BFTD Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 Spoiler Match -2: Denmark 2 Scotland 1 The Danes all over us like a rash, and we're behind within five minutes, Tom Cairney failing miserably to stop Thomas Delaney from scoring by leaning on him a little bit. We have some promising approach play, but nothing to finish it with, while the Danes busy themselves with hitting the bar, followed by another goal on the half-hour, this time through Yussuf Poulsen. It's starting to look like an Ireland-style thrashing when the referee suddenly gives us a pelanty because he feels sorry for us. Seriously, I couldn't see any other reason for it; we weren't even doing anything threatening. Up steps The Thumb, who sends the keeper the wrong way...and pulls it wide with the last kick of the half. Spiffing; thanks Leigh. Back to normal service at the beginning of the second half, with the Danes spreading the ball about and looking for a third, when suddenly we're off on the break and...Leigh Griffiths, all is forgiven. Somehow we're back in the game, with an away goal to boot. Not a lot of threat from us for the rest of the game, and our massed defence manages to prevent Denmark from scoring any more. A 2-1 away defeat in a two-legged play-off isn't a bad result, but we'll need to keep the defence tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchan30 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Would be so typically scottish for us to win the home leg 3-2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 Spoiler Match -1: Scotland 1 Denmark 1 Denmark almost f**k our away goal advantage within minutes, Sisto taking a couple of goes to beat Craig Gordon, only for Charlie Mulgrew to clear the ball off the line. The Danes still have most of the possession, but we're at the races a bit more than in the first leg. Not many chances for either side, the best falling to James Forrest as a through ball finds him clear on the keeper, but he unsurprisingly blazes it wide. Goalless at half-time, and you have to wonder where the goal we need is coming from. A similar pattern to the second half, with nobody looking remotely like scoring, until twenty minutes from the end. James Forrest is played through into the box, but his shot is saved by Schmeichel, sending the ball flying across the goal...Leigh Griffiths gets his head to it from a narrow angle, and it's going in, but Schmeichel gets his hands to it...but can't keep it out! Scotland 1-0 up and heading for the World Cup! Both sides alive and looking to score now, but no clear-cut chances until just before the end, when Stuart Armstrong is sent away through on goal, one on one with the keeper. He shoots...and the ball whizzes past the near post; a terrible miss, what a chance. Schmeichel takes the goal kick, and Denmark make a last-ditch attack...Eriksen, Jensen, Larsen...he centres the ball for Cornelius in the box...and a simple tap-in past Gordon to equalise. Hardly enough time for us to kick off - we're out 2-3 on aggregate. And I don't think anyone would've been surprised if that had been exactly how it happened Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honest_Man#1 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Even FIFA knows we’d bottle it, in a ‘snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’ fashion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Spoiler Match 61 - Uruguay 2 Brazil 2 There's always one game in the knockout stage of every World Cup that becomes the unofficial final; two in-form, quality teams putting on a show for the rest of the world. Apparently the same holds true of makey-up computer tournaments too, as this was probably the best game so far. Brazil keep the majority of the possession and cause all sorts of problems for Uruguay's defence right from the start; the only surprise when they score is that it took twenty minutes. Not for the first time, Uruguay are unable to clear their lines, Neymar robbing Godin and centring for Philippe Coutinho to pass into an empty net. Uruguay assert themselves more thereafter, but it's still Brazil's game, and they'd have been disappointed not to score again before half-time. The pattern continues into the second half, Brazil pushing Uruguay back as they look for a second goal, but it's Uruguay who score on the hour, a counter attack finishing with a penetrating through-ball to Suarez, who turns Silva inside-out and makes no mistake with his team's only clear-cut chance of the game. Brazil respond immediately, a long build-up from kick-off coming to Coutinho again, who restores Brazil's lead with an easy finish across the keeper. With time running down, Uruguay take control of possession and equalise again in bizarre fashion with less than quarter of an hour to go. Nandez picks the ball up in midfield and sends a high ball to the edge of Brazil's penalty area, where it's met by the head of Stuani - his long, looping header spins high above Allison, who can't get back in time to stop the ball dropping in under the bar. The momentum is with Uruguay, who create a couple of decent chances before the end, but Brazil hold out and the match goes to extra-time. Spoiler Extra Time - Uruguay 2 Brazil 3 Both sides go for it in the final half-hour, but it's Brazil who strike just before the break, a long-range screamer from Casemiro flying past Muslera before he can even move. The final fifteen minutes is dominated by two incidents, both involving Cristian Rodriguez; the first saw Edinson Cavani set through one-on-one with the keeper, who selflessly centred the ball to Rodriguez, leaving him with an empty net...only for him to strike the ball wide. The roles are reversed with seconds to play, as