Pukey Posted July 1, 2018 You know it's a clear handball when I've seen literally no debate about it. Even Fabregas basically went "lol yeah it's a penalty" 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveUK Posted July 1, 2018 Russia gonna need to juice up so they don't get knackered after the 75th min and concede multiple goals. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pearcey_90 Posted July 1, 2018 Pissess me off how Spain waste a talent like Asensio because they want to pass it around walking pace on the half way line. Hope the boring ***** go out. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baptista_8 Posted July 1, 2018 Was Lineker being sarcastic when he said Ramos was another one of Cesc's best mates? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Geordie Posted July 1, 2018 Spain have been really one-dimensional with their tika-tika. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noikeee Posted July 1, 2018 Spain look slow and sluggish. I'm interested on the kms covered statistic again. A cynic would say the Russians are indeed on whatever the Spaniards were on around 2008-2012... 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GunmaN1905 Posted July 1, 2018 Hierro should bring don Andres on and stop being a bigger dud than he already is. Who cares about his conditioning and running power when you're playing against a team like Russia. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 11 minutes ago, pearcey_90 said: Pissess me off how Spain waste a talent like Asensio because they want to pass it around walking pace on the half way line. Hope the boring ***** go out. It's crazy really when you consider these days how few of the Spain team is from the Barca school and used to playing more pragmatic football with their club sides that they still revert to this negative possession football for the national team. I mean really only Busquets and Silva of the front 6 you'd expect to naturally play like this. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Has to be Silva off for Iniesta in my view. Asensio has been quiet but can at least score out of nothing. Hierro has been far too defensive so far this tournament. Aspas another option. *accidentally hid a similar post in case you can see two similar ones* 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nordan Posted July 1, 2018 Isco the only one doing anything. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
decapitated Posted July 1, 2018 18 minutes ago, noikeee said: Spain look slow and sluggish. I'm interested on the kms covered statistic again. A cynic would say the Russians are indeed on whatever the Spaniards were on around 2008-2012... I'd be interested in seeing those this game as well. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, Nordan said: Isco the only one doing anything. Yeah and even then far less direct than in previous games. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 1 minute ago, EnterUsernameHere said: Has to be Silva off for Iniesta in my view. Asensio has been quiet but can at least score out of nothing. Hierro has been far too defensive so far this tournament. Aspas another option. *accidentally hid a similar post in case you can see two similar ones* Not sure they need a 2nd deep CM in Koke either, could bring in Thiago or Saul for him and give them more license to get forward. Or even have Iniesta for Koke and replace Silva with Aspas or Rodrigo. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, G-Man11 said: Not sure they need a 2nd deep CM in Koke either, could bring in Thiago or Saul for him and give them more license to get forward. Or even have Iniesta for Koke and replace Silva with Aspas or Rodrigo. Yeah agree. Even looking at Nacho it was another defensive pick there too. I have no knowledge of Hierro as a coach before this tournament but he has been crazily cautious at every chance possible so far. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CFuller Posted July 1, 2018 2 minutes ago, Baptista_8 said: Isn't it funny how Dmitri Cheryshev didn't mention that in his interview with the BBC earlier in the programme? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nordan Posted July 1, 2018 Russia doing all 3 subs early. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 Yeah Nacho really should be a useful backup who can cover all across the defence and not a starter in this Spain side. Odriozola would offer far more if Carvajal still isn't fit. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Good choice to bring off Silva. Not sure why Kilbane is surprised. Silva adds nothing to this side. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orzelek Posted July 1, 2018 Iniesta finally on 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 Very reminiscent of Del Bosque bizarrely insisting on Arbeloa over Juanfran in 2012. Didn't work out too bad for him I guess . 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baptista_8 Posted July 1, 2018 Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GunmaN1905 Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, Baptista_8 said: Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet? Yeah, he signed for some club in Japan. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craigcwwe Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, Baptista_8 said: Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet? Japan. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CFuller Posted July 1, 2018 1 minute ago, Baptista_8 said: Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet? Vissel Kobe, in Japan. He announced it some time ago. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orzelek Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, Baptista_8 said: Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet? Vissel Kobe in Japan. Kind of weird, as China or USA are the places to go now. Japan was more of a 90's thing 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haguey Posted July 1, 2018 Boooooooring, Spain plod it around for 3 minutes and then just give it away, and then do it again. Zzzzz 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 (edited) Another good sub but begs the question of why Hierro thought the line-up he picked was a good one. Edit: ah Nacho injured. Probably lucky then Edited July 1, 2018 by EnterUsernameHere 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 Just woeful stuff, all playing with real fear. It's as if once they put on the Spain shirt they are terrified of what will happen to them if they ever give the ball away. