me.