Jump to content

2018 Quarter-finals


Recommended Posts

6 minutes ago, Notone said:

Ah, they changed that, too? Back in the old days (as far back as the early 2000s) you could still pick up a suspension for the final by collecting a stupid yellow card.

It used to be that yellows from the group stages were wiped before the knockout rounds, now the point they get wiped is after the quarters

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Iskaral Putsch said:

To give him credit, Pogba looked really assured and good in possession in the second half; nothing amazing or game-changing, but used his technical ability well as they controlled possession.  Griezmann and Giroud both played well without creating a lot of good chances.  

Kante and Pogba have been France's best players.

 

7 hours ago, Iskaral Putsch said:

Belgium vs Brazil was a lot of fun.  Martinez finally switched to a back four and a shielding MF, putting KDB where he can be dangerous.  I would have preferred Dembele to Fellaini but the flailing elbows did well in the first half, before being bypassed so many times in the second half. 

I thought Fellaini did a very good job in the 2nd half as well. Meunier, Alderweireld and Fellaini did an excellent job defending that channel against the high quality of Neymar, Coutinho and Marcelo. Even Witsel dropped in to block Coutinho from cutting inside and shooting. 

Willian didn't do a good enough job on the right. Costa did a little better but was cutting inside too often. Brazil didn't do enough to stretch the play on Belgium's left and target Vertonghen and Chadli especially since Belgium concentrated their defence down the right to crowd out Neymar, Coutinho and Marcelo. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There were definitely times, in both halves, that Fellaini's lack of pace became a real issue in him failing to close down the quick sharp passes around him, but at other times especially when Brazil looked to go long he was excellent and what he is also really good at is as an emergency outlet or when the ball is bouncing loose coz his first touch and close control are genuinely really good and it meant he emerged with it half the time when things got scrappy in the penalty area coz it only has to go vaguely near him for him to win it and hold it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Prince Onyinye W. Ndidi said:

Willian didn't do a good enough job on the right. Costa did a little better but was cutting inside too often. Brazil didn't do enough to stretch the play on Belgium's left and target Vertonghen and Chadli especially since Belgium concentrated their defence down the right to crowd out Neymar, Coutinho and Marcelo. 

Jan Vertonghen was just very upset after Japan. He was really happy his teammates corrected his mistake. He apparently almost fell down from fatigue after the match. 

Maybe Jan Vertonghen had just a brilliant match yesterday. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harsh to criticise Sterling too heavily there. He takes the ball down so well and Olsen does brilliantly to cut out the ball as he takes it round him. Probably should have cut it back to Kane, but there were two players between him and goal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...