# World Cup 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 7, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615 "2018-06-07T18:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 91
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1803 "2018-07-11T19:26:25Z")
Semifinals should be held on the same day. Otherwise the team that played first gets an extra day’s rest before the final. Frenchies having 4 days and ENG/CRO only getting 3 days of rest will be a big factor, especially if this game goes to extra time or PKs. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1804 "2018-07-11T19:28:35Z")
There is still a lot of time…almost an hour if it goes to OT and Croatia has tired legs. In confident England win this. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1805 "2018-07-11T19:28:52Z")
That was a very Lucky escape. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1806 "2018-07-11T19:28:54Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > Croatia scores! > > Now, yes: ENG 1 - 1 CRO Can I bother you for next week’s lottery numbers? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1807 "2018-07-11T19:28:55Z")
That should have been 2-1 ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1808 "2018-07-11T19:28:56Z")
Fucking hell England ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1809 "2018-07-11T19:29:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Semifinals should be held on the same day. Otherwise the team that played first gets an extra day’s rest before the final. Frenchies having 4 days and ENG/CRO only getting 3 days of rest will be a big factor, especially if this game goes to extra time or PKs. I agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1810 "2018-07-11T19:29:50Z")
HOLY CRAP Croatia almost scores! Great, GREAT saves by the English goalie!! ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1811 "2018-07-11T19:31:13Z")
This is where our lack of someone to control the game in midfield really hurts us. This has got very frantic and someone from England needs to take control and calm it down for a little. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1812 "2018-07-11T19:31:18Z")
I’m not going to lie, my immediate reaction when that cross came off the boot was “that was awful”, I thought he’d sent that one into the crowd. I do not claim to be an expert in this sport. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1813 "2018-07-11T19:31:19Z")
It’s been a long time since the English could step out onto a field against an opponent with the knowledge that they have the better keeper. This year they do. Perhaps only Courtois and Lloris have been better. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1814 "2018-07-11T19:33:39Z")
England looks vulnerable. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1815 "2018-07-11T19:36:46Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > England looks vulnerable. They took their foot off the gas. Teams that do this have been made to pay in this WC. Argentina came within a hair of tying France 4-4. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1816 "2018-07-11T19:38:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > They took their foot off the gas. Teams that do this have been made to pay in this WC. Argentina came within a hair of tying France 4-4. Not sure that’s fair to Croatia. They have put more pressure on and England haven’t responded well. It’s not England off the gas, it’s Croatia upping the gas, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1817 "2018-07-11T19:41:46Z")
Good grief, England has had a few strokes of really good luck recently! Croatia is **pressing _hard_** but they keep missing… ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1818 "2018-07-11T19:42:13Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Not sure that’s fair to Croatia. They have put more pressure on and England haven’t responded well. It’s not England off the gas, it’s Croatia upping the gas, IMO. I see your point but have England really out forward any kind of attacking football? How many touches have Kane and Sterling had. But, yeah, credit to Croatia. They have a great fighting spirit. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1819 "2018-07-11T19:43:20Z")
Southgate really needs to rally the troops. He is way too passive. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1820 "2018-07-11T19:45:11Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I see your point but have England really out forward any kind of attacking football? How many touches have Kane and Sterling had. But, yeah, credit to Croatia. They have a great fighting spirit. England have been trying to exploit lack of pace in the Croat centre backs by playing long ball. They’ve been better in the second half though, won a lot of ball and it’s just being returned as pressure when Croatia get the ball. I can understand the tactic but it’s not working. When Croatia have it now, they’re just turning the pressure up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1821 "2018-07-11T19:48:14Z")
that was a dumb foul. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1822 "2018-07-11T19:50:34Z")
Croatia will be happy to drag this to penalties. There are some rubber legs out there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=90) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=92)