wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 9, 2018 11:12:35 GMT
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 6:39:19 GMT
Here we go - first semi-final.
France v Belgium 19.00 (GMT)
Should be a great game, lots of class players on both sides. Really looking forward it.
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 6:54:44 GMT
Small observation, the use of VAR seems to have dropped a lot since certain countries exited the stage.
|
|
craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
|
Post by craftykitten on Jul 10, 2018 17:49:01 GMT
Small observation, the use of VAR seems to have dropped a lot since certain countries exited the stage. What a coincidence Just settling down with a beer and dinner to watch the France/Belgium game. Should be good!
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 18:12:46 GMT
For the last few matches dd has taken great delight in spotting a Japanese flag in the crowd (Japan were never playing) Sure enough, she's spotted the Japanese flag again.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Jul 10, 2018 18:14:51 GMT
So who do we think is going to win tonight?
|
|
|
Post by Saff on Jul 10, 2018 18:16:54 GMT
France
|
|
|
Post by gar on Jul 10, 2018 18:17:37 GMT
I thin Belgium - but they seem closely matched!
|
|
sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,407
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
|
Post by sueg on Jul 10, 2018 18:20:41 GMT
I think this is going to be tight - we might be looking at penalties again. I am slightly leaning towards Belgium.
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 18:40:13 GMT
This is end to end stuff.
|
|
imsirius
Prolific Pea
Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
|
Post by imsirius on Jul 10, 2018 18:45:47 GMT
Go France!
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 18:46:34 GMT
Already half time, that seems to have come about quickly.
|
|
imsirius
Prolific Pea
Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
|
Post by imsirius on Jul 10, 2018 18:56:17 GMT
Fast paced game with plenty of scoring chances!
No drama either ๐๐๐
|
|
|
Post by gar on Jul 10, 2018 18:57:28 GMT
A couple of great saves each end - gonna be a goal soon!
|
|
|
Post by Saff on Jul 10, 2018 19:11:05 GMT
Go France
|
|
|
Post by gar on Jul 10, 2018 19:55:05 GMT
So I was wrong! Full on game!
|
|
|
Post by Saff on Jul 10, 2018 19:57:33 GMT
England - France final?
|
|
craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
|
Post by craftykitten on Jul 10, 2018 20:01:58 GMT
Wheeeeeew. What a game! I did feel sorry for Belgium at the end but both teams played really well.
Slightly disappointed with Mbappe at the end, his age and inexperience showed I thought. Not to take away from his performance though, he's an incredible player.
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2018 20:02:44 GMT
Well done France. A game full of action. Great French defence.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Jul 10, 2018 20:06:00 GMT
That's what I'm hoping to see.
|
|
|
Post by sleepingbooty on Jul 10, 2018 20:24:33 GMT
Me before the match: I'll post something in the WC thread on NSBR at some point *turns on laptop* Me at the start of the match: Ok then, not right now Me at half-time: I am alive. I am alive? Maybe I'm alive. Maybe? NSBwho? NSBwhat? Me in the final minutes: Oh no. There goes the little of the French reputation that was left. Yep. There it goes. We're going to be the dirty players who wasted the final minutes. Mbappรฉ's going to go from king to Neymar JrJr. Oh dear. Me when the match ended: I am alive. I am alive? I *think* I am. Me ten minutes later: Why's my laptop on? Oh. OH! Woops.
Well, France was going for the record of missed goals. Got one. Parked the bus and waited it out. I guess it's not the most exciting strategy for the final 15-20min of the match but it is what it is. Trying to judge the game objectively (like that's ever possible), I do feel like Belgium struggled way more (than before, than expected). Commiserations Belgian team. You had a beautiful run in this WC and it truly felt odd playing against our beloved neighbours. The ref was questionable at times (not booking when booking was needed, booking retroactively on a couple of actions that didn't need booking) but it didn't seem out of balance although I'm sure I'll hear about that foul on Hazard for years to come.
Off to soak up some atmosphere in the streets now. It's not too wild but we'd love to find a place to have a celebratory late evening drink.
