Quarter Final 2: Spain vs Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium at 8pm BST, Friday 10 July

TheGame said:
Of course it was. He should have held it.
Click to expand...
Courtois? Let’s be real now, that was a hard close range shot. The one who should’ve held it was Lemmens, unfortunately.
utdalltheway said:
what incident?
Click to expand...
Might be talking about the “handball” where a Spanish defender headed or kicked it against the arm of another defender, but that’s never a penalty for me. Think a similar incident wasn’t given in the PL or CL this season but can’t remember which one.
 
RobinLFC said:
Courtois? Let’s be real now, that was a hard close range shot. The one who should’ve held it was Lemmens, unfortunately.

Might be talking about the “handball” where a Spanish defender headed or kicked it against the arm of another defender, but that’s never a penalty for me. Think a similar incident wasn’t given in the PL or CL this season but can’t remember which one.
Click to expand...
Both were mistakes but it was into his body so he should have held it IMO.

On the penalty decision, I thought it was at first. Not sure what the rules are on that.
 
Tough loss for Belgium. Spain were good but not great and still they won. But they were there for the taking.
Belgium needed a lot of things to go their way but having Tielemanns and Onana not play and then Courtois having to leave really hurt them, and still they came close. They can leave with their heads high.
Maybe if they offered a bit more going forward today though they could have done it, so they might be feeling this loss a bit more because of that... it'll be interesting to see what the belgian team and press says.
 
Last edited:
RobinLFC said:
Might be talking about the “handball” where a Spanish defender headed or kicked it against the arm of another defender, but that’s never a penalty for me. Think a similar incident wasn’t given in the PL or CL this season but can’t remember which one.
Click to expand...
Clattenburg explained that very clearly on the US broadcast; If it comes off a defender in short range and it's accidental then it's not a peno.
 
Watching Spain though, they didn't seem quite on form. They usually harry their opponents if they lose the ball but I didn't see a lot of that today. And even Simon was off near the end there. Felt like they were in the wrong gear.
 
giggs-beckham said:
Think we've a better chance v France over Spain. The way they keep the ball is too good
Click to expand...
I think we’d struggle against both. France will have too much pace and mobility up front for us. Spain will just keep the ball, be patient when required and create openings here and there.

We have the team and players to beat both teams, but not sure we have the tactics. If we sit back against them then they will eventually score and we’ll have to start chasing. We might get away with playing an attacking game against France and it ends up 3-2 to either side - however it’s more likely we’ll bounce off their defenders and they’ll scythe through us on the counter. Spain aren’t used to be attacked but they too would pick us apart on the counter.

Anyway, let’s not disrespect Norway eh.
 
Spain deserved to win.
Still Belgium could have drag them to extra time if not for Lammens blooper.

Lamine had a very good first half, specially in terms of decisión making, his second half was awuful but in comparison with Pedri he tries, this last one better wake up in this final stage to save a really bad WC.

Rodri a talisman for them, even clever in the penalty and received quite a nasty foul at the end by Witsel.

They know what they do, they have been so far a very tidy, confident and overal a quite solid defensivly side.

I really like De La Fuente, his first team decisions, his subs, great fecking job for a dude that also looks a very decente fella.
 
I usually can’t stand to watch Spain. Boring boring pass teams to death.

They were watchable last night and tried to play a bit more direct which I appreciated.

They were the better team and deserved to go through on balance.

Thought Belgium did okay as well and struggled due to a few injuries that might have made it slightly closer but they can go home with their heads held high.
 
mustaine said:
For a keeper of his caliber to have two saves in a span of a few minutes straight to the middle of the box is not good enough. He was solid a part from that though.

I might be a bit hard on him though, one of my favorite keepers and I’ve seen him do some amazing stuff.

Not taking anything away from that mistake at the end which was terrible.
Click to expand...
I too think that both goals were errors from both goalkeepers and the Belgium defence should have closed down Merino from shooting. Still Lammens error.
 
Cantonagotmehere said:
Agree, even might say they are very good. But, I can't put my finger on why they are so boring besides Yamal. I can't root for France, but they are sure fun to watch.
Click to expand...
I think every game 1-2 key players have not played well, I just think they haven't gotten any momentum.
 
Cantonagotmehere said:
Agree, even might say they are very good. But, I can't put my finger on why they are so boring besides Yamal. I can't root for France, but they are sure fun to watch.
Click to expand...
Yamal has been pretty lacklustre too. They’ve been shit - wish they were on England’s side of the tree over Argentina who seem to pull it out the bag from nowhere
 
RobinLFC said:
Courtois? Let’s be real now, that was a hard close range shot. The one who should’ve held it was Lemmens, unfortunately.

Might be talking about the “handball” where a Spanish defender headed or kicked it against the arm of another defender, but that’s never a penalty for me. Think a similar incident wasn’t given in the PL or CL this season but can’t remember which one.
Click to expand...

