[World Cup 2018] Group H (COL - JPN - POL - SEN)

[Reg]

Group H

https://i.imgur.com/ENAOS4V.png

Tuesday 19th
Colombia v Japan 13:00 BBC1
Poland v Senegal 16:00 ITV

Sunday 24th
Japan v Senegal 16:00 BBC1
Poland v Colombia 19:00 ITV

Thursday 28th, 15:00 BBC TBC
Senegal v Colombia
Japan v Poland

[Spoonsky]

I love this group. I hope Mane runs riot.

[Lewis]

Is this all of them? Is the draw complete?

[ItalAussie]

This seems like it could be one of the most fun groups in recent editions. Loads of unpredictability there. And probably zero quarter-finalists. :D

[Dave.]

Colombia
Poland
Senegal
Japan

But these could finish in any order.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lewandowski to finish top scorer and Poland to the semi-finals.

[ItalAussie]

Not even on the front page. :D

[Disco]

Are Senegal any good? It would be nice to have a proper African team into the knockouts.

[SincereTheRebel]

They have good individual player but as untit, they are poor. They drew 0-0 with Luxembourg about two months ago :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'll be half decent. No idea if they'll qualify. Weaknesses are dodgy keeper (shock) and lack of experience.

[Disco]

Columbia and Senegal going through would be ideal.

[Pleb]

I would lol my ass off if one of these sides knocks out England in the first knockout round.

[Trancemeister]

#COL XI: Ospina, Mojica, Murillo, D. Sanchez, Arias; C. Sanchez; Cuadrado, Lerma, Quintero, Izquierdo; Falcao.

#JPN XI: Kawashima; Nagatomo, Shoji, Yoshida, H. Sakai; Shibasaki, Haraguchi, Kagawa, Inui; Hasebe, Osako.


No James.

[Disco]

I would lol my ass off if one of these sides knocks out England in the first knockout round.

I would not be confident of us beating Columbia, the others though, that would be rather embarrassing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Falcao making his world cup debut I'm hearing.

[SincereTheRebel]

Falcao making his world cup debut I'm hearing.

The only qualified for the 2014 world cup. Before that, the last one was in 1998. Probably injured for the last one. Walcott never appearing at the World Cup either was surprising.

[Browning]

I'm more surprised Falcao is still a thing.

[Pepe]

I have Bacca and Zapata in my fantasy squad lol.

[Mazuuurk]

Japan actually has a surprisingly "good" squad on paper in that they have quite a few players playing for mid-table European sides like Marseille, Koln, etc.

I mean, it's not amazing of course but still them and South Korea always tend to over-perform with regards to their squad strenght so feels like they can sneak a draw in any game really.

[Pepe]

Looking forward to this actually. I hope Japan aren't too shit.

[Mazuuurk]

This group feels like the most open one beforehand to me. Kind of feel like everyone can beat everyone in this group, even if Japan are probably the worst in it.

[Trancemeister]

Oh dear red card after 3 minutes

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a start.

[Browning]

Here we fucking go :drool:

[Boydy]

Ffs, didn't even get my penalty to be awarded bet on yet.

[Raoul Duke]

Quick start here then :cab:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shinji :wub:

[Magic]

Scenes.

[Magic]

Can Carlos Sanchez play next game?

[Waffdon]

That’s today’s bets down the shitter. Lol.

Really should bet a tenner on a penalty in the match or first goal method. Must have been a penalty in 80% of the matches.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yet another South American country acting like total morons. What was he doing staying on the pitch? As blatant a deliberate handball as you will ever see.

[Raoul Duke]

Can Carlos Sanchez play next game?

I'd assume it's a two match ban.

[Boydy]

Fiver on Colombia draw no bet at 7.5.

[Pepe]

Starting second round anyone not basing their entire gameplay on getting penalties awarded is a complete moron. Just make random runs into the box all day long.

[Adramelch]

There's quite a few of them that have been given without VAR. I wonder if that's some sort of directive, as in "give it if you're 50-50 and VAR will overturn it if it's wrong".

[Browning]

Wouldn't have thought so. There's been a fair few where the ref hasn't given it then VAR has, but none where the ref has given it and VAR cancelled it.

[Adramelch]

Wouldn't have thought so. There's been a fair few where the ref hasn't given it then VAR has, but none where the ref has given it and VAR cancelled it.

