I don't know which country you're from, but I certainly understand why Japan did that, making the L16 already matches their BEST EVER WC performance.
If you were a German or Brazilian, you'd probably rightly feel it's ridiculous to rely on Colombia.
Day 15: Japan vs Poland, Senegal vs Colombia, England vs Belgium, Panama vs Tunisia
- Thread starter whatwha
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
If you were a German or Brazilian, you'd probably rightly feel it's ridiculous to rely on Colombia.
It actually creates a curious question for England and Belgium. Do you prefer to play Colombia now and then one of Switzerland and Sweden or do you prefer to take it easy and play weaker Japan now and then go up against potentially Brazil.
why? rules are known before the tournament starts and the same for all teams, there is no subjectivity (referee, var / no var) or bare luck (draw of lots) involved.
I know I keep moaning about it, but if the BBC are right and we make 8 or 9 changes, it's fecking stupid and it will bite us in the arse. Southgate has spent the past few days talking about momentum. Ok then.
Second gets easier route.
Is Lukaku fit to play this?
Ding ding ding.
But all the posts and threads we've had on this rule being ridiculous prior to the tournament here.
Oh wait.
No because Japan played with the rules, they did nothing wrong.
Yeah, because sport has always been about strict, moral principles. Sport is about progressing. And teams and individuals will do what it takes. They didn't break any rules and they progressed. It's happened plenty of times before and it will continue to happen.
England is not favourite against Belgium if both play at full throttle and losing tonight would mean the easiest half of the table.
Last edited:
Good point, it's exactly the same with the "Portugal wouldn't have made the knockout in previous Euro" brigade, the rule was in places YEARS before it's applied, yet some people act surprised that teams play to those very rules.
Exactly. Should play each game at a time and play your strongest side.
What if Senegal had scored with 5 minutes to go? Or 2 minutes to go? Then Japan suddenly realises "oh feck, we just wanted 20 minutes and now we have to go all out for the last few minutes". Its cowardly. I dont give a feck about how Japan fans feel about it. Hope they get battered purely because of that.
Then Senegal would have done their job, something that you complain about Japan apparently not doing?
Yup blame the rules not the teams who play with the rules to qualify.
They chose to take that risk.
Nobody is saying they cheated. I'm saying its cowardly. Theres playing defensive to hold onto a result. Then theres just putting the fate of your team in someone else's hands.
Both throwing the game and going for a draw were risks - they chose the coward's option by banking on Colombia.
Exactly! I don't understand how anyone can't see this.
The second place must be the objective. The one who loses between Belgium and England is the true winner. Because that team could end in the finals more easily.
I genuinely cannot see what good it can possibly achieve. We've moaned about past England managers playing it safe, picking the names but this is no better than that misguided approach. He had a well-oiled first 11 and basically now they will have gone either 8 or 9 days without playing before the next match.
Next round Belgium or England 6 - 1 Japan.
I'd be fine with any Japan win as well, that's differently entertaining too.
I'd be fine with any Japan win as well, that's differently entertaining too.
Yep, sure. I'll still criticize them for it and it's the cowardly option. They're within their rights to do it. Everyone else is within their rights to criticize them.
Lol.. Now we have people telling Japan was not morally correct to go through. If Senegal wanted to go through, they would have scored.
Japan took a punt and came lucky. Not the first time and not the last time luck plays a big role in tournaments.
Japan took a punt and came lucky. Not the first time and not the last time luck plays a big role in tournaments.
If it's a life and death situation and you had a choice of relying on Colombia to see out a 1-0 lead against Senegal with 10 minutes to go or bet on Japan to score against Poland within 10 minutes and not conceed any goals, I'm sure you'd have made the same choice.
The accusations thrown at Japan are completely absurd. It was hardly the most glamorous way to progress but then they aren't exactly Brazil either. It's only the second time in their history they've progressed from the group ffs, I completely understand them gambling on Colombia keeping Senegal out rather than risking conceding another goal and going out. At the business end of the group stage, the only thing that counts is getting through. They chose the option that they felt gave them the best chance to proceed, fair enough.
I don't know if I agree with you, I think England best 11 is more balanced than the Belgium first 11. Not saying is better, just think they aren't so exposed to defensive mistakes.
Yeah totally agree. Keeping the momentum going forward is crucial. The team were playing relatively well and could have tested themselves against better opposition.
This match basically tells us nothing about the team going forward and how strong it is.
Poor decision from Southgate.
It's the fact that they put their fate in someone else's hand instead of taking care of it themselves. Its cowardly. It's not cheating, they are within their rights to do it. But its cowardly and not something I would ever want my team doing as if the game that you cant influence goes wrong, then you ended up wasting 20 minutes instead of trying to score against a shit side.
How is it cowardly to take a huge risk?
It sounds like you don’t really know the meaning of the word.
How is Belgium setup? Too many changes?
Exactly. And we were extremely lucky there as Scholes could've easily been sent off for a bad tackle if I remember correctly.
Third, but agree with the post.
It would be naive at best to lose the chance to qualify just to say we were brave, they are representing their country on the WC, this isn't about Samurais and honour, its only football.
At worst he should have kept the defence together. Everyone going on about how poor Tunisia and Panama are, but we still conceded in each match, so they can't be that shite.
Anyway, whilst I agree it is a poor decision, will wait and see; he's done alright so far in his tenure.
Poland are pretty trash. I would want my team to try and score as it's unlikely Poland were going to do anything on the counter anyway, and that way it doesnt matter if somebody scored a 30 yard screamer out of nothing for Senegal.
Well Senegal didn't obviously put their own fate in their own hands if they couldn't score against Colombia now did they? If football is about scoring goals and we're criticising Japan for that, why not apply the same rules to Senegal?
Seems like the last few years of United playing like cowards has rubbed off on a few fans in here into accepting this sort of cowardly gamesmanship. 
LOL
LOL
Maybe Japan thought their B team is good enough to defeat Poland.
Cowardly because you dont have the balls to take care of the issue yourself and hope someone else will take care of it for you. Literally the definition of cowardly.
Japan took a gamble and it paid off. The same way Japan would have taken a gamble if they tried harder to score for reasons I previously mentioned.
They won't, but now a part of me want Japan go all the way just to irritate some on here who thinks football should only be played a certain way.