Arena The *Official* 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread

True but that ignores the Kane miss and the occasion Sterling should have squared it.


both teams had chances to win. Croatia took theirs and we didn't. Their goals were by virtue of a lapse of concentration at the back and them being clinical. We failed because although we created the chance we weren't clinical





an hour on and after reflection the result is fair (just) it still hurts as we are a better a team and squad but there is no doubting they do have a couple of players who are far better than anything we currently have to offer (Modric for example)




If Croatia win I will have no objections, they have had an excellent world cup



But still well done England, lets not mess up as we move into Euro 2020

 

England had every chance in the first half to make at least 2 more goals. And what happened to England on the second half?

France has 9 fingers on the trophy already. Croatia is good but should be no match for France, who is coming from a much harder group.

 

That was gutsiest campaign we've had in years. Losing is a bummer but Southgate's built a tougher, more ambitious squad and for the first time in a very long while I've got hope in the future of the squad.

 

The guy turns out to be American. And his dog is called Leia!

 

I had a lovely night at the theatre. I joined in, got on stage for skit. Lovely time. How was your night?

 

hush fish





//grumpy and now a bit(very) tiddly

 

Depends on if you're going to show us the skit.

 

Didn't France have nine fingers on the trophy two years ago, as well, against a less talented Portugal side, who were underwhelming throughout the tournament. Especially with France playing at home?

 

Imagine Modric, off the back of winning his 4th Champions League title (and 3rd in a row) also walking away a World Cup Winner.

That's one Hell of a year.

Living the Cristiano Ronaldo dream.


I guess the same applies to Varane, although he's not been as consistent in playing for Madrid as Modric

 

@halibut please update your sig to “on my knees, worshipping World Cup Finalist Dejan L”

He was immense in this game, btw.

@FatBurt don’t do it to yourself. It’s England, and this was a statistical outlier. they’ll revert to norm.

 

Dejan was a dirty bastard in this game and got away with a lot of sly digs.


When he wasn't being a dirty bastard he was indeed very impressive.





Whilst this is indeed a statistical outlier or anomaly. This team could go on to do well in the future and get better and considering what our under 21's and below have done the future is bright.


We just need to figure out how to maximise what we have effectively. Southgate has surprised me and actually gives me a faint belief that there could be something there.

The pragmatist and pessimist in me says don't be stupid but I know full well that if we make it to the later stages in 2020 I'll foolishly get overconfident again and be hurt.

again





We do however need the media to not overblow ourselves in 2020. We've had a decent world cup by recent standards, let the team develop and grow please.

 

Lovren’s sly digs were something I liked. He’s usually a bit soft for my liking, but none of that tonight. He had Kane in his pocket, and long may it continue.

And good luck with the press. They’ll build up ridiculously, they’re ****ing ****s.

 

And if Croatia win Lovren can have bragging rights over the world's most expensive defender, who had to sit at home & watch the whole thing.

 

As you wish xxx

 

Modric. What an amazing player!

 

Well, England: you were eliminated, you know what you have to do... #FIFAxit

 

I love Jon Bois.

I don't like England losing At least I got a great shepherd's pie out of it.

For Sunday, it's strukli. Go Croatia.

 

Wanted to see (very) old school colonial superpowers cup final battle but I'm definitely pulling for France now. (France and England biggest powers that established Canada so best I got) Via la France!

Semi-related from a few world cups ago, me and my friends were in Las Vegas and we're talking a cab and chatting about the cup matches that would happen the next day and the cabbie said "Are you guys Canadian?" And we asked how did he know? And he said "Because you're talking about soccer and you don't have accents."

 

The cave divers in Thailand have offered their services to try and find Harry Kane, who went missing for the last hour of a world cup semi-final.

 

Like halibut I also said England vs Belgium. I didn't think it would be for third place though!

 

This is boring now.

 

I'll be cheering for England to beat Belgium. Otherwise the whole EU will be pointing and laughing.

 

Hey, we can already make Brexit jokes about what happened with Croatia. Belgium winning won't change things