Russia 2018 - Quarterfinal Day 1!
That's followed with what, on paper, would seem to be the most delicious match-up in the round - Brazil v. Belgium. The Selecao have been there before, while the Belgians have the firepower and are coming off a dramatic come-back against Japan in the R16.
Join me all day long for more LOB World Cup chatter.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:15 AM
474 Comments:
To Nizhny Novgorod, for the first of this summer’s World Cup quarter-finals. France take on Uruguay in a match between two unbeaten sides in this competition and with Edinson Cavani battling to be fit in time for today’s match, the South American side find themselves at something of a disadvantage as they attempt to make it five wins from five at this tournament. It promises to be an intriguing encounter.
Morning Boys
COME ON EUROPE!!!
Cavani is out of the Uruguayan team today....that will hurt
Starting XIs
France: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann, Tolisso, Giroud
Uruguay: Muslera; Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Laxalt; Nandez, Torreira, Vecino, Bentancur; Suarez, Stuani
I have my ITV link going....They start at 9:30
Lexi is an idiot
England still sixth
I'm surprised that the top 8 don't include a team that has already gone home
The big news out of the Uruguayan camp this morning is that Ediinson Cavan has failed in his bid to make the starting line-up and will be replaced by Cristhian Stuani.
Morning, UWS! How are you this morning, mate?
So the Final Eight
Group A 2 teams
Group B 0 teams
Group c 1 team
Group D 1 team
Group E 1 team
Group F 1 team
Group G 2 teams
Group F 0 teams
Wishing you guys were sitting in my living room!!
England can't lose on my birthday... correct?
France in White and Uruguay in blue
Brazil and Belgium should be wearing the normal kits
Tomorrow
Sweden in yellow and England in Red
Not sure the last match
Red vs white with red
Or
Red vs Blue black
Or
Both change kits
JPDLC and Meola on the mic today
I have been pleasantly surprised how Tony has been
Only 2 teams have won all of their games
Uruguay won all three group games and Round of 16
Belgium have done the same...tho gifted one by England
Croatia won all three group games BUT actually drew vs Denmark in the R16
Brazil and France have drawn a match
Three teams have lost a match
England, Sweden and Russia
ITV pregame starting
O'Neil, Wrighty and Giggs in the studio
England's match is on the BBC
Heatwave in Samara... should be around 90
Of course, we are playing Snow Loving Sweden
That's correct, mate. You're going to bring them a win on your 54th. Wish we could be there, too.
Teams coming out - it's White Stripes time.
Teams in the tunnel
Good morning, Bob and Dave. Ready to enjoy the pleasure of your company for the quaterfinals.
Up the nose
ooh ah
ooh ah
ooh ah Cantona
ooh ah a Cantona
We just enjoyed a rousing version of the La Marseillaise from our resident French expert, Kate.
Morning MUR
I think the white and blue are closer than light and dark blue
Argentinian hardman Nestor Pitana officiating today. I like the cut this guy's jib. He's been fantastic.
Did she sing it out loud?
Did you stick your hand on your nostril?
We are off!!
And we're away from Novgorod.
They're off from Novgorod
ITV 35 seconds behind
No Nil NILLERS please
France is our only remaining culprit of the one we've had
All sitting in the same seats?
LOL! Nice one, UWS!
Yes - we've got the same feng shui going. Just missing your presence on the end of the sofa.
Olly Dow with a hurt ankle.
So who do you guys want or think will be the semi finalists?
Yes.We are all at our stations, UWS
I give permission for Kate to sit there
Uruguay should have done better there
Why didn't he shoot it first time at the back post
Bo Derek with a first burst of speed down the wing but his eventual cross was finally cleared out.
I think it will be France, Brazil, England, and Croatia to make the semis
Bo has impressed me since I started noticing him
She'll be joining us for the England match tomorrow.
Is he a "10" in your book, mate?
The speedy Laxalt turns Pavard nad passes in the box, but nobody can get a shot off. Then Suarez has a shot go across the box
Uruguay on top to start
That's a MUR comment BD
Boo is a 10, but Laxalt is 8.5
Good form, Bob.
Both teams trying to score.... Like what I'm seeing
I really thought the WC wouldn't have this
People are saying this is the best World Cup ever
Greetings from Italy!
Hasn't France heard? Possession is dead. Uruguay's quick attacks have looked more dangerous than France.
Breaks my heart that Cavani can't be out there.
It's refreshing, isn't it? We really haven't had too many dull matches.
Afternoon RD
Hiya, Red Devil - great to have you on board as Our Man in Italy. I'm missing Cavani, too.
Lucas Hernandez does the Neymar roll after being fouled
This is the last round of matches for combined yellows
They get wiped AFTER this round
Grease Man takes the free kick and Varane heads well wide
I can't understand why a striker like Griezmann wants to take free kicks. He should be in the box for a knock down.
