Russia 2018

[BBD]

[rowan]

Wow, imagine this had been North Korea The Western media would have had a field day with it. In fact, it was staunch US ally (read colony) South Korea, so mainstream news completely ignored it

South Korea surprised the world on Wednesday, when a 2-0 victory over Germany in the World Cup eliminated the German national team, who had won the previous event. Unfortunately for the South Koreans, this was still not enough to get them into the knockout round.

That’s bad news for South Korea’s national team, and worst news for the players, who are now facing conscription into the nation’s military, which many South Koreans see as punishment for their poor performance.

South Korea has universal military conscription, but in the past has offered exemptions for successful national sports teams. In 2002, for instance, a World Cup roster was given a full exemption, as have national baseball teams and Olympic medalists.

Fans are unhappy with this move, saying it is unfair to conscript this team, with some players heading into the prime of their careers. They fear this will hurt the national team in years to come, and are petitioning President Moon Jae-in to extend the exemption.

http://theantimedia.com/world-cup-south ... y-service/

[morepork]

Wow, imagine this had been North Korea The Western media would have had a field day with it. In fact, it was staunch US ally (read colony) South Korea, so mainstream news completely ignored it

South Korea surprised the world on Wednesday, when a 2-0 victory over Germany in the World Cup eliminated the German national team, who had won the previous event. Unfortunately for the South Koreans, this was still not enough to get them into the knockout round.

That’s bad news for South Korea’s national team, and worst news for the players, who are now facing conscription into the nation’s military, which many South Koreans see as punishment for their poor performance.

South Korea has universal military conscription, but in the past has offered exemptions for successful national sports teams. In 2002, for instance, a World Cup roster was given a full exemption, as have national baseball teams and Olympic medalists.

Fans are unhappy with this move, saying it is unfair to conscript this team, with some players heading into the prime of their careers. They fear this will hurt the national team in years to come, and are petitioning President Moon Jae-in to extend the exemption.

http://theantimedia.com/world-cup-south ... y-service/

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/27/62388291 ... ps-packing

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/27/spor ... korea.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soc ... 22c5b018c3

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/27/foot ... index.html


You Jizz trumpet. Don't even think of turning yet another thread into a cartoon character anti-imperialism rant. We'll have none of your cut and paste heroics this time Jethro.

[rowan]

Brazil looking sharp early on against Mexico...

But no score after half an hour and Mexico are starting to grow into the game. Another upset on the way? Or will it be another Neymar late show?

HT 0-0.

Neymar scores on 50 minutes. 1-0

Mexico looking very good since that goal, however; dominating the game and getting some decent shots in. Brazil is giving them a lot more space than Sweden and I'm not sure why.

[Galfon]

FT 2 - 0
Bra to quarters yet again...Mex fail to do so yet again
Neymar generates big numbers, but can be such a wuss.
Bel ( one assumes) will be a toughie for them

[rowan]

Missed the second goal but wasn't overly impressed with Brazil and Neymar. I don't think they'll go much further, but you never know. The apparent lack of logic with some of these results has a lot to do with styles, last night's teams cancelled out each other strengths in some respects, and Mexico seemed more comfortable today with the open spaces and sweeping passing style of Brazil than they did with Sweden.

[morepork]

Japanese midfield just lacerating it. Brilliant.

[Galfon]

Bel 0 - 2 Jap 52 mins.
Haraguchi break away, then Inui blast.
The high intensity pressing game has knocked Bel out of their stride.Technically faultless too.

[morepork]

hell defence.

[Galfon]

Fluke!...2 - 1 Japan
Vertonghen 69 min...game on.

[morepork]

Fuck.

[Galfon]

Fellaini header 2 - 2 after 74 min..
Jap may have run out of puff and are a small team ..Bel have some big fellas and them balls into the box may result in balls into a jar for someone.

[morepork]

Fuck me. Double save.

[morepork]

Probably headed to extra-time.

Hang in brother, hang in.

[morepork]

Rats cocks.

[Galfon]

Well thought goal..great pass from de Bruin & dummy from Lukaku..
3 - 2 Belgium in the stifling heat...
FT !! La Grande Evasion..

[morepork]

By a dude with a man bun no less.

Good game. Minimal histrionics.

[rowan]

Just got home in time to see the last few minutes. Heart-breaking! Would've loved to have seen Japan win. But more heart-breaking because having missed most of the game i was really hoping to see some football in extra time

So was this an indication Belgium were not quite as brilliant as everyone thought? Brazil seemed to struggle a bit today, and France are surely the hot favorites right now. But you just never know what's going to happen and how different teams will play against one another. That's been the story of the playoffs.

It's really been a good tournament to this point. I almost lost interest when I realized only one team from outside of Europe and Latin America had progressed from the group stages. But the playoffs have been enthralling so far.

[rowan]

Brazil - Belgium. Sounds like it'll be a pretty even contest, which could either produce a goal-scoring bonanza like France and Argentina, or stutter along like yesterday's games and culminate in penalties. Again, it will be a question of styles and cancelling out each other's strengths.

[Stom]

Such a pity.

[Galfon]

FT Swe 1 - 0 Sui
First QF for a while for Swedes, Sui unable to score again in a finals k/o match.
Not as exhilirating as most of the other last 16 games to be fair.

[rowan]

Seems like all the teams who have never got to the semis before are crashing out - while those who have march on. That does not augur well for Colombia.

[Galfon]

Col trying to rattle Eng, who in turn despite the lion share of possession have created few clear cut chances and appear rattled on occasion.
HT: 0 - 0

[Galfon]

Farce
1 - 0 Eng. Kane pen 57 min.
Ref needs nappy-liners.

[Stom]

I'm sorry, but the behaviour of those Colombia players for the pen was scandalous. How the hell did the ref not card any of them and, in fact card an English player! Absolutely scandalous.