That's because those that are typically 50-50 are penalties if you follow the letter of the law. Or rather, referees would only give a penalty if they were 100% sure prior to that. I can't see another explanation why we've had so many non-VAR penalties compared to previous competitions.

[Trancemeister]

Omg what a cheeky free kick

[Serj]

That was not a foul for the freekick, was it?

[Adramelch]

How can people still complain about the ball not passing the goalline?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was lovely.

[Pepe]

Liked that.

[John]

A Charlie Adam special.

[Mazuuurk]

What a nice Free Kick. Love seeing something a bit different and clever like that :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I called that as he lined it up, goalkeeper had the wall in completely the wrong place, himself in the wrong place, then showed himself to be a clown in various other ways afterwards.

[thommo]

Is that now more direct free kicks scored already than 2014?

[Adramelch]

That was not a foul for the freekick, was it?

I don't know, let's see what VAR says. :baz:

[Browning]

Is that now more direct free kicks scored already than 2014?

Yes it is. 4 so far compared to 3 in 2014.

[Serj]

I don't know, let's see what VAR says. :baz:

:D I do feel that Japan can feel a bit hard done by, there was nothing in it. Then again, they should be playing better with one extra man.

[Adramelch]

:D I do feel that Japan can feel a bit hard done by, there was nothing in it. Then again, they should be playing better with one extra man.

Ye looked like a soft foul, but they sort of deserved it for playing so passively.

[Waffdon]

I called that as he lined it up, goalkeeper had the wall in completely the wrong place, himself in the wrong place, then showed himself to be a clown in various other ways afterwards.

He was a joke in the season we were relegated.

[John]

Why the Dickens have the BBC just had their hosts making borscht, followed by a taste test in which Phil Neville's opinion mattered?

It could not be more fitting that the batch the Russian chef who was helping them out declared the best was the only one Neville spat out, while the one Neville loved was the one the Russian woman reacted to like she was dealing with some vomit that had emerged while she was too far from a bathroom.

The proper way to do things is fucking anathema to him.

[Mazuuurk]

It's a typical Russian food, and the World Cup is in Russia.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Borscht is shit anyway.

[John]

It's a typical Russian food, and the World Cup is in Russia.

I knew neither of those things. That completely explains why Matthew Upson just made soup at half time, as my world cup coverage momentarily became the fucking One Show.

[Boydy]

I liked it but I could probably watch Dan Walker do almost anything.

[Adramelch]

How come Hames didn't start?

Japan are playing some good football in that second half.

[Browning]

He was injured, allegedly.

[Mazuuurk]

I knew neither of those things. That completely explains why Matthew Upson just made soup at half time, as my world cup coverage momentarily became the fucking One Show.

You should really read up on things more then. Borscht is not maybe the most known food globally, but it really is common knowledge that the World Cup is held in Russia.

The show it all the time in the Graphics which I'm sure you will have seen on your television apparatus, for instance.

[niko_cee]

To the gifmobile!

[Adramelch]

Very deserved, that.

Classic Ospina half-exit there.

[John]

That's deeply, unforgivably crap goalkeeping from Ospina.

[ItalAussie]

I realise they're a man up, but Japan are playing quite nice stuff here. This could be a massively open group in the end.

[phonics]

I'm not watching but that sounds like Ospina to me.

[Mazuuurk]

Everyone in Japan seems so comfortable on the ball.

I suppose the Colombians must be a bit knackered by now, almost a full 90 mins on 10 men.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can definitely get behind a team which wheels Okazaki off the bench as a closer.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ref falling over :harold:

[Magic]

Ye looked like a soft foul, but they sort of deserved it for playing so passively.


Borscht is shit anyway.

Is it fuck. I made it it's incredible.

[Adramelch]

I stand corrected, I guess?

[Trancemeister]

Poland XI: Szczęsny; Piszczek, Pazdan, Cionek, Rybus; Błaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Zieliński, Grosicki; Milik, Lewandowski.

Senegal XI: K.Ndiaye; Wagué, Kouyaté, Sané, Sabaly; A. Ndiaye, Gueye; Niang, Sadio Mané, Ismaïla Sarr; Diouf.

Koulibaly injured?

[Waffdon]

Was looking forward to seeing Mane and Keita starting together but the latter is on the bench. No idea what to call in this match but I need to keep my record of betting in every match going.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My 100/1 on no 0-0s is still alive at time of writing.

