Ah, wasted! The idea was good from Soma Mitoma, but the shot has to hit the frame of the goal at the very least.
Day 8: Japan vs Costa Rica | Belgium vs Morocco | Croatia vs Canada | Spain vs Germany
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
You mean Soma?
Doan has not take his chance this game, too slow and too safe
The attacking quality in this World Cup has been absolutely atrocious.
Saving this game for when I have insomnia in future.
I'm listening to a number of the matches with my eyes barely open rather than watching..
this world cup cure my insomnia.
A draw here would be disaster for Japan, if Germany win tonight against Spain...
Costa Rica is completely pointless. Not a single shot on target during the whole WC
Very good free kick position for Japan just now. It's right on the edge of the the D in front of the penalty area.
Borges booked.
Borges booked.
yes Japan have to get all 3 points against Costa Rica.. I just don't see them getting any points from Spain.
Freekick Japan on the edge of the box. Wish we had a Nakamura on the pitch right now.
Good spot for fk, Doan could score this
Shite
Missed. In that position, going around the side of the wall would have been a better bet.
I know Navas is a very good shot stopper, but with freekicks like this, I always feel blasting it in the corner that's not covered by the wall is worth a try
So fecking predictable 
feck me, Costa Rica are shite.
Costs Rica have been so disappointing. To me it's not a problem to exit with very few points, but turning up and getting pumped by 7 and then defending a whole game and offering zero entertainment against Japan is poor.
If Japan don't win, a draw against Spain should be enough today. A Japan win makes things very tricky though.
Wonder will this go down as an ever worse tournament than 2010. That was also very cagey but this at times feels a lot worse
I’m still enjoying it. I always love the World Cup. But compared to the last one in Russia it is way way worse in terms of quality and entertainment
I’m still enjoying it. I always love the World Cup. But compared to the last one in Russia it is way way worse in terms of quality and entertainment
Costa Rica have no reason to play for a draw here but they just know they’re absolute shit and don’t want to get battered again.
Is a draw a good result for Germany?
Always! All you need out of a free kick is to beat the goalkeeper with the element of surprise. Regardless, the primary mission is always to put the ball on target first.
I wonder what factors turn a WC into a good/attacking one, or a bad/cagey one. Other than what players are available.
5-4-1 in a must win game..... What's the point of even turning up? Costa Rica used to be a handful, what happened to them?
More sides like this Costa Rica in the next World Cup will be brutal
The worst thing about Japan losing the ball ridiculously easy is they then charge at them and foul them to get it back. Collectively daft.
Struggling to see a goal in this one tbf.
The weather and climate will play quite a role
They are just delaying the inevitable elimination
Well Japan started somewhat brightly in this half but they've now gone back to the unfortunate sloppy uncreative norm of the 1st half.
Costa Rica are there for the taking. Utterly abject.
Costa Rica are there for the taking. Utterly abject.
I'm hoping the knockouts will be better. Sometimes tournaments peak in the group stages and peter out in the KO's. Maybe this will be different..
The next game will be very interesting. Morocco has a very decent team that did well in the last Afcon and held Croatia to a 0-0 in the opening match.
Hakimi is the best player and you all know Ziyech but I'd pinpoint Sofyan Amrabat as their most important player and one of the tournaments most underrated.
Amrabat is a 27 year old CDM who is strong like an ox, has a great engine, technically superb fundamentals, tactically brilliant, keeps things ticking and can drop back as a cb. Basically a carbon copy of Schweinsteiger. Modric played well and got man of the match but I'd argue it should have gone to Amrabat who of course as the lesser name fell short.
If Amrabat can provide the goods today against de Bruyne as well you would know for certain that he is more than capable of becoming Uniteds own Fernandinho.
Goalkeeper Bounou and cb Aguerd are personal favorites as well. Saiss, the ball playing cb, a bit of a risk at times as well as the wing wizard Boufal when he gets tired. A bit lacking up front unfortunately so that will be the challenge.
Hakimi is the best player and you all know Ziyech but I'd pinpoint Sofyan Amrabat as their most important player and one of the tournaments most underrated.
Amrabat is a 27 year old CDM who is strong like an ox, has a great engine, technically superb fundamentals, tactically brilliant, keeps things ticking and can drop back as a cb. Basically a carbon copy of Schweinsteiger. Modric played well and got man of the match but I'd argue it should have gone to Amrabat who of course as the lesser name fell short.
If Amrabat can provide the goods today against de Bruyne as well you would know for certain that he is more than capable of becoming Uniteds own Fernandinho.
Goalkeeper Bounou and cb Aguerd are personal favorites as well. Saiss, the ball playing cb, a bit of a risk at times as well as the wing wizard Boufal when he gets tired. A bit lacking up front unfortunately so that will be the challenge.
Just did the permutation and Germany still need to win even if Japan draw. Spain and Japan will be on 4 points and they could just play a draw in the final game and Germany will be out even if they beat Costa Rica.
Terrible game this.
Totally agree with that. There was always something worth the entertainment in 2018, but it's not the case this year.
Japan manager should player Morita closer to the box. He's always a goal threat at Sporting and has scored some goals
They really need to beat Costa Rica to ensure they go through. Shame they can't find any of the intensity that was there vs Germany.
That should be a red