FIFA World Cup 2018

[Baddar]

Unlucky Peru. They played well. Can see them causing France some problems on the break.

[Gazz]

With that win, Denmark are now the reigning Unofficial World Cup champions.

[Colly]

I sort of had my own question answered there, the match ref watched the review too. Does that always happen? Feels a bit pointless when the other lads have seen 10 replays. 

[Rich]

4 minutes ago, Official Collyombia said:

I sort of had my own question answered there, the match ref watched the review too. Does that always happen? Feels a bit pointless when the other lads have seen 10 replays. 

Ultimately the responsibility lands on the head referee.  Of course they need to see it.

[Liam]

6 minutes ago, The Gazz said:

With that win, Denmark are now the reigning Unofficial World Cup champions.

I love that thing. They released a book about it several years back that was a a decent, if unspectacular read, but one that was interesting.

[Colly]

8 minutes ago, Rich said:

Ultimately the responsibility lands on the head referee.  Of course they need to see it.

Feels redundant and another delay, five officials have already seen it. If a linesman gives a foul the ref doesn't see it again, he makes the call but has faith in his team if he has a better view. Just give the head VAR ref the call and make it clear that that is what's happened. 

[Arjen Robben]

I can’t bear Clattenberg’s voice.

[Gazz]

I thought that was Nigeria's kit for a moment then and nearly threw my wallet at the TV.

EDIT: Actually, that one is quite nice too.

[Arjen Robben]

 

[gunnar hendershow]

1 hour ago, The Gazz said:

With that win, Denmark are now the reigning Unofficial World Cup champions.

I had forgotten about this (probably since the last World Cup). It's fun stuff.

29 minutes ago, The Gazz said:

I thought that was Nigeria's kit for a moment then and nearly threw my wallet at the TV.

EDIT: Actually, that one is quite nice too.

Nigeria has some GREAT kits for this World Cup. Their primary is the best kit of the entire tournament, with a comfortable lead. They'll get to wear it against at least Iceland I believe.

[Lineker]

What a crap goal to concede.

[Lineker]

This is where we play Belgium. The pitch looks pretty shoddy.

[MDK]

Long ball up to the big man, nods it down to Jamie Brexit Vardy, he scores and Brussels explodes into a thousand cod and chips.

[Kaney]

12 minutes ago, Switzerlineker said:

This is where we play Belgium. The pitch looks pretty shoddy.

Getting the excuses in early are we?

[MDK]

34 minutes ago, Spainanite said:

Getting the excuses in early are we?

Can't wait for the Group Z opening game of Scotland vs Wakanda.

[OctoberRaven]

Today was a good day to be a viking.

 

[MDK]

1 minute ago, OctoberRavenO said:

Today was a good day to be a viking.

 

Not available in my country

Try this though

 

[OctoberRaven]

3 minutes ago, PolaMDK said:

Not available in my country

 

Weird... it's from the band's official channel. Try this?

 

Edited June 16, 2018 by OctoberRavenO

[MDK]

Just now, OctoberRavenO said:

Weird... it's from the band's official channel. Try this?

 

No, mine was better

[Lineker]

Quote

Gareth Southgate has moved to ease any anxiety within his England squad by making the unusual decision to reveal his selection to the players well in advance of Monday’s opening group game against Tunisia.

England travel to Volgograd with a fully fit squad available to the manager, with Marcus Rashford having been integrated back into training in Repino, and with their lineup for the Group G opener decided. That is understood to mean World Cup debuts for nine players with starts for Ashley Young at left wing-back and Harry Maguire in central defence, while Jordan Henderson will be the side’s midfield anchor instead of Eric Dier.

The choice to disclose the selection to his players is surprising for Southgate, who has tended to name his side on the day of the game, but is designed to allow those involved to focus fully on their task at the Volgograd Arena. Rob Green revealed last week that he had been given only two hours’ notice he was to play in England’s opening game at the 2010 World Cup, and duly made a bad mistake in the 1-1 draw with the United States. It would be almost two years before the goalkeeper played for England again.

“The players know the team for the first game already,” said Southgate. “We have been working on a system of play we think suits the players we have available and the style of play we want to implement as well.

“From our fans’ point of view, they’re enjoying seeing young players come into the squad. Everyone at home wants England to win, but they want to see them play well and enjoy their football and that’s what I want as a coach.

“So if we can marry those things and the environment is right, then we think results become part of that process.

“Whenever you represent England, or any other country, there’s expectation, there’s hope, you carry the dreams of a nation, and it’s impossible to say to any player you can go out and play without any feeling of pressure or any feeling or fear.

“But what you have to do is make sure that doesn’t control you and that you go for it in your performances. You don’t feel: ‘Oh, I was inhibited in the way I played’ or worry about making mistakes because mistakes will happen for certain. So no, I think pressure is what you perceive and very often that comes from listening to too much external noise. Actually, we have to focus on the things we can control, and they’re things within our camp and within our team.”

Southgate heaped praise on Harry Kane but has urged the Tottenham striker’s creative teammates to ease the goalscoring burden on his captain.

“He’s only played something like seven games in our 18 matches and he’s scored eight goals, so he’s pretty important,” added Southgate.

“A goalscorer is worth his weight in gold. He is a great leader in terms of his approach to everything about his profession is meticulous, is considered, he wants to be the best he can be and he believes he can be one of the best in the world and his stats over the last few years tell us he’s heading that way so, of course, he is a key player for us.

“Equally we have others in our camp which help to take the pressure away from him having the burden of expectation, because the young players coming through, people we are excited about. Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford … we have Jamie Vardy who scored regularly for his club at a high level in the Premier League, so I think it’s important it isn’t just one story. Although it’s important Harry [Kane] is a big player for us, we have to be about the collective.”

The Group G fixture will be officiated by the experienced Colombian referee, Wilmar Roldán, who has been on the Fifa list for a decade and is at his second World Cup finals.