Group L's General Discussion Thread

Hydration break.
Panama is unfortunate to not have at least one this match.

 

The Croatian defense looks suspect to me. I like Ghana's chances to finish 2nd in this group.

 

1-0 Final.

 

Panama played with heart. Croatia seemed stale. Croatia won not due to playing better today in particular but more due to the general gap between the 2 teams, Panama simply came up short. Knowing Quieroz, he will park the bus against Croatia. It is difficult to see how this Croatia can score against Ghana. Quieroz might face Portugal for the 2nd time in a world cup.

 

CONCACAF needs to have it's place allotment reduced back to 3 for future WCs. Beyond the hosts their teams are just awful. The 3 non-hosts have combined for no wins, 5 losses & 1 draw with 1 goal scored and 13 allowed.

And teams like Italy aren't here....

 

Fun facts about ITA:
- Stopped qualifying to WCs way before expansion happened: last WC appearance was on 2014 WC.
- Eliminated in group phase during its last two WC appearances. Final placements: 22nd of 32 in 2014 WC, 26th of 32 in 2012 WC.
- The only WC champion to have missed WC qualification three consecutive times (2018, 2022, 2026). That streak remains active.

Next time UEFA gets more WC slots, it would be smart for ITA to take a stroll around the block instead. As the saying goes: a WC slot is a terrible thing to waste.

 

England was so bad. I would say that England and Mexico are probably the worst group winners in this world cup.

 

Whoever will win between Canada and Switzerland isn't that impressive either.

 

Nah, I'd probably say Group G group winners, however that'll be. England had an off game, but I think they're a top team.

 

Panama arguably had the better of Ghana and were toe to toe with Croatia. No results but no shame there.

Haiti outplayed Scotland pretty thoroughly and acquitted themselves well vs Morocco having the led twice. Overmatched vs Brazil. Two top 10 teams in their group is tough. They outplayed the other.

Curacao got pasted in the end vs Germany, but it was tied late 1st half. And they got a draw vs Ecuador. No shame there.

And neither Panama nor Haiti bunkered. Hell, neither did Curacao vs Germany. I think they deserve some credit for that.

Jamaica disappointed this cycle and Costa Rica were down as well.

 

Those teams may be down a bit, though I think its overstated. I think more credit actually needs to be given to Haiti, Curacao, Panama.

They've all showed decent football at times against good teams at this WC.

 

Young and uncertain. You have a base core of solid players but after that it gets murky but with Francis Hernandez as the "Sporting Director" of the Federation, he's been recruiting a bunch of dual nationals to play for Honduras.. Keyrol recently comes to mind, so does Alfredo Rodriguez from La Masia. We'll see if they can knock off Panama.

I remember beating Haiti 3-0 in Tegucigalpa in qualifiers.. game wasn't even close lol we also tied in Curaçao against Haiti which seemed a fair result considering Quioto hit the crossbar that game but so did Haiti.

Also beat this Curaçao team in Gold Cup last summer 2-1 in Houston. I'm not buying nun that they selling.

 

A couple. Puerto just got loaned out to BATE Borisov. Nixon Cruz probably on his way out the door, so is Giancarlo Sacaza.

Most players are getting "poached" really early. Youth National teams of all categories are being littered with dual nats from MLS Nxt or Liga Promes in Spain.

 

Not necessarily. I just think Ghana played that well to force England to a scoreless draw.

 

Panama smart to wear their white kits today and force England to wear their darker ones.

 

Panama looking loose and carefree
Obviously nothing to lose.

England looks a bit stiff and robotic.

 

End of the first quarter. Panama embracing the role of spoiler. Or at least frustrating England.
Still a long way to go.

 

Panama making England fans suffer a bit here. Some decent chances.