There was and it was clarified that a clearance hitting the hand of your own player in the box is not a penalty. A rule that wasn't really widely known to be fair, even the commentary teams didn't really know it.
 
Why everytime we play theirs always talk about thunderstorms and the game being delayed. Hope we don’t get another delay tonight. There’s plenty of stadiums in America that’s been used for the WC. Look at the weather forecast and change the area if needs be.
 
Lennon7 said:
Yamal has been pretty lacklustre too. They’ve been shit - wish they were on England’s side of the tree over Argentina who seem to pull it out the bag from nowhere
Click to expand...
They have probably been the 2nd best team so far.
 
Spain have barely conceded any chances all tournament. Them and France are the best two teams and would almost certainly be the final if on different sides of the draw.

Would expect whoever wins the semi will then be massive favourites in the final.
 
RobinLFC said:
Disgusting, Spain as predicted so painfully average and they needed an injury to our captain and our best player to beat us with two rebound goals. I hope they get properly spanked by France next.
Click to expand...
Didn't care who won but come on? Spain were clearly the better team.
 
Ollie Derbyshire said:
Believes his own hype too much and tries to do everything himself whenever I’ve watched him. Seems to only want to shoot at every opportunity.

Is he a selfish player?
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t call him selfish. I’ve seen him assist and give tons of key passes potential assists before. I think he’s just off form & then tried to do much on his own. Had a poor game and hasn’t been great all tournament imo.
 
Lennon7 said:
Yamal has been pretty lacklustre too. They’ve been shit - wish they were on England’s side of the tree over Argentina who seem to pull it out the bag from nowhere
Click to expand...
I think it helps England to have Spain on France's side of the bracket.

France and England both play a similar way, except France do everything a little bit better. In particular, both managers have midfield setups that are all about having athletes who can dominate control of the game physically. I reckon 70 or 80 times out of 100, France beat England. They're just that much better at it.

Meanwhile, Spain play completely differently, with their midfield setup trying to dominate control of the game with possession. Spain have a better chance against France, and England have a better chance against Spain. If England-Spain can somehow get past the semis, it becomes a 50-50 final.
 
Last edited:
The Brown Bull said:
Didn't care who won but come on? Spain were clearly the better team.
Click to expand...
Yes, where did I say they weren’t? They’re just very far off what some people are proclaiming them to be. Nothing special at all and toothless in the final third.
 
Ish said:
I wouldn’t call him selfish. I’ve seen him assist and give tons of key passes potential assists before. I think he’s just off form & then tried to do much on his own. Had a poor game and hasn’t been great all tournament imo.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, I haven’t seen him too much and have seen some quality assists, but he does seem to try speculative shots a lot.
 
Oscar Bonavena said:
Balls bounce. It's what they do. He's got to deal with it!

The only mitigating factor I would give him is that it must be difficult for a goalkeeper coming on cold into a game. There's a reason goalkeepers don't get substituted unless injured.
Click to expand...

Yes, balls do bounce. They bounce throughout the game, every game…and it will be so for centuries. But a ball that bounces two yards in front of the keeper is a much tougher ball to save than one that’s in flight.

I’m not saying Senne couldn’t have saved it, but we see experienced, top keepers struggle with that kind of ball all the time. Top strikers know this. Now you do too.
 
Mb194dc said:
Spain have barely conceded any chances all tournament. Them and France are the best two teams and would almost certainly be the final if on different sides of the draw.

Would expect whoever wins the semi will then be massive favourites in the final.
Click to expand...
Don't underestimate Argentina
 
christinaa said:
Don't underestimate Argentina
Click to expand...

They're an average team with an ageing Messi. Given a super easy run and they play with 12 players every match. Embarrassing for the sport as much as anything.
 
IRN-BRUno said:
English referees can't be involved in a game featuring Argentina and vice versa because sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is still disputed.
Click to expand...
Didn’t realise …anyhow they're not getting them any time soon
 
Mb194dc said:
They're an average team with an ageing Messi. Given a super easy run and they play with 12 players every match. Embarrassing for the sport as much as anything.
Click to expand...
Oh you’re one of those people.

Now it makes sense why you were hyping up a Spain team that struggled to beat a 10 man Portugal and couldn’t create anything against a Belgium missing their captain, GK and was playing Witsel in midfield. They’ve been limping through the tournament and their supposedly best player has been a non-factor every game.
 
Mb194dc said:
They're an average team with an ageing Messi. Given a super easy run and they play with 12 players every match. Embarrassing for the sport as much as anything.
Click to expand...
Agree - and that's probably why they shouldn't be underestimated too
 
RobinLFC said:
Disgusting, Spain as predicted so painfully average and they needed an injury to our captain and our best player to beat us with two rebound goals. I hope they get properly spanked by France next.
Click to expand...
Our best player this tournament was Trossard for me and he got shunted to the right so Doku could play there. We should have stuck with what worked in the latter half against Senegal and US.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.