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Yep that's the one. Another cool kit.
I have enjoyed watching the 3 belgian centre backs marking each other while the Portuguese run rampant in the midfield and on the flanks. They have gambled pushing up the fullbacks and it's paid off. They were the better side by quite a margin. They just have to figure out how to score from the wings.
Both Hazards playing well I think.
but he never seemed to get his feet set.
I agree. Although there will always be a “could have done better” argument when the ball goes in anywhere central. Should never have been allowed to get a shot off in the first place though. And again, to be fair to the keeper it really was fizzing.
I agree about the sash, underated. the only UK club I can think rocked it was crystal palace, did Swansea or am I misremembering? It's timeless, it's chic, it's melchester rovers
It wasn't solely the half step in the wrong direction, if you have a look at the goal from behind his feet weren't even on the ground to be able to push back. Then with the pace of the shot in the end the ball was past him. If he'd had feet on the ground in the same position as he moved to I think he'd have got back to it.
As a kid I was coached to use little steps to minimise time your feet are out of contact with the ground; that was a fairly basic technique error in my book
did Swansea or am I misremembering
Ooh, good shout - rings a bell.
Pepe might be off here?
EDIT: lucky boy.
Pepe being Pepe.
It’s getting proper handbags, this
Do we think this will be finishing with 22 players on the pitch?
very lucky with a yellow there
It is - I’d normally be a bit biased and assume it would be Portugal with the dark arts but Belgium are well over the line with some challenges.
Dias is some player. Any angle on that and it was in.
Ah bugger. I’d have watched another half an hour of that.
Enthralling second half.
Hope De Bruyne and Hazzard are ok, there going to be needed in this half of the draw.
It is – I’d normally be a bit biased and assume it would be Portugal with the dark arts but Belgium are well over the line with some challenges.
They've always had it in them. Lukaku a bit lucky a couple of times. I cannot understand players at this level losing the plot that like. You are ahead, you just need to kill the game off, take all the sting out, not turn it into a ding dong. Belgian were very lucky to get away with that. Lukaku has no concept of holding the ball to slow the game, he always wants to turn onto a fast break.
Hope De Bruyne and Hazzard are ok, there going to be needed in this half of the draw.
Light brown at best. Belgium would need them on either side of the draw.
Btw @cromolyolly and @theotherjonv, apologies for my snide digs earlier. Had my second shot of Moderna today and despite nothing after the first one, I’ve been quite feverish, achy and grumpy this evening. Uncalled for, and I take it back.
As a kid I was coached to use little steps to minimise time your feet are out of contact with the ground; that was a fairly basic technique error in my book
It surprises me the number of top keepers you see bouncing in anticipation. Nothing guarantees you won't get there than being you on the up when you have to push off.
Ah, just saw Schick’s second. What a lovely goal.
apologies for my snide digs earlier.
No worries, you didn't violate rule number one at all. I took what you said as a humourous dig, hence my response. I can get a bit prickly if I think someone is being a prickly minus ly.
Had my first after having had covid and it was not fun. Completely understand where you are at. Thanks though, unnecessary but appreciate it anyway. Should follow your good example.
Well, I wouldn't put any money on Croatia - Perisic is out with Covid.
No worries DD
I wonder how Martinez found his way to a pragmatic approach to defending. It's clear from Belgium that he's changed his outlook completely. This after all is the guy that nearly killed Stones' career and failed to do anything with Everton because he refused to even do tactical sessions in defending, relying on a slavish devotion to possession. Belgium were almost too cautious defensively. I'm surprised they didn't push one of the centre backs up to close down the space Portugal were exploiting.
Well, I wouldn’t put any money on Croatia – Perisic is out with Covid.
Ah that’s shite for them. I’d happily see Spain exit stage left. I know they had a good last game but they bore me stupid*.
*many would say I do not to be bored stupid, but rather it’s my default state.
Swansea’s away shirt from 78/79
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But for me, it’s still my favourite strip of all time. Remember seeing them in colour for the first time and fell for it.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/MTjZpJ4n/D898-A29-E-BFE2-4-B5-E-8-BF6-4-F3-D2-D6-D16-D7.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/MTjZpJ4n/D898-A29-E-BFE2-4-B5-E-8-BF6-4-F3-D2-D6-D16-D7.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Yea Peru are definitely a contender for the diagonal striped shirts but I still think Vince Hilaire rocked a better sash Ian Paisley.
That Peru team: 'you'll never win anything with kids' (though they did manage to beat Scotland if I remember rightly?)
know they had a good last game but they bore me stupid*.
I have always struggled to enjoy watching Spain. I appreciate that they have elevated an art form to a semi religious experience but it doesn't do anything for me. Like Germany, if they are even 1% off, it is just painful.
QPR have had some kits vaguely reminiscent of Portugal's, haven't they? I seem to recall an interesting green and gold version.
Man City 78 away (they've had a few recent kits like it too)
Oops
Well that was embarrassing. Not sure which is the worst, the keeper, Koke getting a hand check in the chest and going down screaming and holding his face or Cuneyt buying all the acting. Hopefully now that it's tied Spain will quit the acting and try playing football.
