So each of the four heavyweights (as well as Argentina) has played a game and none of them has been particularly impressive. There's logic in building into a tournament rather than starting out with all guns blazing, but I'd imagine each of those teams would have preferred much better displays than they produced. All kudos to Mexico in particular. That's a great result.
have to admit, it was a well-deserved win Germany has a lot of coming back to do after that display, especially poor on defense - which, the match against Sweden is going to be very different, SWE doesn't have as strong an offense compared to MEX (might be just the right match for GER to find their stride in this competition)
Germany is in serious trouble. There's something systematically wrong with the team - somewhat inexplicably because they did well in the qualification and they won the Confed Cup. What I found especially concerning was that even in the last thirty minutes after Reus had brought more dynamics into the game they had some good chances but were unable to score. Maybe that was just bad luck but I find it worrying. I hope we manage a decent World Cup run despite all that. The other favourites had their issues, too, but seemed to work as a team, by and large. Spain looked pretty good (even though they didn't win either). I guess France is the new favourite because they won despite not playing great. Looking forward to the England game this evening. I used to support them during all the years I was firmly against Germany and old habits die hard.
England has to win, for the sake of my bet. "England has to win" is not something that I will say everyday Belgium looks good.
Best tweet so far - Lingard - beautiful British name. From the Old English for "Couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo..."
Also, wrestling Kane to the ground worse than walking into an arm, yet unpunished ? And watch any England players towards the edge of the penalty area when we put a free kick or corner in. I've seen two rugby tackled to the floor so far, miles off the ball. We need video replay. Oh...
Wiki page for the ref was briefly changed to 'World Cup referee and wrestling fan'. I counted four 'grappled to the ground' incidents in the penalty area. Thank God for VAR eh ?
Not sure what to think about England. They were pretty good in the first half, mind-numbingly boring in the second (for the most part). Very dependent on standards. But they won. It's been a while since they won their first World Cup match I think.
Yeah, last time was five World Cups ago. I'm not a football expert by any means but it's a positive start, we showed resilience and did well not to lose it when Tunisia made it difficult for us. Don't think for a second we'll win it but if we keep playing like that we'll have a good tournament. As my grandmother was Belgian, for me the match of the tournament will be the ENG-BEL game next Thursday (and a handy backup team to support in case England fuck it up).
We last won in 2006 (3 WC's ago) we beat Paraguay 1-0.... We were easily the better team with about 60% of possession and there only shot against us was that dodgy fucking penalty, i;m sorry but NEVER IN A MILLION MILES was that a penalty, that striker knew exactly what he was doing and VAR again is a fucking joke. Harry Kane was basically molested twice and got nothing, I seriously believe at times officials have a clear English bias because how the hell Kane was awarded a penalty, I will never know. I know Kane won MOTM and I love the man and went wild with celebrations when we scored the 91st minute winner but my MOTM was Harry Maguire, dam he was immense. He stopped everything at him and he dribbled the ball long distances time n time again and was a total menace from set plays, including assisting the winning goal. Sterling CAN FUCK OFF, I am done with him, he should never play for ENG again. I don't care what he does for City, it's crystal clear that he cannot play at this level of football.