Jul 10, 2018

As usual, here's a tiny preview just off some observations about this colossal game we got coming today

I wonder if Martinez got any sleep the last couple of days thinking how his defense will look like without the only natural wingback in Meunier? It won't surprise me to see France creating overloads on Belgium's right side and isolating Vertoghen against Mbappe, Belgium have to play their most effective possession to avoid getting caught on the break. Fellaini is gonna need to be at his brutish best to plug holes and man-mark the boy wonder.

Likewise against France, this has to be Lukaku's best day going against two technically sound but slightly soft center backs in Rafa & Umtiti. An effective counter-press plan is what Belgium should gamble on, won't be surprised if we see what we call a press trigger the moment Kante or Matuidi/Tolisso touch the ball and get swarmed by Belgium. The narrowest details and errors will define this epic tie.

 

Jul 7, 2018

The Croatian god did it again

 

Jul 6, 2018

 

Jul 6, 2018

Seeing how he turned Jesus into this weird tiny target man, can't imagine what he could do for Lukaku's first touch.

Damning day for Latin American football, fantastic individuals but the rest of the squads just can't compete with Europe's cash and infrastructure. France-Belgium confirm we've returned to the 90's preference of dynamic midfielders, that's gonna be a good one.

 

Jul 6, 2018

Probably the most decisive games of the tournaments, all 4 of them seriously look vastly stronger on paper than the 4 on the other side (remember on paper, International football isn't won that way, it's very real that England, Croatia, the Juiced Boys and even Sweden lift this in the end).

Uruguay is gonna miss Cavani, it worries me Suarez gonna be too isolated even though hes a god at ball retention. They can count on the fact France is insanely reactive and likely will just be looking to win the 1v1s per position, I'm wondering who will be the one who can break that low-block or get between the lines to move the ball faster, thus dragging defenders away from zones/creating space. The longer the game goes on and if Uruguay don't score early, it's better for France's deeper bench where they can throw everything they got.

Brazil-Belgium is a weird one too, Idk which Belgium is gonna show up. Japan played a proactive game where their movements and occupation on defense made Belgium's life somewhat more difficult, I talked about some weaknesses I saw a couple pages ago. Is Brazil that type of team? Who knows, I'm expecting another high-paced game where both teams are looking to score.

 

Jul 4, 2018

Well I'll be d---ed. England won a Penalty Shootout.


Imagine if they play Russia in the Semis, unbelievable luck they've had.

 

Jul 3, 2018

I was surprised Nick Pope wasn't subbed in as a shot-stopper in the end, Pickford did his job though.

Sweden is gonna be a like for like game, this is the first time Sweden won't be able to bully a team in the air. Both teams gonna be practicing set-pieces all day from today onwards.

 

Jul 1, 2018

Embarrassing

 

Jul 1, 2018

Badass ad by Nike

 

Jun 30, 2018

Turns out i actually traded Mbappe out this round for Kane. My memorys a shocker

 

Jun 30, 2018

Mexico taking this s--- now

 

Jun 30, 2018

Pretty good game, from a analytics perspective this was an extremely effective game from the Uruguayan offense, literally scored the two times they got the opportunity (Cebolla had that last chance too). Portugal will regret that poor first half, absolutely got floored there but did a lot better in the 2nd.

The two goats left this s---, finally, I got sick of the emotionally attached fanboys.

 

Jun 30, 2018

Can't stress how important it is to score an early goal, Uruguay need to be careful in conceding too much possession tho. You can only defend intensely for so long

 

Jun 30, 2018

No one should blame messi tbh! every ball he delivered got handled like a teenage girl by these losers

 

Jun 27, 2018

Imagine being a beaner and counting on chinks to put u thru. Imagine being a nazi and getting dq'd by the chinks. Imagine being a chink

 

Jun 26, 2018

Too much cocaine

 

Jun 26, 2018

Nigeria: 1

Argentina:

 

Jun 26, 2018

He put in f---ing meza & took out di Maria lmfao wtf. Argentina going home lol.

 

Jun 26, 2018

I feel depressed watching how far Di Maria has spiraled down, dude such a monster for us (Real) 4 years ago

 

Jun 26, 2018

We barely qualified lol..... I guess not qualifying out of CONCACAF is pretty embarrassing

Oh boy that Penalty was very controversial here. I remember when Del Piero came to play in the A-League, he was obviously in that Italian team and our players definitely let him know that he was luck to win that World Cup I'm pretty iffy about it, it was a dangerous and premature slide tackle.

I really hope the AFC grows, China's splashing a lot of cash, they just need promising home grown players now.

As for Australia's young prospects, I dont really know much although Arzani is looking good.