A right bore-fest this one. 😂
This is absolutely bonkers!!
Gooooaaalll!
Do they still do the golden goal thing?
A right bore-fest this one. 😂
I was about to ask you if you were still watching. Spain had me about to walk away at about the 73 minute mark. Just couldn't take any more of them. Then Croatia started playing in the midfield, showing a bit of composure on the ball so I stuck around.
Do they still do the golden goal thing?
Nope. Back to old school ET and penalties.
This is becoming a tournament of poor first half's and great second half's.
This is becoming a tournament of poor first half’s and great second half’s.
Who knew? In the knock out phase, desperate teams play, er, desperately making for exciting finishes.
Light brown but only because the freestyle grammar adds a freson of je ne sais quoi.
Dammit!
Another dammit! ...
Two shocking bits of defending by the Croatian No.7.
Is Luis Enrique wearing jeggings?
Is Luis Enrique wearing jeggings?
Pep cast offs. Much like his teams
a freson of je ne sais quoi.
Spanish or French, you can't have both. 🙂
Spanish or French, you can’t have both. 🙂
So desperately trying not to be beige, I'll try anything. Although what my spell checker has against frisson, I don't know.
I like the warm up T-shirts, class.
Two shocking bits of defending by the Croatian No.7.
Posted 24 minutes ago
That's Brakalo I think. He's a forward. They put him in when they were chasing the game. A gamble but it paid off initially. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Can’t see past a win for LesCheatsBleus in this one.
Can’t see past a win for LesCheatsBleus in this one.
Setting up an epic semi match up of who will dive most effectively.
Looks like the French are going with 3 at the back, changing the habit of a lifetime for the manager. I doubt that's about the Swiss. I suspect it's about the next game.
Although they probably aren't happy with the attacking play. Maybe they hope packing the middle will open up room for Mbappe.
Well with 10 minutes to go I popped out for a quick ride. Hope I didn't miss much.
Hope I didn’t miss much.
Morata fell down a few times. The Croatian's misplayed some passes. Pretty much the 60th minute all over again. Except they subbed off Modric.
So no, not really.
is anyone else struggling to get the itv hub to work, need to do a few things on the pc while watching and its stuck at just over 3 minutes, refreshing it starts a few seconds before that and gets stuck at the same point.
Set match of the day for tonight. When I went out Spain were 2 up and coasting.
is anyone else struggling to get the itv hub to work, need to do a few things on the pc while watching and its stuck at just over 3 minutes, refreshing it starts a few seconds before that and gets stuck at the same point
Yep - getting fed of Ally McCoist now!
just seen the thread down the page about how bad itv hub is, bet it works if i try the free trial of the paid version. not that i'm going to bother.
its just decided to work, just missed nearly all the first halve.
Yup, in a world of middling pundits, Ally McCoist makes them look incisive.
When I went out Spain were 2 up and coasting.
Oh, THAT 10 minutes at the end. In that case Morata fell down a few times, Croatia misplayed a few passes, nothing at all happened with Modric and you didn't miss anything at all.
Ally McCoist makes them look incisive.
£10 if you say that to his face. You may have to explain incisive though.
French look off it. Tactical change at half time?
Tactical change at half time?
I think they have to go back to a back four, even if they play a right fullback on the left. Digne isn't fit I guess Hernandez isn't either but the back 3 isn't working. They don't know who is going to ball, who is going to what space. Attacking teams always do better with a back 4. I think they seriously underestimated Switzerland's ability to hold the ball. Longelet has to come off, he's lost.
That might swing the match in France's favour
Oh la la
That's it. France will run amok now. 3-1 at least.
Has Caher nipped out again?
Someone nail his feet to the floor for the match tomorrow.
Will the real Paul Pogba please stand up, please stand up.....
Kudos to today's teams for providing some drama in advance of the inevitable bore-fest tomorrow afternoon.
Kudos to today’s teams for p
Sneaky. Don't worry, I think Edukator screen shots everything so he can denounce the stealth edits
TBF it was a very quick edit. 🙂
bonkers
This is not the France of old. They would have pressed Switzerland into oblivion. This lot just turned off again.
I thought I'd missed all Tyne fun as I was working through the earlier game
I hate these cagey knockout games, no-one prepared to go forward for fear of conceding.
Bonkers day! This really is anyone's now
Forget sterile Spain vs Calamitous Croatia. THIS is a game of football..
Never mind Pogba, any Arsenal fans familiar with this Swiss chap in the centre of the park? Xhaka!! He’s been superb, some great passing.
having watched croatia/spain i was confident i saw the best game of the day....
no... 0-1.... 3-1....3-3
Im saying 4-4 AET and the french to sneak it on penalties (i still want to catch the Tour highlights before bed after seeing the last half hour live.)
He's the new Mezut Ozil. His play is about as consistent as his hair colour. But yes, we've seen the better half of him today.