England’s route to the final is certainly looking… you know… not the hardest?
Can we say it?
Is football… coming… home?
Who knows, Colombia are monsters and the karma gods were drawing pictures in my dreams of David Ospina saving 3 penalties in a shootout moment of glory last night. I think we have a very stern test against a very unpredictable team there. Croatia, despite playing pretty poorly last night still look the favourites from our side. A team choked full of quality that you’d have to imagine would make our midfield look a touch pedestrian.
Scanning around the matches that excited Arsenal fans, we were not all transfixed on the number 14 during the Uraguay game? Lucas Torreira, what a player. The guy held his position, he ran for days and he put his head on the line to make a tackle on the floor. We’ve needed that sort of die-for-the-cause mentality for many a moon, and we’ve been crying out for a DM who actually wants to play there. I am very excited about the move, though I’ll always have that dull feeling in the pit of my stomach that worries we’re going to fuck it up royally at the last minute. Still, his dad seems confident he’ll at least end up in London.
“As soon as the World Cup ends, Lucas will go to London for his medical.”
There hasn’t been much movement on the transfer front, though I do suspect now we’ve hit July 1st we’ll some names roll in. The Sokratis deal has been taking a while, I can only assume that because of the July 1st date. No idea what that means in football terms. Is it the fiscal year in football? Is it something to do with a clause? I have no idea. Just stop pestering me about it.
There are strong rumours that Arsenal are being linked to Pavon for £26m. The Boca winger is going to land a move to Europe this summer, just can’t see that being Arsenal. Not often we raid directly from South American, but I’d welcome someone of his talent. He has some of that immense power Sanchez has boasted and he’d certainly ramp up the South American vibes in the dressing room.
Finally, great to read that Spurs fans are feeling the full force of a club that is now charging some of the most expensive season tickets in the world
Shite seats up with the gods for a whopping £2200… they’ve even had the cheek to charge a £2.25 transaction fee.
Welcome to the new world Spurs, wait until your excellent manager leaves and you start dropping down the table breaking even every year.
Right, short post today. Good luck Mexico today!
Jamie
“Bamford, say something.”
He hasn’t been outstanding.
He’s been good.
This is the conundrum for his fans.
Do they want to see jogo bonito Neymar or do they want to see efficient Neymar?
I would think efficient is good for this team and Neymar himself. Jogo bonito for when the game is won.
pedro
I knew you were hungover from all those flaming zambookas. good to read a new post from you bud.
didn’t notice brazil have so much depth and quality. brazil vs France is going to be epic…
willian was on fire. everyone can see why Carlos Vela failed In England. great control and technique, just no end product..
Coutinho another one who bosses the midfield, and the defence of brazil look really good. I’ll be surprised if they don’t make it to the final…
Mexico lost to a better team, period
Fully deserved win for Brazil.
Mexico started lively but in the end it was equivalent to an outside challenger going the 12 rounds with a champion boxer and never really rocking him throughout the bout but putting in a decent effort.
I like Neymar as a player but he and saurez need to brought to task regarding their play acting and conning referees..
Its embarrassing to watch them.. The cameras show they have hardly been touched but they roll around like they are having an epileptic fit…
And what do the commentators and fifa say and do about it…… Nothing.
Well deserved by Brazil and what should worry people is that they haven’t even looked their best yet.
More to come from Neymar, Jesus and Coutinho especially. Willian came of age today played a blinder, just about edged Neymar out for MOTM for me.
Belgium will be a real test providing they deal with Japan tonight.
Goonah
“Casemiro suspended vs Belgium. The game they prob need him the most in this WC.
Good replacement in Fernandinho thou”
Little bit concerning though for Brazil. Casemiro and Paulinho have formed a good partnership there in front of the defence.
Bedrock of the team and as we see Brazil like this defensive foundation in their team.
Brazil – Croatia final and win for Brazil worth betting on?
Don’t know about BBC/ITV but the commentators over here on RTE are hammering Neymar.
This Brazilian team has the efficiency of a German team.
The last time they had a pragmatic approach like that was the 2002 WC winning team.
They don’t look like they revved up beyond the second gear.
Wenger Eagle
“Don’t know about BBC/ITV but the commentators over here on RTE are hammering Neymar.”
His play acting is way too much, thats why.
England have no chance.. We do not know how to cheat.
Neymar and saurez will achieve what they want by whatever means it will take.
And it will get worse as they get closer to the big prize.
Cheating and time wasting is now regarded as an acceptable part of the game but for me it’s a massive turn off…..can’t stand watching it.
Casermiro will always be an unsung hero cos just like Gilberto Silva it’s not flashy enough bo be an “invisible wall”.
Very impressive player
“England have no chance.. We do not know how to cheat.”
LOL
Yeah, Kane and Alli are angels personified
Pierre
“England have no chance.. We do not know how to cheat.”
