R16 July 1 Russia v. Spain [R]

He didn't see the replay yet...

 

Oh.

I was about to say. (Sorry I’m late this morning)

Elo says

Spain 2028
Russia 1692

That’s a difference of 336, or and expectation of Spain 87%, Russia 13%. (Elo doesn’t model draws)

 

The game will become more interesting now that the Russians have to put pressure on Spain. They might be able to do what Iran did in the 2nd half against the Spaniards, and put them under pressure without conceding any more, or Spain might be able to run up to score on them and finish the match early.

 

Men vs boys

 

So, any odds of Russia coming back? I’m guessing 3-0 by the end

 

Honestly they should have watched the Iran + Morocco games to see how to get at Spain. But something tells me Spain will be a lot more efficient here than they were in the group stages

 

All of the pressure is obviously on the hosts.

 

Russian player gets elbowed in the neck and goes down holding his head. Where are the folks saying he is faking it?

 

I just noticed.... there's no Cherysev. What happened? I'm pretty sure he didn't accumulate yellows. Injury???

 

The problem being that Morocco and Iran are both better teams than Russia.

 

When the Russians field players who cheat and bite at player's ears, and who come into a match with the reputation Suarez has earned himself, maybe folks will be less inclined to doubt their injuries too. Sorry, but I can't stand Suarez. His handball against Ghana already marked him in my dog house and then, once he became a cannibal, I found myself a rare player I root against.

 

It's funny, I was thinking of you as Dzyuba was doing that.

As you point out, it's simulation. He didn't put his body into it a la Suarez, so he only gets a 4 for this effort.

 

Or plays for Barcelona...

Suarez is no saint for sure, but even divers get injured and hacked.

 

You know a game is pretty much over when...
...people are talking about other teams in the p-b-p thread more than the teams playing on the field.

 

They aren't trying to waste time - they are a goal down...

Also, given the fact that he's Russian... he probably had way too much to drink the night before and may genuinely have a headache...

 

Why watching spain is ALWAYS so boring? After two great matches we had yesterday...and now this annoyance.

 

Finally Russia showed some life there.

 

Spain seems to have been watching Japan.

 

It is not their fault that they are superior in technical ball possession skills and their opponents don't know how to take the ball away from them.

 

I fully buy into the tenets of tikki takka soccer. But do you think Spanish players actually have fun playing this way?

 

You know it is Spain who is playing when people are talking about other teams haha.

 

Yes.

 

Penalty?

 

It is their fault. They are not even trying...if it was a team like France we would be seeing speed and a lot of attempts to score. They are boring and it is their fault. Since 2010.

 

Pique doing the schweinsteger knew that would happen