But again why not if you’re Algeria. At that point Austria has to score to go through and they’ve a real chance to make the quarters now thanks to that equalizer.
World Cup Group Stage - 3rd Round Matches
- Thread starter bosnian_red
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Iran have been treated horrendously by the host, who bombed their country into oblivion and deprived them from a proper preparation, and were forced to fly back and forth for every game they played with the full complicity of the Swiss piece of shit and his organization.
The amount of travel they've been doing to play took its toll and they did the best they could with their limited means. While I'm happy that another African team made it through, I'm truly sad that Iran went out.
This is a stain on the WC that will never go away and one of the reasons why I am vehemently against the US hosting any international event until they sort their own shit out.
As for collusion, you can't script 2 goals in extra-time. Algeria should've won this game but they've been shaky at the back from the beginning of the tournament. Honestly I thought that they would be thumped by Austria.
But why would you be shocked to score a goal if you took the game seriously? Isn't that the main goal in football?
THe missed pen against Egypt will haunt the Iranian #9 for a very long time.
Because of how the second half went. Austria just had 10 men behind the ball and they were just keeping it between themselves. for 30 mins it didn’t feel as if Austria even touched the ball. I mean, the ball didn’t even go out of play for like 15 mins cos Algeria had a sub wanting to come on at around 80 and didn’t end up coming on till Mahrez scored.
If they wanted a guaranteed match vs Switzerland they would have just kept it between themselves for 2 more mins and its game over, why risk scoring in the first place.
They were shocked by how Austria reacted and also knew they were now guaranteed a place in the knockouts so I guess you’re right in the sense they didn’t care as much.
The celebration with the sunglasses is going to haunt the whole country for decades.
Yeah, but all that you described is basically a 'silent agreement' to end the game as a draw which means they didn't really want to win.
Austria probably fell asleep and didn't even do the bare minimum pressing near the box anymore, then it happened. Maybe the Algeria players were like 'damn, how and why did they let us score' and just let them score in return.
I stand by that if this was a knock-out game, that last goal never happened like that.
If you’re talking about Austrias goal I completely agree.
Fair enough. Algeria lead 3:2 and it’s the final seconds of the wc-game. Austria send a cross into the box, but there are only five or six Algerian players defending. I don’t think it’s rigged, but you could tell some players were wondering whether Mahrez’s goal was actually a good idea.
England's quater finsl is all but guaranteed with this favorable draw. DR Congo is weaker than Morocco Cote d'Ivoire Senegal and Cape Verde. Mexico or Ecuador aren't as good as those teams either.
Ronaldo will just say he’s jealous because Rooney is ugly and he is not or something
Colombia deserve that relatively open draw. They won a group with Portugal in it and made that happen. They should be able to handle Ghana and then a battle with probably the Swiss for a QF place.
Despite Canada and Portugal being the only pot 1 teams not to win their group, the final bracket still feels kinda lopsided. That's also on Uruguay and Turkey.
Despite Canada and Portugal being the only pot 1 teams not to win their group, the final bracket still feels kinda lopsided. That's also on Uruguay and Turkey.
Ok then
... thank you for clarifying that, I wasn't exactly sober at that moment.In any case, Spain can consider themselves fecked already.
Yeah, I know what you mean. A bit like games against Liverpool were even during all those successful SAF years and they were pretty terrible, they’d always be up for our fixture.
Defending for nearly all the goals was non existent.
Surprisingly, there were only 4 mins of added time at the end of the game (Austria v Algeria), despite two second half goals, at least 3 minutes of the water break, substitutions, never mind the injuries and medical help.
Then Algeria scored around 3:25 of the added time. At 4:27, after a couple of huge defensive errors in the Algeria box, Austria misses a clear chance (practically a sitter). Then the game went on for some reason, and we all know what happened at 5:25. And after the goal celebrations, at 6:45, the referee blew for the end before Algeria even kicked off (so practically, the game ended at the moment the score became equal).
Can someone explain what happened here? (I was switching between the match and the Cafe, so might have missed something.)
Edit: all the times given from the memory, so could be wrong for a few seconds here and there, but not more than that
Then Algeria scored around 3:25 of the added time. At 4:27, after a couple of huge defensive errors in the Algeria box, Austria misses a clear chance (practically a sitter). Then the game went on for some reason, and we all know what happened at 5:25. And after the goal celebrations, at 6:45, the referee blew for the end before Algeria even kicked off (so practically, the game ended at the moment the score became equal).
Can someone explain what happened here? (I was switching between the match and the Cafe, so might have missed something.)