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TM Posted July 1, 2018 1 minute ago, CFuller said: Vissel Kobe, in Japan. He announced it some time ago. same team as Lukas Podolski as well Russia need to lead for this game to become more interesting, it's just walking pace at the moment 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orzelek Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, EnterUsernameHere said: Another good sub but begs the question of why Hierro thought the line-up he picked was a good one. That's what happens when you sack your manager right before the start of the tournament and replace him with a guy with (almost) no management experiance 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 1 minute ago, Orzelek said: That's what happens when you sack your manager right before the start of the tournament and replace him with a guy with (almost) no management experiance Yeah but even then this is amateur stuff. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 This really feels like a nailed on penalty shoot-out atm. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArsenalFan7 Posted July 1, 2018 (edited) Not sure Russia can survive ET, feels like Spain are going to **** their way to the final and then get thumped by a France/Brazil/Belgium. Edited July 1, 2018 by ArsenalFan7 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CFuller Posted July 1, 2018 If this goes to extra-time, we might as well prepare for penalties. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CFuller Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, ArsenalFan7 said: Not sure Russia can survive ET, feels like Spain are going to **** their way to the final and then get thumped by a France/Brazil/Germany. I highly doubt Germany will be thumping them, to be honest. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArsenalFan7 Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, CFuller said: I highly doubt Germany will be thumping them, to be honest. Brain still hasn’t processed it 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orzelek Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, ArsenalFan7 said: Not sure Russia can survive ET, feels like Spain are going to **** their way to the final and then get thumped by a France/Brazil/Germany. It's good to see that poeple still believe in Die Nationalelf 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astafjevs Posted July 1, 2018 Biggest difference between Spain now and at their peak is that they struggle to break down teams with everyone behind the ball. Eight years ago this would be a nailed on 1-0 win. Comfortable, maybe boring, but they'd win. Now you're not sure because they can't create chances and teams aren't as fearful. I think, if they get through, they'll have a better time against Croatia, who won't play like Russia or Iran 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
georginho_juventusygr Posted July 1, 2018 Wrong sub. Dzyuba should have stayed for his strength. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toon_84 Posted July 1, 2018 How is Koke still on the pitch? He has been crap 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cms186 Posted July 1, 2018 these changes Hierro has made are just dumb, you dont need Koke AND Busquets out there, you probably dont need 4 in defence either, you certainly dont need both of those things together, yet he takes off a striker starved of service as his final change? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The_jagster Posted July 1, 2018 Somebody do something please because I don't want another 30 minutes of this 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, Astafjevs said: Biggest difference between Spain now and at their peak is that they struggle to break down teams with everyone behind the ball. Eight years ago this would be a nailed on 1-0 win. Comfortable, maybe boring, but they'd win. Now you're not sure because they can't create chances and teams aren't as fearful. I think, if they get through, they'll have a better time against Croatia, who won't play like Russia or Iran Not really seen it in this game but they are also a lot more dodgy at the back as well, very hard to seem them 1-0ing games. Even Morocco and Iran caused them all sorts of problems defensively. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, toon_84 said: How is Koke still on the pitch? He has been crap He's been such a let down. Should be a much better player than he's become. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TM Posted July 1, 2018 Putin on the phone to the VAR guys there: "don't you dare" 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EnterUsernameHere Posted July 1, 2018 Just now, G-Man11 said: Not really seen it in this game but they are also a lot more dodgy at the back as well, very hard to seem them 1-0ing games. Even Morocco and Iran caused them all sorts of problems defensively. Yes but I think that's maybe linked to the decline in midfield. Xavi/Alonso/Busquets midfield three was WAAAY better at controlling the ball than this midfield. That was their defence. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Man11 Posted July 1, 2018 1 minute ago, cms186 said: these changes Hierro has made are just dumb, you dont need Koke AND Busquets out there, you probably dont need 4 in defence either, you certainly dont need both of those things together, yet he takes off a striker starved of service as his final change? It's a shame because Lopeetegui had really been working on 3 at the back for Spain for a while now as a an alternative in these sort of matches and then that just went out the window when he was fired. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites