I think that's true but I think the same is true of the Pep Barcelona side - a system implemented to an absurd perfection.
― Tim, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:25 (five years ago) link
the transcendent blandness of harry kane has been enchanting me over recent seasons. he's a paragon of efficiency with just enough passion and ego to be effective without it hindering his performance. he's streamlined his game and his personality, always keen and ambitious but never overexcited, just eternally passing it into the bottom corner
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:28 (five years ago) link
xp (Each of these sides was dirty too, a perfect system can't tolerate the chaos of 11 human people trying to interfere.)
― Tim, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:31 (five years ago) link
there is a collective ecstasy abt pep teams in full flow that goes beyond the unencumbered mind of a ruthless optimiser
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:38 (five years ago) link
agreed, i just didn't have adequate words.
― Swedes and Löw (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:42 (five years ago) link
I think that ecstacy's there in the Revie Leeds and maybe even in the current Iceland teams though [I dunno, maybe it's a different flavour that I can't really taste, I've never been one for the idea of 2playing football the right way" or whatevs]. The looks on the faces of the Icelanders when going down to that defeat against Nigeria, it was like they were waking up from a beautiful dream.
― Tim, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 08:44 (five years ago) link
bbc punditry on the spain game was absolutely insufferable.. "sure they pass well but where's the GOALZ0RRR?>!!?!?!"
*Narrator*: Spain won the group
also the completely inevitable moan that "it's such a shame that VAR has affected the outcome of this match" on the offside call in 92' - which VAR CORRECTED. apparently it's quite alright if an assistant ref affects the outcome of a match. but once you double check it the World Cup is ruined.
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 10:28 (five years ago) link
Stopping the other team scoring seems to be more of a problem for Spain at the moment.
― womp womp that sucker (Tom D.), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 10:47 (five years ago) link
In the other game they kept banging on about how Portugal needed to win the group to avoid Uruguay but I'm not sure playing the host nation next is particularly preferable.
― groovypanda, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 10:50 (five years ago) link
I think it is. Uruguay know how to get a job done. Russia are pretty much done for the WC.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:12 (five years ago) link
Really mad I missed the 2nd half the Iran Portugal because I convinced myself that Quaresma's goal pretty much doomed Iran, so I went to a yoga class. I should give the whole 'taking care of myself' thing a rest for a while.
Saw the highlights but I really wanted the full VAR effect in real time.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:15 (five years ago) link
Yeah but on only four occasions (out of 21) have the hosts failed to get to the quarter finals at least (and 13 times they've gone on to the semis or more) so I wouldn't be writing Russia off just yet xp
― groovypanda, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:23 (five years ago) link
host nations have tended to be good at football though. is it only south africa that are def worse? obv 2002 was fruity but I'd still take those teams over this russia team
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:38 (five years ago) link
oh the USA mb, the only thing I remember about 94 was the penalty shoot out
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:39 (five years ago) link
USA, Mexico (a couple of times)?
― womp womp that sucker (Tom D.), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:40 (five years ago) link
Overhearing a guy in the pub garden yesterday during Uru-Rus explaining yto his gf/wife that the kremlin had bought up all the refs and was rigging the whole competition. And that the russian sending off and comfortable win for uruguay was just a twist in the scheme, that obviously putin wanted russia to lose this one.
Weird thing was, I picked up no sense of indignation, or even resignation from this guy. He just seemed to think it was the most normal thing in the world, of course russia hosting the world cup would try and rig it. You've got to respect the local culture and all.
― A Warning to the Karius (Bananaman Begins), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:44 (five years ago) link
tbc: qatar
xp
― I'd Rather Kecak (NickB), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:46 (five years ago) link
South Africa only host not to get out of their group.
