World Cup 2018

[LUX]

and England

[Silver Fox]

It feels like 4 team groups would require lots to be drawn all the time but it never* happens does it? ISTR England's group in Italia 90 was an absolute drawfest and it looked dangerously like the straws would be needed then, but it was avoided thankfully

[Sanguine]

and England

Yep - was looking at groups where qualification for R16 could be drawn by lots, rather than group win.

[Sanguine]

It feels like 4 team groups would require lots to be drawn all the time but it never* happens does it? ISTR England's group in Italia 90 was an absolute drawfest and it looked dangerously like the straws would be needed then, but it was avoided thankfully

Iirc Netherlands qualified without winning a game. Those were the days of 24 teams though, and 'best third place sides' making the next round.

[bcubed]

Australia playing pretty well but doesn't like it'll be their day

[bcubed]

Paolo Hurtado on for Peru!

[windermereROYAL]

This what it will be like Thursday, boring shit. neither team want to lose, and neither bothered if they win.

[Silver Fox]

Did you choose to watch the French game? Madness!

[Old Man Andrews]

This what it will be like Thursday, boring shit. neither team want to lose, and neither bothered if they win.

How dare you make that assumption! I'm sure Tunisia v Panama will be an epic encounter!

[From Despair To Where?]

It feels like 4 team groups would require lots to be drawn all the time but it never* happens does it? ISTR England's group in Italia 90 was an absolute drawfest and it looked dangerously like the straws would be needed then, but it was avoided thankfully

Iirc Netherlands qualified without winning a game. Those were the days of 24 teams though, and 'best third place sides' making the next round.

Italy got through the first group stage in 82 without winning a game. They had 2 1-1 draws and a 0-0 draw. They knocked out Cameroon (2 0-0s and a 1-1) on goals scored. They, of course, went on and won it.

England's 1-0 win over Egypt in 1990 was the only game in that group that wasn't a draw and both Ireland and the Netherlands went through without winning a game. Ireland got to the Quarter Finals without winning game.

[stealthpapes]

They had to draw lots to separate Eire and Holland.

[stealthpapes]

which, I guess, gave us



so win-win-win

[Snowflake Royal]

Nonsense. (Not to say barely decipherable.)

He forearm-smashed the guy on the side of his head.

Certainly a yellow, most players would have been given a red.

Lol never violent conduct, not really excessive force that endangers a player either.

It's a foul, but that's never a red and it's certainly not a swing at his head / face.

Have to agree with RR here, that kind of thing usually results in a red card.

I think I've said before here that I'm not a fan of those red cards as it's not really violent, it's just petulant, but so many have been sent off (despite, I think, the laws stating it has to be significant contact/intent).

For me he should've seen red and the ref either bottled it or saw something completely different on the VAR review.

See I can see that with the sissy head butts and bitch slaps, but for me, that's just Ronaldo being slightly excessive at reaching over someone and knocking / pushing them to the ground to get round them. And I'm normally one to leap at the chance to have a pop at old Ronnie the Rascal.

[Royal Rother]

Nonsense. (Not to say barely decipherable.)

He forearm-smashed the guy on the side of his head.

Certainly a yellow, most players would have been given a red.

Lol never violent conduct, not really excessive force that endangers a player either.

It's a foul, but that's never a red and it's certainly not a swing at his head / face.

Have to agree with RR here, that kind of thing usually results in a red card.

It only really needs 2 eyes and a brain.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Lol at Maradonna giving it the Mr Angry Chelsea aways just as the tv cameras cut to him.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Croatia helping Argentinas shoe-in to the knock-outs

[Royal Rother]

What a detestable little Cnut that Maradona is.

[Winston Biscuit]

[6ft Kerplunk]

Given that he'd probably been getting stick from the fans below him in the stand I don't have a problem it. No need for the BBC to show it again though. Jnr II thought it was hilarious both times it was shown.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Minnows and also rans rapidly disappearing, as is my interest.

Just England to go