OT: World Cup 2018

[bobbygt]

So we can skip the match this afternoon? I think Belgium is a heavy favorite, but so was Spain yesterday. Japan is better than Russia.

Japan winning would be a bigger upset. I think they are better than Russia, but Russia had the home crowd and the perfect strategy to bottle up Spain.

Belgium is playing well, and even though they've had a really weak schedule thus far, have too many weapons for Japan.

Japan is like a second home to me, and even though I'll be pulling for them, I'm still intrigued by this Belgian team.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Why did Chicharito get subbed out so early?

Bad dye job?

 

[8893]

I don't like him either for the exact same reason. The diving in general has got to stop, it's ridiculous. My kids (12 and 17) play the game, and no one is dropping like that and rolling around on the ground.

My 12 year old daughter observed last week that her team appears to be the only team in our league that doesn't flop and stall. It never even crosses our players' minds and we never even address it as coaches. But it does seem that every team we have played has at least a few floppers, and a few teams seem to be coached to stall, complete with their coach yelling not-so-subtle cues to do so.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It's all on FIFA and the refs. They reward that behavior with calls. Until they start carding for dramatics, it will continue.

I'd love to see a hockey style penalty box for this. Whether you are fouled or not, if you roll around and act like somebody just shot you with an AK you sit for 2 minutes in the box. If you were not fouled, you get a yellow as well.

Sadly, I think the cause of this grotesque display of grown men emasculating themselves publicly, if that there is one on referee and as often as not he can't see anything. Put at least three out there, one in midfield one on each end, and maybe these guys wouldn't feel the need to sell every single minor kick.

 

[Waquoit]

I think Belgium > Spain by a wide margin this Cup. They are killing teams while Spain was struggling to get a result.

 

[Travelman6]

It's all on FIFA and the refs. They reward that behavior with calls. Until they start carding for dramatics, it will continue.

That is the biggest thing that needs to change about soccer.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Neymar does embellish the foul or even “fake” them. That’s why I love Messi. Rarely do you see him dive or go down when there is contact. But Neymar does have all eyes on him and they opponents are looking to chop him down to break up th rhythm. I don’t blame him for doing what he’s doing even if it is sad. For Barcelona I never really saw him do any of this stuff there. Might be because of th older players and Messi.

 

[bobbygt]

I see what you mean about having some sympathy for Neymar. But you can go down without all the extra writhing and screaming.

The thing is, the way he plays sometimes- and I agree I saw less of it when he was at Barcelona- defenders feel like he's trying to embarrass them.

I played defense for many years in my youth and when I was up against a player who would toy with me, especially successfully, I'd want to knock him on his as-.

 

[intlzncster]

And there's a situation where Belgium should have gone down. The potential reward is too great.

Keeping his feet was a mistake.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Neymar does embellish the foul or even “fake” them. ... For Barcelona I never really saw him do any of this stuff there. Might be because of th older players and Messi.

Yeah, Neymar's Duke-like flop-a-bouts almost suggest he played with Real Madrid for a few years where he was tutored by ronaldo.

 

[BlueMAB]

Japan came to play today, love the way they are playing right now. For sure Belgium is more talented, but Japan isn't playing scared and is looking to attack at every opportunity.

 

[BlueMAB]

Neymar embellishes too much, but he also gets fouled more than anyone else, and early on in the tournament the refs weren't protecting him and weren't handing out cards on overzealous fouls.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Belgium making the mistake I thinks several superior sides have made (to my untrained eye), of trying to dribble too deep into the box. Japan isn't playing everyone back, but they are playing defensively. Nice long ball there before half..one of those gets dropped, deflected, whatever and you have the chaos that leads to a goal.

 

[intlzncster]

Wow! El japonés

 

[Jay-Bone]

Belgium getting sliced up by the blue samurai. Possibly another big boy out.

 

[BlueMAB]

what a game. Japan looks great. Disciplined, hard working, swarming the ball on defense and sending runners on the counter....a lot like their culture i suppose. Fun team to watch.

Belgium needs to get Dembele in the game, let him start the attack from deep, and get Debruyne up the field

 

[Mots010]

Those two goals by Japan were not easy finishes.

 

[Bryan Lord]

Is it even possible to come back down two with 20 min left in soccer?

 

[UConnSwag11]

I see what you mean about having some sympathy for Neymar. But you can go down without all the extra writhing and screaming.

The thing is, the way he plays sometimes- and I agree I saw less of it when he was at Barcelona- defenders feel like he's trying to embarrass them.

I played defense for many years in my youth and when I was up against a player who would toy with me, especially successfully, I'd want to knock him on his as-.

Yeah I agree defenders want to lay him. Don’t blame them. I also like Neymar’s flair bc I feel the game is missing individuality compared to years past

 

[UConnSwag11]

Is it even possible to come back down two with 20 min left in soccer?

Yes

 

[Bryan Lord]

Is it even possible to come back down one with 20 min left in soccer?

 

[intlzncster]

Wholly poop this is great

 

[intlzncster]

Is it even possible to come back down one with 20 min left in soccer?

Lol

 

[BlueMAB]

what. a. game.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Is it even possible to come back down two with 20 min left in soccer?

Apparently. The Japanese may commit seppuku if they lose this.