Day 17: Morocco vs Spain | Portugal vs Switzerland (Last 16 7&8)

[V.O.]

1019 passes

1 shot on target

That's just criminal, no matter what type of football you're trying to play. Late stage Wenger would blush.

 

[Ayoba]

Ronaldo dropped??

 

[LARulz]

Spain have only won 3 World Cup games since 2010 apparently:

Iran, Australia and Costa Rica

 

[footballbite]

If you thought Japan's penalties were bad, those were even worse! Get in!

I still thought Japan's were even weaker - at least Sarabia struck his well even though he missed the target.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

The balls on Santos to bench Ronaldo in a WC game. Can't blame that one on ETH.

If they win tonight it might dawn on him that actually the whole team needs to move on.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Delighted for Morocco!

 

[fallengt]

feck. Ronaldo is benched. Santos' finally grown a pair
Portugal actually may have a chance now.

 

[Kopral Jono]

Two abysmal 'footballing' teams, whoever wins out of Portugal/Switzerland should more than fancy their chances

How were Morocco abysmal? They played to their strengths and got rewarded each time, there is nothing abysmal in that.

 

[awop]

Game against Portugal/Switzerland will be even harder with all the injuries they got. Heroic performance anyway to get there

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

wow just saw the formation , Ronaldo benched !!

 

[Sly]

You speak as if Portugal already qualified. I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Yep, the disrespect against Switzerland is astonishing

 

[alexo1505]

ronaldo benched haha, they surely win easily now.

 

[Shai-Hulud]

Brilliant! Can actually support Bruno and Dalot now

Yeah

 

[SportingCP96]

Santos seems to like his left-back to be left-footed, especially with Felix on the same side who doesn't really keep up the width.

And Dalot is a better right-back than Cancelo.

Dalot is a better what then who ???

 

[Massive Spanner]

Spain deserved that. Such a talented squad and then they play football like that.

 

[Lee565]

Why is itv presenting team dressed up like a pop band with the matching coloured clothing?

 

[Rojofiam]

RONALDO BENCHED

Spoiler: Next week

 

[Blackwidow]

Doubt they lost to Japan on purpose.

Enrique later told that he did not know that they were out for some minutes when Costa Rica lead against Germany. They believed Germany were winning - and after the first half not with more than 7 goals... They for sure did not put everything in to win or even draw what would have made them first in the table in the second half of that match.

 

[kouroux]

I still cannot believe the cojones it took for Hakimi to do THAT

 

[Chairman Steve]

Piers on suicide watch

Cue Portugal to now look like a much better team with the anchor on the bench.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Spain have only won 3 World Cup games since 2010 apparently:

Iran, Australia and Costa Rica

Something needs to change then. Poch for the Spain job.

 

[That_Bloke]

Yep, the disrespect against Switzerland is astonishing

You have a great team but you need to drop Ronaldo. Beware the Swiss, they're a pain in the ass to play against.

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

Ronaldo in semi final without starting the RO16 and Quarters.

 

[Reapersoul20]

"It was bono who had the edge". RTE >>>>ITV.

 

[Bondi77]

Spain are worse than us at penalties

 

[Dazzmondo]

Thought Switzerland might have a good chance against Portugal before I saw Ronaldo was dropped. Portugal might have a real chance at winning the World Cup if he stays on the bench. Portugal have by far the most underrated squad in this World Cup. So many excellent players

 

[Dazzmondo]

"It was bono who had the edge". RTE >>>>ITV.

Amazing

 

[Oly Francis]

Called it yesterday. Spain is plagued by Barcelona's issues. Looking good when the can pass the ball around but when it gets rough, it's just not enough. Too much pressure on kids, old glories with far too much responsability, poor attackers... It was obviously hard to predict Morocco would win since spain was obviously superior but it's not that surprising they did.

 

[stoinz]

I was thinking the Swiss might have a proper chance, but with Ronaldo benched, I think Portugal will easily go through. I feel they just play better without Ronaldo. This Santos guy have huge cajones benching CR7.

 

[Andycoleno9]

dude you are so weirdly obsessed with him, its really, really odd. all of your posts revolve around CR7

Not as you fanboys

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

For all the praise that Spain got in the Euros, they struggled to win games in regular time. The performance in this competition hasn't been that different, just that they did not do well in the shootout. Simply not good enough over the last years.

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

Spain deserved that. Such a talented squad and then they play football like that.

I agree they deserved to be eliminated. But it really isn't that talented. A lot of hype.

 

[TheRedHearted]

wow just saw the formation , Ronaldo benched !!

His pockets are too full from the Saudi money, he understood he couldn’t run with them weighted down. So he let the manager bench him

 

[Oly Francis]

For all the praise that Spain got in the Euros, they struggled to win games in regular time. The performance in this competition hasn't been that different, just that they did not do well in the shootout. Simply not good enough over the last years.

Spain had a lot of players overperforming during the euro. Busquets, Olmo, they're just not that good (anymore).

 

[SilentWitness]

I still cannot believe the cojones it took for Hakimi to do THAT

Absolute balls of steel.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I still cannot believe the cojones it took for Hakimi to do THAT

Yeah. Crazy. It was so softly hit as well. Even for a Panenka. Absolute mad man.

 

[Gordon S]

So, who will be motm, Bruno or Sommer..?

 

[adexkola]

How were Morocco abysmal? They played to their strengths and got rewarded each time, there is nothing abysmal in that.

Agreed.

Both sides played to their strengths.

 

[FrankFoot]

Didn’t know Bono plays for Sevilla after I googled. What a top and calm goalkeeper. Worth a punt?

He has his blunders at Sevilla and Girona, same stuff with Yann Sommer at club level while looking fantastic with Switzerland NT.

Buying goalkeepers based on international cup performances is very risky, but I'd say buying players based on international tournaments is risky overall no matter the position... international football allows inconsistent players to shine more.

 

[stw2022]

Is Joe Cole new to English?