Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

[Simon Buttle]

I see the tinfoil hat has come out to play.

 

[allen]

We’ll never know whether Spain had extra gears they could have used in that game - fwiw Japan looked pretty solid defensively to me,

However your statement that there was no chance of Spain going out is incorrect.

Japan’s defence was immense that second half. They were in the right place every single time they were called upon.

 

[Gilbert..]

They had 20 minutes to get an equaliser.

Once Germany sorted that situation out there was about 20 minutes left with time added on thrown in.


The Spanish management had that all under control at all times.

Oh yeah. They sat there thinking we'll risk our whole world cup qualification on the last 20 minutes.

 

[carolinablue232]

?‍

No idea what you're talking about here.

He wont be short of suitors from top class clubs now.

Wait and see.

Just so we’re on the same page when this doesn’t happen, define top class club. Give me a few examples of the level we’re talking about.

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[Drico]

"Banjo" and "cow's arse" come to mind.

 

[stipe]

Here in my neighborhood (ex-Yugoslavia) everyone is convinced that Spain lost this on purpose in order to feck off Germans (plus FIFA revenge)

But everyone here likes conspiracy theories and there are certain stereotypes about Spanish (distrustful) that play into that

 

[Drico]

Here in my neighborhood (ex-Yugoslavia) everyone is convinced that Spain lost this on purpose in order to feck off Germans (plus FIFA revenge)

It's the same in that Balkan stronghold of Wigan, apparently.

 

[stipe]

Anyway, seems that Qatari enjoying this

 

[davek]

We’ll never know whether Spain had extra gears they could have used in that game - fwiw Japan looked pretty solid defensively to me,

However your statement that there was no chance of Spain going out is incorrect.

As soon as things settled down in the Germany game Spain played out a defeat that favour's their passage through to the SF.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

I am impressed we're 70 pages into a thread that includes Germany, Japan, and Spain and not one of you has mentioned the war.

Anyway, Germany isn't all that anymore, their frontline talent level has dropped quite a lot since 2014 and they don't have that next generation set up and ready to take over. Plus this was as close to a Group of Death as there was in this tournament. I'm not shocked they went out.

 

[davek]

Then why would they be afraid of Croatia as you’re suggesting they were you lunatic?

Because Croatia are well more dangerous than England or Portugal.

They'll hand Japan a massive beating...just as Spain would have done if they'd pulled their finger out.

 

[davek]

Oh yeah. They sat there thinking we'll risk our whole world cup qualification on the last 20 minutes.

20 minutes plus the usual 7/8/9 minutes time added on.

It gave them about half an hour to determine whether they needed to get on terms with Japan or not.

Its about the least controversial statement you could make about the last half hour of tonight's football: Spain managed that situation to face Morocco not Croatia. I dont blame them either.

 

[Drico]

Well, they are Germany so, you know, "never underestimate the Germans" and all that, but, no, these are not "the Germans" as we usually know them. I live here in Berlin and am looking forward to them bombing out in the group. The complacency and prioritising of "style" over substance in German football has turned me right off them in the last decade. I thought Flick might sort them out for Euro 2024, but there is nothing to suggest they will do anything else in Qatar than be eliminated after a Thilo Kehrer blunder and Timo Werner open goal miss.

Put simply, they don't have the players - and they think what they have is way better than it actually is. Japan could be a massive wake-up call, but it'll be too late then with Spain next...

From the World Football thread last September on the night of the 3-3 draw with England at Wembley. Personnel aside, I think this aged very well indeed.

Indulge me. My work prediction competition is going about as well as Hansi Flick's tournament, so allow me a moment.

 

[emir]

I am impressed we're 70 pages into a thread that includes Germany, Japan, and Spain and not one of you has mentioned the war.

Anyway, Germany isn't all that anymore, their frontline talent level has dropped quite a lot since 2014 and they don't have that next generation set up and ready to take over. Plus this was as close to a Group of Death as there was in this tournament. I'm not shocked they went out.

Their 2014 WC win was also a fluke, I would say.