Post by: Ivophoto on July 06, 2018, 04:43:44 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180706/00ea6eb7f8ff6cb7fc3e39ceecfe005a.png)
⚽️⚽️
Post by: Manoli on July 06, 2018, 05:14:00 pm
I wasn’t sure if it would fit in Street showcase.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180706/00ea6eb7f8ff6cb7fc3e39ceecfe005a.png)
Congratulations to Belgium - a well deserved victory!
The way the results are coming through, I think there's every chance that this year we may well see a country, that has never before won the Wotld Cup, actually lift the trophy - it would be a refreshing change!
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 06, 2018, 05:43:57 pm
Post by: BernardLanguillier on July 10, 2018, 05:18:22 am
Congratulations to Belgium - a well deserved victory!
The way the results are coming through, I think there's every chance that this year we may well see a country, that has never before won the Wotld Cup, actually lift the trophy - it would be a refreshing change!
I certainly hope so, but the half of the draw where Belgium sits is much stronger than the other one.
Even if they were to win against France tonight, odds are they would then lose in the finals because of running our of mental juice. ;)
Anyway, I have never been that interested in soccer... but since Belgium is doing pretty well... ;D
Cheers,
Bernard
Post by: kers on July 10, 2018, 06:59:33 am
England and Croatia are less...
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2018, 07:14:19 am
I certainly hope so, but the half of the draw where Belgium sits is much stronger than the other one.
Even if they were to win against France tonight, odds are they would then lose in the finals because of running our of mental juice. ;)
Anyway, I have never been that interested in soccer... but since Belgium is doing pretty well... ;D
Cheers,
Bernard
"Anyway, I have never been that interested in soccer..."
Brother! At last we find no disagreement, hard as I may try!
:-)
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 10, 2018, 08:06:56 am
I'm the contrarian on this one. I pretty much have given up watching most American sports these days preferring to watch soccer (the real football). The nice thing about most European club matches is that they are on first thing in the morning and I have the rest of the day free. I don't think this year's World Cup has been as interesting as in past years but it's good to see Belgium and Croatia progress.
"Anyway, I have never been that interested in soccer..."
Brother! At last we find no disagreement, hard as I may try!
:-)
Post by: KLaban on July 10, 2018, 09:08:55 am
Love it.
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 10, 2018, 11:09:04 am
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2018, 12:16:12 pm
I'm the contrarian on this one. I pretty much have given up watching most American sports these days preferring to watch soccer (the real football). The nice thing about most European club matches is that they are on first thing in the morning and I have the rest of the day free. I don't think this year's World Cup has been as interesting as in past years but it's good to see Belgium and Croatia progress.
It's a minefield - God alone understands why - but I shall risk asking, anyway: on what grounds does it make any difference, unless, of course, you have money riding on it?
I feel zero connection with any so-called national sports teams. Or even club ones. LuLa is about as close as I can get to what I imagine may be the sense of "togetherness in this mess!" emotion, not that I'm suggesting for one moment that LuLa is a mess, but you get (I hope) my drift.
There is a conviction within me that every person is, ultimately, alone, a sensation felt especially powerfully when in crowds. Parents/children, bless us all, have a relationship born (NPI) of natural cause, and not one of selection or choice; would our parents really have chosen us, the model they produced, if they'd had ultimate control? Would we have chosen us ourselves, given those options?
I find that more interesting to ponder than kicking a globe through a space between two sticks.
;-(
Post by: Robert Roaldi on July 10, 2018, 12:48:50 pm
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 10, 2018, 01:04:51 pm
It's a minefield - God alone understands why - but I shall risk asking, anyway: on what grounds does it make any difference, unless, of course, you have money riding on it?My support always goes to The Netherlands who with the great Cruyff revolutionized football in the early 1970s. Unfortunately, they did not qualify this year so I had to look for another team. I detest England and was surprised that they made it this far. I like small nations such as Holland who are able to field good football teams pretty consistently (they have made three WC finals and a couple of additional semifinals) so that's the principal reason for pulling for Croatia and Belgium.
