Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 MATCH FACTSHead-to-head This will be the first ever encounter between Costa Rica and Serbia. Costa Rica Costa Rica have qualified for their fifth World Cup - they have reached the knockout stages in two of their four previous appearances (1990 and 2014). Penalty shootouts excluded, Costa Rica were one of only three sides to remain unbeaten in the 2014 World Cup (alongside Germany and Netherlands). Costa Rica have kept three clean sheets in their last four World Cup games, that's more than in their previous 11 games in the competition (2). Costa Rica have also won their opening game at the World Cup in three of their previous four appearances, the only exception coming against hosts Germany in 2006 (2-4). This will be Oscar Ramírez's first World Cup as a manager. He played every single minute of Costa Rica's 1990 World Cup campaign, in what was their first ever appearance in the competition. Serbia Serbia have lost their opening game by a 1-0 scoreline each time in their last two World Cup appearances. Having inherited Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro's records, this is Serbia's 12th World Cup participation, although it will be only their second tournament as an independent nation following 2010. Serbia have failed to reach the knockout stages in their last two World Cup appearances (2006, 2010). In fact, over their last two participations, Serbia have lost five of their six group games (W1), their only win coming against Germany in 2010 (1-0). Their best performance in the competition dates back to 1930 and 1962 when Yugoslavia finished fourth. Since then, whether as Yugoslavia or Serbia, they have never gone further than the quarter-finals. Only Joshua Kimmich (9) provided more assists than Serbia's Dusan Tadic (7) in the European qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Slavoljub Muslin was Serbia's manager in the entire World Cup 2018 qualifying phase, leading them to top spot in their group, before he left in October 2017 and was replaced by caretaker manager Mladen Krstajic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Interesting battle between the number 1s. You've got Lee Dixon's favourite goalkeeper versus a guy who wasn't good enough for Wigan a few years ago (and later flopped at Nottingham Forest). I think Navas will have the busier afternoon. 3-0 to Serbia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 was reading about the 2014 World Cup yesterday and I completely forgot that Costa Rica beat Uruguay 3-1 in their opening group match be interesting to see how Milinkovic-Savic does at this World Cup considering he's had a great season for Lazio in Serie A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 He's back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 OK it's getting awkward now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 All in on Serbia in this one. Mitrovic to get a hatty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 The England players know the team, lads. Huge news. Huge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 That's some gigantic lineup from Serbia. Noone except for two wingers is under 1.85m. They're going to be a real threat from set-pieces, Kolarov, Tadić and Ljajić are great takers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 God everything about England is boring. Alli saying England can win it while sounding miserable as ****. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Nice to see ITV take a break from patronising a woman to give us the latest news from the England camp. 4 minutes ago, Andrew_ said: The England players know the team, lads. Huge news. Huge. We're going to win the World Cup! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Christ, Patrice Evra talks some *****! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Can’t see either of these getting through. Another group where arguably the weakest two teams play each other first and you’d want them to come out and really go for it if this is their best chance of a win. Might happen, might fizzle out like Morocco v Iran. Don’t care for Serbia at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Jesus the Costa Rican anthem goes on a bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgreenio Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Bryan Ruiz <3 <3 <3 <3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Is Evra that patronising to all women? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 I don't see anything special about Serbia tbh, and Costa Rica look no more than functional. Think this will be a bit turgid tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Nastasić getting injured is a big handicap for them. But it's a solid team. If they had chemistry and good gameplan, they would finish second in their group, easily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 This Serbia lineup seems good on paper, though they did sack the manager who helped them qualify for a guy who never managed a single team before which seems bizarre to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgreenio Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 pervert camera operators today, huzaah Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 2 minutes ago, decapitated said: This Serbia lineup seems good on paper, though they did sack the manager who helped them qualify for a guy who never managed a single team before which seems bizarre to me. Yeah, because previous manager had issues with Sergej's agent and never called him up. And Sergej is by far their best player. If he transfers his Lazio form to NT, that is. Good start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Just now, GunmaN1905 said: Yeah, because previous manager had issues with Sergej's agent and never called him up. And Sergej is by far their best player. If he transfers his Lazio form to NT, that is. Good start. That makes sense, given how he's been playing in Serie A. Why choose a newbie manager though? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Because they couldn't find anyone. Krstajić is a big-name in football, though and a good executive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Ah I see. I could see them getting into the round of 16 depending on how Switzerland do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgreenio Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 50p head Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordan Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Cracking start. End to end to end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius_R Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Was doing something on the computer and threw an eye on the TV here and then, took me 10 minutes to realise that Serbia are playing in white and not the usual red and blue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Been a good start to this game. Costa Rica had two free headers inside the box early on and Serbia look a threat going forward too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 It started off ok but too often Serbia are 'patient' passing it around before running out of ideas and lumping it forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Savic was onside there. Thought the linesman were told to keep the flag down if it was too tight to call. Lino with the flag up straight away there. Poor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldy Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Great chance for Serbia with the overhead kick, was not offside either, if he had scored I wonder if they would had corrected it with VAR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhikapp Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 That match started out really well but fizzled out rather quickly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunkerossian Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Savić flatters to deceive. I think i see now why Muslin never called him up. Serbian FA are a mess, getting rid of a manager just because one player isn't getting called up. Venegas good for Costa Rica on the left. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc91 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 7 minutes ago, Bunkerossian said: Savić flatters to deceive. I think i see now why Muslin never called him up. Serbian FA are a mess, getting rid of a manager just because one player isn't getting called up. Venegas good for Costa Rica on the left. Eh? He’s seemed pretty decent to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readingfanman Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Think I must be watching a different game to the pundits. Not sure Costa Rica have been better at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Wouldn't quite go as far as calling this turgid but I only have half an eye on it now, not enough happening to hold my interest. Each team is trying to win at least rather than avoid defeat unlike others we seen at this tournament, just not sure the quality is there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Mitrović bottles it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 What a chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezer Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 5 minutes ago, Weezer said: Wouldn't quite go as far as calling this turgid but I only have half an eye on it now, not enough happening to hold my interest. Each team is trying to win at least rather than avoid defeat unlike others we seen at this tournament, just not sure the quality is there. Case in point there, shocking composure there by Mitrovic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Worked a lovely opening there but Mitrovic never looked confident, took too long to shoot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 8 minutes ago, Readingfanman said: Think I must be watching a different game to the pundits. Not sure Costa Rica have been better at all. Agreed. Bar two headers in the first 11 minutes from Costa Rica they've not been a threat, Serbia been in control of the game so far and been the better side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Serbia are just starting to turn the screw a little more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 That was a penalty yesterday, not today. Was always going to happen. Give 1 have to give them all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Kolarov Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Superb. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_ Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 Messi having flashbacks to yesterday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Great free kick from Kolarov. 1-0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordan Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Kolarov still got it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haguey Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Kolarov! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Soon as he hit that FK you knew it was in. Deserved lead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius_R Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Nicely taken free kick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.