World Cup - Russia v Spain

[malaise]

I say Spain in a penalty shoot out.

[rso]

1. Soccer

I say Spain in regulation time by a comfortable margin. Russia is not a good team.

[malaise]

2. No football

You don't get to define our game.

[cabot]

9. Exactly

Everywhere else in the world - save for North America - it is football. End. Of. Story.

[Codeine]

13. That isn't entirely true.

We got the word “soccer” from the Brits, who used it quite commonly up until thirty years or so ago. And it’s also still used in Australia, so as to avoid confusion with their own brand of football.

[cabot]

14. I did not know that!

Interesting. "The More You Know."

[malaise]

21. It was never the Soccer Association

In Britain, it was called the Football Association from 1863. It has never been the Soccer Association. Yes folks have called it soccer but there is no soccer in the name FIFA. The Brits were not even foundation members of FIFA.

[Codeine]

37. "Soccer" stems from "association football",

which was coined in the earliest days of the sport as a way to distinguish it from rugby football. “Association” became “assoc.” became “soccer”.

I prefer “football” - namely because American football is boring as all hell- but calling it soccer is perfectly fine.

[Hav]

41. Even with the historical background

I'd assume soccer is rarely used, if at all, in England.
Saying soccer in the US is fine. But not in an attempt to correct the use of the term football to distinguish it from a game where using the foot is the exception and not the norm.

[Codeine]

3. Spain should be able to dismantle them

in fairly comfortable fashion, even with Russia obviously playing for the 0-0.

[malaise]

4. LOL - spoiler

1-0 Spain". Free kick Ramos but own goal

[cabot]

7. Ouch

Own goals must hurt. LOL

[Codeine]

8. Complete with a felony assault in the box.

I can see where this is headed.

[Ron Obvious]

12. Couldn't believe Ramos had the effrontery to claim it

Hope Russia won't completely roll over now. It's in the air.

[cabot]

5. Spain 2 Russia 0

This is a hard one, because I do not know for whom to root. I don't like the Spanish National team, though I do like Gerard Pique.

But - I'll go with Spain for the win.

Croatia v. Denmark - I'm probably alone here, but I think Denmark will win.

Overall, I'm cheering for England. They've not won since 1966.

[Codeine]

11. I have a soft spot for the Croatia team

even though their behavior hasn’t always warranted it.

[cabot]

16. This is going to sound bad, and I'm ashamed to say it but...

I just find their jerseys to be too "busy." They're distracting. And yes, I'm not proud of judging a team for its uniform. And I apologize. Now I'm going to go hide in shame.

[malaise]

23. Croatia look good but I'm rooting for Denmark

For my big sis and her peeps.
Croatia

Penalty for Russia.

[Achilleaze]

6. republican comrade Dirty Donny* rooting for The Evil Emire**

Of course. KGOP republicans join him in rooting for the nation that is perpetrating ACTS OF WAR on America, according to all 17 US Intelligence Agencies. Nice betrayal of America, republican wankers.


* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief
** per ronald freaking reagan (R)

[malaise]

24. Spoiler

Spain 1. Russia 1

[peekaloo]

10. Egads..."penalty shoot out"

can take an entirely different meaning in Pootie Poot land.

[Achilleaze]

19. .

[peekaloo]

30. even that has a different meaning in Pootie Poot land

Trump knows......

[Achilleaze]

15. Spain up 1-0

America's enemies (and the republican's intimate moneybuck kristofascist sweethearts) are LOSERS so far.

[rso]

17. Soccer

Tiny Uruguay, with just over 3 million inhabitants, already embarrassed Russia with a 3-0 win in the group stage.

[malaise]

26. Football

Tiny Uruguay has won it twice already

[rso]

39. Uruguay

Yep, though the last time was in 1950.

[Takket]

18. Spain will win 3-0

[Takket]

25. Assuming they won't concede a PK on an accidental handball

[malaise]

27. Bwaaaaaaaaah

Oh My!

1-1

[irisblue]

20. Go Spain 🇪🇸

[Ron Obvious]

22. Spain since the goal is why I can't stand them

Nothing but sterile possession football. Remember their World Cup winning campaign in 2010? 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0.

[malaise]

29. Yep defend at all costs - now they'll have to start over

[Ron Obvious]

31. Yay!

Now please don't concede another before half time, Russia!

Oooops.... Nearly did there....

[malaise]

40. That's why I've predicted a penalty shoot out

Both are defensive teams.

[malaise]

47. A Golden Goal can still happen. n /t

[Ron Obvious]

48. Your initial prediction looks ever more likely

And Russia have taken off their first choice penalty taker!

Spain the only one trying right now, though they have the best goal keeper in the world.

Not good, but tense.

