Topic: FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia - the Journey (Read 696 times)

You underestimate Denmark.
Denmark was undefeated for 20 games or so when they played Croatia.
They played 0:0 with France too..

I'd say Croatia was unlucky rather then lucky
I mean just look at this

https://youtu.be/5_iIW2DZ8nc?t=1m7s

Ughh, not really
The France - Argentina match was tense till the end
I watched it 1-0, 2-1, 4-3, Argentina was able to get back any time during the game, and they were pressing the 2nd half really well
Yes, I think it would.

"Dominating with ease" haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6oOcDFmLY
It was pretty tense

You're saying Belgium is the 2nd best team
But be realistic
If Croatia played that match against Japan
You'd say, how can Croatia deserve the finals when they played so bad against Japan xD

All the posts I've seen from you in various threads are just attacking Croatia for some reason o.o
They deserved to be there, they have the best player in the cup and the most attractive football!

I can't fully agree with you, mate. Croatia played well in the group stage matches especially the famous one vs Argentina, but in the knockout games their performance was bland at best. They got lucky 3 times in a row. France were dominating their opponents with ease and left them no chances to fight back. Actually Croatia had an easier knockout bracket than France. Do you think Croatia would have beaten Argentina twice and then Uruguay and Belgium? No they wouldn't have. But France did all that in regulation time. As for the 2 disputable goals, I don't think the referee was biased plus he received instructions over the VAR so he couldn't have been solely responsible for those calls. The final should have been France - Belgium full stop. The 2 best teams on this World Cup.

Unfortunately in soccer, the best team doesn't always win, and that was the case today.
France’s performance throughout the World Cup was so so (especially during the group stage, and they had one of the easiest groups). Croatia on the other hand were very solid but their errors today were costly.
Even though the 2 real goals France scored were brilliant, I think they only won because of the referee's calls (or assistance ... similar to England's referee advantage over Colombia ... but l will also says Colombia was not playing well). However, just like Nigeria was not awarded a penalty against Argentina, this wasn't a penalty, and he should not have awarded it especially after the wrong free kick he gave them earlier. Should have been a yellow for Greizmann instead).

Congratulations to France, I think it was a hard fought battle but in the end they have prevailed and this raises the question "why are only the European nations winning the tournament?" Is it because of the money in their leagues and by extension their football development? Well there's got to be winners from the other continents and I think increasing the number of participating nations to 48 might help include a lot of nations who struggle through qualifiers but are good at tournaments.

The game showed wonderful performance, and as FiFA world cup ends I wished for the best teams to win gracefully. Although France created a good marks on its gameplay, every members of the team should learn how to have cautions because they're capable of being overthrown with other teams. This time I haven't choose any favorite team to trust with due to some factors that I haven't seen yet, because it needs more eliminations before we could decide what's the best team up to support.

Almost each the time FIFA world cup ends we listen to such kinda things that a most unpredictable world cup ends. It was the third time I watched world cup regularly and every time we come across the same results. Some of the people may not like it but I like it the way it happens after all it's a game and it is for a pure purpose of fun and spreading love. By the way France was my favourite for final as I have discussed earlier. I am happy for the new world championships. Cheers. 

Well, lads, that was it - FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia is over and France are the rightful champions. The Argentinian referee made 2 controversial calls in the first half of the match namely that free kick for no apparent foul against Griezmann and that penalty when Perisic handled the ball in the penalty area. Now, I don't think Pitana should be accused of shady decisions if the VAR was positive there were fouls indeed. Griezmann was already falling before he got in contact with the defender so that was a mistake. About the penalty, well, Perisic had enough time to move his arm closer to his body and avoid touching the ball. It looked like he deliberately hit the ball. Anyways, France were better especially in the 2nd half and deservedly won the cup. Some trivia - Giroud has no shot on goal for the entire time he has been on the pitch in Russia 

Mbappe got the award for best young player.
Modric was awarded best overall player.
Kane got the golden boot for most goals.
Courtois was awarded best goalkeeper of the championship.

