Round 16: Spain v Russia

[Pukey]

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"

[SteveUK]

Russia gonna need to juice up so they don't get knackered after the 75th min and concede multiple goals.

[pearcey_90]

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.

[Baptista_8]

Was Lineker being sarcastic when he said Ramos was another one of Cesc's best mates?

[Big Geordie]

Spain have been really one-dimensional with their tika-tika.

[noikeee]

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...

[GunmaN1905]

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.

[G-Man11]

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.

[EnterUsernameHere]

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*

[Nordan]

Isco the only one doing anything.

[decapitated]

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. 

[EnterUsernameHere]

Just now, Nordan said:

Isco the only one doing anything.

Yeah and even then far less direct than in previous games.

[Baptista_8]

 

[G-Man11]

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.

[EnterUsernameHere]

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.

[CFuller]

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? 

[Nordan]

Russia doing all 3 subs early.

[G-Man11]

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.

[EnterUsernameHere]

Good choice to bring off Silva. Not sure why Kilbane is surprised.

Silva adds nothing to this side.

[Orzelek]

Iniesta finally on  

[G-Man11]

Very reminiscent of Del Bosque bizarrely insisting on Arbeloa over Juanfran in 2012. Didn't work out too bad for him I guess .

[Baptista_8]

Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet?

[GunmaN1905]

Just now, Baptista_8 said:

Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet?

Yeah, he signed for some club in Japan.

[craigcwwe]

Just now, Baptista_8 said:

Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet?

Japan. 

[CFuller]

1 minute ago, Baptista_8 said:

Has Iniesta confirmed where he's going yet?

Vissel Kobe, in Japan. He announced it some time ago.

[Baptista_8]

Thanks

[Orzelek]

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  

[Haguey]

Boooooooring, Spain plod it around for 3 minutes and then just give it away, and then do it again. Zzzzz

[EnterUsernameHere]

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

[G-Man11]

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.

[TM]

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

[Orzelek]

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  

[EnterUsernameHere]

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. 

[G-Man11]

This really feels like a nailed on penalty shoot-out atm.

[ArsenalFan7]

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

[CFuller]

If this goes to extra-time, we might as well prepare for penalties.

[Haguey]

[CFuller]

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. 

[ArsenalFan7]

Just now, CFuller said:

I highly doubt Germany will be thumping them, to be honest. 

Brain still hasn’t processed it  

[Orzelek]

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   

[Astafjevs]

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

[georginho_juventusygr]

Wrong sub. Dzyuba should have stayed for his strength.

[toon_84]

How is Koke still on the pitch? He has been crap

[cms186]

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?

[The_jagster]

Somebody do something please because I don't want another 30 minutes of this

[G-Man11]

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.

[EnterUsernameHere]

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. 

[TM]

Putin on the phone to the VAR guys there:

"don't you dare"

[EnterUsernameHere]

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.

[G-Man11]

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.