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[Football] World Cup - Day Eight









The Wizard

Well-known member
Jul 2, 2009
18,383
Also I’m not sure if it’s just me but there’s a serious reluctance from the other Belgian players to pass to Trossard? Even then, Vertonghen saw it was Tross and turned away completely, very strange, noticed it in the first game as well.
 


1066familyman

Radio User
Jan 15, 2008
15,185
Belgium getting exactly what they deserve here. Same too for Morocco, who have been by far the better team.
 








Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Also I’m not sure if it’s just me but there’s a serious reluctance from the other Belgian players to pass to Trossard? Even then, Vertonghen saw it was Tross and turned away completely, very strange, noticed it in the first game as well.
Not just Tross I think... seems everyone wants to give to to KDB/Hazard wherever they are.
 


Stato

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2011
6,584
Belgium are awful, poorly coached and don’t play as a team
The coaching is an interesting point. The gap between the player ability of the more fancied and lesser nations has been narrowing for some time. This tournament has suggested that the coaching has now caught up too. The upsets haven't really been backs to the wall, grab something on the break performances. The underdogs have carried out game plans that have been designed to best specific opponents. It'll be good for international football going forwards.
 




Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
61,767
Location Location
Similar from the Japanese earlier, very slow build up play, little movement.
Like watching Potterball at it's worst.
This.

Absolutely no urgency on the ball, just rolling it around the back at walking pace. Zero movement, players plodding around. Only when they went behind did Belgium look vaguely interested. They were played off the park by Canada the other night and fluked a win, they then played exactly the same again today and came unstuck. Delighted for Morocco, Belgium got exactly what they deserved.

These "lesser" nations are showing much less fear against the so-called big guns and its great to see.
 


WhingForPresident

.
NSC Patron
Feb 23, 2009
16,203
Marlborough
Martinez is a terrible manager. Still dining out on a couple of half decent seasons with Wigan (with a relegation) and Swansea 10 years ago. Having him in charge is a total waste of one of the strongest squads in the world. Sound familiar?
 


Shooting Star

Well-known member
Apr 29, 2011
2,798
Suffolk
Belgium need to drop Hazard - does not work with KDB. I’m biased but Trossard is the only player willing to take on defenders, they’ve got to start him. People thinking Southgate has wasted English talent should take a look at Martinez!
 




Stato

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2011
6,584
Not just Tross I think... seems everyone wants to give to to KDB/Hazard wherever they are.
That's how Argentina were playing with Messi too. It's so easy to counteract. De Bruyne has looked weirdly frustrated and seemed to spend the whole game looking for a hopeful long pass into crowded areas.
 


Garry Nelson's Left Foot

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
13,125
tokyo
Great performance by the Moroccans, thoroughly deserved win.

Are there usually this many upsets in the group stages? Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, Japan beating Germany, Morocco beating Belgium and we're only half way through the group phase.
 






Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Martinez is a terrible manager. Still dining out on a couple of half decent seasons with Wigan (with a relegation) and Swansea 10 years ago. Having him in charge is a total waste of one of the strongest squads in the world. Sound familiar?
Just like the English one, it isn't one of the strongest squads. Four years ago maybe, but not now.
 


WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
25,849
The coaching is an interesting point. The gap between the player ability of the more fancied and lesser nations has been narrowing for some time. This tournament has suggested that the coaching has now caught up too. The upsets haven't really been backs to the wall, grab something on the break performances. The underdogs have carried out game plans that have been designed to best specific opponents. It'll be good for international football going forwards.
It appears that a well coached tactically set up team can not only get an occasional result against a team with better individual players that aren't as well coached, but can also outplay them on a fairly consistent basis.

Apparently it's being called 'The Albion effect' :wink:
 




Swansman

Pro-peace
May 13, 2019
22,320
Sweden
Hoping for a Canada win but if they leave as much spaces as they did against Belgium, Croatia will probably punish them hard.
 




Comrade Sam

Comrade Sam
Jan 31, 2013
1,581
Walthamstow
Have you all been bias voting in the BBC player ratings, because every Albion player has got top marks for their team in every game. Some have only been on for 10 minutes!
 


Quebec Seagull

Vive le football... LIBRE!
Oct 19, 2022
496
Gatineau, Québec, CANADA
The odds of Canada making the round of 16 have dwindled considerably. 😥

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