World Cup 2018 - Rossiya

[joklend]

Famous last words maybe but I fancy Mexico here.

Not for the first time, I really wish I were a betting man.

[Darkness_Fish]

Another top quality game. World cup living up to billing so far, well done to Mexico, just sharpen up on those through balls.

[Polishgirl]

The grit they showed - even when you thought their legs had gone .

[Diamond Dog]

Germany.

[northernsky]

Well, that was an unexpected pleasure. So Sweden are currently second place in the group*, GOOD JOB LADS.

by alphabetical order. if you use the Swedish spelling

[KeithPratt]

Not the best result for Brazil if Germany qualify second.

[Diamond Dog]

In all sincerity, that was the most ill disciplined tournament performance by Germany I can recall. Woeful performances from all of the back four (particularly Hummels & Boetang, who were slower than me and Yomp together) Croos was awful, Muller absolutely dreadful, Werner inconsequential.... I think Ozil was probably their best player. And he was poor.

I pity Sweden, because it won;t happen again.

[Darkness_Fish]

Tap in.

[Polishgirl]

Ouch!

[Penk!]

God I hope Germany and Brazil end up meeting in the second round...

[Diamond Dog]

That's been Brazil for 30+ years now - little flashes of greatness but mostly dull, uninspiring and frustrating football. Mixed in with alot of cynicism and diving from the very top drawer.

[the masked man]

I pity Sweden, because it won;t happen again.

I was thinking the same thing.

Don't be so sure. Germany are currently on a terrible run, having not won all year. That flat performance was typical of their recent form. Those players lacked confidence against Mexico, and that won't return easily. I can see them going out at group stage.

Interesting how most of the big names have struggled so far. France managed a win, but looked sluggish, Argentina were one-dimensional and lacking ideas, Brazil were great for twenty minutes than just lost their way, unable to break down a solid Swiss defence. Maybe only Spain and Portugal fully did themselves proud, and they just cancelled each other out.

What an intriguing tournament!

[northernsky]

I pity Sweden, because it won;t happen again.

I was thinking the same thing.

Don't be so sure. Germany are currently on a terrible run, having not won all year. That flat performance was typical of their recent form. Those players lacked confidence against Mexico

But Sweden are dreadful. Really, they are. They did a yeoman’s job getting here, for which: Thanks, guys, genuinely. It was a remarkable achievement. they are the weakest European team there. They should be treated like Iceland. But theyre not quite as good as Iceland.

Today Mexico brought a hugely positive approach to their counterattacks, along with pace technique and ambition among the front three. Well, Germany wont be seeing that next up.

[Goat Boy]

Germany then. It’s only the first game so you don’t want to read too much into things but…

Some of the senior players worryingly did sfa that game. Is Khedira fit? If he is, and you’d have to assume so otherwise why would he start then he his gone. They must have better options in midfield and maybe it’s time for Leon Goretzka to be given a chance. Kroos is not the fastest – he doesn’t need to be – but they looked very slow in the middle of the park yesterday and completely overwhelmed.

I know Kimmich has received some criticism over his lack of tracking back but surely he was just doing was his manager told him to do? Given the fact that it was obvious that Lozano was the danger man for Mexico you would have thought he would have perhaps been not so gung ho on his managers orders, or at least been told that at some point during the first half when it was obvious Mexico were ripping them apart from that flank. Maybe if Khedira had legs he could have provided some cover on the right hand side but it was quite shocking how much space Germany left there.

Muller. Did he touch the ball?

Julian Draxler. Admittedly I don’t watch much football but I’ve not seen anything from Draxler that makes me believe he has something. The lad Brandt came on and did more in 5 minutes than Draxler did the whole game: confident, direct and that was one hell of shot. Surely him or Reus should start. The centre back partnership looked very exposed but with no protection in front of them and Kimmich playing with all the defensive awareness of Xherdan Shaqiri that was to be expected. Still, both were poor.

I know their form has been poor and the pundits were at pains to point out that this was down to experimental selections and perhaps it was. Looking at that performance I would suggest some players might actually be past it or simply happy to coast along on past achievements.

Mexico were great mind and tactically they got it spot on. I'm pleased for them.

[Goat Boy]

Brazil! Oooo Brazil! Brazilian defenders never kick the ball into row z! Oooo, Brazil! Oooo!

A good ten minute spell and that was it. Neymar may be match fit but he wasn't match sharp. That was a great strike from Coutinho mind but this is not a golden generation.

[The Modernist]

They are a lot better than four years ago. However the continual need to play everything through Neymar is a weakness of their play. He attracts so many defenders that if he could learn to release the ball quickly to others the effect could be devastating, instead he is like a kid hogging the ball.

[The Modernist]

Don't be so sure. Germany are currently on a terrible run, having not won all year. That flat performance was typical of their recent form. Those players lacked confidence against Mexico, and that won't return easily. I can see them going out at group stage.

No, they'll qualify for the second round. I'm not that surprised by the performance though, I've thought for some time that this side were on their way down, they've been looking a little over the hill for a while now. Loew has made a big mistake in not taking Sane.

[Goat Boy]

It's funny because Clive Tyldesley mentioned that last night as if it was a positive thing.

He's not playing a computer game.

It'll be an interesting 2nd round of games.

It's funny because Clive Tyldesley mentioned that last night as if it was a positive thing.

He's not playing a computer game.

It'll be an interesting 2nd round of games.

[never/ever]

Germany won the Confederations Cup last year with a B-team. They surely thought they could phone it in this time.

Delighted for Chucky but I now worry that he'll get poached from my club now too.

[KeithPratt]

Germany will qualify - Mexico are a lot better than people give them credit for. Sweden and South Korea aren't. I tipped them to be beaten at the Q-F stage and I will stick with it.

Brazil suffer, like Argentina, from pouring everything through their "best" player. It neutralises people like Willian and Roberto Firmino, who have had terrific seasons, pushing them to the periphery. They are too 'emotional' a side - you can tell that Neymar is the beating heart and it's not a good thing, especially when he clearly isn't fit or in form.

My tip for the trophy, Spain, look like the best team so far.