[SvN]

Is that the entire tournament or just the group stages?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Entire tournament.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lewandowski is about to show why @34/1, him being top scorer this tournament is easy money.

[John]

For the bookies.

[SvN]

Entire tournament.

Cue a 0-0 in the 3rd place playoff.

[Pepe]

That has to be one of the worst free kicks I have seen.

[Adramelch]

That has to be one of the worst free kicks I have seen.

Thought exactly the same thing. Utterly terrible.

[mugbull]

I don't get how that sort of shoot-cross happens so often in football

[Adramelch]

That's been quite bad so far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:face:

Cionek is shit.

[Pepe]

'mon Senegal.

Has any non-European team apart from Mexico won? Oh and Iran.

EDIT: And Japan like an hour ago. Nevermind.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And Uruguay.

Go take a nap, Pepe.

[Pepe]

Alright, this one is better:

The only European team that has lost is Germany.

[Serj]

I think Senegal could have a bit more confidence in their technical abilities. This hoofball mostly ruins some pretty good initial positions. But hey, it's 1-0, so what do I know.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Aliou Cisse looks like such a boss.

[Adramelch]

Poland. :harold:

[Pepe]

Mahow. :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Krychowiak is a fucking mong.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's just straight up unprofessional from Poland.

[Boydy]

Someone concede a fucking penalty already.

[mugbull]

That's totally illegal by Senegal no? You can't fault the Poles there

[Adramelch]

That said, it was great instinct from Niang there. He started his run very early.

[Giggles]

Someone concede a fucking penalty already.

I know I don't watch many of the games but that must be an awful way to watch sport.

[Giggles]

That's totally illegal by Senegal no? You can't fault the Poles there

What? I missed what Lewandowski was gurning about.

[Serj]

That's totally illegal by Senegal no? You can't fault the Poles there

What? How do you come to that conclusion?

[mugbull]

Referee fucked that one up then

EDIT: You can't let the motherfucker come on at that passage in play!

[Giggles]

Referee fucked that one up then

The goal? What was wrong with it?

[mugbull]

I didn't realize the ref had waved him on, in which case it's 100% the fault of the ref.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The ref can wave him on when he likes.

[Giggles]

I didn't realize the ref had waved him on, in which case it's 100% the fault of the ref.

Ah I see now. Can't believe the commentary didn't pick up on it. That is a bit of a joke, though I suppose he didn't expect Poland to hoof the ball that far backwards in his general direction.

[bruhnaldo]

It's all they're talking about on the US broadcast lolol Yikes.

I took Senegal for $5 so i'm not complaining lolol

[mugbull]

The goal? What was wrong with it?

Let's say team A has a defender who's gone off the pitch with a knock. Team A is pressing high up the field for a corner and loses possession with nobody in their own half. Player from Team B starts dribbling the ball up the field with no defenders to stop him. Suddenly, the ref waves on the defender from team A who sprints from the bench towards his own goal to stop the runaway attacker and suddenly a completely free breakaway is now a 1 on 1 with the defender.

That seems like a mistake by the ref, doesn't it?

[Boydy]

I know I don't watch many of the games but that must be an awful way to watch sport.

This is the first match I haven't watched all of (I was out for the first half). I've enjoyed pretty much all of the ones I have seen so far in contrast to the moaning you were doing the other day where you seemed like you'd be content to just watch Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain play each other forever.

I'd just like my bet to come in too.

[mugbull]

The ref can wave him on when he likes.

The ref can also disallow whichever goal he likes, send off whichever player he likes, call whichever foul he likes, and yet, somehow, you can still argue that referees make mistakes.

[Giggles]

Let's say team A has a defender who's gone off the pitch with a knock. Team A is pressing high up the field for a corner and loses possession with nobody in their own half. Player from Team B starts dribbling the ball up the field with no defenders to stop him. Suddenly, the ref waves on the defender from team A who sprints from the bench towards his own goal to stop the runaway attacker and suddenly a completely free breakaway is now a 1 on 1 with the defender.

That seems like a mistake by the ref, doesn't it?

Yeah I hadn't seen it til the wide angle replay. I'd have questions too if I was Poland.

[Giggles]

This is the first match I haven't watched all of (I was out for the first half). I've enjoyed pretty much all of the ones I have seen so far in contrast to the moaning you were doing the other day where you seemed like you'd be content to just watch Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain play each other forever.

