...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[Eutyphro]

Portugal has a super talented group, miles ahead in terms of talent of the group they had that won the Euros. The fact that they have midfielders like Neves or Vitinha, who is a starter for PSG, on the bench says much. They also have incredible wing backs like Cancelo, Guerreiro and Dalot is also very good. They can become world champion definitely. They're a little bit ignored, but they have everything to win.

 

I'm also laughing that Spain and Germany, teams I mentioned as my top favorites, are now both out. I saw them as favorites due to their top coaches, but they both lacked a real striker they could depend on. It was a mistake not to start Morata. Tiki taka can now officially be called a flopped strategy for international football, and tiki taka with a false nine is even worse.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Eutyphro

[Cordohen]

It think Gonçalo Ramos benched CR7 for the rest of the tournament lol.

 

Very impressive squad, I predicted them to reach the Final 4 (with Brazil) and this is probably gonna happen.

 

Portugal / Brazil / England is my Top 3 expected World Champions so far.

[Jason]

Lots of idiots who have criticised United fans for wanting Ronaldo out, cause he's supposedly our best player. Hopefully today puts that to bed.

 

He's quite simply past it, worked last season for us as we built around team around him but that won't get any team far. We play better with a more mobile striker up top and, to my complete lack of surprise, so do Portugal.

[Eutyphro]

It does seem the Portugal team plays a lot freeer without Ronaldo, without having to play all the balls to him. But if I were Portugal coach I'd still start him, which might seem wrong to some. I think Portugal does not play such an aggressive press as United under ten Hag, and I think for Portugal Ronaldo can still be valuable, but this should also definitely be his last tournament with them.

[Edward RDRIII]

Portugal is a serious candidate for champion if you ask me, I'm not saying this only because of the 6x1 today, I've been saying this for days already.

[TheSantader25]

In the beginning of the tournament I predicted a Brazil-Argentina and a France-Portugal semi final. With Brazil and France as finalists. Let's see if it will happen.

 

Ronaldo is still a valuable player to this Portugal side. I would bring him on as a sub around the 55-60 minutes because if the game goes to extra time and penalties you want him there. And obviously he can't play 120 minutes.

Edited December 6, 2022 by TheSantader25

[smokeless6]

A single sample does not a study make. But that was stark contrast yesterday, Portugal were rampant. Yeah, I can't see how Ronaldo gets back in to the starting eleven after that display. It was brave of the gaffer to bench him, and he was rewarded with a magnificent performance, and I agree with the others who say Portugal are contenders. Based on that evidence they surely are. Having Ronaldo available as a sub is fine, and not a bad option to bring on if the match is heading to penalties for that matter.

 

Congrats to Morocco. Spain were shocking, honestly. I expected far more out of this side. For a scoreless draw that was high drama. Morocco's fans are extraordinary too.

[Jason]

3 hours ago, smokeless6 said:

A single sample does not a study make.

 

Watch United every time we played this season. Ronaldo makes a team play worse and it's a simple as that.

 

We were just that bad last year that he made us look better. Now with a good manager and a team united behind that manager's ideals, Ronaldo is a massive liability for United as a starting player. Same for Portugal, they have loads of quality to be able to play teams off the park, like last night, but if Ronaldo is on the pitch you're playing with 10 men unless the rest of the outfield players are good enought create chances galore for Ronaldo and that's assuming he could finish them, as he's also woefully out of from in terms of finishing chances which was his one saving grace. Watch how he plays, he basically just sits at the back post hoping for chances and that's all he does.

 

It's part of the reason why it's sad how he's behaving, he is an all time great, one of the straight up best ever, but he's muddying the end of his career by, for whatever reason, not being able to recognise that he is no longer good enough to build a team around or start every game. He could've had a fantastic few years as a super sub at United, potentially even getting some more CL goals at the club (if he stayed beyond this year, which who knows if he kept his head down), but instead he threw his toys out of the pram and tried to run unsuccessfully run a smear campaign.

[smokeless6]

OK, so the study is complete. He's a liability.  But he has been for years, and before United brought him back. Good finisher, but doesn't do the dirty work modern football requires of forwards, such as leading the press.

 

My comment was more in view of his role for Portugal,  although he is the same player. But different roles and instructions can result in varying assessments of his suitability and value to his team.

 

It is too bad he is tarnishing his legacy. Humility has never been used to describe him, but he'd benefit from some at this moment. If he pops up playing is Saudi Arabia or similar it will be his own doing.  He makes far too much money to have a shot anywhere in the top leagues I think, unless he accepts a drastic cut. Plenty of teams would give him a shot at 50k/week.

