The Swamp

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:21 pm I took a flyer on Belgium +1.5 goals at -150. Let's see how it plays out.

Current status: Wish I had bet more.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:35 pm Love this game. Two honest teams going at it.

Yes. As they would say in Football Manager ... it's a great advert for football.

What a fucking awesome goal that was. And a bonkers 10 minutes of huge saves on both ends before that. What a game.

Just keep running, kids!

Oh shit. I kid you not as soon as the Belgium keeper sent that pass I said to myself "this is US-Algeria all over again" and lo and behold

Current status: Wish I had bet Belgium to win in regulation at +1000.

That was beautiful.

Friggin buzzer beater. Love it. What a game.

What a game. What a fucking game. Wow.

Japan wanted to win on that last corner didn't not want to go to ET. Threw everyone forward and got caught.

Congratulations Belgium you now get to play Brazil. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:57 pm Congratulations Belgium you now get to play Brazil. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I'm certainly no soccer expert, but based on what I've seen in the World Cup, Belgium definitely looks capable of winning, no?

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:28 pm Jesus. What a game.

NLFC -- was that a fuckup by the Japan keeper there?

Sorry, I was down in the cafeteria... I was with Mr. D... no way that game was going to end 2-0.

On the first goal, no, that was a ridiculous play and even if the goalie read it quickly, the trajectory was insane and he might never have gotten a paw on it. Meola was making a big deal on that one where he saved both headers but really he kind of fucked up on the first one. That was a very soft header and I thought he should've been able to parry it around the post. Second save was awesome, though.

But that's kind of nitpicking when that goalie kept them in the game today. Incredible saves in the second half.

What a game, man.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:03 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:57 pm Congratulations Belgium you now get to play Brazil. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I'm certainly no soccer expert, but based on what I've seen in the World Cup, Belgium definitely looks capable of winning, no?

For sure. Brazil will be favored, but only slightly.

A_B wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:29 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:28 pm Jesus. What a game.

NLFC -- was that a fuckup by the Japan keeper there?

I'm not sure he was shooting. I think he was just trying to get it back into the box

He 100 percent had no idea where that was going. He was just trying to keep it in play.

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:53 pm Oh shit. I kid you not as soon as the Belgium keeper sent that pass I said to myself "this is US-Algeria all over again" and lo and behold

Distribution: Brilliant.

I will say, that ending with the ref giving them 0 seconds of stoppage after the goal... That is some bullshit. They ate up 90 seconds celebrating. Japan may have been gassed, but this is my biggest beef with FIFA right now... The way they account for time is ridiculous.

And, again, I like the way degen characterized this game. Just all out effort, some heat between the two, but nothing overly cynical or nasty in the challenges.

Brazil looked amazing down the flanks today... Japan was able to make some noise out there today... Going to be an amazing match.

Such an unbelievable World Cup. Even Sweden/Switzerland might end up being a thriller - or am I getting carried away?

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:06 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:53 pm Oh shit. I kid you not as soon as the Belgium keeper sent that pass I said to myself "this is US-Algeria all over again" and lo and behold

Distribution: Brilliant.

For someone who never touched the ball during that sequence, Lukaku was brilliant. Made his run inside early that opened up the wing and then the dummy in the box. Great stuff.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:12 pm Such an unbelievable World Cup. Even Sweden/Switzerland might end up being a thriller - or am I getting carried away?

I don't think so, at all. I've said it a couple of times, the Swiss are VERY good and they play a fast-paced style. We saw what the Swedes can do when they opened up a pretty decent Mexico side.

Really, Uruguay is the only team left in the tournament that plays an ugly-it-up style, and we talked yesterday about why there's something endearing or at least respectable about their lethal counter. The issue with that game is Cavani... If he's hurt, they probably have to play an even more slogging it out style against what has turned out to be an EXTREMELY pacey and talented French team. That's a very compelling match with Cavani.

And I'm annoyed with Spain and happy they got sent packing. Russia v. Croatia is going to be very interesting. The Russians are playing with house money at this point, and Croatia will feel the same after winning on PKs... and playing the host nation. Some teams perform better when they feel like the world is out to get them.

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:16 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:06 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:53 pm Oh shit. I kid you not as soon as the Belgium keeper sent that pass I said to myself "this is US-Algeria all over again" and lo and behold

Distribution: Brilliant.

For someone who never touched the ball during that sequence, Lukaku was brilliant. Made his run inside early that opened up the wing and then the dummy in the box. Great stuff.

Yeah, that dummy was fucking ballsy man. That is truly world class stuff from Lukaku there. A lot of guys would've panicked and tried to put a boot on it. Brilliant.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:20 pm And I'm annoyed with Spain and happy they got sent packing. Russia v. Croatia is going to be very interesting. The Russians are playing with house money at this point, and Croatia will feel the same after winning on PKs... and playing the host nation. Some teams perform better when they feel like the world is out to get them.

The Croatian I know is a lot more "fucking England thinks they're the favorite on this half now???" than house money.

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:27 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:20 pm And I'm annoyed with Spain and happy they got sent packing. Russia v. Croatia is going to be very interesting. The Russians are playing with house money at this point, and Croatia will feel the same after winning on PKs... and playing the host nation. Some teams perform better when they feel like the world is out to get them.

The Croatian I know is a lot more "fucking England thinks they're the favorite on this half now???" than house money.

Oh, I agree with him, they are MUCH better than Russia, I'm not trying to equate the two. But it's kind of like how sometimes road teams in the NHL take going into someone else's barn as a positive challenge. Just feel like this Croatian team has that kind of edge.

We have a Japanese intern working in our office this summer. He went home this afternoon to watch the game. I'm guessing he's on his second bottle of sake by now.

Hell of a game. After Japan's second goal, once they put Fellaini in, Belgium just shifted into a different gear.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:03 pm

brian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 2:57 pm Congratulations Belgium you now get to play Brazil. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I'm certainly no soccer expert, but based on what I've seen in the World Cup, Belgium definitely looks capable of winning, no?

Yes.

That was as exciting a sporting event as you will see.

And I think Chadli's goal went in at like 3:55. Ref was technically right in not giving them any time.

Plus he was from senegal...”fair play this, bitches!”

Soft yellow

There should be about 3 or 4 goals by now. They are choking in the box. At least 3 shots from inside 18, pretty open, up in the rafters.

Lazy work by Switzerland there in the box.

The Swiss are really bossing this game, though. Killing the swedes down the left side with impunity.

This game needed that goal.

I would be LIVID at my defender for pulling that shit. You are not a goalie, do NOT jump in on a shot like that.

Or you could be an understanding friend.

Pretty impressed at the way Sweden didn't bunker after scoring that goal. Continued to play high in defense the entire game.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:46 am Or you could be an understanding friend.

Ball game.

Great break out from the Swedes there.

ETA - I was gonna respond to your post but then that play happened.

I was always cool with a defender making himself big and acting like a wall. But I was very clear with my guys... Don't be sticking your leg out like that. It's not like hockey... the goal is too big and bad things happen. That shot was right at the keeper.

Lost 3-2 to a 90th minute winner against Belgium...
Cleaned the dressing room, left the floor spotless...and left a “Thank You” note in Russian.

I clean up a hotel room before I leave too.

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Jul 02, 2018 3:44 pm We have a Japanese intern working in our office this summer. He went home this afternoon to watch the game. I'm guessing he's on his second bottle of sake by now.

Hell of a game. After Japan's second goal, once they put Fellaini in, Belgium just shifted into a different gear.

how is he today?