Knockout Stages - Round of 32

[Super_horns]

Bit of  a cruise for Spain this one.

 

Oyarzabal seems to be having a good tournament. 

[Lionator]

These are an absolute rolls Royce of a team. Austria are no mugs and they’ve made them look like mugs tonight.

[spacemunky]

Always amazes me that Spain can change players, but still do what only they seem to be able to do.

 

Don't think this squad is anywhere near that team that dominated world football with Iniesta, Xavi, etc, but they are still very good and maybe the only threat to France and Argentina.

[Lionator]

4 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Spain are great to watch. Their movement off the ball is relentless. 

It’s so un-Spanish. I guess everyone used to see them as a flair team but they’re genuinely so efficient and play like a club side. 

[Raj]

Cucucerlla is an awesome player just a whining little bitch

[Jonezy]

3 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Spain are great to watch. Their movement off the ball is relentless. 

Their gegenpress and return runs, when they lose the ball is insane. 

[Raj]

7 minutes ago, FoxesWalk said:

France have the best attack, Spain is a better team overall imo, and have far more control (assuming they can keep their best 13-14 players fit, as France also have a deeper squad in terms of individual quality).

Cant argue with that.

Both teams a level above all others in this WC

[MC Prussian]

3 minutes ago, Raj said:

Cucucerlla is an awesome player just a whining little bitch

I wonder what would happen if an opposing team would finally start cancelling both him and Pedro Porro out of the game.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

24 minutes ago, Raj said:

Hope not for footballs sake.

France are a joy to watch and best team by a mile

Disagree, Spanish are by a mile the best team to watch. It's not 2018 any more mate

[FoxesWalk]

6 minutes ago, Lionator said:

These are an absolute rolls Royce of a team. Austria are no mugs and they’ve made them look like mugs tonight.

They have far more control over the game than every other team here. A lot more. Less spectacular than France, but they are a better team, going to be very hard to stop them.
 

Haven’t conceded a goal all tournament and haven’t really ever looked in danger of conceding one, just dominant. They have conceded ~1 xg in total across all 4 games so far. 

[MPH]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Well, to clarify, I do think I'd like to know what record they have in competitive games there against elite non-CONCACAF opposition. 

 

Probably little, considering that like you said, those opportunities naturally come few and far between. 

 

My point being that while the Mexican record at the Azteca is damned impressive, it is possible that they haven't really met many sides, at all, that have the quality to test them there in a competitive game, so I'm not sure how informative it might be regarding the game coming up. 

 

And yes, it was there that Maradona scored one of the greatest goals and engaged in one of the most egregious acts of cheating all in one match. The duality of the man summed up. 

i think the main concern amongst the England camp isn’t necessarily Mexico at the Azteca, it’s the altitude.  Play at sea level and I think we’d be clear favorites..

[spacemunky]

Portugal/Croatia looks like one heck of an event here tonight in Toronto 

 

 

[leicsmac]

24 minutes ago, MPH said:

i think the main concern amongst the England camp isn’t necessarily Mexico at the Azteca, it’s the altitude.  Play at sea level and I think we’d be clear favorites..

Yeah, that is likely the main concern. I guess we shall find out in due course.

[shen]

Spain were a good watch. Yamal was entertaining if not efficient. Well oiled machine. Just a shame they always have that cheating, whiny character as well.

[Danizen]

49 minutes ago, Raj said:

Cucucerlla is an awesome player just a whining little bitch

You could say that about most of the Spanish team. Especially Rodri and Yamal. 

[Dan]

Spain unfortunately still look decent. They have in hindsight had a pretty kind route so far though.

Edited 54 minutes ago by Dan

[Leicesterpool]

Out of all the favourites England and Portugal are far from the true potential this tournament. Argentina, Brazil, France and Spain all look red hot. 

Edited 40 minutes ago by Leicesterpool

[Super_horns]

Ronaldo retiring from International football after the tournament apparently .

 

He'll be even more desperate  to score and go out on a high then.