I enjoy watching football and the WC presents a big buffet from which to choose from. I think I've watched over 80% of the matches in this tournament (it helps being retired).
Post by: Manoli on July 10, 2018, 01:58:44 pm
Post by: KLaban on July 10, 2018, 02:57:27 pm
Stores will be closing early if we reach the final. Come on England!
;-)
Post by: kers on July 10, 2018, 06:04:25 pm
Dembele was not playing well, Lukaku was not focussed enough... too bad. Enjoyed the Belgium team.
Mertens should have played from the beginning ( for Dembele). He played very well.
my take :
France 1
Croatia 2
Belgium3
England 4
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 10, 2018, 06:10:19 pm
We have the best league in the world, witness all the players from around the world playing in the Premier League. That said I'm a realist, as much as I would love to see an English victory the reality is one of the teams playing as I type will probably end up as world champions, but I hope I'm wrong.Only because of the huge amount of television money that each Premier League team gets and the high level of foreign ownership (which is not permitted in some other leagues such as the Bundesliga). Players go where the money is and that destination is England.
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 04:23:06 am
Only because of the huge amount of television money that each Premier League team gets and the high level of foreign ownership (which is not permitted in some other leagues such as the Bundesliga). Players go where the money is and that destination is England.
Good on 'em.
They can go to the USA when they're past their sell by date.
Post by: kers on July 11, 2018, 06:56:31 am
They can go to the USA when they're past their sell by date.
Or the oil states or China...
-
Murdoch is a clever business men.
By spending so much money on TV-rights of the Premier League he made the competition at the same time more valuable/ profitable.
Clubs can now spend enormous amounts of money on players.
Result is that in Europe the competition is hardly fair.
In Holland for example the best players leave the clubs and country at an age under 20 making millions in Spain and the UK; our competition level sinks lower and lower.
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 07:21:57 am
There is also a downside for the English born, particularly younger players who find it difficult to break into first team football because of all the competition from foreign players and this also has a negative effect on the national side.
But hey, who said life is fair?
;-)
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 07:33:14 am
Good on 'em.My home town club, DC United, just spent a bunch of money to get Wayne Rooney from Everton. The only Euro player who has been a standout in our league has been Giovinco but he came over when he was still young and a good player.
They can go to the USA when they're past their sell by date.
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 07:36:58 am
I have Dutch friends who are in despair. But it's not just the English league that attracts the top players, Spain, France, Italy, all are drawing talent from elsewhere, chasing the money.Most of us Dutch club supporters (Ajax are my club and have been since the days of Cruyff) cannot wait for Brexit so that English teams can no longer poach U-18 talent. By my count Ajax have lost almost a dozen youth players over the last several years to English teams. Most of these players don't make it with the original club (maybe Fosu-Mensah can make ManU's first team but I'm not so sure). They go to Chelsea or one of the other teams, get loaned out and ultimately find some second rate team to play for. they would have been better off staying at Ajax and getting first team football.
There is also a downside for the English born, particularly younger players who find it difficult to break into first team football because of all the competition from foreign players and this also has a negative effect on the national side.
But hey, who said life is fair?
;-)
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 07:46:58 am
Most of us Dutch club supporters (Ajax are my club and have been since the days of Cruyff) cannot wait for Brexit so that English teams can no longer poach U-18 talent. By my count Ajax have lost almost a dozen youth players over the last several years to English teams. Most of these players don't make it with the original club (maybe Fosu-Mensah can make ManU's first team but I'm not so sure). They go to Chelsea or one of the other teams, get loaned out and ultimately find some second rate team to play for. they would have been better off staying at Ajax and getting first team football.
Second rate players tend to end up playing in second rate teams in second rate leagues.
Suck it up, life ain't fair.
