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Post by Panda on Jun 14, 2018 18:07:09 GMT 1
Would I be right in saying that this is the first time Saudi Arabia have faced a team ranked below them in a World Cup match? I suspect they might have been ranked higher than Morocco when they played them in 1994.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 14, 2018 18:07:32 GMT 1
I think it's fair to say that Russia are only ranked below the Saudis because they haven't played a competitive match for two years. Bear in mind, of course, that they qualified comfortably ahead of the 2022 hosts.
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Post by Panda on Jun 14, 2018 18:09:24 GMT 1
A quick check suggests Saudi weren't ranked above Morocco in 1994 (but were after the tournament, having reached the last 16).
And they were ranked below South Africa in 1998 as well.
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Post by o on Jun 14, 2018 22:16:47 GMT 1
Russia have to go for it, early goal for them will hopefully open the game up, if only that might happen... And we're off! Couple of great goals as well, a very enjoyable start! Potentially good games tomorrow as well.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 15, 2018 0:56:26 GMT 1
Russia have to go for it, early goal for them will hopefully open the game up, if only that might happen... And we're off! Couple of great goals as well, a very enjoyable start! Potentially good games tomorrow as well. The match was a lot better than I expected. However, my expectations were so low that the first shot on goal counted as a bonus.
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frag
Member
*Paranoid Android*
I have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a bunny with a pancake on its head.
Posts: 25,093
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Post by frag on Jun 15, 2018 9:27:46 GMT 1
My wife wondered if the Saudi Arabians had been paid... I suspect that they're just not that good - but what does that say about the Australians who were below them on goal difference in that group? Perhaps that it's hard to travel many thousands of miles for qualifying games - Australia's record was 4-1-0 at home and 1-3-1 away.
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Post by Panda on Jun 15, 2018 17:19:52 GMT 1
Group A: | | | | 0-1 | Gimenez 90 |
An uninspiring performance by Uruguay against a Mo Salah-less and as a result, toothless, Egypt. Salah will surely have to start the final two games if the Pharoahs are to have any chance of progressing to the last 16. Uruguay weren't impressive but may still be the best team in the weakest of groups. Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | | 1 | +5 | 3 | 2 | | 1 | +1 | 3 | 3 | | 1 | -1 | 0 | 4 | | 1 | -5 | 0 |
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Post by Panda on Jun 15, 2018 18:02:06 GMT 1
Group B: | | | | 0-1 | Bouhaddouz (og) 90+5 |
Many footballers will have had daydreams about scoring a spectacular diving header in stoppage time to win a big game. Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz did just that. Unfortunately, he did it for Iran. A huge win for the Iranians who have been very solid defensively under Carlos Queiroz and are likely to park the bus in their games against Portugal and Spain to give themselves a chance of progressing.
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Post by o on Jun 15, 2018 18:40:20 GMT 1
It was a good first half and Morocco looked in charge, the 2nd half was terrible as Iran seemed to be settling for a draw but then sadly got a winner. I was hoping VAR may stop the rolling around but the 7 rolls by that Iranian defender must be a record, he nearly went round in a full circle! And on the subject of VAR, not been needed for anything major so far...
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Post by Panda on Jun 15, 2018 19:07:21 GMT 1
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes only the fourth player in history to score a goal in four separate World Cups. The other three are Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose. Tim Cahill has the opportunity to join that group tomorrow.
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Post by raliverpool on Jun 15, 2018 19:25:47 GMT 1
What a great game this is so far ......
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Post by suedehead on Jun 15, 2018 19:47:55 GMT 1
My wife wondered if the Saudi Arabians had been paid... I suspect that they're just not that good - but what does that say about the Australians who were below them on goal difference in that group? Perhaps that it's hard to travel many thousands of miles for qualifying games - Australia's record was 4-1-0 at home and 1-3-1 away. Some of the Saudi passing was so bad that it's not surprising some people are asking questions.
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Post by Panda on Jun 15, 2018 20:29:19 GMT 1
Prior to this game, only 2 of the last 10 reigning European champions have won their opening game at the subsequent World Cup (France in 1986, Germany in 1998). Three didn't even qualify (Czechoslovakia in 1978, Denmark in 1994, Greece in 2006).
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Post by smokeyb on Jun 15, 2018 20:37:54 GMT 1
You would think that Spain & Portugal should easily qualify from this group
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Post by Panda on Jun 15, 2018 21:05:02 GMT 1
Group B: | | | Ronaldo (pen) 4 | 1-0 | | | 1-1 | Costa 24 | Ronaldo 44 | 2-1 | | | 2-2 | Costa 55 | | 2-3 | Nacho 58 | Ronaldo 88 | 3-3 | |
The two European heavyweights serve up a World Cup classic for the ages. A back and forth game, with some great goals and a hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo. The result continues the run of European champions failing to win their opening World Cup game (not that Portugal actually won many games when they won the Euros anyway). Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts | 1 | | 1 | +1 | 3 | 2 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | | 1 | -1 | 0 |
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Post by smokeyb on Jun 15, 2018 21:19:33 GMT 1
I wonder if this is the year Ronaldo finally does it at a World Cup,over to Messi now.
In previous tournaments they have both disappointed.
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Post by raliverpool on Jun 15, 2018 21:24:36 GMT 1
What. A. Game. "Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't score free-kicks in major tournaments..." (Eusébio 2012)
Funny how "The Black Pearl" had the same view of a pretender who would subsequently grind his achievements into the dirt, as Jackie Stewart had/s of Lewis Hamilton .....
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Post by o on Jun 15, 2018 21:30:08 GMT 1
That was a game and a half and I cant stand Ronaldo, but that free kick at the end, and the penalty after De Gea tried to psych him out, and oh what a mistake by De Gea, he's off to Real Madrid after that gaffe? And the Spanish goals, different to their usual style, but still great. I so hope Messi can have some success as well this tourno. It's funny that Ronaldo will get the plaudits, but he wont even try and close an opposition player down, so his other 10 team mates who do all of that work deserve some recognition as well, because they allow him to play like he does, which is why he shines.
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Post by paulgilb on Jun 15, 2018 22:46:53 GMT 1
Iran are only the second team to win a World Cup match without any of their players scoring a goal in that match. The other such team were England in 2006 against Paraguay.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 16, 2018 0:17:06 GMT 1
There's a lot to dislike about Ronaldo. He's vain and he's supremely arrogant, although he does have rather a lot to be arrogant about. After all, his brilliance as a player cannot be denied. He has also given generously to some very good causes, so he isn't all bad.
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