Rodriguez finds himself clear with Cavani square, but decides to shoot instead of leaving the gaping net for his colleague, and Allison pushes the shot wide. Two poor decisions from the striker, leaving him the villain for Uruguayans back home as his side go out. A seventh final for Brazil, as they come within touching distance of their sixth World Cup win. A particularly painful defeat for Uruguay against their old enemies; they'll just have to wait for that elusive third title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Saints Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Can we speed this up, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 Sorry; busy few days. I didn't even get to watch the real-life third-place game. I'll finish this off tomorrow. I'm currently trembling with antici Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Stuttering with anticipation too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Spoiler Match 62 - Spain 1 Switzerland 1 Spain caught cold out of the blocks, allowing Xherdan Shaqiri a shot from the edge of the box, which he converts with glee. Drmic has a long-range shot soon after that peels the paint from the post, and it starts to look like Spain are in big trouble, but the half fizzles out without either team creating too much to worry the other. Spain begin to dominate as the second half progresses, until Koke finally manages to batter home an equaliser on the hour. The match peters out into a midfield battle from that point, with both sides making good use of the offside trap. Spoiler Extra Time - Spain 1 Switzerland 1 Both sides give it their best shot in the first half, with Shaqiri and Seferovic failing to convert excellent chances, and Lucas Vazquez coming close at the other end. The second half belongs to Spain, with a variety of shots flying wide, or requiring action from Yann Sommer in goal. Switzerland manage to hold on, though, but are a little fortunate to make it to the penalty shoot-out. Spoiler Isco to get us started... Spoiler Sommer at full stretch - saved! A lolloping run-up from Rodriguez... Spoiler ...and he's scored! High into the top corner, and De Gea dives the wrong way! 0-1 to Switzerland! Diego Costa steps up confidently... Spoiler ...but his lame chipped shot is easily caught by Sommer! Dzemaili take a long, casual run... Spoiler ...and drills it high over the bar! The Swiss still lead after two rounds! Thiago starts his run from outside the box... Spoiler ...and passes carefully into the bottom corner - Spain level at 1-1! Seferovic looks confident... Spoiler ...with good reason - a low pass into the net. Switzerland lead 1-2! A long run, and Iniesta throws himself frantically at the ball! Spoiler Boom, top corner! Spain back on terms again at 2-2! Shaqiri takes a long sprint at it! Spoiler ...and scaffs it wide! Terrible finish from the striker! All-square again after four rounds of penalties! Pique jogs up for his shot... Spoiler Top corner, and 3-2 to Spain! Switzerland out unless they score this next one! Freuler doesn't look confident as he steps up... Spoiler ...but he slips it inside the keeper's left post! 3-3, and we're on to sudden death for a place in the World Cup Final! Sergio Ramos looks unsure as he runs up... Spoiler He taps it wide! Disaster, and Switzerland will win if this one goes in! Lang has the air of a man who has this covered - he jogs up to the ball... Spoiler Hits the bar! Relief for Spain, and we're still all square after six rounds! Sergio Busquets seems unsure where he's putting this... Spoiler Into the roof of the net, above the keeper's dive! 4-3 to Spain, and the pressure's back on the Swiss! Zuber to keep them in the match... Spoiler Off De Gea's arm...and under his body, into the net! So very lucky, but it's 4-4 after seven rounds! Jordi Alba pauses before he strikes! Spoiler Straight down the middle, and no mistake! 5-4 to Spain, and can the Swiss take the heat? Johan Djourou takes a long look at the goal... Spoiler ...and hits it into the bottom corner! Quality penalty under pressure; eight rounds in, and it's 5-5. Lucas Vazquez shapes to blast this one... Spoiler ...wide of the post! This time it's Spain on their knees! Can the Swiss take advantage? Akanji looks worried before he begins his run... Spoiler ...but he didn't need to be! Straight down the middle as De Gea dives out of the way, and Switzerland are through to the World Cup Final! So, 64 ties and we're back to the sides that opened Group E - Brazil will play Switzerland to decide 2018's World Champions. This will be their third World Cup meeting, with Brazil unbeaten so far. Spare a thought for Uruguay and Spain, who will play out the third-place match knowing that they both had a serious chance of lifting the trophy themselves. Their previous two World Cup meetings have both ended in draws, and Uruguay have never won a third place match, with this being their fourth attempt. Spain have made it this far only once, an occasion with a much happier ending for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Spoiler Match 63 - Uruguay 2 Spain 1 Barring one or two half-chances, the first half belongs to Spain, but they're unable to make their dominance count in goals scored, with shots fizzing high and wide, and even some requiring intervention from Muslera in goal. The Spaniards emerge with more determination, and are soon ahead after a header from Asensio is palmed out by Muslera, with Diego Costa left with a nice empty goal to finish into. Spain decide to sit back and defend their lead with most of the half to go, and it's their undoing. Uruguay move into attack and, around the hour mark, Spain are unable to properly clear after a