Ouch! It looked like a Charlie 🏇 for Mbappe, but he seems to be okay
I like this ref so far
The collective French nation draws in a breath as Mbappe starts limping away from a rugged challenge.
He's telling them to stop asking for cards and VAR
Lucas Hernandez blocks for a Uruguay corner
Looking at these countries with tiny populations (Iceland and Uruguay), it makes me think that it must be possible to engineer greater success than the US has produced so far.
I remember pointing out how many of the Urus are short and stout. It makes sense: with 3 million people, you are not going to find that many people who are physical studs like Ronaldo or Mbappe. Cavani is big and fast, but even Suarez is nothing special. With a population the size of the US, we just need to be doing more to get top athletes into competitive environments early on.
The corner from Torreirra is headed by Stuani and pushed away by Lloris
As I said earlier.... I want a EUROPEAN WEEKEND
Thanks for the welcomes. Sounds like a great time was had at the Cottage and Western NY in general!
Mbappe wide open in the box... weak effort!
Just too high
Cross from Pavard headed on by Olly then headed just over by Mbappe from close range
Mbappe probably had time to bring it down. He was surprised to be so open.
Oh - a real miss from Mbappe there. He jumped far too early and couldn't keep the effort down. Should have done better.
bug in the mouth...yuck!
French defenders really struggling with the pace of the Uruguayan attack. This is not really going to the French game plan.
We need a goal soon before it becomes a stalemate that will last
Pogba with a long range effort well over
We have had a marvelous time all week. You, Chiara and the girls were missed at Uncle Shazad's 4th of July bash.
Good afternoon, RD. How are you?
Jealous
Great touch by the Grease Man but then a hopeless pass...did the hard part!
Pavard wins a French corner.
JPDLC gets excited before the corner...then calm
What a numpty!!
We have to deal with him for the Final!
Again, I have like Meola. He sounds very knowledgeable
Suarez barges over Pavard and the Frenchman is down in a heap.
Pavard down after being barged by Suarez
Starting to get nasty out there. Mbappe and Bo Derek having some words.
I want Suarez out!
Classic chant Steve and I were watching a few days ago
His teeth were offside
His teeth were offside
Luis Suarez
His teeth were offside
Did you just think of me
JPDLC... 26th minute !!
Mbappe wins a corner off of Laxalt
Laxalt's quickness up to par with Mbappe.
One thing that there hasn't bee too much of this WC is long range shots... Players won't shoot
I hope England shoot tomorrow
JP is in fine form this morning.
France is a bit sloppy with their chances. Granted Kante and Pogba win back a lot of balls in midfield, so they get plenty of opportunities.
Mbappe has been successfully marked out of this game.
The pass accuracy is pretty low for both teams (75 for France and 65 for Uruguay). That is not always a bad thing, cause it can signify that they are taking some risks.
Bob is struggling to stay awake
Hernandez picks up a yellow for a tug back. Cynical one.
Lucas Hernandez booked for a clumsy foul on Torreirra
I desperately need a goal. I had a late night out and woke up early to get brekkies together for the lads.
I want a goal
GET MEN IN THE BOX FRANCE!!
Why such a late night?
Nice pass from Pogba to Mbappe, who passed back in the box, but nobody had made a run to connect
I agree, UWS. The balls have been coming in but there is often no one to meet them. I don't know where Griezmann.
I don't think I am going to LOB for the England match... I didn't the last match so...
Oh - Stuani had a chance there but a poor touch let him down. As UWS would say, "where is the quality?"
Shoot... again... physics is forgotten!!!
GOT THAT RIGHT
Betancourt picks up a yellow card - he'll miss the semi if the Urus get through.
Betancur booked for a nasty foul . Out for the next match .
I like how they wipe out the cards so players wouldn't miss the Final if they get booked in the Semi BUT five games is a long time for only one card!
That makes sense - maybe we blog these two today and perhaps the Russia v. Croatia.
GO FRANCE!!
JP getting the goalscorer all wrong!
GOAL! Varane heads in the free kick from Grease Man
Great glancing header
GOAL! Great free kick in and Varane meets it with a lovely flicked header into the corner.
1-0 Les Bleus!
Almost as good as Keane's header in the CL semi final at Juve
I agree, Bob about the blogging
Yes.. and possibly Skype
7 games left after today
STILL only one nil niller
Corner headed out and Lloris easily catches a long range effort
That goal changes the half-time team talks now. Uruguay will have to chase this one in the second half. Cavani to come on?
Agreed with both statements,UWS
Oh - great save Lloris!
OH! Lloris superbly saves a header from Cacares off a free kick then Godin blasts over from a yard out.
