World Cup 2018

Well I hope Tovid didn't watch Sweden/Switzerland just now! Just the sort of match which is relegated to last spot on MOTD.

comrade powell wrote:

tovid wrote:For instance you enjoyed the Uruguay v Portugal game but for me it was a game of slow slow ponderous movement enlivened by two superb Uruguayan goals.

I have a feeling that we wouldn't enjoy a match standing side by side!

You won't be surprised to learn that I love watching Atletico Madrid and the way that they employ a rock solid defence and catch teams with their lightening breaks. Many say that they, and Uruguay, play anti football but I don't see it that way.

Yes you are right I don't enjoy watching that.

Well, sport never ceases to amaze me at the emotion and passion it can trigger.

Agreed. And while we all think we can predict the outcomes of matches, there's a very good reason why the bookies usually have the last laugh. Long may that continue!

yes it was mayhem in the pub last night. In the penalty shoot out people just couldn't stay still. They were pacing about like Mike Tyson before a fight.

I couldn't think of anywhere worse to watch an England game at a major tournament than a pub. It must have been carnage.

I was a right wimp last night. Couldn't watch Kane's penalty and at 90 minutes I decided I couldn't take much more. I went on a run and did a few laps of a cricket pitch nearby. Wasn't too quick (I'd had a few drinks) and I managed to hold off looking at my phone until just before 10, when I assumed it'd be all over and we'd lost on penalties. Couldn't believe it when the messages came through. I ran to my best mates' parents' place, two miles or so from where I was. They poured a glass of wine and I watched a repeat of it. Ran home around half 11 or so.

An absolutely surreal evening.

If England do win the thing then look out for Paul Hill (WSP) returning to the forum. We had some great arguments on England years ago!

stillmanjunior wrote: They poured a glass of wine and I watched a repeat of it. Ran home around half 11 or so.

An absolutely surreal evening.

They should have given you water.

My predictions for the winners of the quarters
Uruguay
Brazil
Russia
Sweden

tovid wrote:My predictions for the winners of the quarters
Uruguay
Brazil
Russia
Sweden

Kindly wait until you are invited!

Right, first the results of 'who will reach the quarter finals?' compo...

5 Benny
4 Powell
4 2Weirdtown
4 Ashley
3 Rudi

(positions of those on equal points decided by fair play rule)

...and the table for the results predictions compo (round of 16)

6 Junior
5 Powell
5 Benny
3 Ashley

Points will be carried forward to the quarter finals.

Please copy and paste the fixtures, highlighting your predictions. (any newbies are welcome to join in!)

France v Uruguay
Brazil v Belgium
Sweden v England
Russia v Croatia

France v Uruguay
Brazil v Belgium
Sweden v England
Russia v Croatia

Blimey. These are hard to call:

France v Uruguay
Brazil v Belgium
Sweden v England
Russia v Croatia

comrade powell wrote:Right, first the results of 'who will reach the quarter finals?' compo...

5 Benny
4 Powell
4 2Weirdtown
4 Ashley
3 Rudi

(positions of those on equal points decided by fair play rule)

Well I’ve been a perfect gentleman all cricket season!

Uruguay, Brazil, Croatia, England

France v Uruguay
Brazil v Belgium
Sweden v England
Russia v Croatia

I can just about do this bit.

I can see Uruguay Brazil and Russia England semis

comrade powell wrote:...and the table for the results predictions compo (round of 16)

6 Junior
5 Powell
5 Benny
3 Ashley

And I only picked Portugal to be consistent with my earlier predictions. Unfortunately Ronaldo was playing to a different drum beat to the rest of his team.

Just realised I ought to have highlighted Sweden...ensuring an England win to prove me wrong. (as I usually am with match result predictions)

A tale of three goalkeepers in the first two quarterfinals yesterday. France deservedly progressed after Lloris's save of the tournament and Muslera's howler while Courtois was superb against Brazil.
It will be very difficult to predict the winner of France/Belgium and if England do reach the final a very good team awaits them.

Thank goodness we've seen the last of Neymar. I can't remember a player who demands attention as much as him and yet he's not fit to tie the laces of some past Brazilian greats. His team would have been better off without him yesterday and if his latest big club move is being set up potential employers should run a mile. Good riddance!

Neymar should never have that number 10 shirt for Brazil again.that is normaly given to great players not great big babies
he was in my view the worst player on the park yesterday
it was like watching Stirling for England he gets the ball and runs into trouble and loses it

While I make no secret of my support for Uruguay, they never turned up yesterday and were well beaten by France. But what really spoilt it for me was the ITV's co commentator, Gary Neville. I used to be a fan of his impartial work on Sky but yesterday he made it clear from the start that he hates Uruguay (possibly stemming from Suarez's time at Liverpool?). Some of his utterances bordered on the racist and his condemnation of Gimenez's tears was uncalled for. He called them 'embarrassing' - sorry, ITV, the only thing embarrassing was your employee and he should be shown the same door as the odious Evra from your list of tin pot pundits.

Agree with everything you said mr powell about Neville
even though im a Liverpool fan I thought I would give this guy a chance at being a pundit
I have now decided he is an arrogant hypocrite

The trouble with Neville is that he hates Liverpool with every fibre of his being and that includes Everton and Tranmere or anyone who has ever played for them. 
I don't agree that pundits have to impartial but the channel itself has to demonstrate balance. That is rarely forthcoming because all the pundits are ex players and will rarely criticise each other.