The Crane Pool Forum

Morocco beat Spain on penalties, obviously a huge win for Morocco , Portugal absolutely hammered Switzerland , the petulant Ronaldo was benched for a kid named Ramos, he only went on to score a hat trick , he only made his international debut last month and only 36 minutes under his belt before today

Quarter Finals are set

Friday

Croatia V Brazil
The Nederlands V Argentina

Saturday

Morocco V Portugal
France V England

Portugal is looking like the team to beat right now.

It's funny that, in a tournament that has so many commenters talking about upsets, four traditional fútbol powerhouses nations — Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, and England — are in the final eight. And Portugal and France are pretty close to that category also. The only darkhorses remaining are Morocco and Croatia.

On the other hand, the Croats can play anything, can't they?

I would go

Brazil
France
Portugal
Argentina
England
Nederlands
Croatia
Morocco

Good game on right now Brazil V Croatia , all tied up at 1 in extra time ...Croatia have been excellent

Unreal, Croatia do it in the penalty shootout

Wow. The the tournament is really opening up for Argentina.

I can barely believe that regular time finish, wow

I can barely believe that extra time finish, wow

Shame that both games had to be settled by PKs.
I recognize the drama in it all and that the nature of the game makes endless OT impractical.
But I'd find a winner determined by a 'Golden Goal' much more satisfying.

Wow , Grant Wahl , soccer journalist died today in Doha while covering the Argentina game .... He was a young man don't know anymore but Twitter is as you might expect is going crazy. His brother is on suggesting foul play , Wahl has been openly critical of Qutar.

I'm trying to figure out if his wife was with him. He believed he was suffering from bronchitis, and his wife is a high-profile infectious disease specialist, so I'm guessing no, but ... .

Just one more chapter in the ugliest World Cup imaginable.

Edgy MD wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 10:15 pm I'm trying to figure out if his wife was with him. He believed he was suffering from bronchitis, and his wife is a high-profile infectious disease specialist, so I'm guessing no, but ... .

Just one more chapter in the ugliest World Cup imaginable.

Yeah , this can't end fast enough.

Collapsed in the press section , fellow journalists got the medics, they worked on him , apparently a heart attack. Just awful news, well liked it seems in his profession, very passionate about the sport, especially in the US.Worked at SI for 25 years.

Wohl's Freddy Adu podcast was interesting.

Fuq Qatar though. Jeez

The brother's accusations are understandable to a degree but also emotional and likely groundless.


In today's games I think the stadiums are missing a great opportunity if they don't paint the midfield with a Strait of Gibraltar image for the Morocco / Portugal game (aka: the Victor Lazlo cup) and an English Channel motif for the France/England match.

Morocco beat Portugal, hard to overstate how big this is for the region, amazing and well done

The Marrakesh Express rolls into the semis.

My interest has been re-kindled by the England/France match.
I like Tottenham Hotspur and my favorite player on that team, Harry Kane, is playing for England.
This may be his last cup, and I want to see him go out a winner.

Later

Figure I'll get all my Moroccan city references out of the way now rather than leave any bullets in the chamber if they lose next round

What about

Later

France up 1-0.....🙂

MFS62 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:40 pm My interest has been re-kindled by the England/France match ... I want to see [England/Kane] go out a winner.

So you're rooting for the Agincourt result rather than the Hastings ending, then?



Never mind me, I've been reading up on middle ages history lately

I can't remember the last time I'd heard The Fez. Going to be hearing it all
day in my head. Croatia, Morocco! Someone right a song parody NOW!!

England to their credit have been excellent since going down a goal , Lloris has had to bail France out with 4 big saves , 50 minutes in and still 1-0

Penalty for England

Kane scores