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"Back of the net!": The Football Thread

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  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    edited July 2018 Posts: 7,653
    That depends on whether they want to win or are not bothered, I've seen games were neither side really wanted but had to and it showed.

    Louis van Gaal asked his Dutch team last WC if they wanted to win otherwise he couldn't be bothered to coach them and would fly home and leave them to it. So they played to win.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
    That should be the way to play it. I guess the trouble about this third-place playoff is the motivation - for some players.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    I think the 3rd place play off game is pointless personally.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think the 3rd place play off game is pointless personally.
    Yeah.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think the 3rd place play off game is pointless personally.

    Same here, but will still watch it. Should be some goals!
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think the 3rd place play off game is pointless personally.

    True but if you have to play the match go for a win and leave with a third place instead of doing a formal and look like a sore loser.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    Posts: 25,174
    Third place play off should be scrapped like it was in the Euro's it's a totally pointless game. Both teams will no doubt field fringe players who did not get a chance to play much during the World Cup.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    Fire_and_Ice_Returns wrote: »
    Third place play off should be scrapped like it was in the Euro's it's a totally pointless game. Both teams will no doubt field fringe players who did not get a chance to play much during the World Cup.

    Nice for them they get a WC on their palmares as wel.
  • vzokvzok
    Posts: 4,044
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think the 3rd place play off game is pointless personally.

    This must be the first World Cup where two teams have played against each other in two dead rubbers.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    Honestly I find that both, Croatia and England did not really seem like potential finalists. Don't get me wrong. Both deserved their success but they managed to get to the semi finals mainly due to an easy draw. England has not won against any really good team. Even Colombia wasn't in good shape because of the absence of James. And the Croatians did not really convince me in any of the last three matches. England was much better in the first half but they always seem to stop playing football after 60 minutes. Was similar in the last matches. This time it was punished by Croatian experience. It may have been a lesson Southgate has to learn.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    World Cup is not over yet and the start of the Premier League begins 4 weeks today!!!
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    There was never any doubt on the outcome of the England - Belgium match.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    I think Hazard will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later!
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited July 2018 Posts: 17,759
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think Hazard will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later!

    Read somewhere on Twitter that he has handed in a transfer request. Might just be gossip.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think Hazard will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later!

    Read somewhere on Twitter that he has handed in a transfer request. Might just be gossip.

    With Ronaldo gone, I would be shocked if he didn't have already?
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    RogueAgent wrote: »
    I think Hazard will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later!

    Read somewhere on Twitter that he has handed in a transfer request. Might just be gossip.

    With Ronaldo gone, I would be shocked if he didn't have already?

    Good point! Higuaín is likely to join Chelsea too because of the Ronaldo transfer.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
    giphy.gif
    :))
  • DCisaredDCisared Liverpool
    Posts: 1,329
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    giphy.gif
    :))

    Ha ha
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited July 2018 Posts: 17,759
    WOW! Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson quits after taking the team to their first World Cup. Wonder who'll take charge of the team now, and if this will affect their results!

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44858615
  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,507
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    WOW! Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson quits after taking the team to their first World Cup. Wonder who'll take charge of the team now, and if this will affect their results!

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44858615


    Probably has too many teeth to take care of ;)
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited July 2018 Posts: 17,759
    jobo wrote: »
    Torgeirtrap wrote: »
    WOW! Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson quits after taking the team to their first World Cup. Wonder who'll take charge of the team now, and if this will affect their results!

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44858615


    Probably has too many teeth to take care of ;)

    His dental practice must be thriving because of the national team's results, haha!
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759

    Liverpool league title confirmed?
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    Posts: 17,759
    Gianfranco Zola returns to Chelsea:
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44880889
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    They definitely wont win the league then,his record is woeful.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    Chelsea are on their way to Perth, for a pre season game against Perth Glory.
    I'll be going along Monday night, with my daughter.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited July 2018 Posts: 17,759
    Another day of surprises in football! Rosenborg got through the second CL qualification round against Valur in a dramatic game with three penalties yesterday, and today Head coach Kåre Ingebrigtsen was sacked - one week before the first game against Celtic! Wow!

    He leaves the position having won three consecutive league titles and two cup titles.

    Edit: Academy manager Rini Coolen new caretaker coach, with Trond Henriksen as assistant coach (a role he's had at the club before). Rosenborg is really taking a massive gamble doing this now. They still have the league and the cup to play for, and the possibility for EL play is still there.
  • TorgeirtrapTorgeirtrap
    edited July 2018 Posts: 17,759
    Mesut Ozil announces retirement from international football.

    ‘It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect.’
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    This is a very sad decision for Germany but not very surprisisng. The communication was not very good after Ozil met Erdogan for supporting him in his election campaign and was also stating that Erdogan is "his president". In Germany, where Erdogan is a persona non grata due to his permanent provocative statements including blaming German polititians for using Nazi method.

    In order to smooth the waves, the German football association wanted Ozil to make a statement. (Gundogan who was also blamed for supporting Erdogan did make a statement). However, Ozil denied that and did not see any problem and any own mistake.
  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,507
    Is it really that sad though for Germany? His best years are definitely behind him, and Germany will need to adress a generational shift anyway. He won't be missed.

    What would be sad is if there was a serious problem with racism in German football. I don't know enough to say if that is the case or not. But if this issue is about him supporting Erdogan and being criticized for it, he doesn't have my sentiment...
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