Tomi on 30/6/2018 at 09:30

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So the final 16 are...

France
I feel kinda neutral towards them. No plus points for anything particular... well, one point for having no particularly annoying players I guess. Minus point for the super defensive style and another for the 0-0 farce with Denmark.
Score: -1

Argentina
Two points for being my big childhood heroes. Minus points for Maradona's madness (he's still the greatest, but he should be kept away from the stadium to avoid further embarrassment), another for lack of teamwork and general disarray. A bonus + point for being the underdog for once!
Score: +1

Uruguay
Now that Luis Suarez finally seems to have grown up, there's not much to dislike. One minus point for very defensive style, but one plus for the occasional flashes of great individual skill. Another plus for being such a small nation (I always thought that it's much bigger) and still being able to compete with the big boys.
Score: +1

Portugal
One minus point for having Pepe. Another for CRonaldo - no matter how good he is, he's an arrogant cheat in my eyes. One more minus point for Pepe. A plus point for some nice attacking football.
Score: -2

Spain
The current squad is fairly likable, but they still have Iniesta and Ramos. I'm still not a fan of their playing style, but I suppose that two minus points is enough for now.
Score: -2

Russia
Yeah I know, politics and sports shouldn't be mixed, but... Hmph. Their team seems alright and I hope that they go a little bit further.
Score: -1

Croatia
One point for the cool red&white checkered shirt. Another for being a small nation and... see: Uruguay. A big minus for Mario Mandzukic.
Score: +1

Denmark
I've always admired Danish football (+), but so far they've let me down a bit. Their games have been a bit boring, and the 0-0 with France alone was definitely worth a minus point. One more plus point because I'd desperately want to like them more.
Score: +1

Brazil
I really hate it when some people still go on about their "attractive samba football", but in reality they've been one of the most boring teams for as long as I can remember. And they have Neymar who I've learned to dislike during this tournament. Another minus point for winning the WC too many times already. The shirts are cool.
Score: -2

Mexico
They're alright!
Score: 0

Belgium
Didn't like them before, but they've been a positive surprise so far! They've also played some nice football.
Score: +1

Japan
I feel like I should like them more, as their teamwork is great and they don't try to con the referee as much as they can. But the way how they stopped playing even while losing against Poland was understandable but embarrassing.
Score: 0

Sweden
One point for not naming Zlatan in the squad. Another for good teamwork and being our lovely neighbours. But one big minus point - actually, make that two - for complaining about every single referee decision that goes against them. It's really annoying to watch!
Score: 0

Switzerland
They've been very impressive lately, but I still don't see them as a much of a football nation for some reason. One point for being kind of underdogs I guess! One minus point for Sepp Blatter.
Score: 0

Colombia
I really hoped that Senegal would get through instead of Colombia, but I wish them all the best from now on. I still feel terrible for what happened to Andres Escobar 24 years ago, WC'94 was the first World Cup that I actively watched, and that event has left a permanent mark in my memory. I also remember Carlos Valderrama's mighty hair from that time, and seeing him again in the crowd is worth a plus point. Obviously. Their shirts look good, and so does their playing style most of the time.
Score: +2

England
Surely the most likable England team of my lifetime! I can't name a single annoying player in the squad, which is quite an achievement - one point for that! The fans seem to have behaved themselves this time, but I still find it strange how England fans can be so optimistic/cocky and pessimistic (and always prepared to make up a conspiracy theory when things go wrong) both at the same time. The way how they almost deliberately lost to Belgium to secure an "easier" path to the final was a bit frustrating to watch.
Score: 0

Tomi on 30/6/2018 at 13:32

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I don't know what the situation is in Sweden - I know that Durmaz got some nasty racist abuse after his mistake in the Germany match - but for most people I don't think that it's got anything to do with racism... Zlatan's story is admirable and he's a good player and everything, it's just his attitude that kinda sucks sometimes. I also know that it's all part of the "Zlatan show" (and I must admit that it took me a long time before I realised that), but I can still imagine him sitting on his sofa at home thinking that Sweden will surely lose without him... while they're probably better off without him.

Tomi on 30/6/2018 at 20:19

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Uruguay 2-1 Portugal
Not a bad game, but it didn't have the crazy tempo of the FRA-ARG match. Two beautiful goals by Cavani, I hope that he recovers for the next game, because Uruguay are completely lost without him! Poor game by CRonaldo, he couldn't handle the pressure and I think he let his team down a bit today with a few selfish decisions. I wonder if we just witnessed his last World Cup appearance?

Tomi on 1/7/2018 at 21:13

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Croatia 1*-1 Denmark (Croatia win the penalty shootout!)
Two goals in the first five minutes... And then I could have slept until the last five minutes of the extra time without really missing anything important. Croatia controlled the first half of the game, Denmark was on the top for the most of the rest of the match. Neither side really managed to create decent chances though. But the ending was full of drama again! Modric had a chance to win the game for Croatia five minutes before the end from the penalty spot, but his weak shot was saved by Schmeichel. I was sure that Denmark would win the penalty shootout, and even though Kasper Schmeichel made two more great saves in it, the Danish penalty shots were pretty terrible. I felt sorry for the Danes and especially Kasper Schmeichel and his father. Croatia were lucky to win and were a bit of a disappointment today. The scary-looking referee was the man of the match, I don't think he got a single decision wrong.

Tomi on 2/7/2018 at 21:14

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Brazil 2-0 Mexico
A deserved win for Brazil. Neymar had a good game for a change, but his ugly and embarrassing trick (tried to get a Mexican guy sent off by rolling on the ground in "agony" after a light but admittedly unnecessary touch on his foot) on the second half reminded me why he's such an idiot and why I just can't wish Brazil any success in this tournament.

Belgium 3-2 Japan
Boring first half... Amazing second half! Japan shocked the Belgians by scoring two beautiful goals in the first minutes of the second half, and for a while Belgium looked totally lost. A lucky goal by Vertonghen (I'm pretty sure that it was meant to be a cross!) started their comeback, and a few minutes later the score was 2-2, and now it was the Japanese who were in big trouble. The winning goal was a bit heartbreaking... Belgium got to a quick counter-attack after a very good chance for Japan in the other end, and scored the winner on the very last moment of the game. It was a very nice goal, but I was expecting and hoping to see the extra time in this match!