Oh these England players are sainted angels are they?
Of course they cheat like most players do on the field.
Just so happens they don’t cheat well enough at times.
You gonna cheat do it properly.
I have this sneaking feeling Sweden will be the surprise package of the tournament but then I also thought Spain would win the thing :p
I have to agree with Pierre about there play acting. Its dominating the game more that ever.
I do have to disagree with Pierre that England won’t stand a chance.
The Spurs contingent have been well drilled by Pochettino to dive properly.
England had divers all over the field, Dele Ali, Harry Kane and you even took Ashley Young.
England dive just as much as anyone else. Gary Linekar dived twice against Cameroon in 1990.
Goonah
“Casermiro will always be an unsung hero cos just like Gilberto Silva it’s not flashy enough bo be an “invisible wall”.”
I remember watching him as a youngster when he first started out in a Sudamericano sub 20 competition.
He was a different player then. All action box to boxer.
Per Mertesacker@mertesacker
Today I met every Arsenal Academy player and their families. We have big things planned for this Academy and I can’t wait for the new season! #ArsenalAcademy
Thank god for VAR!!
It will get better. Faster decisions. Restrospective bans? There will be less cheating
Sokratis on the dot com
Arsenal have announced that Sokratis has signed and will play with 5 shirt.
Arsenal website has announced signing of Sokratis. At last! Should be a great signing
This Brazil team is good but not that special. They were fortunate to be playing a team that shat the bed offensively every single time Mexico got themselves in dangerous positions
In the end it was pretty routine for Brazil but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one shouting at the tv when Mexico would break and it’s 3 v 3 and (insert every Mexican offensive player here) would ignore two good through ball options to try a hopeless shot from 30 yards.
Frustrating as hell
Jesus, the Welcome Sokratis clip on Arsenal Twitter is cringeworthy.
I can see France scoring at least 2 against Brazil
Has that Arsenal Sokratis video got mixed up between Greeks and Spartans?
RTE
the only bloody channel on the Island not owned by the bloody English
that snl skit…
Papastathopoulos……such a name
No regista for Brazil this World Cup lol
Is any national team in this World Cup playing with a regista apart from the La Suisse of course?
Gnabry unveiled at Bayern.
France haven’t even beaten Uruguay yet and they’re already scoring two against Brazil. Both teams might actually fancy their chances against France at least they can actually defend. As good as France were against Argentina it’s worth noting how bad defensively they were
Arsenal target Lucas Torreira will have a medical with the Gunners after Uruguay’s participation in the World Cup is over, according to his father. “I want the best for my son and I also know that Arsenal showed a lot of interest in him,” Ricardo told Radio Crc as quoted by Football Italia. “It’s not done, neither is it official, because he hasn’t signed anything, but there’s a great chance that Lucas’ future will be in England. “There was no problem in the negotiations, and the latest is that as soon as the World Cup ends, he’ll go to London… Read more »
I can see Uruguay scoring 2+ against Brazil as well except that I don’t predict they’re going through…
In the first half, brazil’s defense was pretty suspect but for piss poor Mexican attacking play. In the second half they defended better and Mexico were more of the same. If the Mexicans had any attacking players who were calm under pressure they’d have had at least 2 1v1s in the first half alone today
This is the one time I ever have and probably ever will say that a Mesut Ozil would’ve made an enormous difference to this game lol
£2,200……and a £2.25 transaction fee
That’s horrible marketing
Should have made it £2,229.99….and zero transaction fees.
This is the one time I ever have and probably ever will say that a Mesut Ozil would’ve made an enormous difference to this game lol
Mexico Brazil game? For who? Forget it he’d have done fuck all
Yeah those welcome to Arsenal videos are fucking shit. All I keep seeing is Sokratis followed by saving and state…is he an IMF agent or something? Has he saved Greece from some sort of terrorist/extra terrestrial attack or something?
https://arseblog.com/2018/07/sokratis-papastathopoulos-what-will-the-new-man-bring-to-arsenal/
Decent write up. Some cons if we’re honest. His nickname is Papa by the way. Let’s hope he’s more than a rolling stone for us in defence…thank you I’m here all week
Brazil have been pragmatic since 1990 ….muppets
Papa!?
Remember i bought a yellow away shirt with 9 BEAST. Sigh…..Was so hyped when we signed Baptista. Looked so good from clips when he was at Sevilla.
Even when he scored 4 when we played Liverpool in th league cup, freaking Aliadiere was motm. such a weak pussy he turned out to be.
Sokratis YEAH BOY
Want Benatia to Join the Revolution Too.
Baptista pumped up fatter version of Christopher Wreh.
No
Why is Witsel starting ahead of Dembele?
I don’t get that bit.