[malaise]

50. Tense is the word

The Russians look tired but their defense is sound...so far

VA R now - I saw nothing

[Ron Obvious]

55. This is an excellent referee. n/t

[malaise]

59. Dutch

One of the Russians will sky one

[Ron Obvious]

67. And that's it for you, Mystic Meg :-)

You were so close!

[malaise]

68. Well two great saves did me in

Their boring strategy won.

[Ilsa]

28. They get a free kick off the ball ricochet-ing off

the head of the russian and forward to the back of the arm of the Spaniard? Such bullshit.

[Codeine]

32. I've never understood why so many referees

cannot distinguish ball-to-hand from hand-to-ball. Whatever. Why am I irritated about a game with a ball being played on the other side of the planet by people I don’t know?!

[Ilsa]

34. It is a welcome distraction from other

aggravations, pains, irritants, and thieveries.

[malaise]

33. Clear penalty

[Ilsa]

35. Yeah, I don't know the rules, but

it seems like a huge penalty for something outside your control.

[Ron Obvious]

36. His arm was deemed to be "in an unnatural position"

That's the guideline. There's really no controversy about this one.

[3catwoman3]

43. I agree.

That was bogus. IMO.

[Enoki33]

38. Spain in the second half is going to be a lot more

aggressive in attacking. They know that is the only way they are going to dismantle the Russian defense. Diego Costa will be instrumental.

[a kennedy]

42. IT'S SO LOUD THERE.......

and I know Russia is playing, IN Russia......but yikes it soooooooooooooo loud.

[malaise]

45. It really is loud

and there're no vuvuzelas.
Russians sure can whistle

[Takket]

44. Spain just took Nacho out of the game.............

I'm hungry.

[malaise]

46. Good one

[Ron Obvious]

49. Nacho's goal against Portugal hardly had any dip to it.

Not mine.

[Takket]

51. please stop with the cheesy jokes

or expect a chili reception from me!!!

[3catwoman3]

52. I do NOT like shootouts.

Not one little bit.

[malaise]

54. Ha - well here we go

First Russian shoot out in a World Cup.
Third one for Spain.


5-4 Spain.

[3catwoman3]

58. I was always grateful that our sons...

...were not keepers.

[Codeine]

62. Meh. Can't play forever

and somebody’s gotta lose. I actually enjoy them to some degree.

[Achilleaze]

53. Wow - Sports Thriller !

Shootout !

[malaise]

57. 1-1

[awesomerwb1]

56. What you just saw from Russia is called

Parking the bus. Just defending deeply barely trying to attack.

Way too passive(frustrating) from Spain, but then again it's very hard to find space when a team of good athletes parks the bus like that.

Go Spain. Fuck Russia.

[malaise]

61. Now you see why

Saved by the Russian keeper

Russia win - damn

[Codeine]

66. Not my preferred outcome to be sure,

but Spain should have buried them. It was their game to lose and they managed to oblige. Dummies.

[awesomerwb1]

69. Uhh, that's why you park the bus.

to get to penalty kicks.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

60. The Russians are playing like their lives depended on it

Said the announcer.

Was he being literal or figurative?

[LisaL]

75. If Russian soccer players were killed off for losing, there'd be no Russian soccer players left.

[3catwoman3]

63. Well, shit!

This may be petty, but I did not want Putin to have anything to be happy about.

[malaise]

73. Did you see that second save with his foot by Vladimir Gabulov

Unfreakingbelievable.
Got today those were two great saves

[3catwoman3]

78. I certainly did see it.

It happened so fast I could not tell if it was skill or luck. Unbelievable either way,

[nocoincidences]

64. UNfreakingbelievable!!

[ornotna]

70. Right end

Wrong team.

Spain were one dimensional without a plan b. Still, didn't see that coming.

[aikoaiko]

71. Spoiler

Spain really choked on the penalty kicks, bother the keeper and kickers

[a kennedy]

72. Well this stinks.......ugh

[BeyondGeography]

74. Spain needs an update

Too easy to defend. Perimeter passes and the old give-and-go play. Predictable and boring.

[pwb]

76. Trumps team won...

Did he call vlad?

[malaise]

77. The keeper Vladimir Gabulov or

thev President?
That keeper was brilliant.

[Hav]

79. Why Gabulov? Akienfeev played

That second saved pk was great, though it was probably more a reflex.

[malaise]

80. It was freaking brilliant - some reflexes that

My bad re the keeper's name. That said his middle name Is Vladimirovich. They're all Vlads.
That was an unbelievable finish.

[dembotoz]

81. So did Russia hire the ne Patriots for technical assistance?

[Baclava]

82. You were close....

Last edited Sun Jul 1, 2018, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

spoiler







Russia beats Spain 4-3 on penalty kicks to reach qtr finals

[malaise]

84. Not really

I had Spain 5-4

Brazil looks good - great defense and scoring goals

[enid602]

83. Cup

Don't mean to water down everyone's high spirits, but this Moscow World Cup reminds me a bit of the '36 Olympics in Berlin.