Edit: all the times given from the memory, so could be wrong for a few seconds here and there, but not more than that
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Just saw Brian Brobbey´s brother scored for Ghana.
Thought that was a terrible call. It's an unintentional hand on the neck, yet some referees seem to think it's an uppercut to the chin.
Africa has lost fewer teams than Europe, which if you think about it, probably means they should have more places
Asia decimated
Africa have always had good depth in terms of decent teams, Nigeria and Cameroon didn't even qualify for example. Anyone that had any sort of African football knowledge or anyone that watched Afcon would know that the increase in the number of African teams in the world cup wouldn't lower the quality. (I don't think the same can be said about the AFC and CONCACAF).
Africa has lost fewer teams than Europe, which if you think about it, probably means they should have more places
Asia decimated
The issue with African football is there's a lot of solid teams but not a lot of teams capable of winning the world cup which is why they lag behind Europe and South America in terms of hype.
So Denmark got eliminated in the qualifiers by the 2 worst performing European teams.
Africa has lost fewer teams than Europe, which if you think about it, probably means they should have more places
Asia decimated
Bloody hell. So if we eliminate Morocco, then SA or Canada, the Quarterfinal will most likely be France or Germany?! If we go all the way we can at least say we didn't get lucky!Colombia deserve that relatively open draw. They won a group with Portugal in it and made that happen. They should be able to handle Ghana and then a battle with probably the Swiss for a QF place.
Despite Canada and Portugal being the only pot 1 teams not to win their group, the final bracket still feels kinda lopsided. That's also on Uruguay and Turkey.
And possibly Spain/Portugal in the SF. Pretty hard route yeah.
At least your R16 is doable, if you get past Morocco. Japan would have Norway/Ivory Coast if they manage to beat Brazil.
Austria would be second whether they won or drew (Spain next). Algeria instead prefer to draw rather than win (Swiss instead of Spain).
It follows that a solid arrangement would have been "Algeria score first, then have every incentive to let Austria equalise". You could even run up a 2-0 and expect a draw. That's what would be consistent with Game Theory 101.
That is NOT how it played out, Austria was scoring first, indicating any agreement had been constructed on the basis of significant mistrust towards Algeria holding their end of the bargain. Be it Gijón or empathy towards Iran, but football reasons all aligned with draw>win, so setting it up that way was Austria saying "I don't trust you".
Late game was a lull at 2-2, ET probably determined to be short because it was a clear shitshow... and then Algeria/Mahrez break the script because win or draw the Austrians are getting the same deal. The same Austrians who had set things up on the premise of mistrust. Can YOU trust them?
Once ahead the Algerians are safe and the more attractive Switzerland tie is an incentive to let Austria score (which they almost managed not to).
Or Mahrez was doing an Elanga, but I don't think he is that simple.
Funny, in my mind Brazil get Norway/Ivory Coast if they manage to beat Japan. I don't think Brazil make the QF
Ancelotti having to tinker his way through those different styles with limited resources. Japan would just be Japan whoever they play, if you catch my drift.
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I meant from the perspective of a Dutch fan who saw The Netherlands finish first. Had they finished second they would've had Japan's path, which includes a harder round of 16.
Just watched the highlights of the Portugal v Columbia match. Why the feck and Columbia allowed to wear the icon Brazil kit (yellow shirts, Light blue shorts, white socks).
I don't know, but maybe because it's the colours of their flag?
Plus the white socks are a tribute to their number one export product.
Exactly, where would they be without a little nose talc.
I would like Japan to win but I think there’s some underrating of Brazil and their route to the quarter final. I would fancy Brazil to beat Norway (presuming they progress) and then England vs Brazil is pretty even. Brazil’s defence and Vini Jr on the counter attack is not a nice prospect.
Brazil's fullbacks are crap. It's a bizarre situation, the strongest domestic sides play foreign fullbacks. I've no idea how that happened. Makes them very one dimensional and almost entirely reliant on Vinicius.
We're not weakEh... It's not that bad...
This is a cool stat for Mahrez goal yesterday.
Surely a record of some kind ?
Surely a record of some kind ?
Algeria knocking it around while Austria let them, then somebody suddenly remembered Gijón and said feck these guys, they played two forward passes and scored
And then remembered that winning meant playing Spain instead of Switzerland, so they scrapped vengeance in favour of pragmatism and "forgot" how to defend
Pretty much.
I've seen the videos of the Algerians(fans) reacting to the 3-3Pretty much.
Can you share a link please?I've seen the videos of the Algerians(fans) reacting to the 3-3
Their defending for the 3-3 was suspicious but I genuinely think their concentration levels nosedived as they were caught in two minds.