Russia 2018 is Here!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:55 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- USA, Canada and Mexico Get the World Cup in 2026!
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group H
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group G
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group F
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group E
- England Play Costa Rica on Hallowed Ground
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group D
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group C
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group B
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group A
179 Comments:
Wahay! The coverage is starting up on Fox! The World Cup is here!
It's Rob Stone in Red Square to begin the proceedings. At least they've allowed him to travel to Russia.
Here's an interesting quiz about World Cup openers. I got 5/10 correct. How many can you lot get?
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/14/world-cup-quiz-opening-games
Now it's Rob Stone in the Moscow studio with Alexi Lalas, Guus Hiddink and some Mexican bloke.
Wow - now it's the commentary team in the stadium. JP Dellacamera alongside US keeper Tony Meola.
Good morning, Bob. Great to join you for the World Cup. How are you?
Morning, MUR - I'm loving the build up to the matches. Looking forward to a great tournament.
I got the same score on the quiz as you did.
Likewise. This beats teaching Summer School and a great way to beat the heat, albeit with a faulty AC system.
Have you got some people working on your AC unit?
Forgot about that great Saudi goal against Belgium at what I think was RFK. I don't think they've won a match since then
Not exactly. We have a part that's under warranty, but our AC people are having trouble with the supplier. It's working, but not at full power. We
re forced to keep the temperature at 80. A bit stuffy in the house, but still cool compared to outside.
Far too many commercials. That seems to be about 80% of the pre-game show.
So do you just go about in a tank short and your boxers?
Gooner, Dad and I were at RFK for that Saudi v. Belgium match.
Take away the tank and you got it. Still cool compared to outside.
My brother watched Belgium vs Morocco and Holland vs Ireland at that World Cup in Orlando.
The Suadis had three players move to La Liga clubs in the January transfer window. Two played a single match and one not a single first team appearance. Probably superior training, but lacking match fitness.
Oh - goodie! The opening ceremonies are starting!
It will be a short opening ceremony unless this is the norm
Marvelous scenes outside Luhzniki Stadium now.
Britpop star Robbie Williams about to perform.
Fat Ronny walking on to the pitch with the mascot.
Thanks for the clarification. Not familiar with him.
Beginning tomorrow it will be an earlier start to the day.
Just a reminder that the VAR will be in operation throughout the tournament, helping referees on the following issues:
* Goals and offenses leading up to a goal
* Penalty decisions
* Direct red card incidents
* Cases of mistaken identity
Should be fascinating
Robbie used to be in a boy band called Take That, who were huge in Britain in the 90s. He's had some solo hits since then. Never big in the US.
Fat Ronny has clearly been indulging in the feijoada over the years.
Fat Ronny is loving it!
I think that Robbie should show up Diana Ross by taking a penalty now, just to rub in the worst penalty miss in the history of the World Cup during the 1994 opening ceremonies.
Did Robbie just give us all the finger?
I thought Robby looked a little older while Ronny has definitely not missed meals or snacks for that matter.
Right, that's done then. Now, let's hope that the Saudis can knock the Putin regime down a peg or two with a shock win against the hosts this afternoon.
I didn't see that. Will have to check that. Sure was a brief opening ceremony. Even the Harlingen fireworks show is longer than that.
Here are the teams lining up in the tunnel now:
Russia: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Dzagoev, Smolov.
Saudi Arabia: Al-Maiouf, Al-Breik, Omar Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani, Al-Faraj, Otayf, Al-Jassim, Al-Shehri, Al-Dawsari, Al-Sahlawi.
Many of the LOBers have picked Fyodor Smolov to be the first scorer. I've gone against the grain with Saudi Arabian striker Mohammed Al-Sahlawi.
It's Vladimir Putin's moment now. Boo!
The Russians defeated the Kiwis in the opening match of the Confeds Cup and were still eliminated. A win against the Saudis doesn't really tell us anything . The matches vs Egypt and Uruguay will be more informative.
The translator is harder to understand than Vlad.
Agreed, Bob. Not glad to hear Vladi.
it sounds as if they've got a GPS voice to do the translation.
Thanks for the reminder of the VAR. UWS will not be pleased.
That's the best they can do. Nothing left in the budget for an actual translator such as Arshavin or Kanchelskis?
another Pantomime villain in the form of Gianni Infantino.
Bob will take note that FIFA believes in bald power. They're not all bad, mate.
Anthems now.
Balds rule!
Thought you would say that.
The two poorest teams to play the opening match of a World Cup?
Argie ref doing the pleasantries now.
One of the better refs in this tournament to ref the opening match
Asssited by a rival Brazi linesman.