I'd just like my bet to come in too.

If it's only watch the big teams or watching them all hoping for 12.5 corners and a penalty then I'll happily take the former. I see so many with the crutch now and they can't enjoy watching any sport at all.

[Boydy]

If it's only watch the big teams or watching them all hoping for 12.5 corners and a penalty then I'll happily take the former. I see so many with the crutch now and they can't enjoy watching any sport at all.

I hate all that corners shit, tbf. I usually only bet on someone to win or maybe a certain player to score. I only started betting on penalties being awarded because there have been so many so far.

I'm also annoyed I didn't put my bet for Senegal to win on as I'd intended.

I like it for games like this where I don't care all that much about the outcome. It makes it a bit more interesting. I'll probably bet less as the tournament goes on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Poland had the ball when he waved him on, it was their fault for not looking at what was going on and spaffing it into no man's land.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can see why they're annoyed based on the outcome but Jimmy is right.

The ref waving him on shouldn't have made Krychowiak turn full spastic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Poland look like they've got nothing.

They're finishing bottom of the group unless they get their shit together.

[Boydy]

That's a pen, come on VAR.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He made up for being a mong.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Senegal are being cocks here, wouldn't surprise me if they draw.

[mugbull]

Poland had the ball when he waved him on, it was their fault for not looking at what was going on and spaffing it into no man's land.

They absolutely did not have the ball when he was waved on

[Pepe]

Senegal. :cool:

[Adramelch]

They absolutely did not have the ball when he was waved on

They most definitely did.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2dWTRxjag0

[Giggles]

From what they're showing now he was waved on while a Senegal player was heading the ball forward.

[Adramelch]

From what they're showing now he was waved on while a Senegal player was heading the ball forward.

Ah, I sort of misread the point. I was thinking of where the ball was when he was actually coming in, not when the referee waved him on.

[mugbull]

They most definitely did.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2dWTRxjag0

Um...when Krychowiak kicked it back he was already 10 meters on the field, which means he had been waved on a few seconds earlier. U trippin Adra?

EDIT: 10 was an exaggeration, but you know hwat i mean

EDIT 2: Nope, 10 looks about right

[Giggles]

1009109694907076609

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgIFB3vXcAEPzjj.jpg:large

...

[Jimmy Floyd]

He must have been on the sauce all morning.

[Boydy]

The internet and Twitter is great. 20 years ago we'd have all thought Alan Sugar was just some great captain of industry. Now we get to see what a bigoted thicko he actually is.

[Disco]

Marbella? It's not 1985 Alan.

[phonics]

Marbella? It's not 1985 Alan.

A thing I've noticed with people who make it rich. It is forever whenever they became rich, because that's the last time they were required to actually interact with the world on any normal level.

[Baz]

Like when your nan offers to pay for the family food and bar tab in a pub and then coughs up £20.

[Trancemeister]

Howler from the japanese keeeper.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was a trifle unlucky I'd say. Senegal absurdly superior in the early stages though.

[Magic]

Dat athleticism.

Even in a team full of blacks Khoulibaly stands out as a really black cunt. Good stuff.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was lovely.

[Serj]

Niang has set out to slap every Japanese player today.

[Serj]

Senegal's passing is almost as bad as their keeper.

[Baz]

If England get Senegal, it could well be another 6-1. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who the hell were top seeds in this group? Poland?

[Ian]

If England get Senegal, it could well be another 6-1. :drool:

I dunno, I reckon we might hold them to two or three.

[Browning]

Who the hell were top seeds in this group? Poland?

Yep. I had to look that up in the first round of games because I had no idea.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ospina :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

One thing this group does have is a litany of dodgy keepers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was lovely by Cuadrado, he's such a tidy player at times.

[Foe]

I don't think think how this group ends matters, all four are going to be out before the quarter final.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a lovely ball in.

Balls :(

[CJay]

I reckon Colombia have one of the most cohesive and dangerous looking attacks in the competition.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Poland thus far are one of the worst teams in the cup.

[Giggles]

That's been coming. Poland wouldn't get a kick in a horsebox.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't think think how this group ends matters, all four are going to be out before the quarter final.

I think Colombia could cause an upset against England if they defend alright. Their attack is potent and the back three for England are clowns.