Man of the match in my eyes: Varane and his head defense
|
|
imsirius
Prolific Pea
Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
|
Post by imsirius on Jul 10, 2018 20:42:43 GMT
That's what I'm hoping to see. Me too!
|
|
AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
|
Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jul 10, 2018 21:30:01 GMT
|
|
|
Post by sleepingbooty on Jul 11, 2018 7:42:03 GMT
Next match, please! I was joking a few days ago that we should have something Croatian and something British for today. Looks like that's happening! We're cooking mussels the Croatian way (with white wine, garlic and breadcrumbs) for dinner but we're having British dessert since I was given some organic rhubarb at the co-op earlier this week (rhubarb Eton mess). I'll totally cheat by buying the meringues at the bakery on the way home though...
How's everyone feeling? I know this thread is greatly dominated by English supporters so I'm guessing the nerves for most of you will grow crescendo as the day goes on...
Any bets on the final score?
|
|
|
Post by gillyp on Jul 11, 2018 8:04:13 GMT
2-1 England.
|
|
|
Post by peasapie on Jul 11, 2018 8:04:16 GMT
That was a great game. I think France deserved to win, solidly. Belgium played well, did their best, but France outplayed them. I wish my husband liked soccer - and so glad some of my NSBR friends do.
|
|
craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
|
Post by craftykitten on Jul 11, 2018 8:08:14 GMT
I think we can do it! I'll go with gillyp and say 2-1. This world cup has been a bit of a revelation for me because I really don't watch football normally. But I am home recovering from my surgery and it has been a great distraction. Also, I never really realised that my OH liked watching it either (I don't know what we were doing four years ago in the last one!) and we have discussions about tactics and styles of play...its amazing how much more interesting it is when you start to understand it a bit more. Is this how it starts? Am I going to become obsessed? Have I got to pick a premiership team to support now? ๐๐๐
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 11, 2018 8:10:08 GMT
The TV and radio coverage is off the scale, people are bubbling over with excitement. Fans are hightailing it to Moscow by any means possible, the numbers were down as a result of the problems with Russian fans in France in 2016.
Although England LOVES football they have not had great luck on the international stage and the fans are really hoping for a good result.
|
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,012
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 11, 2018 8:13:50 GMT
I think we can do it! I'll go with gillyp and say 2-1. This world cup has been a bit of a revelation for me because I really don't watch football normally. But I am home recovering from my surgery and it has been a great distraction. Also, I never really realised that my OH liked watching it either (I don't know what we were doing four years ago in the last one!) and we have discussions about tactics and styles of play...its amazing how much more interesting it is when you start to understand it a bit more. Is this how it starts? Am I going to become obsessed? Have I got to pick a premiership team to support now? ๐๐๐
Yes, you are a lost cause now Your nearest PL team would have put you through the wringer last season, hopefully that was just a blip and they will get their act together this coming season.
|
|
sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,407
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
|
Post by sueg on Jul 11, 2018 8:14:40 GMT
its amazing how much more interesting it is when you start to understand it a bit more. Is this how it starts? Am I going to become obsessed? Have I got to pick a premiership team to support now? I knew very little about the game when I moved to Germany at the start of 2010. My sons followed the EPL as best they could, given time differences between Australia and England, and we had several World Cup parties at our house during the 2006 tournament, but I was mostly 'so, is the green team winning?' Then came the 2010 WC, and we were invited to a Public Viewing - Germany vs Australia. I started to recognise names. The German Bundesliga season started, and I learned some German, and could read the newspaper headlines. A work colleague of DH loaned us his FC Bayern season tickets so we could go to a game. It is a slippery slope! We now have Sky TV so DH can watch the games every weekend and I usually watch too. I recognise names of players from the BL in various teams in the WC - not just Bayern players or the German team. I pace the floor when there is a penalty shootout involving any team I have an interest in. And that also explains why, with Germany out, I am following France - the one FCB player left in the tournament is French!
|
|