Russia 2018

[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.

[cashead]

It's all very simple, Hapless:

You said they rested players, and at one point referred to it as a second string team. That in itself is to claim they gambled on the other result, which would have been incredibly reckless to the point of utter stupidity. But I don't think the Japanese are incredibly reckless or stupid. I think they fielded what they believed was the best team not to lose and it backfired. They got lucky with the other result, then tried to present their miscalculation and narrow escape as part of some cool and calculated strategy.

I'm not disagreeing with you about what happened during the latter stages of their loss to Poland. That's an argument you're having entirely with yourself, convoluting it as much as you can with irrelevant details and imaginary conversations in an attempt to confuse the issue and smokescreen your own clownish gullibility.

Hapless is as hapless does

There we have it. You’ve avoided answering any questions about what their top team is, and you’re claiming your ill-informed assumptions as gospel fact after trying to strawman what the coach stated, your evidence being no more than “nuh-uh, because I said so.”

Come on, dude, what’s Nishino’s preferred starting line-up? You’re the expert on Japanese football, you know everything, so name the top team. Come on, expert. Enlighten us all.

[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.

[cashead]

Probably headed to extra-time.

[morepork]

Probably headed to extra-time.

Hang in brother, hang in.

[cashead]

Roberto Martinez looks exactly like The Hood from Thunderbirds. If Japan lose, I know who to blame.

[cashead]

Son of a bitch.

[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.