Today's World Cup Games

[RicoS321]

Egypt give NZ a pumping, 3-1. Elijah Just not good enough.

Edited Monday at 07:04 by RicoS321

[RicoS321]

Both groups last night finish favourably for Scotland. We just need the group leaders, Egypt and Spain to win their games (Iran and Uruguay) and we're automatically ahead of the third place team regardless of our result on Wednesday. 

[swaddon]

Needing other teams to get results rarely works out.

Although it did for Mike Bassett when he managed England, so there is hope.

[RicoS321]

27 minutes ago, swaddon said:

Needing other teams to get results rarely works out.

Although it did for Mike Bassett when he managed England, so there is hope.

It's slightly different this time round, as twelve teams need other teams to get results and so it will be working out for 8 out of 12 sides. That has been known since the start, so short of beating either Morocco or Brazil, we'd have always been relying on other results. Clarke obviously feels Scotland's best chance comes from keeping it tight against Morocco and Brazil, trying to sneak a one goal win, with a draw and even a one goal defeat in both games giving more than 50-50 chance of going through. That's a fairly decent bet, if he can pull it off. The Haiti game was really where his conservative approach was at its most obvious. Keeping it tight after going a goal up to make sure we had something to play for, at the expense of a better goal difference, could be his undoing. Although, realistically, we'd have needed a 3 goal deficit in that game to have made a real difference, as that would have put us ahead of teams on three draws (assuming we only lost by one in the following two). I'm not sure we were capable of that. 

[manc_don]

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Egypt give NZ a pumping, 3-1. Elijah Just not good enough.

Was a good game and NZ were more than in it in the first half. Second half Egypt got away with quite a few favourable moments but got into the groove after equalising. Meeting me in Florence at a steak restaurant really was the turning point in salah’s career. Hasn’t looked back since. Hes welcome, 

[swaddon]

Messi misses a penalty, but he's just scored to become the all time top scorer in the World Cup.

[RicoS321]

21 minutes ago, swaddon said:

but he's just scored to become the all time top scorer in the World Cup

Would have been Che Adams if it wasn't for Steve Clarke's negative tactics.

[Jute]

Messi with great 2nd to seal it and move further ahead in goal record race. 

[swaddon]

Portugal 3 up on Uzbekistan in the first half. The auld fella scored twice.

[Jupiter]

Its the year 2066 and an 81 year old Ronaldo is still playing for Portugal in the world cup.

[Radiored]

1 hour ago, Jupiter said:

Its the year 2066 and an 81 year old Ronaldo is still playing for Portugal in the world cup.

Its the year 2066 and Scotland are still favouring Dykes and Adams up front.

[RicoS321]

Ghana trying to stay solid, sneak a goal, knowing that if they get a draw or lose by a single goal they're still likely to go through. 

[Kowalski]

Said it in another thread but £70M for Gordon looks ridiculous. 

[Radiored]

Ah find masel in the strange situation o' cheerin' on England .... primarily because an England win is 'potentially' good for Scotland's chances .... but holy fuck ... makin' a right pigs ear o' it. ... So far they've been absolutely shite .... an' borin' as fuck.

[Kowalski]

Ghana seem to be playing against 12 men. 

[Radiored]

4 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

Ghana seem to be playing against 12 men. 

.... As evidence by that challenge by the England keeper on 'Prince'(?) .... had decision gone the other (correct) way, it was a last man challenge, and clear goal scorin' opp .... hence, red card for Pickford - that's how I saw it onywye - despite still hopin' for a Nigels win.

[Radiored]

... OK, change o' heart ..... England would only 'potentially' help Scotland if they won by at least two goals .... so fuck it ... 0-0 .... 80 mins on the clock .... C'mon Ghana!!!  

Edited 19 hours ago by Radiored

[RicoS321]

Ghanaians go through with a shitfest draw. Their fans must be embarrassed. No point in going if you don't go for it.

[Kowalski]

So Pickford should’ve been sent off and Ghana should have a penalty in a separate incident and now this…

[swaddon]

England swicking? Surely not...

[Radiored]

One o' the mair intertainin' moments o' the game was when the commentator described an England shot at goal as hittin' the bar .... the replay showed that said shot was deflected wide by a Ghana defender -- aboot 9 inches aff the deck  

[Slim]

5 hours ago, Kowalski said:

So Pickford should’ve been sent off and Ghana should have a penalty in a separate incident and now this…

Apparently there can be discretion applied if the "discussion" is deemed to be "friendly".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70y1ljdz8zo

So you're free to call someone whatever you like as long as you do so with a pat on the back.

[swaddon]

If you were having a "friendly word" with someone, why would you cover your mouth?

[RicoS321]

2 hours ago, swaddon said:

If you were having a "friendly word" with someone, why would you cover your mouth?

Because it might have been at someone else's expense? Or just perverted. It's a ridiculous rule, but not as ridiculous as close ups on players speaking and attempting to lip-read them in order to hold them accountable for some perceived injustice.

[wokinginashearerwonderland]

The game has gone.  Almiron sent off for exactly the same thing.  Curious to know if the outcome of this would have been different if it had been Kane instead of Bellingham.