GWT: World Cup - Group F (Morocco and Croatia Advance)

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Which tourney should they have won? I don't think they were ever better than us in the early days, or france in the later ones

2014 was too early, 2020 was too late. They needed to win either of Euro 2016 or WC 2018.

Euro 2016 they go out in hilarious fashion against Wales.

WC 2018 they lose to a corner kick in the semis. They had both the best player (Hazard) and best keeper (Courtois) at that tournament. They lost to France on a fine margin, and prob would've beaten Croatia in the final.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

They didn't have too though, their kids are gifted. They just jogi'd themselves and didn't bother integrating that new blood.

That pretty much always happens. It's a thin and not always clear line between "You need experience to do well at a tournament" and "You're too old".

 

[Moncherry]

That Lukaku miss where he tries to chest the ball about 2 yards out from an open goal was incredible

 

[cgf]

2014 was too early, 2020 was too late. They needed to win either of Euro 2016 or WC 2018.

Euro 2016 they go out in hilarious fashion against Wales.

WC 2018 they lose to a corner kick in the semis. They had both the best player (Hazard) and best keeper (Courtois) at that tournament. They lost to France on a fine margin, and prob would've beaten Croatia in the final.

They weren't the best team at either of those tourneys though, so you can't blame them for not winning

Jogi can be blamed for not winning in 2016, but not Martinez...he can be blamed for how they went out, but not for failing to win.

 

[kovacro]

Well done to Morocco. Deserved to win the group. Defensively very sound and well organized. They will be a tough out in the round of 16 regardless of opponent.

Happy that Croatia has pushed through but easily could have lost. Think the ref got it wrong on the review, it was a pk.

Going to be very difficult to progress beyond the round of 16 if they matchup versus Spain. But, in a one off, you never know.

Canada, well done but outclassed in the end. There were some positives to take away from the tournament working toward 2026.

Belgium shocked they are out and the “Golden Generation” has nothing to show for it. Thank the baby Jesus, Lukaku was rusty/not in form.

 

[cgf]

That pretty much always happens. It's a thin and not always clear line between "You need experience to do well at a tournament" and "You're too old".

Yeah, but it's not a case where their population size prevented them from developing new blood so growing old was inevitable. They chose this.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Yeah, but it's not a case where their population size prevented them from developing new blood so growing old was inevitable. They chose this.

I think it's a mix. As good as their youngsters may be, I would be shocked if any of them turned out as good as peak KdB or Hazard.

 

[Corto]

Yeah, but it's not a case where their population size prevented them from developing new blood so growing old was inevitable. They chose this.

This right there.

The reason why smaller nations can compete in senior football, but not in U-21 (most of the time) is because we don't have enough talent in gaps of 2-3 years.

But you don't need that in senior football. We have Modric at 37 and Gvardiol at 20.
Belgium has SO MANY quality young players, but chose to play the old guys. It was their choice.
We moved on from Mandzukic, Rakitic, Vrsaljko, etc... The stuck with Toby, Jan, Hazard, Mertens, etc.

 

[cgf]

I think it's a mix. As good as their youngsters may be, I would be shocked if any of them turned out as good as peak KdB or Hazard.

While that may or may not be true, they didn't need to peak as high as KdB or Hazard to supplement them by replacing the Vertonghen's & Witsel's of their core, who aged out of usefulness.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

They weren't the best team at either of those tourneys though, so you can't blame them for not winning

Jogi can be blamed for not winning in 2016, but not Martinez...he can be blamed for how they went out, but not for failing to win.

Eh, they were second best at 2018 by a thin margin, IMO. That semi was tight as hell, IIRC. If Belgium slip by France and then beat Croatia, no one would've said "the best team didn't win this tournament."

Martinez wasn't their coach in 2016, ya goof! Still Wilmots at that point.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

LOL cry more. They came into this match on like a 7-8 clean sheet streak. They sputtered in the second-half and demolished Canada in the first. Their defense and (usually) Bono are first-rate players.

Bono seems horrible. He’ll cost them, I think. I don’t think their defense has really been challenged yet - we’ll see. They have some nice players.

Do we know who they play R16 yet?

