[Calderyon]

https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/#knockoutphase

Who will come out on the top in the end and win the World Cup 2018?

Sorry for the matches starting times, the site automatically changes them into my time zone.

[Nicky91]

good luck england

[Mystic Mock]

Come on England!

[Alf]

We get an easier path to the semi-final (on paper) if we get beat tomorrow.

It'll be funny watching us and Belgium both trying to lose. I'm sure neither will.

[bitontheslide]

easy paths rarely turn out that easy. Good teams can have an off day

[Nicky91]

england has the easy road to the final


we got this in the bag

[bitontheslide]

There is no obvious stand out team at this point so literally any team in the knock out phase could end up winning it. England can't really be evaluated yet because they haven't had decent opposition yet

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

There is no obvious stand out team at this point so literally any team in the knock out phase could end up winning it. England can't really be evaluated yet because they haven't had decent opposition yet

I've seen alot of people making this statement when we've beaten Tunisia who are the highest ranked African team, and are number 21 in the world rankings, if that's not a decent team to beat then I don't know what is.

England are more at Tunisia's level than we are to ever beat a Brazil or a Belgium imo, the most we could get in those scenarios at the knockouts is penalties I suspect.

[JerseyWins]

I'm sorry England but one of my best friends is Colombian so I'll be rooting for them to go up against Croatia on that side of the bracket

[Nicky91]

England has got good chances to at least make the semi final now

[bitontheslide]

If Kane gets injured or has an off day england are stuffed. If their defense lets a player near goal they are stuffed because their goal keeper is dreadful.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

If Kane gets injured or has an off day england are stuffed. If their defense lets a player near goal they are stuffed because their goal keeper is dreadful.

no Pickford isn't dreadful england didn't want to win, they aimed for 2nd place, cause that's an easier scenario


Belgium was being dumb last night, now they have to face all the great countries

[LeatherTrumpet]

i just think teams that have had competitive games against decent teams and their last game was that have an edge

England have played 2 pubs teams and have been beaten by Belgium reserves

not good

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

i just think teams that have had competitive games against decent teams and their last game was that have an edge

England have played 2 pubs teams and have been beaten by Belgium reserves

not good

so what, Belgium are the losers of last night, of ending up in the strongest half

while England are in the weaker half


i thought England played amazing according to this strategy

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

no Pickford isn't dreadful england didn't want to win, they aimed for 2nd place, cause that's an easier scenario


Belgium was being dumb last night, now they have to face all the great countries

Belgium are a world class team that are not afraid to play other world class teams. I see nothing dumb there

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Belgium are a world class team that are not afraid to play other world class teams. I see nothing dumb there

yes for sure Dries Mertens is Belgium's Cristiano Ronaldo



but yeah Belgium is world champions now

[Wizard.]

To me if England were going to lose any game that was the one to lose now Belgium HAVE to win every game which is going to be tough now we know what it’s like to lose we don’t want to feel that again

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Riley.

To me if England were going to lose any game that was the one to lose now Belgium HAVE to win every game which is going to be tough now we know what it’s like to lose we don’t want to feel that again

this exactly, and they get tough match after another, after they had shown japan the door with a monster score


must be exhausting i think for the red devils, being in this strong half


while England only now has Colombia as a obstacle and then a few teams they can beat if they just bring their top level themselves


Pickford could've had that ball from Januzaj tbh, but i knew from that moment england didn't want to win this group

[bitontheslide]

There is only 1 winner of the world cup, nobody gives a crap about where anyone else finished, so unless England are going to win it, where they end up getting knocked out is meaningless. At some point they are going to have to play a good team, and Columbia are no pushovers for starters.

[Calderyon]

Originally Posted by Riley.

To me if England were going to lose any game that was the one to lose now Belgium HAVE to win every game which is going to be tough now we know what it’s like to lose we don’t want to feel that again

Do not worry, England very well knows what it is like to lose, they have long experience of that throughout the years.

[bitontheslide]

I noticed in the interview last night that Southgate looked quite flustered and reverted to the ... we are a team in development .... mantra

[James]

The ball to be used for the knockout stages.

A new match ball will be used for the knockout stage of the World Cup in Russia, Fifa has announced.

The Telstar Mechta will replace the Telstar 18, the Adidas ball used throughout the group stage.

The new ball comes with a "vivid red design", said to be inspired by the host nation's colours and "the rising heat of knockout stage football".

Mechta translates as "dream" in Russian and the new ball will be used for the first time on Saturday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44620577

[Vladimir]

I'm really excited for the Argentina vs France game If Argentina pulls off another solid performance, I believe they can beat France. Not expecting too many goals though.

[Nicky91]

maybe, i think it could go all the way to penalty shootouts this match

[Nicky91]

1-0 france, penalty by griezmann