If it was life and death situation, I'd call Steven Seagal, not play damn football game.
Day 15: Japan vs Poland, Senegal vs Colombia, England vs Belgium, Panama vs Tunisia
- Thread starter whatwha
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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 my team got through on fair play, I'd be celebrating like crazy.
What's important for Japan and their fans is that the ride goes on. They are through. It's a glorious feeling.
I can see a 3 or 4 -0 England win here. They're looking really good at the moment and i said that they're going to get to the semi's and possibly the final, so i have to stick with it!
They went for a 0-0 draw which put them through regardless of anything else. It's not great to see, but it's normal and a big difference, as it's still taking care of business on their own instead of hoping someone else does it for you.
I'm English mate. I don't agree with it but from their perspective I suppose they were comfortable with doing that. From a bigger nation's POV then it'd be criticised even more so .
Except for the fact Lewandowski had a clear cut chance of making it 2-0. You're acting like Japan could easily have scored against Poland if they wanted to. There's a reason they were the 4th favorite to progress in that group before a ball was kicked.
Ah feck, I read that somewhere and didn't bother doing a fact check.
Not really, the easiest thing for them to do in the situation was to try and score and put their fate in their own hands.
They chose the other, riskier option and gambled on something that was completely out of their control.
That is not a cowardly act. It’s stupid but it worked for them.
Get over it man
Don't see the problem with Japan's progression. Both teams were identically matched but Japan were slightly more disciplined overall and it paid off in the end.
#metoo
Yeah you can have your easier route, will be fun watching Colombia play Sweden or Switzerland
Not easily scored, but you have to try IMO. Also wasn't the Lewandowski chances right as Colombia scored or right before? Just think you should always try to put matters into your own hands, so I'll never like seeing the situation where they stop playing. Could easily have ended where Japans game ended, then Senegal scored right after and sent them out. It's the cowardly approach instead of believing in yourself.
The fecking moral indignation on here over Japan
Fecking hell
Fecking hell
Martinez said earlier in the week that all of his front three have all picked up knocks. I imagine they will all make miraculous recoveries for the R16 game.
So going by the popular opinion about Japan progressing, I hope people will call English team a bunch of cowards for trying to play such a weakened team and try to take the easy path instead of doing the honourable path of facing and defeating the big shots and trying their best to finish the group in 1st position
Seriously, I know quite a few Japanese people and they had no expectation at all for this WC. The fact they made it through is almost a miracle.
They were the hosts in an easier group in 2002 and had a much better side in 2010.
The "I'm within my right to criticise " response I've gotten twice now is hilarious to me. No one's questioning that but it doesn't validate what you say. Like shouting FREEDOM OF SPEECH, and thinking that legitimises an opinion.
Let's say Senegal score. And it's 1-1 with five minutes left. Both teams just play for a draw. Japan go out. Would people be moralising over Colombia relying on Japan's result to see them through?
Let's say Senegal score. And it's 1-1 with five minutes left. Both teams just play for a draw. Japan go out. Would people be moralising over Colombia relying on Japan's result to see them through?
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Senegal didn't do the job, cowards. Bye.
This is legit cowardly.
I can understand why Japan would play like that, I don't understand why Poland were complicit in this. Yes they go home with a win, but so what, they're acting like they're Nicaragua. If it were me, and it was possibly the last 15 minutes I'd ever play in a WC, I'd want to do something, make an assist, score a goal, even just produce a bit skill, but do something!
Irony being Japan now go through because of 'fair play'.
Irony being Japan now go through because of 'fair play'.
Like I said, they can go and do that, I'm not too bothered. From someone who has been a neutral the entire world cup and pretty much just forming a preference every game as the world cup has gone on, that alone is more then enough for me to hope they get absolutely battered in their next game. Everyone's allowed an opinion, mine is that that was cowardly football from them and that they got away with it, and in should no way be praised for it. Praise them for their first 2 games, sure. Not today though.Not really, the easiest thing for them to do in the situation was to try and score and put their fate in their own hands.
They chose the other, riskier option and gambled on something that was completely out of their control.
That is not a cowardly act. It’s stupid but it worked for them.
Get over it man
Exactly, they were trying to score at that point and was almost caught on the break. If they continued to pile forward, there's every chance it could happen again.
You're entitled to your opinion on this matter, but I'd just say it was the logical choice for the manager.
Don't you know this is the most moral football forum in the world?The fecking moral indignation on here over Japan
Fecking hell
Call it whatever you want, by definition it’s just not cowardly.
It takes courage to take the gamble they did in the first place, irregardless of whether you consider it to be just or not.
It’s Mourinho level pragmatism.
As they say, karma is a very lovely lady.
Exactly. If Colombia stopped playing the way Japan did, I'd call that cowardly.
Actually, Japan arguably did the bravest thing they could. By not taking the incentive to attack, they completely took their fate out of their own hands. They would have looked ridiculous had Senegal/Poland scored.
Fair point, Senegal and Colombia would have done the same.
I don't know whether I keep reading the same page, feels like I read to many word "coward".
Wouldn't really say it's a logical choice. It sends a bad message IMO, even if you do qualify. Telling your players "don't try to score against an unmotivated side, we'll hope nothing happens in the other game". Though tbf the manager sent a bad message right from the start by resting so many players in a game that actually mattered for them. Got away with both decisions rather then both being good decisions IMO.
Also the "well if Senegal scored they were fecked." Well yes. That's the point-Senegal could have scored. They didn't.
Which out right starters did he rest?
Yep... Colombia could have, but they went and scored. Took matters into their own hands, even though they knew Poland was winning.
It's the logical choice because Colombia seeing out a 1-0 against Senegal is always far more likely than Japan getting an equalizer.
They are both risks I don't think I would take. Not because of morality but the risk involved.
6 changes in this game compared to the same starting 11 in the first 2 games. Pretty clear that's being "rested", when the first 2 games ended well for them.
Get iiiiiin!!!
Disappointed with the amount of changes tbh