Teams and Players that have impressed/disappointed you this WC
- Thread starter Gecklund
- Start date
Suiteness
Registered User
Pleasant surprise: Japan
Disappointment: Poland.
Argentina were crap throughout qualifying and barely made it to the tournament. With the roster they brought to Russia, it's not all that surprising. They can still make it out though.
Disappointment: Poland.
Argentina were crap throughout qualifying and barely made it to the tournament. With the roster they brought to Russia, it's not all that surprising. They can still make it out though.
- Jan 18, 2016
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Poland. Not that I thought they were going to make a run or anything but they looked horrible the 2 games I saw them play.
Duchene2MacKinnon
In the hands of Genius
- Aug 8, 2006
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Argentina have been impressively incompetent...
Germany have been surprising but not really. Not to the degree that some claim.
Germany have been surprising but not really. Not to the degree that some claim.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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Xhaka has been impressive to me although he always seems to do better for country.
I've also really enjoyed watching Carrillo of Peru, seems to be a decently skilled work machine.
I think my surprise teams would be the slow start of Germany, I did not and still don't think they are going far in this tournament, but I expected a more polished team than what has been seen these first 2 games.
I've also really enjoyed watching Carrillo of Peru, seems to be a decently skilled work machine.
I think my surprise teams would be the slow start of Germany, I did not and still don't think they are going far in this tournament, but I expected a more polished team than what has been seen these first 2 games.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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Sergej Milinković-Savić has also been a surprise. I knew he was good prior to this tournament, but after watching him more I am impressed. He can really take control of the mid field and the mix of skill and size is amazing.
Live in the Now
Registered User
Most underrated player in Europe, probably. He is better than Pogba was before his big move. Problem is he is now so good and Lazio are refusing to sell unless they get so much money that I don't know if he'll get a big move for a few years.
But seriously a player that tall should not be this skilled.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
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The speed at which he moves his feet for such a tall guy defies logic to me. It's as though he is made up of the body of Matic and the feet of Cazorla or something like that :p
Do you happen to know how long his contract goes until?
Live in the Now
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robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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I would do the exact same. unfortunate for the guy he deserves a bigger stage than Lazio
SMS is great already, with potential to be better - but he's been rather ordinary these two games, and downright poor in the 2nd half vs Switzerland.
I don't know if I'm especially impressed with anyone...
Some teams have had great games against weaker opposition, some favorites have had mediocre games against mediocre opposition. Belgium and England are especially hard to judge right now.
Uruguay will be tough as nails to beat. Ordinary midfields and ordinary down the flanks, but rock solid in central defense and Suarez and Cavani can always conjur something up.
Spain offensively magic are times, but defensively suspect.
Disappointment #1 is Germany. Right now, they look like Toni Kroos and the 10 lost boys.
They are getting absolutely killed on the counter, and if they don't score first early, it's just a matter of time before they get into trouble at the back.
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robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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A disappointment for me would be Ozil. I always try and defend him during the Club season but it was hard to defend his performance in game one. There were moments of great football from him, but they were few and far between.
kingsboy11
Maestro
Can't think of any particular players, but teams like Spain, Germany and Poland just look terrible. Mexico is really the only one that has really impressed me as much as it hurts to say it. Mexico has always had strong rosters, but could never put it together. Through their first two games they look the part. Also impressed with England, but lets see how they react against a World Class team like Belgium.
TheMoreYouKnow
Registered User
His wonderful FK goal and his ability to play wonderfully precise passes aside...Toni Kroos is the main reason they're so vulnerable on the counter, dude is a 6 in this formation but that's not what he thinks he should be playing..dude wants to be a deep-sitting playmaker, and the sitting part is barely an exaggeration.
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Renard, cowering in the second half against Iran cost his team their world cup, the polish coach was similarly cowardly, but I was so f***ing excited for Morocco up until that counter late in the first that cut Renard's balls off.
I can't agree with that at all, Mesut was doing Toni's job for him better than Toni usually does it, so to single him out for criticism is insane to me.
I can't agree with that at all, Mesut was doing Toni's job for him better than Toni usually does it, so to single him out for criticism is insane to me.
East Coast Bias
Registered User
Kinda surprised at how surprised people are that Mexico is legit. They’ve got tons of talent. Really good team. This isn’t a fluke.
KJS14
Registered User
- Jun 13, 2013
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He wasn't anything special out there that day, but wasn't nearly the liability he's made out to be. There were at least 6-7 German players on the pitch worse than Ozil in game 1. Yet guys like Muller, Hummels, Draxler, and Kroos get little flak from the media, while Ozil gets compared to a dead frog.
The funniest was one ex-player saying something along the lines of "Ozil never shows up for the NT, he plays with no joy," when a month ago all the talk was "Ozil only performs with the NT, why can't he do this for Arsenal?" It blows my mind how many stupid people have a voice in mainstream media, but that's another topic.
John Pedro
Registered User
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
My favorite was one replay of the mexican goal, when one of the english commentators said something like "oh look, it's mesut özil tracking back for the first time in his life"...like even when those morons can't deny the work he's putting in they can't help but try & spin that into a negative. It just makes one wonder if they would even be capable of recognizing all of the work he puts in, even if they did actually pay attention & watch him, or if his droopy expression & lack of chest thumping would confuse them too much.