[Jason]

He's not done the dirty work for a long, long time, towards the end of his first United stint, at Madrid, the thing is that he was just straight up that f*cking good you could get the other 10 to pick up the slack cause he'd get you a goal a game, literally.

 

The difference now is he can't do that, his legs have gone completely. He isn't able to torture defences with his movement anymore cause he can't do it for 90 minutes, he can't run with the ball anymore and he's lost his pace completely. All he has to offer nowadays is goal hanging and even that is waning looking at the chances he's missed in recent months.

 

There's no shame in it, he's 38 years old and to have had the career he's had with the amount of games he's played and the standard he's played at for almost all of that career, it's an incredible achievement and he is undisputedly one of the greatest players to ever play the game. The problem though is that age, as it does with everyone, every footballer, inevitably catches up to you but Ronaldo still thinks he's 25 and wants a few more Ballon d'Or's when he's not that good anymore.

[TheSantader25]

As expected, Croatia's midfield is bossing the empty Brazil midfield at the moment. They have to bring on a midfielder instead of one of these attacking players if they want to control this game.

[Cordohen]

Croatia going through ET, what a surprise 

[Edward RDRIII]

Hooolyyy sh***t!!! Even I wasn't expecting things to turn anymore at this point.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Edward RDRIII

[TheSantader25]

f*cking Croatia they never die.

[Eutyphro]

Brazil never really lose penalty shootouts though do they?

[Cordohen]

Almost the same scenario as in 2018 against Russia with 2 goals during ET 

[TheSantader25]

1 minute ago, Eutyphro said:

Brazil never really lose penalty shootouts though do they?

Dutch curse incoming lol.

 

Croatia are pretty good too at them. Will be interesting.

[Cordohen]

This is f*cking crazy LMAO.

[Edward RDRIII]

12 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

Brazil never really lose penalty shootouts though do they?

Well... we do. We only lost because of Marquinhos, he did the goal for Croatia and lost the penalty, and Tite for putting him there of course.

[Jason]

Actually can't wrap my head around that lol.

 

Croatia have so much experience and the legs to go the full length every game, they just don't stay down.

[Cordohen]

Brazil still cursed against european teams in the knock-outs.

[Eutyphro]

3 minutes ago, Edward RDRIII said:

Well... we do. We only lost because of Marquinhos, he did the goal for Croatia and lost the penalty, and Tite for putting him there of course.

I was just saying that cause I don't think historically Brazil often lose them, but today they did. That penalty series by Croatia was pretty incredible.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Eutyphro

[Donald Lov]

Should be illegal to have Brozovic and Modric playing for one team. It's pure cheating.

[Edward RDRIII]

1 minute ago, Eutyphro said:

I was just saying that cause I don't think historically Brazil often lose them, but today they did. That penalty series by Croatia was pretty incredible.

Marquinhos isn't a goal maker, why even put him there to begin with?

[TheSantader25]

Almost every penalty shootout that is lost is because of the selection. Why the f*ck do you put 21 yo Rodrygo as the first choice. He's gonna die under the pressure. The first pen is so important.

Edited December 9, 2022 by TheSantader25

[Edward RDRIII]

Just now, TheSantader25 said:

Almost every penalty shootout that is lost is because of the selection. Why the f*ck do you put 21 yo Rodrygo as the first choice. He's gonna die under the pressure. The first pen is so important.

He could've chosen Richarlison, Neymar or Antony to shoot, but nooo, let's not put the inexperienced guys to do it.

[Donald Lov]

Argentina. Just f*cking do it this night, please. 

[TheSantader25]

1 minute ago, Edward RDRIII said:

He could've chosen Richarlison, Neymar or Antony to shoot, but nooo, let's not put the inexperienced guys to do it.

Richarlison was out. Neymar or veterans like Silva and Casemiro should have stepped up for the first.

[Edward RDRIII]

Just now, Donald Lov said:

Argentina. Just f*cking do it this night, please. 

I think they will, but I also think Portugal will beat them eventually.

[Eutyphro]

5 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

Almost every penalty shootout that is lost is because of the selection. Why the f*ck do you put 21 yo Rodrygo as the first choice. He's gonna die under the pressure. The first pen is so important.

Subbing your starting front three didn't seem smart in hindsight. During the shootout I realized that could be the thing to do them in. Those front three, Vinicius, Richarlison and Raphinha probably all would have been quality takers. Though Antony definitely brought much more than Raphinha so that sub made some sense.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Eutyphro