Rafael Leão has probably the best rate of goals by minutes played. Two short appearances coming from the bench, scored in both.
Now my CR7 team has shown the world what it can do. Put everybody on notice. Schweiz is a rather good team, has shown it in the Euros and in this WC, kicked out Italy from the WC, with ease. Now CR7's team dismantled them, with ease. The most convincing performance in this round. CR7 has been leading this team for such a long time, broke all the records of international and national football. Like him or not he is just the Greatest of all time. I found it poignant, that he walked of the field by himself, he knows his time is over. Last WC. Iam sure a lucky Football Fan, I have watched the great since Pele and it culminated with Cristiano Renaldo, sheer brilliance. N has peaked,M is heading for retirement. Wo is next to enchant us. Mbabe, yes he is a force and brilliant and there is a teen, Jamal, Bamby
OK, nice, except that Switzerland did NOT kick out Italy from the WC "with ease" - they finished the group tied in points and Switzerland advanced on tie-breaking criteria; both games they played head-to-head finished in draws, and in both games, Switzerland conceded penalty kicks that would have classified Italy if converted, but they were both missed by Jorginho. How does that qualify as "with ease"? Just one of these penalty kicks being converted, and Switzerland would have been eliminated. Italy had a penalty taker who is pretty much 100% effective, Bonucci, and stupid Mancini did not send him to take the penalty kicks, instead sending Jorginho. That is the reason Italy is not in the World Cup. That is not "at ease" at all. Switzerland was almost kicked out when they conceded the penalty fouls, and only advanced because we have a stupid head coach.
My guesses for the Quarterfinals: Brazil vs. Croatia - Brazil have recovered Neymar and Danilo, and the offense has finally clicked against an organized South Korea team that drew with Uruguay and beat Portugal. Brazil have brilliant forwards and is able to decide a game in a flash of genius. However Croatia, the current vice-champs, are experienced and strong, with good players such as Lovren, Brozovic, Kovacic, Perisic, Kramaric, and Luka Modric. They will give Brazil plenty of trouble. I see Brazil as slightly favorites but it won't be easy for them. A Croatian victory would not be an upset; it's a perfectly reasonable result, but I still think that Brazil will prevail, in a close game. Brazil 1-0, either in regulation with a late goal, or overtime, because Brazil tend to play better late in the game when their opponent's defense is more fatigued. The Netherlands vs. Argentina - both these teams are getting better as the tournament goes on. The Netherlands with Dumfries, Gakpo and Memphis Depay are a real danger to Argentina. Messi is having one of his best tournaments ever. I see this game as having no favorites. Anything can happen. If I'm forced to pick a winner, I'd pick Argentina but a Netherlands victory is just as likely. Argentina 2-1 with Messi scoring one of the goals. This game could go to overtime and even to a penalty shootout. Morocco vs. Portugal - Morocco cannot be underestimated. They conceded only one goal so far (best defense of this WC), beat Belgium and drew with Croatia and Spain, won their group, and they do belong in the quarterfinals. However, if Portugal repeat the performance we saw against Switzerland putting 6 goals through a very good defense, there is no stopping them. I'm taking Portugal to win this one thanks to their forwards finishing better than Morocco's forwards. Portugal 2-0 in regulation. England vs. France - England has the largest number of goals scored (12, tied with Portugal) and has conceded only 2 goals. They have the best squad they put together in decades. Sterling will likely be back and Harry Kane is great. But on the other side you have France with Mbappé, Giroud, Griezmann, and Theo Hernández, all four having great tournaments, and they are not the only good players there. A victory for England would not be a surprise but I'm predicting France 3-2, in an epic game that has all the ingredients to be the best game of the tournament so far. Maybe it will be 2-2 in regulation with France scoring the winner in overtime. I believe that these eight teams including Morocco all belong in the quarterfinals, so I wouldn't call any variation of my predictions above, a surprise or an upset. If my predictions are confirmed, we'd have semifinals with two great South American powers on one side of the bracket, and two great European powers on the other side, guaranteeing that the final will have South America vs. Europe. I think it is fairly impossible to accurately predict the results of semifinals featuring Brazil vs. Argentina and France vs. Portugal. Anything could happen, but one thing would be certain: these would be semifinals and final to make the History books; we've rarely seen such a thrilling FIFA World Cup.
I should have also mentioned Saka, Bellingham and Rushford as having great tournaments. England vs. France will be a talent-rich game; I can't wait. While like I said Morocco and Croatia do belong, these teams have had trouble finding the net (except for Croatia's win against a weak Canada), which is a major reason why I have Brazil and Portugal beating them.
I'm already starting to feel the tension. I'll be a nervous wreck if it goes to penalties. With my record for predictions I'm going to say Kane will be rubbish and France will win easily. Hopefully I'll be completely wrong again.
Nice. Here are my picks: Brazil vs. Croatia - As you know, I have Brazil winning it all, and despite the fact I'll be rooting for Modrić & Co. I expect Brazil to win comfortably, perhaps something along the lines of 3-1. Netherlands vs. Argentina - They say the Dutch are the best program to have never won the Cup and while they won't win it this year I have them pulling off the upset here. I like what I see out of the Netherlands and I'm still not impressed with Argentina, so I'm taking the Oranje as my Upset Special-Sympathy Pick in the Quarters. Portugal vs. Morocco - Morocco has been a revelation and so is a much improved Portugal with Ramos spearheading the offense, but I've got Portugal prevailing in this matchup. England vs. France - I'm rooting for England and they've definitely got the talent to dethrone the reigning champions, but the Three Lions are coming home. Mbappé is making a run for the Golden Boot, Giroud is on a roll and Les Beus appear to be back in championship form, so I've got them winning what should be a great game by the slimmest of margins - perhaps on PKs.
England not convincing, will lose against France, could be a blow out. Argentina from very to bad to marginal, will lose against the Dutch. Brazil will need a real concentrated effort to beat Croatia, might lose if to much showman ship. If Portugal, after a very sluggish start has now found its team and plays like that again, comfi win
What do you make of Bellingham? He plays for Dortmund so you will have seen him play far more than I have. Even players who play in the English leagues I rarely get to see other than in very short clips on Match of the Day as SKY has near total monopoly of football on TV here. I see far more ice hockey than football matches.
Bellingham is very good, but has the Dortmund virus, one day hui and the next day pfui. We saw Englands problem in the US game, you can rattle them with a solid defense effort and speed takes their defense apart, they frustrate to easy.
It's amazing how popular football remains despite all the barriers put up between the fans and the game. Boxing has been destroyed in this country despite having an undefeated world heavyweight champion. Even worse in the US thanks to the rise of UFC, or homoerotic wrestling as I call it...
Its about money. ESPN has shown Bundesliga and NBCS, but when it got popular it transfered it to their per view online networks. But those just work good if you have real high speed internet, which does not exist in rural US. At the farm I have on a very good day 100kb.
Here we go then. Brasil against a team that will park the bus and try to score on the counter attack. Not likely to be such a goal fest this time.