Then USA & Japan only hosts to lose first knockout game (Spain also failed to get past second round but that was when there was a second group phase with the four winners advancing to semis) xps
― groovypanda, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:48 (five years ago) link
Its done with the sense of this secret knowledge. Had someone at work who said the Premier League champions were all decided in advance and would bore on about it (was sacked by the time Leicester won it so I don't know how he'd explain that). And you always have the guy who is telling you Nadal and Barcelona are on the good stuff too, just a different species of all sport is fake but I know. It goes into politica of course but I'll stop there. xps
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:50 (five years ago) link
Yeah but on only four occasions (out of 21) have the hosts failed to get to the quarter finals at least (and 13 times they've gone on to the semis or more) so I wouldn't be writing Russia off just yet xp― groovypanda, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― groovypanda, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
btw, 4/21 is often enough. I would say if Russia were facing Portugal they'd have 40% chance. Against Spain its half that. Like, VAR would have to get involved *puts sunglasses on*
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:58 (five years ago) link
He just seemed to think it was the most normal thing in the world, of course russia hosting the world cup would try and rig it. You've got to respect the local culture and all.
Can't really blame the guy. Platini recently admitted they rigged the draw @France1998 tot give the host nation a better fate. France won that WC.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 12:32 (five years ago) link
Seeding the host nation no matter how shit they are basically is rigging it in their favour, it's just that it's accepted within the rules.
I might have backed Russia to squeak through against Portugal somehow, just because Portugal look kind of shambolic right now. Spain have done as well but but Russia don't look like a team set up to defend so they should rip right through them. Wouldn't bet against there being four or five goals though.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 13:20 (five years ago) link
I heard the Platini thing but without looking it up I don't see how that is rigging it. If you aren't very good you don't get through. That team went onto win the Euros and a few of them got a last hurrah in '06.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 13:49 (five years ago) link
If manipulating a draw isn't rigging, then I don't know what is. Of course it won't guarantee a desired outcome, but it's rigging regardless.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:03 (five years ago) link
The act in the first instance is rigging but I am not sure how effective it really was. Is Platini a master in 12 dimensional chess to map out this 'easier route' or something? Just want to see it more mapped out, is all.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:08 (five years ago) link
Meanwhile Group C is drawing to a boring conclusion. Somebody stop Danishes and Australians, can't we rig this tournament to allow Peru through?!
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:11 (five years ago) link
there should be a thing like in australian masterchef where contestants who've been kicked out suddenly reappear at a later stage
― mark s, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:13 (five years ago) link
I approve.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:18 (five years ago) link
Peru have just scored a cracking goal: 1-0
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:19 (five years ago) link
The Watford lads are doing well. Superb goal from Carillo.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:19 (five years ago) link
that was a great volley
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:19 (five years ago) link
beautiful goal from peru, only costa rica haven't scored now!
― nxd, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:25 (five years ago) link
love a full stretch tackle like that
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 14:36 (five years ago) link
now this could be our first 0-0, we are blessed.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:09 (five years ago) link
Just got home in time to see Guerrero make it 2-0
― Swedes and Löw (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:09 (five years ago) link
That’s a great story if nothing else.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:10 (five years ago) link
he hooked that finish impressively
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:11 (five years ago) link
now they're dusting off tim cahill
Getting through because Peru wins is pretty much perfect.
― Frederik B, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:11 (five years ago) link
And now here's Cahill's swan song
― Swedes and Löw (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:12 (five years ago) link
Nice deflection - anything to make aussies suffer more.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:21 (five years ago) link
Won't be sorry to see the back of this group. It might actually be worse than Group A.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:26 (five years ago) link
xp ah was that what it was, ok. australia have been as expected this tournament but arzani looks good
― ogmor, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:28 (five years ago) link
Yeah weird little deflection.
Real shame Peru never had their finishing boots on against Denmark. My only joy out of this is seeing Aussies finish bottom.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:31 (five years ago) link
Peru should be given a wildcard "moral victors" pass to the next round
― Swedes and Löw (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:33 (five years ago) link
hope Nigeria win the group if they still can, then beat Denmark (98 revenge)
― nashwan, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:33 (five years ago) link
why is the Aussie kit all yellow? There is no yellow in their flag I don't get it.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:35 (five years ago) link
Nigeria would have to overturn a five-goal deficit on Croatia, which seems unlikely unless we are due the most hilarious night of our football-watching lives.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:36 (five years ago) link
Yellow and green are Australia's sporting colours - football, rugby, athletics...
― womp womp that sucker (Tom D.), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link
... no idea why.
― womp womp that sucker (Tom D.), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 15:39 (five years ago) link