Russia 2018

[WaspInWales]

Very soft penalty from England, but can't grumble against it.

What we can grumble about is the rugby tackle on Kane at the other end.

Some poor finishing on show from us, Lingard has missed a couple of sitters, as has Sterling, although he was offside.

We haven't played badly, but the finishing has been poor and we've let them back in the match.

[WaspInWales]

Another penalty call for England turned down. Again, far more blatant than Tunisia's penalty.

Sterling is massively shite.

[Galfon]

Stalemate...Eng. short of ideas & spark.
Tuna's will be delighted with draw...on comes the Rash.

[WaspInWales]

Almost as if we've run out of ideas.

Rashford had a lovely dribble down the right side of the box a few minutes ago. Turned his man inside out a couple of times.

Young with a missed free kick from a great position. If only Beckham was still available...

[WaspInWales]

Get in!!!

[WaspInWales]

2 fine poaching goals...but who cares how they come?!?

[Galfon]

about 'kin time..'kin 'kane!...
Maguire has seemed positive throughout.
HK cleverly lying low for most of match to pounce at the death..
2-1 at FT.
should do The Hats and progress.

[rowan]

Just caught the end of that and the winning goal, which really came as no surprise. Idiotic play by the Tunisians, dribbling around near their own goal, giving the ball away time and again, or else losing control of it and presenting England with corners and throw-ins. 3 straight losses for the North Africans, two of them in injury time and the other a late strike also. They need to wise up on their tactics and learn to play for a draw when the chips are down.

So a clean sweep for the Europeans today. England 2-1 v Tunisia, Sweden beats Korea 1-0 and Belgium hammered Panama 3-0. I think the non-European teams are now on 7 goals from 15 matches. That tells the story.

[twitchy]

The best tweet of the night. Fucking hilarious how one of the ten var refs could watch the replay and think "hmm yes that seems within the laws of the game".

[rowan]

So the opening games conclude today with Colombia playing Japan and Senegal up against Poland. It has been disappointed from the non-European teams so far, with the notable exception of Mexico. True, opening games don't count for much in the final analysis, but this is often the best opportunity for non-European teams to surprise their opponents and cause an upset. Perhaps Senegal can do that against Poland today. In fact, I'm not sure that would be regarded as an upset, but it would certainly be a welcome result after watching the previous 4 African teams blunder their way to demoralizing losses. As for Colombia - Japan, I'm hoping the South Americans have a great tournament after disappointing so often in the past and put a few goals away, but if Japan can pull off an upset there I'll be happy with that as well. Anything but a draw! At lastly today the second round of games will commence with Russia playing Egypt in the late game. Presumably Salah will be on the pitch, but I doubt that will be enough against the home-team.

[rowan]

Should be able to catch most of the Colombia - Japan match but won't see the others today.

[twitchy]

[Numbers]

A good result for a nervous looking England team last night, I can't remember watching an International game and seeing so many miskicks when players were shooting, Stones, Sterling and Rashford all spring to mind, I think England may be best served leaving Sterling on the bench for the next game and playing Vardy instead.

[WaspInWales]

The best tweet of the night. Fucking hilarious how one of the ten var refs could watch the replay and think "hmm yes that seems within the laws of the game".

Fucking shambles.

There have been quite a few penalties awarded so far in this world cup, a few of them as a result of VAR, but the 2 assaults on Kane were the most stonewall of the lot.

[rowan]

Stand-out teams in the first round so far have been Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Belgium and Croatia, in that order (and that's allowing for standard of opoosition), while Denmark & Serbia might also cause some problems for their opponents when it comes to the knock-out rounds. Hopefully I'll be able to add a couple of non-European names to that list by the end of today. Colombia v Japan about to kickoff. I'll see most of this but miss the next 2 games.

[rowan]

Stand-out teams in the first round so far have been Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Belgium and Croatia, in that order (and that's allowing for standard of opoosition), while Denmark & Serbia might also cause some problems for their opponents when it comes to the knock-out rounds. Hopefully I'll be able to add a couple of non-European names to that list by the end of today. Colombia v Japan about to kickoff. I'll see most of this but miss the next 2 games.

Didn't see the Senegal game so don't know but Japan have a case for being included in this group if they play the way they did in the second half against Colombia; not the first.

[rowan]

Fully expecting Morocco and Saudi to follow Egypt out of the tournament (mathematically there is still a very remote chance) with losses to Portugal and Uruguay today, but both are capable of playing to a draw if the opposition has an off-day and that would at least provide a life-line. Iran are also likely to lose heavily to Spain, but having beaten Morocco in the first round of games they'll still get to take on Portugal in the third with a place in the knock-rounds at stake. In fact, I'm expecting one of the 'Islamic' teams to hang on for a draw today. Could be Morocco, because they're actually a decent team and are also desperate; Saudi, because I don't think Uruguay is that great; and Iran, because they just seem to be a team that punches above their weight at World Cup tournaments. So that's as far as I'll go. 2 of the 'Islamic' teams will lose today and one will hang on for a meritorious draw. Inshallah!

[cashead]

Automation and industrialisation will always beat cocaine-slinging druglords, BITCHES!

[rowan]

Automation and industrialisation will always beat cocaine-slinging druglords, BITCHES!

Yes, well done Mexico!

[rowan]

Morocco are the African champions, btw. I think they've got an outsider's chance against Portugal. A lot of criticism has been directed at Spain for not putting away their neighbors in the opening round, but Ronaldo just had a very special game - and the Spanish did well to avoid defeat that day. He's not going to do that every time, and Portugal didn't seem to have an awful lot besides Ronaldo. So a lot will depend on the reigning World Player of the Year. They might even bring him off early to avoid the possibility of injury.

[rowan]

First round stats:

Europe 7 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses, 25 goals for, 12 goals against
Asia 2 wins, 2 losses, 4 goals for, 8 goals against
SAmerica 1 win, 2 draws, 2 losses, 4 goals for, 5 against
NAmerica 1 win, 2 losses, 3 goals for, 4 goals against
Africa 1 win, 4 losses, 3 goals for, 7 goals against

[rowan]

Should be a bit more interesting tomorrow. Argentina v Croatia should be a cracker. Can Messi turn it on? Denmark v Australia ought to be a fairly even contest as well. Remember Mourinho tipped the Aussies to follow France out of this group. & the French will be looking to secure their place in the KO rounds and eliminate Peru, but I think the South Americans might just hang on for a desperate draw to keep their hopes alive with the Aussies to come. In fact, 3 draws might be a good bet for tomorrow - not that I've managed to get much right so far

[Galfon]

Iran's cunning ploy late on when chasing the equaliser just didn't quite get the result...

[WaspInWales]

Iran's cunning ploy late on when chasing the equaliser just didn't quite get the result...

Bet the boss loved that.

[rowan]

Yes, I saw that and awaited the spectacular culmination, but I think the referee hadn't given the green light for the somersault throw to go ahead just yet