The World Cup is underway from Moscow.
From the kick-off, Saudis straight into the attack.
Pizzi, the Saudi manager, failed to get to Chile to qualify, yet he's supposed to work wonders with this team. Don't see that happening.
The Russians win the first corner of the tournament.
First corner goes to the Russians. Jerk off to take.
The corner from Jerk off is headed away at the near post.
A bit of a misunderstanding at the back for the Saudis.
It's all a bit ping pongy right now. Not exactly boring but very little quality on display.
Saudis get away with a risky back pass then on the attack which is easily cleared.A tentative start by both teams.
Strange as this may seem, this is what I was expecting from this match./
First decent move from Russia through Jack Off.
Uruguay vs Egypt and the Iberian Derby should be much better quality than this dross.
I'm worried that the Iberian Derby might be a bore-fest. The team that loses that one could really be in trouble. They might play it really safe.
Jerk off wins a corner after poor Saudi defending in their own box.
The Saudis counter after heading away that corner , but lose the ball by the Russian corner flag.
With his first corners, Jerkoff has hit the first man and then overcooked the delivery. Not an auspicious start.
Russians win another corner off of sloppy Saudi defending.
GOAL! Russia takes the lead - Gazinsky with the header.
GOAL !!! THE RUSSIANS SCORE OFF THE CORNER. THE CORNER WAS HEADED OUT THEN THE BALL PLAYED BACK TO JERK OFF AND KASYZINSKI SCORES WITH A HEADER OFF THE CROSS FROM JERK OFF.
Nice cross in the from Golovin and Gazinsky with a free header.
1-0 Reds.
Infantino trying to keep the piece between Putin and the Saudi prince.
Oh - nearly a second goal there from a looping, deflected effort scrambled away.
OH!!! Spectacular save by the Saudi keeper after some nice one touch passing then a world class save from a close range deflected effort.
No points for any of us for the opening goal, alas.
Infantino may be busier than the giant Argie ref.
Wasn't expecting that. Thanks for the update.
The Saudis may be the whipping boys of the tournament.
The Saudis were hit by eight is enough against the Germans in their opening match of the 2002 World Cup. Will that be matched today?
Oh - Al-Sahlawki nearly in there for the equalizer.
Two quick corners in succession for the Saudis. Better from them.
Al Shlawi , who was identified by Bob as the main threat to score, heads just wide off a cross from a Saudi attack. It's awarded as a corner . Then the same player has a shot deflect for another corner.
The Russians counter off the next corner and one of their players is down as he pulled a muscle . First substitution of the tournament.
Jack off has a problem and won't be able to recover. He's limping off now.
Jack off the injured one and that's it for him as he's replaced by Cherries off .
Only one participant has predicted a red card in this match. WHR picked the Saudi keeper.
Salem smokes a long range effort for the Saudis in Row H.
Don't see that .It's been too clean a match for anyone to get a red card.
Decent free kick chance now for the Saudis.
A long free kick from the Saudi keeper and Jerk off with a foul just outside the Saudi box.
Decent chance there but the Saudi bloke nodded it well over.
The free kick from AlShalawi is headed well over by Kassar.
The Russians look like the same team from last Summer that was so poor.
I don't see either of these sides troubling Uruguay. Egypt are the X Factor in this group. Apparently, Mo Salah is fit to start tomorrow. That will be interesting.
Russia will have a tough time in the next two matches as their opponents will be far better organized.
I picked Egypt to finish second in this group and have seen little to change my mind.
Smolov goes over in the box. Referee waves play on. No VAR action so far.
If Salah is fit and 100%, I'd agree. Without Salah, I don't see Egypt posing a threat.
Cherries Off goes down in the box looking for a pen on a Russian counter and nothing done. Looks to be the right call.
The only Russian goal was the result of really charitable defending.
True. I agree.
Cherries Off has been lively since coming on, but his final effort seems lacking.
GOAL !!! CHERRIES OFF PUTS RUSSIA TWO UP.
GOAL! Russkies go 2-0 up through the sub Cherry Sundae.
Saudi defenders chasing shadows there. Really poor from them.
Another goal that was the result of keystone kop defending.Two chances to clear the ball and they stood around giving Cherries off the chance to pick his spot.
A pair of stoppage time minutes.
BOOM BOOM. The Saudis are defending like a Sundae and playing like it's a Sunday afternoon stroll.
Half-time, then. Russia have done the business so far against a really poor Saudi side.
2-0 at the interval.
Russia two up at the half in a match between two really poor sides.
Russia's last appearance at a World Cup was in 2002 while their last two wins have been against Cameroon in 1990 and 1994 after already being eliminated.
