The Real Football Thread

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Feb 18, 2015
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@Gigs_98 you watching tonight I need to know if I should expect much from the game.
Expect absolutely f*cking nothing. We have a good squad but our coach, Franco Foda, doesn't really know what to do with it. We will probably start with a back five and a midfield with two defensive midfielders, so an extremely defensive formation, because Foda doesn't want to play Alaba on the left. I get where the idea comes from, since most of our best players are rather defensively minded, but in the previous games it has led to our offense being really, really bad, while our defense still wasn't exactly solid.

On the bright side (for me not for you) this kind of formation should work better against a "good" team like the Netherlands than someone like MKD. I'm still heavily favoring the Netherlands though.
 
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Feb 20, 2012
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Expect absolutely f*cking nothing. We have a good squad but our coach, Franco Foda, doesn't really know what to do with it. We will probably start with a back five and a midfield with two defensive midfielders, so an extremely defensive formation, because Foda doesn't want to play Alaba on the left. I get where the idea comes from, since most of our best players are rather defensively minded, but in the previous games it has led to our offense being really, really bad, while our defense still wasn't exactly solid.

On the bright side (for me not for you) this kind of formation should work better against a "good" team like the Netherlands than someone like MKD. I'm still heavily favoring the Netherlands though.
Meanwhile our media is fawning while we barely beat the Ukraine. We might have a constitutional crisis if De Boer plays 5-3-2 again though.
 
Feb 18, 2015
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To be fair Austria is also treating the victory against MKD like we just defeated France, while we are kinda ignoring that we almost only drew against a team that only qualified due to a weird rule that makes sure one objectively bad team qualifies for the euros. Whatever...

I also find it honestly funny De Boer of all coaches doesn't play 4-3-3. Like, isn't that formation basically a dutch religion or something? You would think that if someone changes that up it would at least be someone competent who has a clear plan reason for doing so...so not De Boer...
 
Apr 10, 2019
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I'm really surprised by how well Italy has been playing so far. I knew that the team was good, but playing that good against a team like Switzerland that is really solid (they would have deserved to win against Wales) is a surprise. Having a coach who knows what he's doing seems to be the game changer for Italy.
 
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So dating you is not a win in itself?

Uhm, wait - I got caught in a trap there... o_O

Of course it's a win! I consider myself... well, not a Tour win, but I think I'm equivalent to... Paris-Roubaix, certainly. Or am I only Scheldeprijs? :eek: Or, since we are in the football thread, maybe not a Champions league win or a World Cup, but at least a Deutsche Meisterschaft...

By the way, good start to the game there for you guys...
 
Sep 26, 2020
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Uhm, wait - I got caught in a trap there... o_O

Of course it's a win! I consider myself... well, not a Tour win, but I think I'm equivalent to... Paris-Roubaix, certainly. Or am I only Scheldeprijs? :eek: Or, since we are in the football thread, maybe not a Champions league win or a World Cup, but at least a Deutsche Meisterschaft...

By the way, good start to the game there for you guys...

You remind me more of the old DFL-Ligapokal, for some reason.

A great game, but you can't miss so many chances, if you want to beat a team like Belgium.
Fantastic that his injury in the Champions League final didn't keep him out of the tournament, but I wouldn't have minded it one one bit, if he had missed this match.
 
Apr 15, 2014
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Belgium was nowhere in the first half, absolutely sluggish and sloppy. Denmark was good, enthusiastic, but they lack a top class player to make it 2-0. Then Martinez brings in De Bruyne, and the whole dynamic changed. Finally playing forward. The two goals were 'playstation', and Eden Hazard showed some nice skill. Towards the end, they were sloppy again though. They need to improve a lot still.

I hope Denmark beats those dreadfully boring Russians.
 
Feb 20, 2012
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To be fair Austria is also treating the victory against MKD like we just defeated France, while we are kinda ignoring that we almost only drew against a team that only qualified due to a weird rule that makes sure one objectively bad team qualifies for the euros. Whatever...

I also find it honestly funny De Boer of all coaches doesn't play 4-3-3. Like, isn't that formation basically a dutch religion or something? You would think that if someone changes that up it would at least be someone competent who has a clear plan reason for doing so...so not De Boer...
Cruyff and 4-3-3 are definitely the biggest religions over here.

It was hilarious when Van Gaal made the semis in Brasil playing Dirk Kuyt of all people at like left back in a 5-3-2 in some games.
 
You remind me more of the old DFL-Ligapokal, for some reason.

A great game, but you can't miss so many chances, if you want to beat a team like Belgium.
Fantastic that his injury in the Champions League final didn't keep him out of the tournament, but I wouldn't have minded it one one bit, if he had missed this match.

The DFL-Ligapokal...? :worried: :pensive: :screamcat: :rage: :poutingcat:

De Bruyne is such an amazing player... I remember when he left Wolfsburg... as soon as he was gone Wolfsburg fell into a hole.

Hm, quite some good games so far, but I am hardly tied to the screen... the fact that you can lose two games and still procede takes away much of my interest. :(
 
Apr 10, 2019
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So Italy wins the group without any problems, Ukraine or Austria is next (no offence to Gigs, but if Austria plays like they did against the Netherlands Italy might as well rest most of the key players). In the 1/4 finals the potential opponent would probably be Belgium, not an easy task, but not impossible.
 
Sep 26, 2020
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Euphoria in Denmark now. Thank god/whoever did the draw, that this match wasn't played in Saint Petersburg.
 
Apr 15, 2014
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So, Denmark (second with 3 points) get to play mighty Wales, Belgium (9 points) get to play the previous European Champion...
 
Apr 10, 2019
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So, Denmark (second with 3 points) get to play mighty Wales, Belgium (9 points) get to play the previous European Champion...
Belgium would have been better off loosing the final game in the group stage.
England vs Germany should be interesting, this time England has to be the clear cut favourite, Löw seems clueless and thei defence is outright bad.
 
Apr 15, 2014
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Yeah, without any ethics, we should have lost. Now a road to the final would likely involve Portugal --> Italy --> France. The other half of the draw is so much weaker.
 
Apr 30, 2011
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I hope and think the result will be:

1st: Italy
2nd: Netherlands
3rd: France
4th: England

But to start with, in the round of 16 I'll cheer for Portugal and Croatia.
 
Apr 30, 2011
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Wales didn’t put up much of a fight, and with a bit of luck we won easily in a not too great a game. We’ll see if Italy will win as easily.
 
Apr 10, 2019
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Wales didn’t put up much of a fight, and with a bit of luck we won easily in a not too great a game. We’ll see if Italy will win as easily.
Austria played a lot better than expected. I wouldn't start Verratti over Locatelli anymore. With Jorginho already there someone like Locatelli adds more, at least imo.