NWR: Silence on World Cup?

Croatia was stunning yesterday. The not-so-little engine that could upsetting the bigger engine that couldn't. An enduring tale of hard-won victory against the odds, in cinematic trailer parlance.
 
croatia have been very good remarkable irrepressible over-achievers, but neither england nor croatia are much of a match against france. unless france just plain fail to show up, the final should be their oyster.

france were savage against belgium. and i don't look for them to take the foot of the throttle in the final against croatia.
 
The only concern about Croatia going into the semi-final was that they needed crutches to get off the field after the quarters. The odds for the semi seemed to have been published by the Wine Spectator.

Seriously though, unless you are a fan in which case this is cruel, you have to laugh at England. Two buttons: stop and go. When asked to do the same things at 3/4 the speed (or is it 3/4 the things at 3/4 the speed, not sure what the right analogy is), it was simply not possible.

And OMG poor Walker. After looking like the Schlemiel all tournament, he was the Schlemazel on the first goal.
 
i understand that england is the youngest team in the last 32. they made it further up the bracket that any realistic person expected.

this is the first team in a long time that went with a positive vibe and a joy of the game, and their future is very bright.
 
originally posted by robert ames:

this is the first team in a long time that went with a positive vibe and a joy of the game, and their future is very bright.
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I definitely agree with the first two points, but not that sure about that bright future. The french team has exactly the same age average as England (Nigeria's is even lower), but their football seems about two classes above in quality, variability and intelligence. Unless England has in their successful youth squads a few guys with additional approaches to playing the ball I fear they will have a hard time wining something.
 
To my great surprise there was no team I enjoyed watching more in this World Cup than Belgium. The comeback against Japan was thrilling and their quarterfinal with Brazil was pure poetry on both sides, outside of a few antics from Neymar. What talent across that lineup.
 
originally posted by slaton:
To my great surprise there was no team I enjoyed watching more in this World Cup than Belgium. The comeback against Japan was thrilling and their quarterfinal with Brazil was pure poetry on both sides, outside of a few antics from Neymar. What talent across that lineup.
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Though I'm pleased for les Bleus, I might agree with you. Lukaku's sleight of foot to let the ball through to Chadli was my favorite play of the tournament. In fact, there was a bunch of exciting attacks in this cup: Belgium, France, Mexico, Senegal, Croatia, Columbia...
 
No real Group of Death this time. I thought there was a chance, before the concept disappears entirely with a 48-team field of the future.

I don't get this NWR business though; cellars must be properly stocked for the occasion in November.
 
This is Disorder. It has been emphasized.

There is a reason I have been a lively contributor to the soccer threads. It is my expectation that as Wine Disorder inevitably engages in global wine hooliganism, we become the most feared firm in the business that rivals the notoriety of Inter City Firm and Millwall Bushwackers.

Movie rights will be sold. You'll need to decide whether your real names or WD handles are to be used. Before you opt out, remember that members of ICF have been portrayed by stars are prominent as Gary Oldman. Lastly, I don't think the names of politburo members should be revealed until the sequel.
 
originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
This is Disorder. It has been emphasized.

There is a reason I have been a lively contributor to the soccer threads. It is my expectation that as Wine Disorder inevitably engages in global wine hooliganism, we become the most feared firm in the business that rivals the notoriety of Inter City Firm and Millwall Bushwackers.

Movie rights will be sold. You'll need to decide whether your real names or WD handles are to be used. Before you opt out, remember that members of ICF have been portrayed by stars are prominent as Gary Oldman. Lastly, I don't think the names of politburo members should be revealed until the sequel.
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If there is to be wine hooliganism, there will be a need for teh hooch, and lots of it. Certain members of the firm will have to step their game. Oi!

Mark Lipton
(Who’d never be a part of a firm that would have me as a member)
 
On the topic of footie: yesterday's finale to the EPL season was, in a word, epic. I was so sure that Villa had played spoiler, with Gerard and Coutinho fittingly delivering the coup de grace, only to see Pep & Co. put together an electrifying 5' 36" display, or (as my Liverpool-supporter pal put it) "Gutting" depending upon one's affiliations. To see the quadruple slip away in such shocking fashion would have been a wrenching experience.

The ECL final should also be one for the ages.

Mark Lipton
 
Yes, some electrifying performances and energy in the Liverpool match, amazing save from Alisson in the one-on-one. Although then it didn't matter as much as it felt at the time.

Forget Saturday, tonight's Bundesliga relegation match could be drama, although Hertha just put themselves ahead. I actually won't watch unless it goes to penalties.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Forget Saturday, tonight's Bundesliga relegation match could be drama, although Hertha just put themselves ahead. I actually won't watch unless it goes to penalties.
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Huh. I took you for more of a Union guy.
 
originally posted by MLipton:
On the topic of footie: yesterday's finale to the EPL season was, in a word, epic. I was so sure that Villa had played spoiler, with Gerard and Coutinho fittingly delivering the coup de grace, only to see Pep & Co. put together an electrifying 5' 36" display, or (as my Liverpool-supporter pal put it) "Gutting" depending upon one's affiliations. To see the quadruple slip away in such shocking fashion would have been a wrenching experience.

The ECL final should also be one for the ages.

Mark Lipton
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I concur with Herr Doktor Professor's attitude towards this weekend's scheduled entertainment; while I'd normally boycott any CL final that does not involve my team, this one should be well worth a bottle of fizz in front of the big screen.

My favorite part of the EPL finale?
Spurs finishing fourth was a foregone conclusion, so nothing to get upset or excited about there.
I suppose admittance of West Ham rather than the great Manchester United to the new Europa Conference League was a bit disappointing. United could have done the Conference by Zoom.
Regarding 1st/2nd place, there was only one outcome. Drama was staged intentionally in a futile effort to compete with the Bundesliga for ratings among real fans. To that end, they had no choice but have a member of Die Mannschaft score the decisive goal.
On the other hand, survival of Leeds was fantastic. The brand of football that Burnley play is sleep-inducing at best, and belongs in the lower divisions. Thankfully, there aren't as many teams of this sort in the premiership as there used to be, but one is one too many. I get that Leeds is a flawed and a less balanced team than Burnley, but they actually try to play football. The Brentford and BHA model gives hope that the Burnley way isn't the only path to continued survival. Yay Jesse Marsch.
 
originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Forget Saturday, tonight's Bundesliga relegation match could be drama, although Hertha just put themselves ahead. I actually won't watch unless it goes to penalties.
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Huh. I took you for more of a Union guy.
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I'm neutral on Union v Hertha. Union is the 'cooler' team these days, but it's really hard to get tickets to their cozy stadium. Hertha on the other hand, always a free seat!

Either way, it was the biggest soccer match last night, so something to follow. But not compelling enough to watch.
 
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