Pre Tournament Friendlies

[MC Prussian]

Austria (with Dragovic) beat Germany 2-1 today, coming back from 1-0 at half-time.

Aleks went the full distance.

[MC Prussian]

39 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

No Silva or Pereira, not even on the bench tonight?

Ricardo Pereira's on the bench. No sight of Adrien Silva tonight.

[Ric Flair]

21 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

Ricardo Pereira's on the bench. No sight of Adrien Silva tonight.

Aaaah my sky sports app mentioned a Ricardo but that he's an attacking midfielder so assumed it wasn't our man.

[StanSP]

Adrien Silva has a leg injury so didn't travel with the squad.

[Wymsey]

Might watch a bit of the Mexico v Scotland game (01:00bst) if not nodded off by then.

[Kitchandro]

Croatia's kits are hugely disappointing this year. Massively gone off the first one now I've realised the checks don't continue on the back, and choosing black and navy on the away kit instead of the traditional blue is equally poor.

[spacemunky]

Beautiful goal by Neymar.

[Max Wall]

56 minutes ago, Kitchandro said:

Croatia's kits are hugely disappointing this year. Massively gone off the first one now I've realised the checks don't continue on the back, and choosing black and navy on the away kit instead of the traditional blue is equally poor.

I'm generally a pessimistic and negative person. It's just the way I'm made unfortunately.

You're in a whole different league.

 

Enjoy reading your posts more often than not though.

[MC Prussian]

1 hour ago, spacemunky said:

Beautiful goal by Neymar.

Yep, vintage Neymar. Dribble into the box, cut inside, swift left/right movement, and bang!

Hit it with quite some force, too.

[MC Prussian]

Switzerland got themselves a bit of a lucky 1-1 draw away against Spain today. The latter were very dominant, especially in the first half. That changed a bit once Iniesta was subbed.

Yann Sommer in goal did a very good job, came up with some cracking reflexes and saves.

 

The hosts took the lead thanks to a shot from Real Sociedad's right-back Odriozola, but De Gea with a lapse of concentration allowed Rodriguez to net from a close-range rebound to equalize in the second half.

 

Happy with the result and that no one got injured.

Although Saul should've seen red for a dangerous tackle from behind against Shaqiri.

 

Next and last pre-World Cup friendly for Switzerland will be against Japan. Looking forward to a match hopefully involving Shinji. 

 

Edited 3 June 2018 by MC Prussian

[MC Prussian]

Nigeria currently 1-0 down against the Czech Republic.

 

Ndidi starting for the Super Eagles, Iheanacho and Musa on the bench.

Edited 6 June 2018 by MC Prussian

[Jaspa]

They've just restarted the clock after pausing it for a tropical downpour. Never seen that before

[Jaspa]

It's still absolutely battering it down Thunder rumbling not far in the distance and you can hear waves of rain smashing against everything

[MC Prussian]

Musa and Iheanacho came on as late subs towards the end of the match.

[Jaspa]

Poland's most reliable, experienced defender Kamil Glik has injured himself doing an overhead bicycle kick in training and will miss the Tournament.

 

Mexico's squad have got themselves caught in media storm by arranging and attending a private party with 30 women, none of whom were their partners.

 

One week to go lads

[Alf Bentley]

22 minutes ago, SpazticChicken said:

Poland's most reliable, experienced defender Kamil Glik has injured himself doing an overhead bicycle kick in training and will miss the Tournament.

 

Mexico's squad have got themselves caught in media storm by arranging and attending a private party with 30 women, none of whom were their partners.

 

One week to go lads

 

 

All good news to me. I've got bets on that involve Poland and Mexico going out at the group stage. 

 

[Jaspa]

1 hour ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

 

All good news to me. I've got bets on that involve Poland and Mexico going out at the group stage. 

 

 

I'd agree on Poland but Mexico have a tradition of going out in the first knockout stage and although they looked terrible against Wales and just in general they're the type of team to get enough in the group to then KO at KO's.

 

Can't imagine thousands of Polish lads tearing around Russia will go down particularly well, the two don't get along do they and for all the talk of how the Russians will treat us of the back of our 'heritage', there's actually something historic between the two

[MC Prussian]

Mahrez and Slimani start for Algeria against Portugal.

 

Haven't seen the full Portugal line-up, but it looks as if Ricardo Pereira and Adrien Silva are both benched.

[MC Prussian]

Adrien Silva on since the 64th minute.

 

Can't believe how shit Algeria are. I mean, it's Portugal they're facing, but still... Zero creativity, little drive forward, no passion, no urgency.

