Well I hope everyone enjoyed getting a day off yesterday to spend some time with their nearest and dearest because today we’re back in business, it’s the World Cup second round… Day 15 Summary: Senegal’s yellow peril and a phoney war This years group phase was one of the best in the recent history of […]
Month: June 2018
England 0:1 Belgium- England lose phoney war
If I was being generous I’d describe this match as low key, as I’m being honest I’ll say it was dull. Having both already qualified England & Belgium made a combined 17 team changes, needless to say Kane, Hazard, Lingard, De Bruyne, Mertens and Sterling were not amongst the 5 retained with both managers thinking […]
World Cup Power Rankings (3)
How’s everyone doing in Russia and who’s already going home… World Cup Power Rankings (2) World Cup Power Rankings Croatia (+4) Team of the round! Croatia came through a tough group, humiliated one of football’s superpowers, even their much changed game 3 lineup looked cohesive. Warning- Croatia did similar things in the Euro 2016 group and […]
World Cup 2018: Day 15
Day 14 Review: Germany go down & Brazil march on Germany are out of the World Cup! For the fourth time in five World Cup’s the holders have gone out in the group phase. Where did it all go wrong for Germany? Germany as their manager was quick to point didn’t deserve to qualify and […]
Where did it all go wrong for Germany?
So it’s official Germany are out of the World Cup. The curse of champions has struck again and Germany follow France, Italy & Spain in following World Cup triumph with indignity of a group stage exit four years later. But how did it come to this? Are there similarities with those fallen champions of the […]
World Cup 2018: Day 14
Day 13 Review: Rojo rescues Argentina Argentina made it, just. Needing to beat Nigeria in front of a partisan crowd Argentina got a perfect start from their main man when Ever Banega’s brilliant deep ball picked out Messi who’s angled drive handed Argentina the lead. But Nigeria with their punchy midfield trio weren’t going away […]
England’s Group Finale Record: They rarely lose!
That’s the good news! England usually need a result from their last game and they generally get it. This time it’s a dead rubber against Belgium but as we’ll see England are currently enjoying a rare luxury. England’s World Cup openers: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly England’s 2nd Game Record: Good Times, Bad Times… […]
World Cup 2018: Day 13
Day 12 review: VARcical scenes in Saransk Groups A & B closed yesterday with Spain advancing to play Russia and Uruguay booking a showdown with Portugal, but the headlines were made by farcical scenes in Portugal’s game with Iran. With both teams holding qualification hopes it was Portugal who made the better start and veteran […]
World Cup Power Rankings (2)
Here are the updated power rankings based on the first 2 games of the World Cup, this doesn’t mean Russia are favourites but it does reflect performances to date. World Cup Power Rankings Russia (+1) Excellent again, Egypt minus Mo Salah aren’t the toughest opponents but Russia’s pace and fearless attacking play has taken everyone by […]
World Cup 2018: Day 12
Day 11 Review: England discover the Joy of Six and Colombia send Poland packing After Belgium had thrown down the gauntlet in Group G with their 5 goal performance on Saturday, England picked it up with 6 of their own against hapless Panama. John Stones’ started the rout with a header after 6 minutes before […]