Group C's General Discussion Thread

Group pretty much went the way I thought it would. Scotland was the Euro team I thought would be Grouped. Especially playing that last match in what felt like the Maracana.

Morocco looked a bit mediocre after the first match and making some people think there were a fluke four years ago.

 

I don’t think Morocco was a fluke 4 years ago. I do think they had a bit of easy routes especially with Spain being very questionable during that time and Portugal being a bunch of individuals and having a lack of proper tactics and chemistry; and it made Morocco look better than they truly were, but still a great time that’s Top 10. I don’t think it was a fluke.

 

They were a team that got hot, had good tactics, played good defense and had a consistent keeper. And they were pretty much the home team in the stands in 2022. So it was not really a fluke but they did have a lot of things go their way.

 

This Morocco team outclassed both Brazil and Norway, and you are still talking about "flukes". SMH.

Besides Croatia in 2018 I dont think there has been a more impressive underdog run at a worldcup since ive been watching football.

 

Portugal had just humiliated Switzerland right before facing Morocco I wouldn't have called them a bunch of individuals.
Despite the scenario of the game against Haiti I think we did well, we were punished for overconfidence in the two goals but we were actually better than the previous games as we managed to keep the rythm during the whole match.

 

@vancity eagle They looked good against Brasil and not so good the next two matches against bad teams.
Friendlies mean nothing to me.
Tunisia looked good against Brasil in a friendly. Who the heck cares.

 

as do many teams who end up lifting the cup. I remember France 98 before the final they had matches that could have easily sliped the other way around and their 2018 campain was also pretty tight all the way to the final.

 

But so many things that cannot be emulated or replicated in other major tournaments for Morocco.
Teams like France can consistently compete for major cups so to bring them up is not a good example.

 

You've never heard of playing down to teams ? Happens all the time.

Tunisia also looked like crap in their friendlies pre WC which is more recent than the Brazil friendly. They are good indications.

 

They better get up for the next round or else they will get pounded assuming it is Netherlands. Japan I think can be a better matchup but I would favor them too.

 

We are obviously not in the same category as France who can send 3 teams to compete in the world cup. But even that France needed to have things go their ways to lift the 98 and 2018 throphies. So saying Morocco had things going their way in 2022 is like saying nothing.

 

No. It is not saying nothing. It is just saying it will be difficult for them to make such a run in this tournament or most future tournaments. 2030 could be a good chance though cause they are at home but even so they did not win The African Cup ( although a court said they did. )

 

Japan and Netherlands are both very good too, we can "get up" and still lose it won't mean 2022 was a fluke.

 

I did not say it was a fluke. But I can see why some people perceive it that way.

 

In a tournament with many very good teams saying it will be difficult is like saying nothing. In 2022 it was very difficult and it will always be difficult for any team to reach the 1/2 final. We're not talking about PSG playing the French cup.

 

But you look at a team like Croatia and they followed up their Final with a third place finish leaving no doubt for the haters

Morocco since the World Cup lost to South Africa badly in a tournament. Lost to Senegal on the field but not in the courts. Looked meh against Scotland and really meh against Haiti.
If they lose to Netherlands or Japan and do not look competent it may not be the best of looks for people perceiving them as lucky in 2022.

 

It doesn't matter how people who see it from far perceive it, but if anyone looks into it Morocco was already good in 2018 but things didn't go their way. After 2022 the U23 took the bronze medal in the Olympic tightly losing to futur gold medalist Spain in the 1/2, then "locals" won the CHAN, then the U20 won the WC, then the C team won the Arab Cups where asian took their A squads, then the A team went all the way to the final of the AFCON. Taken separately those tournaments aren't big indicators but the consistency tells something.

 

There have been plenty of teams to look good in youth tournaments only to have it not translate to the big stages.
But whatever, all I know is that they have to play better if they want to make a run this tournament.

 

I don't care about the haters, they are free to hate and I'm not interested in matching reason with feelings.

Losing games is normal in football, one game here and there are not indicators. What matters is the long term analysis. Japan also lost in the 1/4 of last Asia Cup but I would be wrong to base my analysis on that. They are a very strong team pursuying a very good form. They could have gone way further in last WC and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go far in this one. But as I said there are other very good teams and they have to eliminate each other.

 

I think we played better against Haiti than against Brazil if we consider the whole game.

 

You don’t care so much you are taking the time to write paragraphs about it.

Japan and Morocco are at about the same level. Not necessarily semifinal levels which is my point but the best outside of Europe and South America.

 

I don't care about haters and I didn't know I was talking to one (was I ?) that's why I wrote so much.

 

In all honesty South America shouldn't be in the question anymore. Other than Argentina the rest are not any better than the best teams from Africa.

There's also only a handful of teams from UEFA better than the top teams in CAF.

 

Brasil and Colombia can both make some runs here in the USA. Don’t be that guy.