Entertaining game. Draw is fair. Liverpool boys did well. Dutch still have the endorsement of that German economist who correctly predicted last 3 world cup champions.
Koeman wimped out with his subs - eg took Grav off just when he was influencing the game more and more after an invisible first 45. Cost them the game.
Two Ivory Coast players to watch in the game vs Ecuador . Both have been linked with Liverpool. Diomande and Bazoumana Toure.
The 20-year-old who stole the show on Scotland's World Cup return https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/clyrepwp0gno
I really like the look of Diamonde. The guy does not play like a raw 19 yr old. he has the demeanor of a mature experienced player. He's using the ball wisely passing well and has been beating his fb 1v1 regularly. Toure has been much less visible ,harder to offer an opinion since most of the play has been thru Diamonde on the other wing.
I was very impressed. I expected him to be fast, dribble well and be able to beat his man. But I was surprised by the quality of his passing. That's a "Yes please" from me!
Agree - They also missed a lot of his runs from midfield. Every time Gravy had the ball he did something positive.
Isak played 90, scored one (as posted above, goalie should have had it) and got 2 assists ... one of which was only given via use of ball-chip technology since his foot hardly grazed it. Overall could not have been better from our perspective. I only saw a few minutes of it but his movement looked ok to me .... ?
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c1lypn1zl1mo Wirtz, Isak & Diomande shine at World Cup as Iraola plots Liverpool revival ..... interesting that they include Diomande in that piece.
Remarkable - and remarkably unpleasant - WC story: Fifa’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup has called for Shaun Evans from Australia to be removed from the tournament for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign. “Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” the Fare network, a longtime partner of Fifa and Uefa, the European football governing body, to monitor racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games, said in a statement. “Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” Fare said in a statement, describing the gesture as “neo-Nazi.”
Spain vs Cape Verde today. CV's population is about 500k. About the same as Liverpool. Bloody ridiculous. This could set a WC scoring record. Remind me, how much are the tickets?
I really focused on him and was impressed I really focused on him and was impressed. He reminds me of Zaha, his passing is top notch and if we get a willing shooter, like the Brighton mf Yari, that plays for Sweden, then we can maximize it. If our mids will just attempt more shots.....
So here's the question: Isak was given MoM and looked pretty good yesterday, yet concerns about his mobility remain. Does it look like he could be coached into a more fluid, mobile style? Or are we pretty much stuck with a Carroll 2.0 type?
Agreed. He looked electric. We'd be lucky to get him; I think our chances will be improved with Iraola in charge now.
I seemed to remember he was quite mobile with great movement even pre-Newcy. While he got MoTM last night, I was less impressed than most and I’ve wanted Isak at LFC for years. Same with Wirtz and why I’m wondering if it wasn’t how Arne wanted to setup? Especially since Isak played often from the LW I think he can regain that movement with Iraola. I think the whole team can