Great save.
Godin should have buried that rebound. What a miss!
A pair of stoppage time minutes
Finally saw a replay of Pickford great save....it was going wide!!
What a numpty... let it go and they wouldn't have scored from the corner!
Still love you Jordan
Umtiti called for a piggy back ride on Suarez
All on assault on the French goal by Uruguay now. I predict that France will sit back in the second half.
Bob, if Skype doesn't work..FacTime
France is one up at the half
Half time then. Uruguay will all to do in the second half. Very delicately poised.
HT... Europe on top
No threat to Kane's Golden Boot as of yet
First time they have been behind
Henderson has the longest unbeaten record of any player ever!!
28 games
22 wins
6 draws
0 losses
Pick him Gareth!!
Teams out for the second half
Second half underway from Novgorod
We're back on for the second half.
France has never lost a World Cup match when leading at the half. In the semis?
Great stat, UWS. Definitely pick him
Useless free kick by the Mechanic
Oh - Griezmann nearly caught Muslera out there.
ooh..almost another Willy Wally incident
Muslera should have cleared the ball. Went off of Grease Man for a goal kick.
Agreed,UWS . Poorly driven in by the Mechanic. Should be a ticket and a fine.
Who does Bo play for
Mbappe with a much better free kick
Pogba gets hammered
Muslera punches away a free kick from Mbappe
I think he's at Genoa. MUR would definitely know for sure.
Boo plays in Serie A for Genoa. Does he eat his fair share of salami?
Mbappe wins a corner
He should move to a bigger club
Corner headed out. h
High and wide from Pavard
How much.....TEN mil?
He could, but then he would lose his salami privileges
French make hard work of clearing the ball there. Betancourt has a pop but it's well wide.
I forgot to add one more thing to this thing I sent you yesterday
Uruguay 7 letters
France 6 letters
Belgium 7 letters
Brazil 6 letters
Croatia 7 letters
Russia 6 letters
England 7 letters
Sweden 6 letters
7+6=13
It’s Coming Home 13 letters!!
GAMES PLAYED ON THE 6th and 7th!!
Two changes now - Rodriguez and Gomez on now for Betancourt and Stuani.
Double substitution from Uruguay. Gomez Addams on for Stuani and Cris Rod on for Betancur.
That makes sense to me - well done, UWS!
Toulisso with a headache. He needs Advil
Oh - what a howler from Muslera!
2-0 France. Griezmann will claim it.
TWO NIL!!!
Grease Man gives it a shot... Can you say Karias!!
That's why players should shoot!!
GOAL! Muslera with a real howler off a long range effort.
Wonder if Cavani could have played at all today
Didn't he train?
Uruguay win a corner that's out for another
Long range effort from C Rod just wide after a blocked shot from the corner
That goal reinforces your point about taking a chance and shooting, UWS. If you get it on target, then you have a chance, right?
Not sure. Thought Cavani was listed as unavailable since the last match
SA down to one....later today...none?
Mbappe down and Godin is livid
It's all kicked off now - the Uruguayans are incensed by what they assume is simulation by Mbappe.
Pogba losing his rag
That's a disgraceful performance by Mbappe. He's rightly booked along with Suarez for the ruck. I would've thought that given the pounding that Neymar has received on social media that he wouldn't try to pull this.
Again, Uruguay complaining about the acting... tell Suarez not to do it as well
Mbappe booked for simulation and C Rod booked for dissent. Godin and Pogba should have been booked too
I hope Neymar is paying attention
Bo fouls Mbappe.
So no Cavani today - sad.
Toulisso not too far off with a long range effort.
Oh - Tolisso nearly with a third goal.
Just over by the French...that would have sealed it
Urretiscaivia on for Nandez. Final roll of the dice for Oscar Tabarez
Great flick pass by Giroud
Nzonzi being thrown on for Tolisso, who has a caution.
Former Stoke and Blackburn player, Nzonzi, on for Toulisso.
France..ten minutes away from a semi final spot
France still don't impress me...nothing to fear for England
I am rooting for a Group G rematch in the Final
A-Team vs A-Team...unlike before
So...Europe on top in this one
Name the Finals where a European team beat a South American team? Happened three times
I'd be happy with that. I don't really like any of the other teams. France bore me, Brazil are a bunch of babies.
Going to answer my question?
Usman Dembele on for Mbappe.
Pogba wins a free kick about 25 yards from goal
Mbappe off and Dembele on now. Mbappe was miserably disappointing today.
Germany-Argentina twice, and France-Brazil
So France are going to play in the maximum seven matches in the tourney
Free kick from Grease Man over.
Correct RD
1990, 1998 and 2014
SA have beaten Europe SEVEN TIMES
In 1958, 1962, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994 and 2002
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