World Cup 2018

[Mike E]

So far a fantastic World Cup, loads of upsets!

[matt83]

I enjoyed that result more than most after the shit I was getting for England not winning between 35 mins and 90+1 yesterday. I did fear a late equaliser. Can’t even beat Senegal.

[Audax]

I've got to think Russia will roll on versus Egypt though, I'd welcome an Egypt win. Some Salah magic would be great to see.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Audax

[Husky]

Come on Russia. Do it for Europe and the World Cup tournament at large!

[ChrisPriceBaldSpot]

Come on Mo and co throw this group wide open as well. 2-1 Egypt 

[ChrisPriceBaldSpot]

Just wet shaved my head, come downstairs and seen Danny Murphy! God I hate myself. 

[philipl]

Group H the wide open anyone can beat anyone group.

Come on Egypt!

[JHRover]

Gary Lineker introduces BBC coverage of this game by saying 'good news, Mo Salah starts for Egypt'.

I don't see why it is 'good news' that the best player in a rival team is fit to start. At this stage it is more of an irrelevance to England what Egypt do but I wouldn't describe it as 'good news' any more than I would consider the absence of Messi, Griezmann or Ronaldo to be beneficial to our chances of being successful.

The BBC seem utterly obsessed with pushing the Premier League product by giving massively disproportionate amounts of coverage to players who are regulars in England, presumably because they think the majority of those watching are only interested in Premier League players or only understand it if there is reference to 'famous names'

Personally one of the things that makes the World Cup worth watching is daily exposure to different players and countries to the same old faces from the Premier League, I'm certainly not getting excited that Salah is fit to play for Egypt so we can all pay homage to him and his goalscoring last season for Liverpool.

[Garage Flower]

3 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Gary Lineker introduces BBC coverage of this game by saying 'good news, Mo Salah starts for Egypt'.

I don't see why it is 'good news' that the best player in a rival team is fit to start. At this stage it is more of an irrelevance to England what Egypt do but I wouldn't describe it as 'good news' any more than I would consider the absence of Messi, Griezmann or Ronaldo to be beneficial to our chances of being successful.

The BBC seem utterly obsessed with pushing the Premier League product by giving massively disproportionate amounts of coverage to players who are regulars in England, presumably because they think the majority of those watching are only interested in Premier League players or only understand it if there is reference to 'famous names'

Personally one of the things that makes the World Cup worth watching is daily exposure to different players and countries to the same old faces from the Premier League, I'm certainly not getting excited that Salah is fit to play for Egypt so we can all pay homage to him and his goalscoring last season for Liverpool.

It’s because good footballers are exciting to watch mate. 

[JBiz]

3 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Gary Lineker introduces BBC coverage of this game by saying 'good news, Mo Salah starts for Egypt'.

I don't see why it is 'good news' that the best player in a rival team is fit to start. At this stage it is more of an irrelevance to England what Egypt do but I wouldn't describe it as 'good news' any more than I would consider the absence of Messi, Griezmann or Ronaldo to be beneficial to our chances of being successful.

The BBC seem utterly obsessed with pushing the Premier League product by giving massively disproportionate amounts of coverage to players who are regulars in England, presumably because they think the majority of those watching are only interested in Premier League players or only understand it if there is reference to 'famous names'

Personally one of the things that makes the World Cup worth watching is daily exposure to different players and countries to the same old faces from the Premier League, I'm certainly not getting excited that Salah is fit to play for Egypt so we can all pay homage to him and his goalscoring last season for Liverpool.

He’s one of the best players in the world at the moment, the beauty of the World Cup, it puts club football aside. For me at least.

Ofcourse it’s good news for any neutral to watch a game with the best players. On reflection, he’s not made much difference first half though, but both teams have had poor final ball or cross.

[JHRover]

Just now, Garage Flower said:

It’s because good footballers are exciting to watch mate. 

This isn't exciting to watch, its been garbage and I can't imagine it could have been much worse without him and all the hype.

[Stuart]

11 hours ago, Hasta said:

 

There wasn't an absence of VAR. It was reviewed by the officials in Moscow and decided it wasn't a penalty. It clearly was. 

VAR will stamp out the contentious decisions. Like hell it will.

Throw in the Argentina penalty not given as I said before and you've got blatant decisions not being given.

Once upon a time you would say the referee can't see everything and doesn't have 50 angles like the TV viewer. They've taken that excuse away now so they simply have to get the decisions correct. When they don't it's actually worse than it was before.

But it will expose bias.

The officials last night conspired to cheat.

Almost certainly because it was England.

[jim mk2]

17 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Gary Lineker introduces BBC coverage of this game by saying 'good news, Mo Salah starts for Egypt'.

I don't see why it is 'good news' that the best player in a rival team is fit to start. At this stage it is more of an irrelevance to England what Egypt do but I wouldn't describe it as 'good news' any more than I would consider the absence of Messi, Griezmann or Ronaldo to be beneficial to our chances of being successful.

The BBC seem utterly obsessed with pushing the Premier League product by giving massively disproportionate amounts of coverage to players who are regulars in England, presumably because they think the majority of those watching are only interested in Premier League players or only understand it if there is reference to 'famous names'

Personally one of the things that makes the World Cup worth watching is daily exposure to different players and countries to the same old faces from the Premier League, I'm certainly not getting excited that Salah is fit to play for Egypt so we can all pay homage to him and his goalscoring last season for Liverpool.

 

Leave off. Salah playing is good for him after his bad injury and good for the tournament.

England won't win it or probably even get to the last 8 and are perfectly capable of cocking it up through sheer ineptitude - with or without Salah playing

[JHRover]

Just now, jim mk2 said:

 

Leave off. Salah playing is good for him after his bad injury and good for the tournament.

England won't win it or probably even get to the last 8 and are perfectly capable of cocking it up through sheer ineptitude - with or without Salah playing

Every tournament we get the same thing, and I find it very boring. Hysteria over certain players and making all the focus about Premier League stars.

Anyway, Russia winning so I'm happy with that.

[perthblue02]

Shove in the back of Egyptian defender before the ball deflected off his knee? , no VAR? or are they afraid to use it

[Tom]

Shocking defending and Russia lead 

[jim mk2]

Just now, JHRover said:

Every tournament we get the same thing, and I find it very boring. Hysteria over certain players and making all the focus about Premier League stars.

Anyway, Russia winning so I'm happy with that.

 

Focusing on a key player and relating him to England's non-chances is equally boring

[Husky]

Haha. I guess that's what you get when you're more obsessed with shirt pulling than the ball.

Go go Russia.

[K-Hod]

3-0 now ?

[DE.]

Amazing how a Russian team who couldn't play worth a damn before the tournament are suddenly apparently one of the best teams in the competition. Granted they've played two horrendous teams, but it's funny how both have basically rolled over for the hosts.

[Husky]

This is putting BS friendlies into perspective.

What a credit these hosts are to the WC. Gooooooooollllllls.

[Audax]

Now, it's Russia 20-0.... just kidding all....

[perthblue02]

Just now, DE. said:

Amazing how a Russian team who couldn't play worth a damn before the tournament are suddenly apparently one of the best teams in the competition. Granted they've played two horrendous teams, but it's funny how both have basically rolled over for the hosts.

A couple of men dressed in bio hazard suits  had a word with both opposition teams  at half time

[Tom]

VAR works well again 

Get in Salah, delighted for him 

[Ewood Ace]

You have to laugh at the at the BBC coverage it is so anti-Russian that it is embarrassing.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Ewood Ace