The rest I'd agree with.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can now see why those African nations with only one superstar centre forward always drop said player into midfield.

[CJay]

I can now see why those African nations with only one superstar centre forward always drop said player into midfield.

Why?

Lewandowski plays like he’s Berbatov or Bergkamp when he’s really as lacking in creativity as the rest of his team.

[Max Power]

Colombia playing some lovely stuff. Quintero is an absolute throwback, can tell he doesn’t play in Europe but nice to watch.

[Foe]

I think Colombia could cause an upset against England if they defend alright. Their attack is potent and the back three for England are clowns.

The rest I'd agree with.

I don't doubt the Colombians are probably the best of the bunch, but up against a strong Belgium or a much more organised England and I wouldn't back them to win.

Colombia are looking better and better as the game goes on. :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't doubt the Colombians are probably the best of the bunch, but up against a strong Belgium or a much more organised England and I wouldn't back them to win.

Colombia are looking better and better as the game goes on. :moop:
If the clowns sort themselves out then yeah, I'd fancy England.

It's probably going to hurt them that they've not been tested with a better team and their final group game is a nothing match.

Colombians look so much better with a fit Hamez too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How do Poland get the qualifying results they do? I can't remember a single occasion in my lifetime when they've played well in a tournament match.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Google says they beat Switzerland on penalties in the Euro 2016 round of 16. That sounds like a thriller.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The only possible saving grace for Poland tonight is Ospina being in goal. Would help if they tested him though and they're fucked in other games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Falcao is absolutely wank now.

[Browning]

He was absolute wank when he was pissing about the Premier League.

[Trancemeister]

Everything seem to hurt Ospina.

[niko_cee]

Colombia are the team to avoid in this group (assuming they qualify). They're not outstanding but they have far more quality than the other teams. If they finish second to Japan in the group then the incentive for England or Belgium to lose is going to be even more ridiculous.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He was absolute wank when he was pissing about the Premier League.
Well yes but he looks even worse.

That was the chance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Colombia are the team to avoid in this group (assuming they qualify). They're not outstanding but they have far more quality than the other teams. If they finish second to Japan in the group then the incentive for England or Belgium to lose is going to be even more ridiculous.

They can be got at but they can carve a team apart if they're on it. Hamez and Cuadrado are potent.

[Reg]

Colombia are the team to avoid in this group (assuming they qualify). They're not outstanding but they have far more quality than the other teams. If they finish second to Japan in the group then the incentive for England or Belgium to lose is going to be even more ridiculous.
I still can't understand this idea. I don't believe you're advocating throwing own goals in, but I can't imagine any possible scenario where losing - and therefore almost definitely losing confidence - can be a good thing. And anyway, if we can't beat Colombia we're not going to win the whole thing.

[Boom-Boom-18]

Really wouldn't want to come up against Colombia in the last 16. Come on Poland.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ofc he had to score.

[Magic]

Who does Qunity play for?

[Adramelch]

Krychowiak has had a shocker for the second game in a row I see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Krychowiak has had a shocker for the second game in a row I see.
You could say that about any Pole tbh.

[Adramelch]

You could say that about any Pole tbh.

He's at direct fault of two of the goals they've conceded though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who does Qunity play for?
Porto but he was on loan at River Plate and they can sign him for £5m.

[Browning]

What a fucking pass :drool:

[Pepe]

Colombia. :cool:

[Adramelch]

The run and finish was also quite good.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:moop:

[Pepe]

What a fucking pass :drool:

It was a beauty.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In a Hungarian bar with loads of Polish and one of them is sarcastically clapping and cheering for Colombia when they score.

It's not going down all that well with some. I think someone with have words or more if there's a fourth.

Three or four near him have basically told him to shut the fuck up already.

[Lewis]

Mahow. :roflol:

[mugbull]

Poland have been horrendous, worst performance by any of the non-minnows at the world cup so far

[Bob Sacamano]

I quite like Ally Mccoist.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm officially switching allegiance back to England.

[Ian]

Piss off, we're full.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Piss off, we're full.
I don't even get the image? :(

[Ian]

You don't deserve the image.

[Lewis]

Too right. Tell him, Webs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

pissfull.png

Fuck you all.

[Pleb]

Wrecked :D

[Giggles]

What sort of fucking table is that? :cab:

http://i63.tinypic.com/ipxnvm.png

[-james-]

A poorly coded one.

