World Cup 2018

[Hoop Blah]

tempted to stick some money on Croatia reaching the final

For me Croatia have been one of the most impressive sides so far.

[Winston Biscuit]

tempted to stick some money on Croatia reaching the final

For me Croatia have been one of the most impressive sides so far.

I actually think they are probably the most impressive (in a WC where no team has really wowed us). Not spectacular but go about their business solidly with quality players. Will be very hard to beat imo.

can you think of a midfield partnership that you would rather swap into their team in place of Modric & Rakitic? nope

[tulip]

tempted to stick some money on Croatia reaching the final

For me Croatia have been one of the most impressive sides so far.

I actually think they are probably the most impressive (in a WC where no team has really wowed us). Not spectacular but go about their business solidly with quality players. Will be very hard to beat imo.

can you think of a midfield partnership that you would rather swap into their team in place of Modric & Rakitic? nope

It would be nice to see a different name on the cup this time around so wouldn't be sad if they won it. But I do find the commentary irritating when everyone's name ends in itch!

[Winston Biscuit]

For me Croatia have been one of the most impressive sides so far.

I actually think they are probably the most impressive (in a WC where no team has really wowed us). Not spectacular but go about their business solidly with quality players. Will be very hard to beat imo.

can you think of a midfield partnership that you would rather swap into their team in place of Modric & Rakitic? nope

It would be nice to see a different name on the cup this time around so wouldn't be sad if they won it. But I do find the commentary irritating when everyone's name ends in itch!

fun fact - Croatian surnames were originally formed in a patronymic style (taken from the fathers first name) so ić in Croatian is the male suffix that was added to the childs surname when that family name came about. A bit like Nordic countries now having 'sson' at the end of many names, but unlike Iceland who still actively use the patronymic style to name their children.

[tulip]

I actually think they are probably the most impressive (in a WC where no team has really wowed us). Not spectacular but go about their business solidly with quality players. Will be very hard to beat imo.

can you think of a midfield partnership that you would rather swap into their team in place of Modric & Rakitic? nope

It would be nice to see a different name on the cup this time around so wouldn't be sad if they won it. But I do find the commentary irritating when everyone's name ends in itch!

fun fact - Croatian surnames were originally formed in a patronymic style (taken from the fathers first name) so ić in Croatian is the male suffix that was added to the childs surname when that family name came about. A bit like Nordic countries now having 'sson' at the end of many names, but unlike Iceland who still actively use the patronymic style to name their children.

What's the female version then? I know it's dottir in iceland.

[TheSpread]

Croatia were my dark horse bet to win it. I hope so! (If England don't win it).

[Winston Biscuit]

It would be nice to see a different name on the cup this time around so wouldn't be sad if they won it. But I do find the commentary irritating when everyone's name ends in itch!

fun fact - Croatian surnames were originally formed in a patronymic style (taken from the fathers first name) so ić in Croatian is the male suffix that was added to the childs surname when that family name came about. A bit like Nordic countries now having 'sson' at the end of many names, but unlike Iceland who still actively use the patronymic style to name their children.

What's the female version then? I know it's dottir in iceland.

there isn't one. It is not like Icelandic where they currently take their names in a patronymic style and differentiate between sons and daughters. Croatian names were originally derived using the patronymic method so all the children took that name and then they gave up doing it and so all generations after were just knows using that family surname.

There are a handful of matronymic surnames in Croatian. If someone today has a matronymic surname then you know they had a very impressive female in their ancestry as that woman was seen so important as to overrule the father and the family name was taken from her

[Sanguine]

Is history of surnames a recent hobby, Winst? Very impressive knowledge.

[Snowflake Royal]

tempted to stick some money on Croatia reaching the final

For me Croatia have been one of the most impressive sides so far.

I'd say the current favourites should be Croatia, maybe with England or Belgium depending on if either win comfortably tonight.

Spain, France and Brazil all look a bit ropey at times. Argentina look extremely ropey. And Ronaldo can't do it on his own.

[Ark Royal]

tempted to stick some money on Croatia reaching the final

Best team I have seen so far.

[Sanguine]

Did strike me that whilst defensively they aren't as strong as during the 'golden generation' (Bilic, Stanic, Prosinecki, Boban, Suker etc), their current team would definitely give them a decent game, given their central midfield. Perisic-Rakitic-Modric is brilliant.

[Sanguine]

Can't say I fully understand the alternative ELO rankings system, but they have South Korea's 2-0 win over Germany as the 10th biggest upset in history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Foo ... est_upsets

[BR0B0T]

Did strike me that whilst defensively they aren't as strong as during the 'golden generation' (Bilic, Stanic, Prosinecki, Boban, Suker etc), their current team would definitely give them a decent game, given their central midfield. Perisic-Rakitic-Modric is brilliant.

yeah was thinking the midfield is incredibly attack minded

In the Nigeria game they had Rakitic and Modric as a two in a 4 2 3 1

Lovren as CB...seems a little open

[Sutekh]

Ref gets penalty decision for Senegal right, Then looks at VAR and gets it wrong.

[Old Man Andrews]

Ref gets penalty decision for Senegal right, Then looks at VAR and gets it wrong.

Yeah that was a dodgy one because he clearly got the ball but came in from behind. I was happy with the penalty award to be honest, silly tackle to make from that angle. Mane was kinda apologetic about it which may have gone against Senegal.

[windermereROYAL]

Colombia not looking so clever today, Poland must be piss poor.

[windermereROYAL]

Ref gets penalty decision for Senegal right, Then looks at VAR and gets it wrong.

Rubbish, good tackle all day long.

[Old Man Andrews]

Ref gets penalty decision for Senegal right, Then looks at VAR and gets it wrong.

Rubbish, good tackle all day long.

You can't go in from behind though, irrelevant if you make contact with the ball.

[windermereROYAL]

Ref gets penalty decision for Senegal right, Then looks at VAR and gets it wrong.

Rubbish, good tackle all day long.

You can't go in from behind though, irrelevant if you make contact with the ball.

He came from the side the way i saw it.

[Sanguine]

It's the 'clear and obvious' bit that is causing some issues, isn't it?
In cricket, anything reviewed that is marginal goes with the umpire's original call. And that should have been the case with this one - yes he got the ball, yes it was from the side (ish), but if you slow it right down he contacts the leg before he does the ball. Even if you disagree on that last point, this was not a 'clear and obvious error' (i.e. there was definitely no foul), and the penalty should have stood.