Group H just got very interesting! Colombia pretty much shot themselves in the foot after three minutes. Now they have a mountain to climb against Poland and Senegal.
Poland should be able to defeat Japan; I'm not so sure about Colombia (provided they don't get anyone sent off!). I think this group is wide open.
Portugal vs Morocco 1-0 Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia 2-0 Iran vs Spain 0-2 France vs Peru 2-1 Denmark vs Australia 1-0 Argentina vs Croatia 1-2 Brazil vs Costa Rica 3-1 Nigeria vs Iceland 1-1 Serbia vs Switzerland 0-1 Belgium vs Tunisia 2-1 Germany vs Sweden 1-0 Korea Republic vs Mexico 1-2 England vs Panama 2-0 Japan vs Senegal 1-1 Poland vs Colombia 1-2
Portugal vs Morocco 3-0 Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia 3-0 Iran vs Spain 0-4 France vs Peru 3-1 Denmark vs Australia 2-1 Argentina vs Croatia 2-1 Brazil vs Costa Rica 2-1 Nigeria vs Iceland 1-1 Serbia vs Switzerland 0-2 Belgium vs Tunisia 3-1 Germany vs Sweden 2-0 Korea Republic vs Mexico 0-2 England vs Panama 2-0 Japan vs Senegal 1-1 Poland vs Colombia 1-2
Germany-Sweden: 2-1 (I'd love to see a repeat of the result in a qualification match some years ago in Germany, where the Germans were up 4-0 after an hour before Sweden scored three goals and then got the equalizer deep into injury time. But I have to be realistic, and Slatan Ibrahimovic isn't playing for Sweden any longer. )
What is even going on with favourites? If Germany's defeat was a shock, now 0:3 for Argentina - how should it feel like? And these are 2 teams from the previous final.
I understand perfectly the qualifying campaign in South America was not easy for Argentina, but then look at Brazil. Where they world beaters against Switzerland?
Wearing my Brazil, or rather "Brasil" shirt today. 9am kick-off here in Brazil, so it's coffee and football this morning. The children (fiancé's nephews and nieces) have a letter from school that's it's mandatory they bring popcorn today.
Come on Brasil!
Im predicting / hoping for a glorious Brazil Vs England QTR final
Brazil have clearly been watching England tactics... Extra time goals are the way to go
Agree with VAR, but also you have to hand it to the ref. Both sides didn't get away with numerous attempts at penalty and free kicks. Nehmar denied about 6 dives, while Costa Rica fake injuries ran down their own clock to equalise. Refs usually only get a mention when they make big errors, this guy... Bjorn Kuipers was spot on
@FinneousPJ oh, wow. Have just noticed you had changed your prediction for Argentina 4 hours before the game. How did you know?! You're winning this, surely!
Edit: @JuliusBorisov Thanks for the links! Neymar's dive was surely worthy of an Oscar but I'm not impressed!
I didn't like the way he was smiling when VAR turned down the penalty - along the lines of "Oh well it was a good try, but they spotted this one. Still there's always next time."
I don't watch a lot of the English Premier League, but it always baffles me that they almost never charge even the most blatant dives with bringing the game into disrepute. They changed the laws a while ago to allow video evidence to be used to charge players for offenses not seen by the referee during the game. I keep hearing people say they want to stamp out play-acting, but given that every single game has multiple cameras covering it, I don't think that would be difficult to do if the desire was really there.
@FinneousPJ oh, wow. Have just noticed you had changed your prediction for Argentina 4 hours before the game. How did you know?! You're winning this, surely!
Comments
Poland should be able to defeat Japan; I'm not so sure about Colombia (provided they don't get anyone sent off!). I think this group is wide open.
But wow, Russia is on fire! Congrats! Wish I was in St. Peterburg right now! I was planning to take the train actually but of course I'm working
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia 2-0
Iran vs Spain 0-2
France vs Peru 2-1
Denmark vs Australia 1-0
Argentina vs Croatia 1-2
Brazil vs Costa Rica 3-1
Nigeria vs Iceland 1-1
Serbia vs Switzerland 0-1
Belgium vs Tunisia 2-1
Germany vs Sweden 1-0
Korea Republic vs Mexico 1-2
England vs Panama 2-0
Japan vs Senegal 1-1
Poland vs Colombia 1-2
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia 3-0
Iran vs Spain 0-4
France vs Peru 3-1
Denmark vs Australia 2-1
Argentina vs Croatia 2-1
Brazil vs Costa Rica 2-1
Nigeria vs Iceland 1-1
Serbia vs Switzerland 0-2
Belgium vs Tunisia 3-1
Germany vs Sweden 2-0
Korea Republic vs Mexico 0-2
England vs Panama 2-0
Japan vs Senegal 1-1
Poland vs Colombia 1-2
BTW: did I miss one score???
Edit: Well... Argentina played worse than Poland. Who would have guess.
Argentina barely made it to get into the World Cup.
Saturday
Belgium-Tunesia: 2-0
Rep. Korea-Mexico: 1-2
Germany-Sweden: 2-1 (I'd love to see a repeat of the result in a qualification match some years ago in Germany, where the Germans were up 4-0 after an hour before Sweden scored three goals and then got the equalizer deep into injury time. But I have to be realistic, and Slatan Ibrahimovic isn't playing for Sweden any longer.
Sunday
England-Panama: 3-0
Japan-Senegal: 1-2
Poland-Colombia: 1-1
I understand perfectly the qualifying campaign in South America was not easy for Argentina, but then look at Brazil. Where they world beaters against Switzerland?
Come on Brasil!
Im predicting / hoping for a glorious Brazil Vs England QTR final
Thanks to VAR, it has been decided there should be no penalty on Neymar.
https://streamable.com/qje4p
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6mhvnj
This is good to see (the decision, not movie-acting, I mean).
Edit: @JuliusBorisov Thanks for the links! Neymar's dive was surely worthy of an Oscar but I'm not impressed!
Agree with VAR, but also you have to hand it to the ref. Both sides didn't get away with numerous attempts at penalty and free kicks. Nehmar denied about 6 dives, while Costa Rica fake injuries ran down their own clock to equalise. Refs usually only get a mention when they make big errors, this guy... Bjorn Kuipers was spot on
My missing predictions for Sunday:
Japan vs. Senegal 1:1
Poland vs. Colombia 2:2
I don't watch a lot of the English Premier League, but it always baffles me that they almost never charge even the most blatant dives with bringing the game into disrepute. They changed the laws a while ago to allow video evidence to be used to charge players for offenses not seen by the referee during the game. I keep hearing people say they want to stamp out play-acting, but given that every single game has multiple cameras covering it, I don't think that would be difficult to do if the desire was really there.
Just kidding, I kind of suck.