Now that Neymar and Brazil have to pack their bags and bugger off home I suppose the commentators are left with Messi and the French MBop bloke to cream themselves over.
Neymar either not offering to take a penalty, or wanting to be fifth so he got the glory, is absolutely pathetic
Love how Kane ensures he takes the first - Think both Brazil and Portugal have gone out of Tournaments because Neymar and Cristiano want the glory of the fifth penalty
Gotta say a final and a semi final for Croatia in consecutive tournaments its extremely impressive for an "unfashionable" side - huge credit to them. Wonder what odds a repeat of the last WCF is?
They might have put him last since the penalty success rate is much lower the later you get in penalties. So there might have been an argument for putting your better takers in the later spots (although that argument now seems to have been defeated).
Too many discounting Portugal (who do need to get past Morocco first themselves of course).
Morocco being outright winners would be a huge shock, but you'd be foolish to discount anyone of the other 6.
Netherlands have a decent defence, a bright young goalscorer, and are well coached. Argentina have Messi on a mission at his last World Cup. Croatia are one game closer than everyone else, have a strong midfield, huge experience, and just don't lose often at major tournaments. England look a tight knit team that know their individual jobs, and have great depth and variety in attack. France have talent all over and probably the best player in the World right now. Portugal have a lot of talent and seem to be playing as a team despite seemingly having a fairly toxic squad dynamic on the surface.
I would say, however, that whoever makes it through England's half of the draw (assuming it isn't Morocco) would start the final as favourites. It's definitely not as clear cut as the winner of England vs France will be defacto world champions though
England seem to favour having your best taker go first, to get off to a good start, and then have the 2nd best taker to go fourth, as that's often the crunch penalty
Remind me - is the order of the first 5 takers set in stone before the shootout starts, or could it be switched up? Could they have brought Neymar up the order one to take the fourth?
England seem to favour having your best taker go first, to get off to a good start, and then have the 2nd best taker to go fourth, as that's often the crunch penalty
Well.... and England's record in penalty shoot-outs is something to be admired so....
Back in the seventies I used to love watchin Brazil in the WC (as you never saw them in the rest of the four years between tournaments) helped by England being absent. Now, they tire me, and I'm happy to see them go home. Croatia and Morocco have both shown how to see off a fancied favourite, but they both are looking at the run to the final now. No easy games anywhere now. The only match I'm really fussed about now until next week is England France.
Remind me - is the order of the first 5 takers set in stone before the shootout starts, or could it be switched up? Could they have brought Neymar up the order one to take the fourth?
That's a great question - when it gets to sudden death there is no specific order is there? I assume as far as the ref is concerned as long as no player takes one twice, the order would be immaterial? But then again this is FIFA we are talking about.
Remind me - is the order of the first 5 takers set in stone before the shootout starts, or could it be switched up? Could they have brought Neymar up the order one to take the fourth?
Pretty sure the referee is given a list of the five takers.
By the time of the next WC it will be 24 years since Brazil since won. Indeed if Argentina don't win, it will be 24 years since a non European side won.
Comments
England fans: Sing a song and its disrespectful
Brazilian players: Do some stupid dance every goal, and its pissing Strictly Come Dancing
C'mon England dont try to contain the Frenchies go for the jugular and out score them
Wave goodbye....
Netherlands have a decent defence, a bright young goalscorer, and are well coached.
Argentina have Messi on a mission at his last World Cup.
Croatia are one game closer than everyone else, have a strong midfield, huge experience, and just don't lose often at major tournaments.
England look a tight knit team that know their individual jobs, and have great depth and variety in attack.
France have talent all over and probably the best player in the World right now.
Portugal have a lot of talent and seem to be playing as a team despite seemingly having a fairly toxic squad dynamic on the surface.
I would say, however, that whoever makes it through England's half of the draw (assuming it isn't Morocco) would start the final as favourites. It's definitely not as clear cut as the winner of England vs France will be defacto world champions though
Dont think I havent noticed people already struggling to spell Chinn's name
The only match I'm really fussed about now until next week is England France.
Then for sudden death its whoever has the balls
So many late twists.