World Cup 2018

[Emelee]

It's a record setting World Cup:

• 10 own goals - so far. Previous record was 6 (WC 1998).

• 19 goals made in 2nd half's stoppage time (so far). Previous record was 12 (WC 2014).

• 28 penalties so far. Previous record was 18 (WC 1990, 1998 & 2002). 21 of these 28 have resulted in goals. 17 of 18 was previous record.

 

[Michael Torrance]

Delighted England won but they need to up the game next match

I have never understood how Premier League is arguably the best football played in Europe (actually I think the world) and yet the English National team always fares so badly. I am glad they are doing better this time around.

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

Come on France and Belgium today!

bring it on! And hope Neymar gets a card if he carries on with all his diva/prima donna acting and his antics = its called cheating!

 

[Emelee]

South America is out.
Only Europe remains!

So glad Neymar didn't reach further. He must have spent about 30 minutes lying down or rolling around in this World Cup.

Now, let's hope Russia is out tomorrow. I don't trust the russian players being clean. We all know what happened in the Sotji Olympics...

 

[Emelee]

Sweden-England in quarterfinal now. I think whoever it was at BBC that said that England beats Sweden 99 times of 100, as arrogant as it was, will be correct. Sweden's been on an insane flow but it is bound to run out at some point. I think it will be today.

Before this World Cup, I could only name mayne 3-4 players in the Swedish team! Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic quit, we have no one even remotely famous. Just players from clubs I know nothing about, or players that are bench warmers in one of the big clubs.

Despite it all, I am of course cheering for Sweden. But realistically, we ought to lose with 3-0 or something.

 

[Englishboy]

We're one nil to the good at half time.

In my opinion we should be at least two nil up, given how we've played.

Come on England.

 

[Wicked of The Walking Dead]

Ok, i'm Dutch, but i'm a big supporter of the French football team when it come to World Cup and Europe Cup, so come on Frence and take that cup with you to France.

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

the first anniversary of the death of a brave little man who touched my heart, an inspirational little boy with cancer and a lovely friendship with Jemain Defoe

RIP Bradley Lowery

I hope you are up there with your big smile -

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

Before this World Cup, I could only name mayne 3-4 players in the Swedish team! Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic quit, we have no one even remotely famous. Just players from clubs I know nothing about, or players that are bench warmers in one of the big clubs.

Thats how i feel about Scotland and i dont think I could name 2 in the squad these days @Emelee

in the 70s and 80s there were a lot of good Scottish players at the top of their game in the English Premier League, Dalglish, Souness, McAllister, Jordan, et al
Now I wouldnt have a clue and Scottish football is dull, boring and dead - Rangers got into a financial mess and Celtic rule the roost, but if they were in England they would struggle to be in the top league and couldnt compete with Man U, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs etc

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

As a proud Brit! and Scottish by birth

WELL DONE ENGLAND

PICKFORD WAS ON FIRE!

England are into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990 thanks to Harry Maguire and Dele Alli headers against Sweden.

Gareth Southgate's side now face hosts Russia or Croatia on Wednesday in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium for a place in next Sunday's final.

Maguire rose highest to thump home Ashley Young's first-half cross, the eighth of England's 11 goals at this World Cup to come from a set-piece.

And Alli was unmarked to turn home Jesse Lingard's cross against a lacklustre Sweden in Samara.

England keeper Jordan Pickford pulled off three fantastic saves to keep Sweden out - first turning away a Marcus Berg header, then producing a low stop from Viktor Claesson and finally tipping Berg's shot over the bar.

England will discover their semi-final opponents later, with Russia and Croatia kicking off at 19:00 BST.

The Three Lions are in the last four for only the third time. They went on to win their home tournament in 1966 but lost to West Germany on penalties in 1990.

But the peculiar way this World Cup has shaped up means they will now play the team ranked 20th or 70th in the world for a place in the final - against either Belgium or France.


Pickford's flying save keeps out Marcus Berg's header for Sweden

• Sweden v England: Rate the players
• Reaction to England's quarter-final win

Match stats - Alli is second youngest scorer

• The eight goals England have scored from set-pieces is the most by a team at a World Cup since Portugal in 1966 (also eight).
• Sweden have lost three of their past four matches against England, a run which follows 12 consecutive games without defeat against them between 1979 and 2006.
• Six of England's last 11 goals against Sweden have been scored via headers, all from different players (Sol Campbell, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Andy Carroll, Maguire and Alli).
• England - who scored with both shots on target on Saturday - have found the net with 10 of their past 13 shots on target at this World Cup.
• England have now scored 11 goals in a World Cup for only the second time, also doing so in their victorious year of 1966.
• Alli is the second youngest player to score for England at the World Cup (22 years and 87 days), behind only Michael Owen (18 years and 190 days against Romania in 1998).
• Maguire became the first player to score their first England goal in a World Cup knockout match since Rio Ferdinand in 2002 against Denmark.
• Pickford made three saves in this match and became the youngest England goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match (24 years and 122 days).

 

[Emelee]

Geez that was a boring match! Despite it being Sweden in a quarterfinal for the first time since 1994, I found myself playing on my phone rather than watching the game.

The key to England's current success is definitely how they have begun playing a much more international style.


Tonight, I am rooting for Croatia, 100%!!!!

With all my 5 favorite teams being out now, my stomach is telling me that I should choose France to root for next. I like that hottie Olivier Giroud & also starlet Kylian Mbappé.

 

[Karin]

I watched the game too and yes England deserved to win. So congratulations England!
Pickford saved the game for you guys.

Yet I can't help but feeling a bit sad that Sweden didn't reach further.
I still remember the excitement back in 1994 when we came in third!

 

[Emelee]

Russia is finally out. Can you imagine the scandal if they had reached the final and then in a few years it comes out that half the players were doped, again assisted by the Russian state?

 

[Karin]

So this leaves England, Croatia, Belgium and France if I understand it correctly?

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

France V Belgium tonight

I think its going to be a close call but Im hedging towards Belgium (just) and i wonder if it will go to penalties

See Thierry Henri - a great French /Arsenal player - is on the coaching staff for Belgium - wonder if he will cheer if France score lol

 

[Long Lashes]

I have never understood how Premier League is arguably the best football played in Europe (actually I think the world) and yet the English National team always fares so badly.

I think this could be because approx. 60% of the players in the Premier League are from other countries and are not English.

I watched the game too and yes England deserved to win. So congratulations England!

Thank you Karin and I am sorry it was England who knocked Sweden (my no.2 team) out of the tournament.
I thought it was a good match to watch because Sweden actually wanted to play the game, unlike some other teams who preferred to show bad sportsmanship. It was a breath of fresh air watching two sets of players sticking to the rules and showing some respect for each other.

 

[Karin]

Yes it was a nice game and if anybody had to beat us I don't mind that it was England.
Also I can't help but feeling delighted also that David Beckham won the bet over Zlatan Ibrahimovic since now Zlatan will have to show up at an English game wearing an English team sweater and eat fish n chips.
Becks got lucky, he didn't have to shop at IKEA.

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

oh well, i got the wrong result last night

So glad that the egos that were Beckham and Rooney etc aren't involved.
I think I love Gareth Southgate who comes over so unassuming in interviews

Even if England dont win, they have exceeded all expectations and have a great young team to build on

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

I think this could be because approx. 60% of the players in the Premier League are from other countries and are not English.

I think thats why UK countries suffer at International football as so many are from over seas

Its a good thing in a way as they bring people to the games, but it leaves you more ltd with your selection choices at a national level
Scottish football is dying a slow death and i have no interest in it now.

 

[Angela Chilling]

It's