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 07:55:05 am
Second rate players tend to end up playing in second rate teams in second rate leagues.No doubt. Ajax still have a great youth academy and there are more academy players on first division Euro teams than from any other. UEFA have to step in an enforce Financial Fair Play to more than just AC Milan. It will be interesting to see what happens with Paris Saint Germain now that they have to finalize the payment for Mbappe and pay off Monaco. I don't think they can keep both him and Neymar with their current financial situation without selling a lot of players. UEFA also have to establish firm rules against the stockpiling of players. It's ridiculous that Chelsea have so many players under first team contracts and then go an loan twenty or so out each year. the Champions League is becoming a joke and television ratings are down in almost all the countries other than England and Spain these days. that cannot be good in the long run.
Suck it up, life ain't fair.
Post by: Rob C on July 11, 2018, 08:01:05 am
No doubt. Ajax still have a great youth academy and there are more academy players on first division Euro teams than from any other. UEFA have to step in an enforce Financial Fair Play to more than just AC Milan. It will be interesting to see what happens with Paris Saint Germain now that they have to finalize the payment for Mbappe and pay off Monaco. I don't think they can keep both him and Neymar with their current financial situation without selling a lot of players. UEFA also have to establish firm rules against the stockpiling of players. It's ridiculous that Chelsea have so many players under first team contracts and then go an loan twenty or so out each year. the Champions League is becoming a joke and television ratings are down in almost all the countries other than England and Spain these days. that cannot be good in the long run.
Good in the long run?
Migrants are worth more angst, sweat and discussion!
Post by: kers on July 11, 2018, 08:02:49 am
Second rate players tend to end up playing in second rate teams in second rate leagues..
Even the very best players end up as -reserve- at the wealthy teams; not playing very much or at all- too bad.
Post by: kers on July 11, 2018, 08:09:32 am
Migrants are worth more angst, sweat and discussion!It was nice to see the match between Poland and Senegal.
Poland refuses to take migrants ( as is Hungary) and seem to be especially afraid of migrants that are muslims...
But seeing the match ; they could use some players from Senegal that were much better at the game.
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 08:12:44 am
Poland refuses to take migrants ( as is Hungary) and seem to be especially afraid of migrants that are muslims...Senegal were fun to watch. Some Euro countries have done a good job of integrating migrants into the youth football programs. Dutch born Moroccans have done well football wise. Germany have had several players of Turkish descent on their NT.
But seeing the match ; they could use some players from Senegal that were much better at the game.
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 08:15:45 am
Even the very best players end up as -reserve- at the wealthy teams; not playing very much or at all- too bad.
The very best players play.
There are very good players who accept that the very best teams consist of more than 11 players and want to be a part of that, to compete for their place in the very best teams and become one of the very best players. If they're not happy they should move on to other very good teams who would welcome them and give them more playing time.
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 08:20:34 am
There are very good players who accept that the very best teams consist of more than 11 players and want to be a part of that, to compete for their place in the very best teams and become one of the very best players. If they're not happy they should move on to other very good teams who would welcome them and give them more playing time.Or they can do just what Winston Bogarde did while at Chelsea; show up for training and collect his paycheck realizing he was not going to ever see first team football. ;D
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 08:29:40 am
;-)
Post by: Manoli on July 11, 2018, 11:55:00 am
... the advantage of England’s canny strategic defeat to Belgium in the group stages may be even clearer. After all, rather than face France in the last four, England take on Croatia, a side that only crawled past Denmark and Russia, emerging from the quarter-finals as battered as a London ambulance.
“We’ve played five difficult games, they’ve taken their toll,” conceded Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic. “We’re tired but there can be no excuses,” he continued, resisting any temptation to contrast his side’s progress with that of England, who were given a bye in the last round when Sweden failed to show up. Instead Dalic urged his team to put on brave faces and hope they’re big enough to blot out Harry Maguire’s head. “We’ve analysed England, we know where the greatest danger is to us,” he chirped. “There is no reason to be nervous, we are relieved, without pressure, we have come to enjoy the semi-final. We have come to show our best game.” But that’s England’s plan, too, and while Croatia have more creativity in central midfield, Southgate has power, pace and a catchy song. Today, then, we get one step closer to finding out what is coming home: football, or flipall.
