The_jagster

This Petkovic guy... You don't get a One Show gig for being interesting, just inoffensive

I don't mind Croatia, but I don't want to watch the same match yet again in the semi, can Brazil score please.

That's why I'm thinking, why not just bring somebody on like Ollie Watkins, a level below technically but might manage to get onto a counter 1v1

Surely the nation of Croatia has somebody that can actually run beyond a defence

Croatia finally get the ball near the box and just shoot at the defender...

I can now hear something, somewhere between white noise and running water for me.

Also which pundit is going to go onto UK TV and say the team is ****

Same, although I don't think it should have been

He's done well but mainly from just running, it's not like he's used skill to take it past defenders when attacking this match.

File this as "making your own entertainment"

Modric getting praised for 5 yard passes

I thought it was just bad ball giveaways from Brazil but Modric just turned and ran 50 metres unopposed

Ever reliable Perisic mishitting it Hard to anticipate though

You could literally see Richarlison debating whether to make more of it there

I think the worst thing for the neutral would be for Croatia to battle their way to a victory on pens, either by keeping a clean sheet or managing a set piece goal. As I said in another thread, I expect this to go the way of the Switzerland game against Brazil, a technically competent team unable to create anything and the question being whether Brazil can break them down.

The first quarter final is an early start for Brazil, as they take on Croatia to see who will take on The Netherlands or Argentina in the semi-final. Previous quarter finals: Croatia: This is their third appearance in this round, and they have progressed on both previous occasions. In 1998 they downed Germany 3-0, then knocked out hosts Russia on pens in 2018 after a 2-2 draw. 1998 was the last time Croatia won a knockout match in normal time in a major tournament. Brazil: They have played 14 quarter final matches, including a replay in 1938, although they have not done so well recently, with many defeats to European nations once they reach the last 8. A 2-1 loss to Belgium in 2018 was preceded by a 2-1 victory over Colombia in 2014, but they did beat England in 2002 - their victory over Germany in the final was the last time they beat a European team in a World Cup knockout match. Previous meetings? Two world cup meetings in the group stages. A Kaká goal was enough to separate the sides in 2006, in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup Neymar (twice) and Oscar got themselves on the scoresheet after Croatia had taken the lead. Of the starters on that day, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Neymar, Lovren, Perisic, Modric and Kovacic can all feature today, Brozovic only made an appearance as a sub in 2014 and Modric was an unused sub in 2006. (FIFA vids don't embed so you'll have to make do with unofficial highlights of mixed quality)

"Many 'ave guessed, ultimately I respect everyone" he added

I could be wrong of course but The Star doesn't seem like the outlet to get a scoop like this but not The Sun or Mail.

Friday 9th December Croatia v Brazil 15:00 0-2 *NAP* Netherlands v Argentina 19:00 1-2 Saturday 10th December Morocco v Portugal 15:00 0-1 England v France 19:00 0-2 Bonuses The total number of goals across all the games - 11 The total number of goals scored in the first half - 4 The total number of goals scored in the second half - 7 The number of games going to extra time - 0 Correctly predicting all the specific games going to extra time - n/a The number of games going to penalties - 0 The total number of penalties scored (including those in normal game play) - 0 The team which scores the fastest goal - Netherlands The team which scores the last goal - France The time of the first goal - 12' The time of the last goal - 87' The total number of yellow cards - 8 The total number of red cards - 0 The total number of substitutions across all games - 36

Morocco are good at making the game into a scrap, but they don't have much of a counter-attacking threat. That's not their fault, but it means that I don't see how they can keep up the run of shocks. Whereas the Dutch are quite boring, and only have a few really good players, but they do offer a threat on the counter and that is probably the match I most want to watch. I think Croatia will be a rerun of the Switzerland-Brazil game, it's a shame Croatia haven't got some fairly poor but pacy forward to at least keep their defence honest.

I did a detailed look through last time this was brought up, it is wishful thinking. We have given up leads whether we score early or relatively late. And lost when being level relatively late on too. We just aren't good against big teams in recent history.

I'm sure there will be other golden snitch bonuses in future rounds!

Tyldesley makes me groan, Matterface makes me want to punch the TV

Sommer should save that anyway

Third one yes, I don't think many keepers save the 1v1 earlier though which he did