[Lewis]

It's alphabetical order you pleb.

[Boydy]

Why does Roy Keane even take these punditry jobs when he looks like he detests every minute of it?

[niko_cee]

I still can't understand this idea. I don't believe you're advocating throwing own goals in, but I can't imagine any possible scenario where losing - and therefore almost definitely losing confidence - can be a good thing. And anyway, if we can't beat Colombia we're not going to win the whole thing.

We're not going to win the whole thing anyway (in all likelihood, better throw that caveat in), but if we can scam the draw to play Japan and then the winner of Mexico/Switzerland before losing the semi, it's better than having to go through Colombia and Germany/Brazil to get to that point.

I totally understand the point about confidence, which is why I don't think either team will look to do that, but I could easily (well, not easily, but potentially) see the winner of England's group being lolled out by Colombia whilst the second placed team sashays into the semis via the route described.

[Giggles]

Why does Roy Keane even take these punditry jobs when he looks like he detests every minute of it?

https://media.giphy.com/media/SXYGgH8nPZxYc/giphy.gif

[Giggles]

Gifs don't work, but money.

[Max Power]

Keane was loving the Germany Sweden game yesterday. I say loved, I mean he sort of smiled a bit and seemed satisfied by the game.

[Giggles]

Keane was loving the Germany Sweden game yesterday. I say loved, I mean he sort of smiled a bit and seemed satisfied by the game.

If he didn't insult anyone then it must have been his favourite game of all time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Poland worse than death in both games. Next time they qualify can someone tell them it's being held in Australia or something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why?

Lewandowski plays like he’s Berbatov or Bergkamp when he’s really as lacking in creativity as the rest of his team.

Because the rest of them clearly all look up to him like he's God and he needs to play as such on the pitch, rather than relying on service.

As you say, though, that is rather a problem when he himself is basically a pure goalscorer. People like Weah, Adebayor, Eto'o etc had more to their games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Zielinski could be (and was in qualifying) the main provider but he, like others, goes missing in the bigger games. Also doesn't help that most of the time Milik adds very little to the national side.

They seemed to be on the whole a lot more cautious in tournament football which doesn't suit the team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aubameyang is another example. Plays as a sort of deep-lying number 10 for Gabon, take him into club football and he's an off the shoulder merchant. Don't think Lewandowski has that flexibility in his game.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lewa and Poland have been pure rubbish. They were my one to watch team :face:

[ItalAussie]

Got up at 4am for the Poland game. Regret.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm a bit miffed for Senegal as they now need to get something out of a resurgent Colombia to go through, whereas Crapan play a demoralised and useless Poland after a jammy opening win.

Hopefully they are just crap enough to lose to Poland.

[Adramelch]

I think you're biased though. Japan deserve this as much as Senegal from what I've seen. I'd still rather see Senegal go through but chances are slim that both them and Colombia go through sadly.

[Max Power]

Japan have weirdly made loads of changes due to “hot weather”. They’ll bottle it.

Senegal/Colombia should be good.

[Adramelch]

Senegal have been the better team so far. Colombia look completely lost, failing the simplest passes.

That's definitely not a penalty.

[Pepe]

#Varmania

[bruhnaldo]

VAR da gawwwwwwwwwwww

[Adramelch]

I reckon Senegal will pose problems to either Belgium or England if they go through.

[CJay]

They have very little end product. Totally dominant here but haven’t properly threatened yet, Mané penalty reversal aside.

[Adramelch]

They have very little end product. Totally dominant here but haven’t properly threatened yet, Mané penalty reversal aside.

They do indeed but that game doesn't really suit their style I don't think. They're good at counter-attacking and Colombia has done nothing resembling attacking.

I don't think they'd beat either Belgium or England, rather that it just wouldn't be an easy tie for either.

[niko_cee]

That Mané penalty looked a bit like the one Australia got done for on Griezmann. Sanchez gets the ball, and then sits on his other leg, causing him to fall, and it's not like the ball had gone very far.

[Adramelch]

Colombia look a bit more lively. Hopefully the game picks up some pace.

N'Diaye has a blunder or two in him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In the same way that the Pacific has a drop or two of water in it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a great header.

[Adramelch]

Now all we need is for Lewandowski to stop wasting all those chances.

In any case though, "nothing to play for" has not been a thing in any game so far.