(quoted from the Fiver ..)
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 12:57:57 pm
In anticipation of tonight’s game:Does this mean England lay down and threw the match to Belgium? Horrors!
... the advantage of England’s canny strategic defeat to Belgium in the group stages may be even clearer. After all, rather than face France in the last four, England take on Croatia, a side that only crawled past Denmark and Russia, emerging from the quarter-finals as battered as a London ambulance.
Post by: Manoli on July 11, 2018, 01:50:31 pm
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on July 11, 2018, 03:56:45 pm
The Fiver is full of English humorous sarcasm, Alan - not the moment to underestimate Croatia !!England look a shambles going into extra time.
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 11, 2018, 04:37:37 pm
Post by: KLaban on July 11, 2018, 04:46:48 pm
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 11, 2018, 05:10:53 pm
Post by: kers on July 12, 2018, 03:57:41 am
I was sorry to see Belgium go, I'll miss watching De Bruyne and Hazard in particular, but had they won I'd have missed the opportunity to see Pogba, Matuidi and Mbappe in the final against England.
;-)
England gets a new opportunity to show it is better than Belgium...
But i don't think so...
Post by: stamper on July 12, 2018, 04:56:37 am
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on July 12, 2018, 05:03:47 am
After last nights result I have canceled my trip to Dignitas.
Bloody Scots. Take your damn country ;)
Jeremy
Post by: stamper on July 12, 2018, 05:07:58 am
Bloody Scots. Take your damn country ;)
Jeremy
I will be reporting you to the moderator....oops you are the moderator. :)
Post by: KLaban on July 12, 2018, 05:35:20 am
England gets a new opportunity to show it is better than Belgium...
But i don't think so...
...but they're a damn sight better than Holland...
;-)
Post by: KLaban on July 12, 2018, 05:37:04 am
After last nights result I have canceled my trip to Dignitas.
Should you change your mind I'm sure we could pass the hat around here for your fare.
;-)
Post by: stamper on July 12, 2018, 05:40:07 am
Post by: kers on July 12, 2018, 05:52:44 am
...but they're a damn sight better than Holland...
;-)
Mertens, Chadli, Vertongen, dembéle, Vermaelen and Alderweireld all played in their younger years in the Dutch competition.
So the Dutch have some special feelings for Belgium by lack of a Dutch team.
But I was just looking at the football quality itself not at nationalities... for me the Belgium team is better team and plays an attractive type of football.
Even France decided to play defensive against them... and it worked out alas...
Post by: KLaban on July 12, 2018, 06:04:03 am
Mertens, Chadli, Vertongen, dembéle, Vermaelen and Alderweireld all played in their younger years in the Dutch competition.
So the Dutch have some special feelings for Belgium by lack of a Dutch team.
But I was just looking at the football quality itself not at nationalities... for me the Belgium team is better team and plays an attractive type of football.
Even France decided to play defensive against them... and it worked out alas...
I've nothing but respect for the Belgium team.
Post by: KLaban on July 14, 2018, 12:04:48 pm
Looking forward to the final.
Post by: kers on July 17, 2018, 04:49:15 am
Alas again with a lot of luck and some referee mistakes at the first two goals.
France played very defensive again and showed only a few minutes at 4-1 how they could have played if there was nothing at stake.
Too bad we have not seen a bit more of that.
Croatia played with their heart.
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 17, 2018, 11:32:35 am
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 19, 2018, 03:02:41 pm
... There is also a downside for the English born, particularly younger players who find it difficult to break into first team football because of all the competition from foreign players and this also has a negative effect on the national side....
Now, if I said what a liberal comedian said, I would be labeled a racist:
Trevor Noah defends 'Africa won the World Cup' joke
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44885923
A cartoon reposted by Noah:
Post by: Martin Kristiansen on July 20, 2018, 02:56:13 am
South African style standup can be extraordinarily blunt and takes a big stick to differences between races. Not all of it would travel well. Anyway I am totally on Trevor’s side with this one.