It has been a crazy tournament with many unexpected twists and turns. Heavy favorites were dethroned early and promising young teams shined. I don't know about you, but I had lots of fun 

So without further ado it's time to wrap this thread up.
Cheers everyone.

This world cup we have seen something which has never happened or totally the best of teams just did not played the way they are known for. Now was this coincidence or something really their is a story which made them do we do not know. But France are the world championship now.

One of the unpredictable world cup i have seen in my life, never expected Croatia in the final let alone the semi finals, there was a lot of own goals and i am sure it is a kind of record in a major tournament and the goalies were not up to the level as they leaked goals even when it is directed in their hands, majority of the results were unpredictable and finally France won the cup even without Benzema.

RIP Croatia supporters.
It was not meant to be.

I'm sure the world cup champions will be won by France. if seen from the previous game, the French team's game is very interesting and has a strong team. In addition, France has a solid team that is very difficult to be penetrated defense. but the Croatian team will also want a new championship record at the 2018 World Cup, and the Croatians have a strong mentality to be able to achieve victory until the end

So finally our journey is coming to an end and I bet everyone money is on France honestly I wish to put it on France to, but I'm vary of Croatia the way they played against England lacklustre and suddenly upped the tempo but France have the powerful team I'm torn here what are you'll doing France or Croatia. Which sports book would you suggest.

I reckon France have learned their lesson with Portugal and will not underestimate Croatia tonight. People like to support underdogs I guess and that's why Croatia have the sympathy of many fans over the world. Croatia made a great run but the fairy-tale will end here. They should be proud of their great achievement.
I am going with HT 0-0, HT/FT Draw/France and France FT. If this match ends in another 1-1 tie it will be very, very funny 

yeah i don't konw why everyone is sympathy with Croitia their only greatest achivement was winning against Argentine that was not that great team in my opinion (they lacked strengh in defense and manager didn't help with offense either) other then having messi in squad Argentine is just a team with some good strikers while England i was not that convinced that they have what it takes to beat good challengers and they only showed some strengh against weaker teams in group stages other then that not a lot to remark the only good thing i liked from Croitia was that they fought hard even though they played far more minutes i'm afraid for France that have been consistent team and showed us good games with Mbappe Greizman Pogba Kante and Lloris that they are going to lose just like the Euro against a team that didn't win games after group stages.

Now come to think of it, Croatia definitely won the lottery of easy opponents. Denmark and Russia were nothing to write home about and yet Croatia drew 1-1 twice in regulation time and had to pray to God the penalty shootouts were in their favour. England had the lead and they squandered it away in the final minutes. By the way, when England and Belgium played the group stage game with their B teams it was nothing more than a friendly match if you ask me. So maybe that match doesn't count haha.
I still can't believe Croatia are actually in the final. It should have been Belgium. Well, in that case, I am for France tomorrow haha  

England played TWO top teams in this World Cup (Croatia & Belgium) yet they lost THREE times
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an easier route to the semi final.

Congratulations to Belgium on the 3rd place. Still bummed they are not playing the final... My absolute favorite team of this World Cup. Belgium have a Golden generation of great footballers and they deserve to win something big. Hopefully that will be the next EURO tourney in 2020 fingers crossed  Had they faced an easier knockout bracket without the likes of France they would have advanced to the final. 
And England are so lucky to have made it to the final 4. Well, football is coming home without medals

I am rooting for Belgium as well. When Belgium and England played in the group stage the managers had the B teams out on the pitch so that result can't be very indicative of who the clear favorite is even though that is obviously Belgium because they have better players on paper. I expect England and Belgium to engage in an open match without parking the bus by either side. I hope we will see glorious attacking football and may the better team win 

Hoping for Belgium to take third place tomorrow. It will be interesting to see them play against England again. They already beat them during the group stage, so it could happen again. As for Sunday, I still want to see Croatia taking the title.

Actually 450%
I'll play some BTC on Croatia and some on X

I have placed only 1.5 mBTC for us to win the cup before the cup
Win is 0.05BTC

Will go higher.