(Round of 16) - Croatia 3-5 (aet) Spain - Monday 28th June, 2021

[El Profesor]

Lucho's faith Morata paid off big time. What a goal. 

[Michael]

Kramaric with a nice shot, but it's too close to the keeper!

[Eco]

5-3 Spain now. 

Croatia about to score twice and take this the penalties. 

[Michael]

Spain score a 5th goal! Oyarzabal the scorer!

[montybhopa]

This is what we expected Belgium vs Portugal to be

[Michael]

Just now, Eco said:

5-3 Spain now. 

Croatia about to score twice and take this the penalties. 

This is not quite Hollywood, but come on, we've been entertained enough! 

[Spike]

Subbing on that winger #7 as a right back lost Croatia the game.

[6666]

3 minutes ago, montybhopa said:

This is what we expected Belgium vs Portugal to be

Did we? Neither were ever going to play so openly in defence.

[Spike]

8 minutes ago, Carnivore Chris said:

How do you know? Pedri and Fati are still 18 and are doing things that you'd expect from players quite a bit older than them would be doing.

You can't predict what happens in the future as players can soon fall off, or injuries can destroy them, but the potential to be stars is definitely there.

 

Even alot of football fans didn't know who Messi or Iniesta were when I used to rave about the talent they had in 2006. 

Not saying the above will be that good of course as they and C.Ronaldo don't come around often, but they can certainly be generation-type players.

But nobody said they'd be Pele or Maradona either way, just that the future of the sport has alot of talent.

 

I'm talking about fame not ability, very few players reach that level of fame. M'Bappe hasn't, but is the closest. Iniesta is nowhere near that level of famous, he has nothing on the actual superstars.

[Michael]

Budimir goes so close to scoring, but his effort goes narrowly wide.

[Stan]

Of all the days to choose to play football on a day I don't usually. Missed all the goals  

[Dan+]

11 minutes ago, montybhopa said:

This is what we expected Belgium vs Portugal to be

If you had never watched Portugal before

[Michael]

3 minutes ago, Stan said:

Of all the days to choose to play football on a day I don't usually. Missed all the goals  

It has to be said, it's been the most entertaining match of the Round of 16, we've had almost everything. You have to feel sorry for the Croats, but props to Spain for showing their quality going forward.

[Michael]

Morata has his shot saved. He's had one of his finest games in a while.

[Michael]

Dani Olmo hits the post, he went so close to scoring Spain's 6th goal.

[Carnivore Chris]

12 minutes ago, Spike said:

I'm talking about fame not ability, very few players reach that level of fame. M'Bappe hasn't, but is the closest. Iniesta is nowhere near that level of famous, he has nothing on the actual superstars.

I'm not arsed who non-football fans know and don't know. David Beckham's one of the most famous players ever in this regard. He's not more legendary among football fans than George Best or Johan Cruijff though.

[Tommy]

38 minutes ago, Machado said:

I'm team Croatia from now on.

You jinxed it.

 

Anyway, still showed a great spirit to come back from that 1:3.  

[Viva la FCB+]

Why couldnt this be a weekend match, sounds like a doozie 

My boss at least lets me take half days for the Germany games so i guess I cant complain to much. 

[El Profesor]

34 minutes ago, Carnivore Chris said:

How do you know? Pedri and Fati are still 18 and are doing things that you'd expect from players quite a bit older than them would be doing.

You can't predict what happens in the future as players can soon fall off, or injuries can destroy them, but the potential to be stars is definitely there.

 

Even alot of football fans didn't know who Messi or Iniesta were when I used to rave about the talent they had in 2006. 

Not saying the above will be that good of course as they and C.Ronaldo don't come around often, but they can certainly be generation-type players.

But nobody said they'd be Pele or Maradona either way, just that the future of the sport has alot of talent.

 

 

I do think that we have a deeper problem in football at the present. 

The sport is becoming increasingly mechanical, with coaches controlling  players' movements from a very young age and diminishing the role of improvisation and talent. 

This is not an environment where talent thrives. Football has become a coaches' game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bluebird Hewitt]

37 minutes ago, Michael said:

What a strike by Morata!! Lovely goal!! What have you critics(including myself) got to say about him now!!

That he now has more goals than Harry Kane. As does Kieffer Moore. 

[Carnivore Chris]

Just now, El Profesor said:

 

I do think that we have a deeper problem in football at the present. 

The sport is becoming increasingly mechanical, with coaches controlling the player movements from a very young age and diminishing the role of improvisation and talent. 

This is not an environment where talent thrives. Football has become a coaches' game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's a very good point Ricardo and I agree 100%.

The game has changed significantly in this regard.