World Cup 2018

[Korattt]

Its now become a European Championship with a guest appearance from Brazil!

Belgium could well do a job on Brazil later, it is Brazil’s tournament to lose but I’m not convinced they have everything they need to win it, if I was Martinez I’d stick Fellani up Neymar’s arse for the whole game

[ShaunWhite]

Its now become a European Championship with a guest appearance from Brazil!

Belgium could well do a job on Brazil later, it is Brazil’s tournament to lose but I’m not convinced they have everything they need to win it, if I was Martinez I’d stick Fellani up Neymar’s arse for the whole game

Brazil are always overhyped.
And VAR, to me, seems to be a distinct disadvantge to the South American style of play. ie to wind the opposition up with dirty little tricks. It's a much more level playing field and Belgium are a great side. 3rd in the rankings?

[SeaHorseRacing]

Can see this game being a 0-0

[ShaunWhite]

Can see this game being a 0-0

2-1 Belgium.

[ruthlessimon]

2-1 Belgium.

Yup 2-1 Belgium woulda been my S6

[SeaHorseRacing]

If England make the final and they play either France or Brazil.

I can see England being 4-4.5 on the day anyway with that in mind England at 5.8 seems rather short to me...

Brazil will probably be 2.0 and France Probably 2.5 max.

Don’t see much point in taking 5.8 now really.

[ShaunWhite]

I know it didn't need VAR, but the only reason we beat Colombia was because they gave away a penalty. We didn't win it, they lost it.

And a big worry is that England have only managed two of their eight goals from open play, and one was a deflection. And that's included playing the mighty Panama and Tunisia I'm just enjoying where we are now and I wish the game was next week instead of tomorrow.

edit: 2 out of 9

[ruthlessimon]

You say that, but is it really true if we looked at the stats? i.e. Spain vs Germany semi (2010) was won by a set piece etc

& today France won it via a set piece & Muslera's best Karius impression - Not super amazing play

[superfrank]

I know it didn't need VAR, but the only reason we beat Colombia was because they gave away a penalty. We didn't win it, they lost it.

And a big worry is that England have only managed two of their eight goals from open play, and one was a deflection. And that's included playing the mighty Panama and Tunisia I'm just enjoying where we are now and I wish the game was next week instead of tomorrow.

edit: 2 out of 9

+1

If Colombia had played football from the start instead of all the dirty stuff they'd have likely won - in the last 10 mins of normal time England were all at sea and the equaliser was no surprise.

Kane winning the golden boot with 2 tap-ins from corners, 3 pens and an outrageous fluke. I hope for the integrity of the award he manages one from open play!

Sweden likely to be another struggle like Tunisia, Belgium and Colombia. Panama were a pub team.

[ruthlessimon]

If Colombia had played football from the start instead of all the dirty stuff they'd have likely won

But that's why England get so many set pieces.

Teams don't want us to play football

[ShaunWhite]

That's true.

This doesn't look great though...
England and Sweden have met each other 24 times, 8 English wins, 9 draws and 7 Swedish wins. But England have only won 2 of the most recent 15 games! - with both coming in the 2011-12 season.

Sweden beat France too in the WC qualifiers.

Sweden 5.1, England 1.96 in normal time? ...something doesn't look right to me. And England 1.47 to qualify looks crazy. As usual more betting with hearts than heads when it comes to England.

I obviously want us to win as much as anyone, but my, non-data proven 'feel' about this would have us about 10/11 or 5/6 ish qualify (say 1.85?).

[ruthlessimon]

Kane winning the golden boot with 2 tap-ins from corners, 3 pens and an outrageous fluke. I hope for the integrity of the award he manages one from open play!

How about Klose? All-time leading goalscorer, WC winner - never scored a goal outside the box. How England would've killed for a player like that back in 2006, 2010, 2014!

[ruthlessimon]

Sweden beat France too in the WC qualifiers.

I obviously want us to win as much as anyone, but my, non-data proven 'feel' about this would have us about 10/11 or 5/6 ish qualify (say 1.85?).

The irony here is, the only way I see Sweeden beating us - 1. a mistake 2. a set-piece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyDxHfCi31o

[superfrank]

How about Klose? All-time leading goalscorer, WC winner - never scored a goal outside the box. How England would've killed for a player like that back in 2006, 2010, 2014!

True, but 14 of his 16 world cup goals were from open play (no pens) and often nice finishes at the end of flowing moves.

I hope Kane does score a few good ones.

[Korattt]

I don’t really see Sweden being that much of a threat, even if England go 0-1 down, I’m confident we have enough about us to win still, Croatia however or playing Russia in their own back yard will be England’s toughest test should we beat Sweden but all are beatable on our day