Please show me recent results that prove Brazil is the quality side you claim. This is just Latin American Exceptionalism. Because Brazil were clearly the best for most of the 20th century tells us nothing about 2018. What is an equivalent Brazil victory to Croatias humbling of Argentina? Who was better against Mexico? Sweden or Brazil? Its not Brazil hatred. Its what happens on the pitch.
You do realize that this comment actually gives Brazil soccer too much credit, don’t you? In no way, shape or form has any country “caught up” to USA basketball.
As for Neymar, only time will tell. I think he will bring home titles, but he is small and thin so injuries could be an issue. But the talent pool for Brazil is still multiples larger than any other country. Again, the best team doesn’t always win. 8 straight QF appearances shows that they’re always in contention. No one else is even close. And they were favored to win before this tournament started (despite being ranked behind Germany), favored after the group stage, and favored after the RO16. And remember, the World Cup is probably the most efficient betting market in the world. Perhaps the world’s bookmakers should have asked you first. 
Brazil was better against Mexico than Sweden was. More possession, more shots, more shots on goal. Sweden had an own goal and a penalty to inflate the score. Brazil completely dominated that entire match from the opening whistle.
Brazil rolled through qualifying including beating Argentina 3-0 just like Croatia did.
Did. not. see. that. coming.
Well played!
Well deserved win. Very mature effort for such a young team against a hard-to-play opponent.
Perhaps they should have - Brazil are out.
Returning to the subject of the thread though, the 2018 World Cup… England can only play the teams in front of them. If they somehow manage to win this World Cup then they deserve it, just like Leicester deserved to win the Premier League in 2015/16. Do you think we care if Brazil have won it 5 times? Do you think Leicester cared how many times Liverpool won the league? Nah, not one bit.
The whole argument over “best team” is tiring. Football is a very simple game - score more goals then your opponent; there are no points for possession, fluidity or fancy tricks.
TLDR: COME ON ENGLAND!
I agree that they have a great talent pool. But it doesn’t show on the pitch. In the last Copa America they finished behind Peru and Ecuador and didn’t qualify for the knockout round.
FTR had Brazil won or finished second in the last CA, especially after WC 14, my attitude would be very different. At some point a nation/club has to produce on the pitch.
Really good performance by England. Calm and confident and some lovely passing football.
Maguire was absolutely immense.
So, I’m curious. You didn’t see the team that has significantly more talent winning the game? I know it’s not a perfect measure of transfer value and transfer value isn’t a perfect measure of skill, but Transfermarkt has England as worth 874M Euros and Sweden only 120M.
:D. I didn’t catch this the first time.
Of course they would deserve it. If they do I’m just not going to confuse it with England being the best team in the world. There’s nobody alive that thought Portugal was the best team in Europe in 2016.
It’s England; a team almost certain to make it difficult for themselves. That was a far more comfortable win than most would have predicted. Sweden were worse than expected; this mediocre England team were slightly better than expected.
While I’d love to see Modric, Rakitic and company make it to the semis, I have a feeling that this next one might end up being known as the “(invisible) Hand of Putin” game.
You’re contradicting yourself in this sentence. If the roster and previous results count for nothing, why would it matter if Russia wins? Wouldn’t that win prove that Russia is a better team than Croatia (and Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, etc)?
Of course not, but if you understand that in the case of Russia you should understand that in the case of all the other teams.
Belgium were the better side against Brazil over the 90 minutes - they were on the rack in the last half hour of the game but the better side won overall. Brazil carried no threat in the first half and de Bruyne, Hazard and Feli ran the show.
Glad to see my boy Harry score the opener. Glad to see England through. Glad to see a well-officiated game!
Now, if Croatia win in the afternoon, I’ll be 7/8 on the octos and 3/4 in the semis. Not too bad.
Sweden made things quite difficult for fucking Germany.
What heavyweight did England meet (except lose against Belgium)?
I did not see it coming.
They played a tactically sound game, they even scored outside of set pieces. It was well done.
Sweden was unable to neuter the English attack as they did very capably in their other matches, another compliment for Southgate.
(For those unfamiliar with the song)
Meaning you picked those teams to make the semis before the tournament or after the QF games were set?
You must have been watching a different game than me. Brazil dominated from start to finish. Also, the first half and full game stats don’t agree with you. After the accidental own goal, Belgium’s chances all came off breaks as the result of Brazil over aggression. The De Bruyne strike was spectacular, but Belgium wasn’t capable of creating any significant build up or sustained possession. The win was purely the result of good fortune and a goal keeper standing on his head.