 

[Islesfan22]

Gvardiol is unbelievable

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

While that may or may not be true, they didn't need to peak as high as KdB or Hazard to supplement them by replacing the Vertonghen's & Witsel's of their core, who aged out of usefulness.

It is STAGGERING that Vertonghen is still a Belgium starter. But, then again, Van Buyten was a starter in 2014 lol

 

[cgf]

Eh, they were second best at 2018 by a thin margin, IMO. That semi was tight as hell, IIRC. If Belgium slip by France and then beat Croatia, no one would've said "the best team didn't win this tournament."

Martinez wasn't their coach in 2016, ya goof! Still Wilmots at that point.

Unless they just stomped France, then yes I would have

wow I totally forgot that Martinez was an upgrade for them, but I guess we had Klinsi before Jogi

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Bono seems horrible. He’ll cost them, I think. I don’t think their defense has really been challenged yet - we’ll see. They have some nice players.

Do we know who they play R16 yet?

Bono had a tough game (though who knows if he's still suffering from whatever ailed him before the Belgium match...if he is, he shouldn't play) but his star has gone up in recent years. He was incredible during that Europa League triumph for Seville and by and large has been great in the last couple of years, cementing himself as Seville's starter in strong La Liga campaigns. I know they've been terrible this year but have watched little La Liga. He's been extremely strong for Morocco lately though, as they haven't been conceding at all. This is their first goal in about 8 games and it was an own goal.

As for their R16 matchup, we'll know later today. If Japan gets a result, I think it's them. If not, Germany seems likely unless they choke against Costa Rica.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Belgium's best team passed them by, but they should still be competitive in the future.

 

[Savi]

Gonna let this sink in a bit before I react, but Martinez just announced he won't continue as manager. So, some silver lining there.

 

[Savant]

Gonna let this sink in a bit before I react, but Martinez just announced he won't continue as manager. So, some silver lining there.

I have an awful feeling he winds up on USA or gets another big club job

 

[cgf]

Gonna let this sink in a bit before I react, but Martinez just announced he won't continue as manager. So, some silver lining there.

I feel ya, but that's not nothing...Jogi insisted on "redeeming himself" after 2018 *sigh*

 

[bluesfan94]

 

[Karterthadon]

Than this? Maybe. Than 2016-18? Not even close.

Jan Ceulemans, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Enzo Scifo; that's footballing royalty.

 

[cgf]

Lukaku

 

[Savant]

Group F - MVP is Ziyech

 

[S E P H]

That forty-five minutes of Lukaku was one of the most hilarious performances I think I have ever witnessed in this sport. That was Bebe-level bad by him lol, I could not stop laughing watching a player get in all the right positions and yet fail so horribly every single chance he got.

Sorry, @Savi I feel the pain mate when you have one of the best generations in fifty years and the wanks at the top can't even make a good decision like who should be the manager. Leaving Doku on the bench for this tournament when he did more in that fifteen minutes than the majority of those starters did in three matches is embarrassing for Martinez. Having one of the best players in the world and not getting anything out of him is just atrocious tactically speaking.

There has been a lot of talk about underperforming teams, but there has been no greater nation than Belgium at not getting any decent results these past eight to ten years.

I feel ya, but that's not nothing...Jogi insisted on "redeeming himself" after 2018 *sigh*

Make Deutschland football great again, 2026.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

That forty-five minutes of Lukaku was one of the most hilarious performances I think I have ever witnessed in this sport. That was Bebe-level bad by him lol, I could not stop laughing watching a player get in all the right positions and yet fail so horribly every single chance he got.

Sorry, @Savi I feel the pain mate when you have one of the best generations in fifty years and the wanks at the top can't even make a good decision like who should be the manager. Leaving Doku on the bench for this tournament when he did more in that fifteen minutes than the majority of those starters did in three matches is embarrassing for Martinez. Having one of the best players in the world and not getting anything out of him is just atrocious tactically speaking.

There has been a lot of talk about underperforming teams, but there has been no greater nation than Belgium at not getting any decent results these past eight to ten years.

Lukaku also screwed up multiple scoring chances against Italy at the Euro's. It's mystifying as to how such a good player can completely bottle it at tournaments.