Knockout Stage General Discussion Thread

Thanks for the list.

Of your list, only Sucic, Mbappe, and Isidor count/are far shots. Elanga was on the line of the box, Cabral was just inside the box. And Vanaken was a keeper coming too much situation so doesn't count.

So 3 far shot goals out of 285 goals in 98 matches. If we want to include Spain's rebound goal, that is 4. Giving benefit of the doubt, maybe there were also a few others we missed. So let's round up and say 6-7 at most. So yes, long range shooting is indeed dead.

 

It is partially because of emphasis of physically over technical ability, and partially because gen z are on their ipads and phones even in developing countries as opposed to kicking around the ball all day. The potential Ronaldos and Ronaldinhos are on their i-whatever screen instead of at the beach kicking a ball around. Even vini junior, while he has some technical ability, is a different/modern type of player. Since Neymar there have been no big original Brazilian type players.

So it is unsurprising in an age where the focus is on physicality/speed and pressing over defense and creativity/talent and tactics, countries like Brazil/Italy/Germany have declined, and countries like Canada and England are doing better. Also France. Yes France is still among the best technically, but they have been relatively better physically in the past quarter or so century at least compared to other teams, so now France is dominating for extended periods of time as other top teams have declined. Argentina are still highly technical but they are also very speedy, so they have not declined.

 

Give over. The Cape Verde and Elanga goals were at the corner of the box and went in at the far post. Basic maths makes those shots over 30 yards.

I'm not arguing about their scarcity or not. I'm not arguing at all. I'm replying to you saying you couldn't remember any.

 

Long range shots are out of the box not inside/on the box. These 2 were freak/unusual goals by defensive teams against superior opponents who could not create many chances. It was always rare to shoot from those angles. Also even the Mbappe goal was in an already won game on a counterattack against a desperate team with empty defense so Mbappe could afford to be experimental.

 

Well we'll have to disagree then. I think a 30 yard shot is pretty long range. Definitely further out than someone just outside the D who puts the ball in from 21-22 yards.

 

Didn't Emam Ashour also score one ?

 

This post is nonsense, its just full of god-awful stereotypical propaganda!

 

This is the last day of the World cup with a double header!

 

Over the last couple of decades, there has definitely been a shift from technicality to physicality. I've been watching the game since Italia 90. My oldest brother, who is 11 years my senior, and I talk about this all the time. I think the rise of functionality at the expense of technicality is the natural consequence of the decline in street football and the advent of academy players.

Brazil is probably the most glaring example of this shift. You're right -- since Neymar, Brazil hasn't really produced players who make you sit at the edge of your seat during games. It was this exact quality that set Brazil apart from every other nation on the planet. Right now, France play a more Brazilian style than Brazil does. They've been really successful since 1998 because they've been able to combine technicality, speed, and physicality with the theoretical stuff.

By the way, I don't think Vini Junior would have made the bench of the last Brazil team that won the World Cup in 2002. To me, it's obvious that if Brazil want to be great again, they need to go back to producing the calibre of players for which they were known. In football as in other areas of life, you stick with what made you successful in the first place.

 

Harry Kane is such a loser.

 

Crazy goal

 

Norway just looks like the more energetic team. Maybe resting their starters against France was the right thing to do.

 

Bellingham!

 

And Bellingham ties it up.

 

Kane from way downtown!

 

Kane!

 

It was always the right thing to do. You make risk reward calculations, and it was a great move.

 

Beautiful goal by Bellingham!

Very fortunate goal by Norway.

HT: 1-1

 

Nevermind offsides

 

Tell that to the people making a big stink about it in the Group stage thread.

 

Sorloth the onk selfish there

 

When you have a 2v1 break away like that Norway should have done better.

 

There wasn't a great passing lane I think.