series of goalmouth scrambles, with Luis Suarez eventually adding to his World Cup total to level the tie. Uruguay are absolutely lethal on the counter-attack thereafter, swarming forward with intent, and it's no surprise when Edinson Cavani rifles home a volley from one such venture. They cause all sorts of problems for the Spanish defence until the final whistle, but Uruguay somehow fail to add to their total. Nevertheless, the victory is theirs, picking up the bronze medal for their trouble, and providing the fans with their country's best finish at a World Cup since 1950. Still doesn't excuse them for being filthy b*****ds in 1986, though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 Tune back in tomorrow for the Ultimate Final Showdown of Maximum Consequence, between record World Cup winners/scorers Brazil, and...erm...alpine horn-blowing champions, Switzerland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 Spoiler Match 64: Brazil 1 Switzerland 1 The first half is virtually all Brazil, but a surprisingly lassez-faire attitude in front of goal means that they go in at half-time with nothing to show for their dominance. Words are clearly exchanged in the dressing room, as it takes mere minutes before Gabriel Jesus puts the South Americans ahead in the second half, with a finish that was sorely needed in the first. A combination of poor finishing and bad decisions stops the Brazilians from extending their lead and, despite their best efforts, the Swiss are unable to penetrate their opponents back line. With five minutes to go, the Swiss manage to force a corner, which is drifting across harmlessly until Thiago Silva bizarrely decides to punch the ball out of play. Penalty to Switzerland, which Ricardo Rodriguez gratefully converts, bringing the Swiss back on terms in a game in which they've never looked like scoring. Their tails now up, the Swiss press for a winner at the death, and are finally presented with a chance from open play, but Akanji provides a centre-half's finish and pulls the ball wide. Spoiler Extra-Time: Brazil 1 Switzerland 1 Brazil are dominant in the final thirty minutes, but the Swiss defence copes for the most part, and the Brazilian strikers can't find a decent finish for the chances they make. Chances appear on the break for Switzerland as penalties approach and Brazil push up, including a ridiculous four-on-one run at the defenceless Alisson in goal, but the Swiss players seem unable to comprehend such a ludicrous chance to become World Champions and make a complete dog's dinner of the whole thing. Against all odds, Switzerland are within a penalty shoot-out of winning the World Cup. Spoiler Neymar will get us started for Brazil...he pauses during his run... Spoiler ...and Sommer makes it across to tip the ball away! Terrible start for Brazil! Rodriguez sprints at the ball... Spoiler 0-1 Switzerland! The outsiders are ahead! Paulinho wants to make the keeper commit before he hits it... Spoiler ...Sommer dives the right way, but it's beyond his reach...and hits the inside of the post...and stays out! Brazil on the rocks already! Seferovic looks confident as he jogs up... Spoiler He blasts it down the middle - but Allison stands his ground to beat the ball away! A lifeline for the favourites! It's still 0-1 after two rounds! Roberto Firmino pauses before striking the ball... Spoiler ...and it's a solid strike to the keeper's left! Brazil finally score, and it's 1-1! Embolo knows where he's putting this... Spoiler ...low, and to the keeper's right! 1-2 to Switzerland after three rounds! Spoiler Taison looks uncertain as he runs up... Spoiler A lame pass straight at the keeper, and it's easily saved! Switzerland will be World Champions if this next one goes in! Shaqiri for the title...he's clearly nervous, and tries to make the keeper dive before he strikes... Spoiler He goes left...but so does Alisson! Great save, Shaqiri can't believe it! Thiago Silva still has to score, or it's all over...he wants to make sure of this, and takes a long run up, before slamming the ball at the goal! Spoiler Bottom right of the goal...but Sommer guesses right! It's all over, and Yann Sommer is the hero as Switzerland win the World Cup on penalties! There are no words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFTD Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 So, Switzerland, eh? Who'd have thought an unfancied European nation with a red/white cross flag would shitfest their way so far into a World Cup while wearing their red or white shirts? Fucking crazy. Helped that the big sides on their side of the draw absolutely shat the bed, of course. If they could lift the trophy by beating Serbia, Senegal, and absolutely nobody else, then there'd be hope for us all. Of course, Luis Suarez wins the Golden Boot, finishing fourth in the all-time list by scoring the same amount as Gerd Muller, but having taken an extra game to do so. Golden Boot Suarez - Uruguay - 10 Cavani - Uruguay - 4 Griezmann - France - 3 Gabriel Jesus - Brazil - 3 Not a single red card at this tournament - David Guzman of Costa Rica was the official naughtiest boy, picking up two yellow cards, one more than anyone else. No fucking way am I working out Golden Balls or teams of the tournament, or any of that kind of shit. This was fun; we should try it again sometime, maybe from the qualifiers. I'll be giving myself plenty of time for it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honest_Man#1 Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 This was what the sweepstake was for, wasn’t it? Where’s my £150, Div? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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