I just feel it so easy to implement WAR properly. Just tell the players “we will look at the game not only now but atferwards and if we find the referee missed any sort of dive,cheat you will get a 5 match ban for starters”
Anyone doing the screen sign..straight red!
thats sorted
Just tell players to play the fcking game!
Dissenter
July 2, 2018 19:22:30
Why is Witsel starting ahead of Dembele?
I don’t get that bit.
………………………………
Baffled, Dembele such a cultured player to me, much better option than a “destroyer” like Witsel against Japan
Don’t really see what Witsel brings to the table either.
Limited player in there, even Fellaini would be a better option.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/07/02/sweden-target-granit-xhaka-pre-match-provocation-ahead-last/
Sweden know who the weak link is apparently
Fancy Sweden tomorrow.
Was really impressed with them against Mexico and they have a very good account of themselves against Germany too unlucky to lose.
Swiss are ordinary outside of Shaqiri if he turns up.
Fancy Sweden aswell. But the game feels lukewarm tbh. Boring defensive game coming up?
Though I like Dembele, witzel is a top quality footballer, I can fully understand martinez starting him, I’m afraid he has the trait that Le grovellers hate… He makes the game look easy .
would love him at Arsenal.
Not the sort of player who will make a tackle with his head though.
Dissenter
Ok mate
Lol and somehow it always comes back to Ozil…
If Japan can hold on the last 45 they actually might fancy their chances.
My guess is they ran more than than anyone during 90 so they have the stamina to make a difference during the last 30
fantastic
Trust Martinez to fuck top the selection.
Witsel is a poor fit and the year in China has definitely blunted him.
Great to see a Spud make an almighty fuck up really hope Japan can hang on.
Fucking hell alright we got a game now!
Brazil – Belgium is a way better tie…only reason i want Belgium to win
*fu*k up the selection
Dissenter
Martinez is actually a really poor manager. Can get teams to play some nice football going forward but makes Wenger look like George Graham when it comes to defending.
omg……ok
It’s easy to forget that Japan has some tested player on the field…coupled with the famerd work ethic
…….bang… there is goes 2-0
Total Massacre
Huge upset on the cards!!!
Typical Belgiums
Why isn’t he playing with Dembele?
Dembele is a good defender these days, thanks to Pochettino.
Belgium are a collection of good players, managed by a half-witted manager.
Long time still to go but someone tell me if it were to finish with this result what odds would you have got on Argentina, Germany, Belgium and Spain all going out before the Qtr finals.
I feel the japs can run forever
does anyone have the most distance covered of any team so far?
Can somebody please tell me what’s with the hype that surrounds Belgium?
Have they done good in an international tournament, like ever?
2 of the top keepers in the world already out another in serious trouble.
I like Japan and South Korea but this result is simply not good enough for a team with Belgium’s squad
Remember a year ago when I was in Barcelona watching them against Eibar that this Inui fella is some baller, scored two worldies that day.
Goonah yeah South Korea as well. They sprint for 90 minutes, it’s madness
This is like David vs Goliath
The Japanese are small and nimble
Rambo
The hype is some of the players they have and how they perform at club level.
You can’t argue that they don’t have some seriously good players.
Well Rambo they have no meaningful history but they have one of the best first teams in the world and have in de Bruyne someone who is right up there as maybe the best midfielder in the world.
Looks like the occasion is getting to them though
“Can somebody please tell me what’s with the hype that surrounds Belgium?”
I don’t know if its “hype”, or just recognition of how much talent they have.
This Fox sports [US] commentaries are horrible.
I’m watching a muted game right now.
KDB been underwhelming this tourney for someone that seemingly never gets criticised.
Lukaku, vertonghene and De Bruyne are overrated….. FACT.
On paper this Belgium team is better than Brazil for me any day of the week
In reality though they’re probably shitting the bed today whilst Brazil will always get a boost riding on their eternal reputation and experience as a footballing superpower
It’s annoying as hell but not really surprising
Lukaku with a criminal miss there
Rambo Ramsey
Belgium have world class players all over and even on the bench.
Thats the hype mate!
If manager or teamwork is fcking them over…well…they have a pretty good damn team
Belgium need a goal real quick…then the game changes and they may go on to win.
De Bruyne is not overrated. He is a fucking gloriously good playmaker
Martinez earning his stripes lol
Nearly 3
Could have been 3.
Getting a serious urge for some Sushi!
Innnggguurrrland should maybe be happy they avoided theese mad Japs
It’s not criminal when it’s lukaku, it’s kinda expected
China,
“On paper this Belgium team is better than Brazil for me any day of the week”
That paper has to be written with magical ink.
That’s some serious over-reaching
Chasing two goals you gotta bring on Nacer Chadli of West Brom. Martinez is a fucking lemon
Chadli is turd.
The Japanese have some veteran players on the field. Players who have been playing in Europe for a while.