World Cup: Group H discussion

What he means Hans is that 14 of the 23 players on the Algerian NT were born in France....  Typically, such players choose Algeria because they don't feel that the path to France NT is attainable for them or they don't want to wait for it and prefer immediate rewards of NT football with Algeria.

I know, I'm just doing educational trolling.

Wow, 14?.. I thought we had a lot of germans with 5

Bless every one of those young German American heros though.   

1-1 Fellaini

2-1

What a wonderfully exciting WC this has been so far.

Mertens 1-2

Belgium's team-play and tactics weren't convincing, but they've really got some group of players.

wowww...fellaini eclipsing hazard totally despite playing just 25 minutes or so when compared to an entire 90 of hazard.   

In what world does Chadli deserve to start over Mertens?

Mirallas should be starting. I don't care over whom.

Mr Nick09 wrote:Belgium so far in the world cup
-playing shet...check
-being slow...check
-predictable and boring...check
-creating chances... no
-long shots from 45 meters...check
-hazard being crap...check
-most players being crap...check
-cardboard defense...check
-gil deceived?...check

  didnt see the game. had high hopes. what went wrong?

They were just absolutely garbage. Algeria controlled the first half. Think they just got tired in the second half.

Hazard with the game winning assist.

how can you could a goal on counterattack when you are getting a good result from this match?
To think that before of goal they were perfect to defend , they didn't resist so heirocally since Charles De Gaulle ..

Mertens    it's schocking to think the scrub Chadli is preferred to him
Fellaini with his ability to insert between spaces reminded the played seen to Everton , nothing to do with the apathetic player seen to Manchester so as to wonder what he had to do in pitch.

Chadli should never start.

Is this Russia - SK match worth staying up for?

1-1 relatively even match between Russia-Korea unless you count the horrible Russian finishing.

Disappointed that Capello typically chose to underestimate a smaller team and forgo the option of starting Dzagoev, Shirokov (their most creative player) and Russian golden boy Alex Kerzhakovl; the latter being the most baffling decision. No surprise right when Kerzhakov came in, Russia's top scorer of all time scored.

As a whole Capello's Russia are not usually as cautious as they were today, I would have liked to see a superior result though Korea in their flat 4-4-2 caused a defensive stability to which Russia's lack of penetration could not fully take advantage of.

Russia face Belgium next, will be a real test.

Akinfeev should be ashamed of himself. Pulled this World Cup's Green moment.

M99 wrote:Mertens 1-2

That Mertens kid changed the game, looks like a young kid and he is small. Never seen him before, but he can play. They should have used him from the beginning.

Mertens is 27 years old and in the prime of his game. Been a beast in Eredivisie for 4 years before moving to Napoli, where he beasted as well.

McAgger wrote:Mertens is 27 years old and in the prime of his game. Been a beast in Eredivisie for 4 years before moving to Napoli, where he beasted as well.

Heck, he is an older guy. Doesn't look it. I thought he was like a 20 year old. Question is, why isn't he starting, he is better than the guy he replaced.

Russia 1-1 Korea

Match was good in periods. Some were bad and some were good. The end was really good. Korea performed above my expectations. Both Ki and the Leverkusen striker were really good.

I honestly expected more from Russia. They looked threatening at times but couldn't deliver. Maybe Dzagoev will start the next game which will make a difference.

Think ALgeria might beat them and Korea for the 2nd spot

Samedov should be benched. He started well but was shit the rest of the game. Has absolutely zero end product.

Dzagoev needs to start as he at least provides some sort of creative spark. And Kerzhakov needs to start as well. Kokorin did well but at this stage Kerzha is still better. Maybe Denisov as well.

Shirokov is Russia star player. By far the best player in the qualifiers and captain. But he's also injured and is out of the tourament a la Ribery, Falcao, Reus. HUGE absence.

I think Capello is just giving experience in this world cup to the youngsters. He's grooming them for Russia '18. Even still though it will be very disappointing if they don't, at least, get out of this group.

commando wrote:

M99 wrote:Mertens 1-2

That Mertens kid changed the game, looks like a young kid and he is small. Never seen him before, but he can play. They should have used him from the beginning.

Belgium have probably realized now Mertens over Chadli any day! Mertens was my man of the match but the voters have gone for De Bruyne who himself said he didn't deserve it.

Belgium need to kick it up a gear against Russia tonight and show they're not just a good video game team.

I fancy Algeria to beat South Korea in the other game.

#RUS XI: Akinfeev, Kozlov, Ignashevich, Kanunnikov, Glushakov, Kokorin, Berezutskiy, Shatov, Samedov, Fayzulin, Kombarov


Belgium dropped every Spurs player

#BEL XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany (c), Vermaelen; Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini; Mertens, Lukaku, Hazard.