Getting rolled over and liking it by the looks of it.

 

Mahrez rarely sees the ball, and when he has it, he gets lost in unnecessary dribblings alongside the touchline or moving towards the center of the opposing half. Way too complicated.

Slimani nowhere to be seen, lacks service - his biggest moment was in the first half, when he fouled a Portuguese player in the Algeria box and got away with it.

 

I think Algeria have had one proper shot on goal, and that after 75 minutes or so.

 

Portugal are so dominant, suffocating all opposing efforts pretty early on, a bit like Manchester City tend to play. Guedes with two great headed goals.

So much depth in squad. Frightening.

Edited 7 June 2018 by MC Prussian

[Mrfox452]

18 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

Adrien Silva on since the 64th minute.

 

Can't believe how shit Algeria are. I mean, it's Portugal they're facing, but still... Zero creativity, little drive forward, no passion, no urgency.

Getting rolled over and liking it by the looks of it.

 

Mahrez rarely sees the ball, and when he has it, he gets lost in unnecessary dribblings alongside the touchline or moving towards the center of the opposing half. Way too complicated.

Slimani nowhere to be seen, lacks service - his biggest moment was in the first half, when he fouled a Portuguese player in the Algeria box and got away with it.

 

I think Algeria have had one proper shot on goal, and that after 75 minutes or so.

 

Portugal are so dominant, suffocating all opposing efforts pretty early on, a bit like Manchester City tend to play. Guedes with two great headed goals.

So much depth in squad. Frightening.

 

Being Portuguese myself, I don't know what to expect from us this year.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if we got knocked out in the group stages tbh.

 

Couldn't believe how bad Algeria actually are considering some of the players they have. They were shocking. To think they took Germany to extra time in the world cup last time. They've gone seriously backwards.

 

I'd be surprised if Adrien starts any games going forward. Bruno Fernandes has looked really good. 

 

I also think Cedric will be ahead of Ricardo come next week. Seems to have the faith of Santos and rightly so imo.

[MC Prussian]

9 minutes ago, Mrfox452 said:

Being Portuguese myself, I don't know what to expect from us this year.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if we got knocked out in the group stages tbh.

 

Couldn't believe how bad Algeria actually are considering some of the players they have. They were shocking. To think they took Germany to extra time in the world cup last time. They've gone seriously backwards.

 

I'd be surprised if Adrien starts any games going forward. Bruno Fernandes has looked really good. 

 

I also think Cedric will be ahead of Ricardo come next week. Seems to have the faith of Santos and rightly so imo.

You'll be fine in your group, making out the group winners with Spain. I don't really rate Morocco and Iran that much.

 

Shame to hear Santos' preferences in central midfield and at right-back. But Adrien Silva snuck in last-minute, so should cherish whatever match practice he can get.

Don't see what Cedric has done to start over Ricardo Pereira. But once you've got progressed to the next knockout stages after two matches, I'd expect to see him at least getting one opportunity as a starter.

[Mrfox452]

18 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

You'll be fine in your group, making out the group winners with Spain. I don't really rate Morocco and Iran that much.

 

Shame to hear Santos' preferences in central midfield and at right-back. But Adrien Silva snuck in last-minute, so should cherish whatever match practice he can get.

Don't see what Cedric has done to start over Ricardo Pereira. But once you've got progressed to the next knockout stages after two matches, I'd expect to see him at least getting one opportunity as a starter.

I may be completely wrong on both players,  But I feel Adrien is behind Fernandes and Mouthinho. As much as i want leicester players to do well, we have better options than him. Adrien will probably come on the last 20 minutes if we're winning to sure things up. 

 

Cedric has been incredibly reliable ever since he came into the team midway through 2016. Imo opinion he was a major factor in why we won the tournament then. I have a lot faith in him and Santos does as well. I know Leicester fans would hope Ricardo Pereira starts but honestly i have more faith in Cedric. 

 

 

[MC Prussian]

Shinji on the bench for Japan against Switzerland tonight. Kick-off in ten minutes.

[MC Prussian]

Okazaki did not play for Japan yesterday, and Benalouane is on Tunisia's bench for today's last pre-World Cup friendly, against Spain.

[StanSP]

Really disappointed with how many of these friendlies have been on TV, even ITV4 or BBC Red Button or Sky Sports Red Button.

 

There's been about 2-3 games for each World Cup team in preparation for the tournament and aside from England games, which are always on TV anyway, I can only count a handful of these friendlies that have been aired here.