Senegal are going out on yellow cards as things stand. They have one more than Japan (2 v 3 in the game between the two). If Japan get a yellow card, it goes to drawing lots. :D

[Boydy]

BBC just said Japan have two fewer yellow cards.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Holy shit, that's how my volleys usually come off (well when I played when I was young).

[Giggles]

I sit through 30 minutes of this shitfest and go to make toast and miss the goal.

[Adramelch]

BBC just said Japan have two fewer yellow cards.

Yeah that's true. I counted the wrong cards in their game vs Colombia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Come on Poland/Senegal.

[bruhnaldo]

I sit through 30 minutes of this shitfest and go to make toast and miss the goal.

Stream at work broke literally right as the score, it comes back on and I see them dancing

I hate everything.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Colombia are there for the taking.

[Adramelch]

Colombia are there for the taking.

They've been there for the taking the whole game but Senegal just can't take advantage of them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Danny Murphy thinking shots on target would be a better tiebreaker than cards...

[bruhnaldo]

Why is cards better? Because if it were shots on target people would just start taking shots from anywhere or something?

Serious question.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Promotes fair play and harder to game than shots on target.

[bruhnaldo]

True that makes sense. Hell of a way to be eliminated though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sucks Senegal are going home but their end product today was horrific.

[Serj]

Really underwhelming from Senegal. On paper they should have either won the group or managed a comfortable second place.

[Pepe]

African football. :face:

[Amigo]

Poland are a fucking disgrace.

[Jimmy Floyd]

One of the unluckiest teams ever to go out. South Africa 2002 were similar.

[Giggles]

This fair play thing really is bollocks.

[Baz]

Poor Sadio.

[-james-]

Japan qualifying instead of Senegal is a proper travesty.

[niko_cee]

Fair play is, indeed, a shit way to go out, and fairly unfair seeing as what does and doesn't merit a yellow card is completely dependent on the sort of ref you get. Drawing lots is probably fairer once meaningful tie-breakers have been exhausted.

[Serj]

One of the unluckiest teams ever to go out. South Africa 2002 were similar.

Interesting. I'd say they were lucky to score as many as they did. None of their performances were convincing.

[Trancemeister]

Missed the games as I lost my keys during a bike ride and had to call for a locksmith :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Interesting. I'd say they were lucky to score as many as they did. None of their performances were convincing.

They were the second best team in the group, just beaten by that red card in Colombia/Japan.

[Serj]

They were the second best team in the group, just beaten by that red card in Colombia/Japan.

Then they should have played better against Japan. Of course the equaliser was due to a massive goalkeeping mistake, but Senegal should have the quality to not get to that point anyway.

[Giggles]

It might be a shit way to go but they weren't the second best team in the group because they couldn't beat Japan.

[Adramelch]

It's not like they played really good football. They were mediocre for the most part.

[Giggles]

They were horrendous in the second half today.

[Adramelch]

They were the second best team in the group, just beaten by that red card in Colombia/Japan.

Japan were the second best team in the group, almost beaten by that dodgy Niang goal.

It just doesn't work like that. I'd say they were at about the same level with Japan and neither of them deserves to be in the next round in my opinion, but that's how the draw (and Poland) turned out to be.

[Serj]

I'd actually say that in the game against each other, Japan looked like the better team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Japan just lost to Poland, they are terrible. They got a red card and penalty in 3rd minute against the team who were otherwise the best in the group, that decided their qualification on fucking fair play points.

I called it in the first post on this page.

[Adramelch]

You can't just automatically think "if they hadn't won the first game, they'd finish on 1/2 points". They may have well beaten Poland under different circumstances. That said, why that mong of a manager decided to field a different team today is anyone's guess.

And it's not like they were gifted a penalty/red card either. Again, Senegal also had the dodgy goal from Niang.

In any case, Senegal were mediocre at their best and performance-wise, they were no better than Japan.

[Waffdon]

I thought Japan were the better team in the Senegal match as well tbh

[Serj]

Japan just lost to Poland, they are terrible. They got a red card and penalty in 3rd minute against the team who were otherwise the best in the group, that decided their qualification on fucking fair play points.

I called it in the first post on this page.

Of course Japan are terrible (although they are slightly less terrible than I'd have expected). I'd argue that Senegal didn't manage to look any better, and that's quite a disappointment.