I'm back for the second half with my lunch.
Another Russian counter and Osama tackles Smolov for a Russian corner.
The corner from Jeark Off is easily headed away.
Welcome back, mate. What's on the menu. Caviar by any chance?
Semedov not too far over with a long range effort after more sheikhy Saudi defending.
LOL! Not a chance. A bit of ramen.
Saudis heaviest defeats in a WC are 8-0 vs Germany in 2002 and 4-0 vs France in 1998.
Still a good choice.Enjoy. Is that Ramenov?
Oh - Al-Sahlawi nearly in there. Shame.
Nice Saudi possession and pass into the box is diverted wide by Taseer.
Saudis starting to come back into this one as Russia takes the foot off the gas a bit.
The Saudis with a free kick headed wide by Salman. That seemed rather fishy.
Cometh the hour mark, cometh the subs. Saudis about to make some changes.
Fahad on for Abdallah Otayif
Saudis are going to roll the dice and go with two strikers now. It's about time!
Kuzaev on for Samedov, leaving the Russians with one change remaining.
Fahad the first Saudi to play in Spain. Played twice as a sub for Levante.
Russia will be reassured that Akinfeev hasn't had a save to make yet. He could have had a bowl of borscht during the first half.
Oh - nearly a third goal for Russia as Al-Maouff spills one in the box.
The Saudi keeper spills a routine shot then Osama clears it away.
Artem Dzouba about to make his entrance.
Agreed. He could have savored some caviar as well.
The final roll of the dice as Dzyuba is on for Smolov. No time wasting subs today.
Dzyuba plays for Arsenal Tula, which would make them the fake Arsenal.
GOAL! Supersub Dzouba nods home Russia's third goal!
GOAL !!!! DZYUBA SCORES MINUTES AFTER COMING ON WITH A FREE HEADER OFF A CROSS FROM GOLOVIN. RUSSIA THREE UP.
Another great cross in from Golovin, who has been my MOTM today. He's got some class.
It all started with a throw from Fernandes and three passes later an easy header from a nice cross.
Salaam tries one from distance. Decent effort but well wide of Akinfeev.
Another Saudi change . Just one remaining.,
Credit to the Russian manager as two goals have come off the bench.,
The Saudis will be booking an early flight back to Riyadh after this outing.
A Russian free kick is headed well wide.
The vodka will be flowing in Moscow tonight, for sure!
LOL! it's a good time to begin.
They better enjoy while it lasts because reality will kick in their next two matches.
True - but from here, a loss and a win against Egypt would see them through. Even two draws.
Strange as this may sound, the Saudis have lost twice by greater margins than they are currently trailing by in this match.
That's true, but those results may likely not happen. This is their easiest match.
Definitely.
A long range Russian effort lands in Row M.
The final roll of the dice by Pizzi as Mo Assiri is on for Al Shalawi.
Jerk Off cynically tripped by the left touchline.
Jerk off to swing another free kick in. It skips across the area and out for a corner.
The free kick from Jerk Off is cleared for a Russian corner.
The early match tomorrow may be the best of the lot.
Golovin becomes the first player of the tournament to be booked.
This is the margin of victory I was expecting. How about you?
I thought it might be closer.
The Russians win a late corner as a result of some tired defending.
A trio of stoppage time minutes.
Only one yellow card today - a well disciplined match so far.
GOAL! What a strike from Cherries Jubilee!
GOAL !!! THE RUSSIANS GO FOUR UP.
That is the cherry on top of this victory for Russia.
A really simple route one goal. A long ball from the back was headed down and and a nice finish with the outside of the foot by Cherries Jubilee. That's the cherry on the cake.
That will just about be that, then. A glorious day for Russia; misery for the Saudis.
Three out of four goals off the bench. How's that?
Golovin fouled just outside the box as he was Taseered down and the Saudi player booked.
Perhaps time for a fifth here from the free kick.
GOAL! Golovin with a peach of a goal!
GOAL !!! GOLOVIN BENT IT LIKE BECKHAM AS HE CAUGHT THE KEEPER OUT AT THE NEAR POST PUTTING THE RUSSIANS FIVE UP.
The Saudi prince is really not enjoying the afternoon now.
That's it as the Russians thrash the Saudis 5-0.
Well, that was entertaining. I didn't expect that at all. Hopefully it's an omen for more goalfests to come.
I'm off to enjoy the afternoon in the garden with Kate. Cheerio!
Hard to blame him. Two goals in second half stoppage time and three off the bench.
Cheers, mate. Great chatting. loo forward to chatting tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of the day,.
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