Day 12: Canada vs Morocco | Croatia vs Belgium | Costa Rica vs Germany | Japan vs Spain

RedDevilMachine

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Good to see Sane back in the starting line-up, he adds a lot of pace and is very dangerous on the wing but disappointed Flick did not start Füllkrug? He is their only central forward. Costa Rica will surely park the bus to frustrate Germany and if they can do it against an attacking Japan team and end up winning the game on the counter, what's to say they can't do it against Germany who lost to Japan. I am nervous and worried now. :nervous:
 

KirkDuyt

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Womp womp, lighting stuff on fire again to celebrate Morocco's victory.
 

Superunknown

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Martinez just announced he's quit (or was fired). So a silver lining at least.
His contract was up at the end of the World Cup anyway.

My wife is Belgian and I spend a lot of time there, so I do consider them to be a team that I do support. I could only follow the game on the radio due to work and driving home during the second half. Annoying that there were chances to win it, but the reality is that this isn't down to Lukaku's misses. Martinez has wasted the opportunities provided to him and he just hasn't been the right appointment at the right time. The timing of this selection of players coming together over the last decade is huge, but they fluffed the one position to tie it all together - the manager. I'm glad he's gone and they really should have been looking for a change after the last tournament. Not enough new players or fresh players coming through. If Lukaku is unfit/not in form/injured/whatever, then why are they not looking at credible alternatives? It's just piss poor planning. Very fecking annoying.

In a way, it's good that this has happened, because it has to force through change, and it is very much needed.
 

redshaw

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I expect Spain to beat Japan even though a draw would be handy to eliminate Germany, it's down to whether Costa Rica can hold on for a draw at least.
 

do.ob

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Again with Müller up front and Füllkrug on the bench, just why, god, why

Kimmich back at RB, it seems. Better than the alternatives, surely, but we'll see if his absence in the center shows.
Maybe the logic is that Füllkrug would just get marked out of the game against a super defensive opponent and someone else would be better equipped to drop deep and help with overloads.
 

Krakenzero

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So Belgium was esentially UEFA's Colombia in terms of generation wasting. So far the only "big" name out, altough maybe Germany can join them today and Uruguay tomorrow.
 

RedDevilMachine

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Why doesn't Japan use the same players they did in their second half against Germany? I think Spain will destroy them.
 

RedDevilMachine

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It's a damn good thing that final match day group stage games are played at the same time. Imagine if Germany plays earlier and beat Costa Rica, Spain would surely prefer a loss against Japan to eliminate a big team and an easier to the final.

Spain can't risk losing to Japan anyway as they are eliminated if Costa Rica beats Germany. However if say Germany is like 3-0 up, they might just take their foot off the pedal,
 

antohan

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Whenever anyone mentions calibrating positions in order to "only meet X" I just hope they meet X and get blown out of the water.

By the way, Morocco twice led Spain in 2018 and wound up drawing 2-2. Just saying, not sure why they speculate about the quarters.
 

Dudu

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After one goal from their only shot on target, kinda insane that Costa Rica could qualify with a win here.
 

Sly

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Poland setup looks Gung ho compared to Costa Rica tactics
 

That_Bloke

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Germany predictably stepping on the gas pedal from the off and Costa Rica parking the double decker.
 

GhastlyHun

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Musiala dribbling through the entire box, just forgot to shoot :lol:
 

do.ob

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Why even bother .. just take long shots or fish for penalties :lol: