Group E - Spain | Costa Rica | Germany | Japan

Group E chat here 

2ndBest

Group E chat here 

Germany will win the group, then Spain, Japan and Costa Rica last.

Really hope Japan springs a suprise here.   but be very hard for them

number8

2ndBest

Group E chat here 

Germany will win the group, then Spain, Japan and Costa Rica last.

Hope the Ticos get thrashed. 

Ha ha. 
Spain meanwhile bet Jordan 3-1.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11438293/Costa-Rica-forced-CANCEL-World-Cup-warm-friendly-Iraq.html

how on earth did the Costa Ricans think that they could cross a brder without getting passports checked and stamped? and then I dont understand why that happening means they had to cancel?

ok read the article
"They'd requested the Iraqi government did not stamp their passports when crossing the border but the authorities did not honour the agreement.
There was a concern that the Iraqi passport stamp would cause difficulties in accessing other countries in the future."

stupid officials ruining things again.

I entered Israel 🇮🇱 in 1998. Back then they stamped a piece of paper, which you just carried around whilst in the country. 

Same logic being that an Israeli stamp in your passport would be a problem elsewhere. 

But yeah just another botched saga adding to the cluster fudge that is the Qatar WC

coochiee

number8

2ndBest

Group E chat here 

Germany will win the group, then Spain, Japan and Costa Rica last.

Hope the Ticos get thrashed. 

 I don't to be honest. Any bad decisions back in June weren't exactly Costa Rica's fault, so I have no animosity towards them about it. Also if they get pumped 0-15 on aggregate, it reflects even worse on us that we lost to them. If they win then it makes us look a lot better. Obviously that doesn't really make up for a lot, but we aren't there regardless.

Wow, absolutely stunning performance from Japan. Glad I stayed up for that one!

It is your fault CR is  horrible and awful

You should have beaten them the other day,  they are abysmal,  at leastv NZ is rebellious

wow, first the Saudis now Japan!

Spain 7 Costa Rica 0 
Puts the NZ ranking and playoff performance into perspective
Spain were top class this morning

I remember people saying how good Costa Rica were ahead of the WC playoff. 

remember when we held Italy to 1-1? Wonder how we would nhave done against this Spanish team?

2ndBest

I remember people saying how good Costa Rica were ahead of the WC playoff. 

Shows how bad NZ was.

2ndBest

I remember people saying how good Costa Rica were ahead of the WC playoff. 

People call Melbourne City a good side too, but that doesn't meant I would fancy them to win the UEFA Champions League. 

Quality is relative, and in comparison to both our level and the level of our previous opposition, they were and still are a good side. In the two windows prior to playing us, they had beaten both USA and Canada (who both dominated European opposition in their opening WC games) and drawn away at the Azteca (the toughest place to go in CONCACAF) against Mexico. These are the sort of competitive results we'd dream about; case and point was the time we played a qualifier at the Azteca. It should be quite obvious to anyone acting in good faith that no one was claiming them to be better than or even close to the global superstars in the Spain team.

Even still, the 7 goals came from 3.5 xG, which shows Spain were clinical and Costa Rica unlucky. On another day it could be similar to how Germany had 3.1 xG and still lost 1-2 to Japan this morning.  One site has us as having 1.7 xG vs Costa Rica, yet instead of having half what Spain scored we had 7 less. That's just how things work out.

Good effort by Costa Rica there, only a converted try in it!

The ageing teams like CR and maybe Argentina & Belgium (need De Bruyne to star) could struggle at this WC. Even with the aircon it’s warm on game day, and very hot walking around outside. The games I’ve watched have all been quick, end to end

Not surprising England, France and Spain have run riot somewhat. Likes of Borges, Modric and Messi I think will struggle to make much of an impression. 

What a game.  It was crazy here after that japan result.   Almost like we had just won the world cup.    Go Japan 

carlind

2ndBest

I remember people saying how good Costa Rica were ahead of the WC playoff. 

People call Melbourne City a good side too, but that doesn't meant I would fancy them to win the UEFA Champions League. 

Quality is relative, and in comparison to both our level and the level of our previous opposition, they were and still are a good side. In the two windows prior to playing us, they had beaten both USA and Canada (who both dominated European opposition in their opening WC games) and drawn away at the Azteca (the toughest place to go in CONCACAF) against Mexico. These are the sort of competitive results we'd dream about; case and point was the time we played a qualifier at the Azteca. It should be quite obvious to anyone acting in good faith that no one was claiming them to be better than or even close to the global superstars in the Spain team.

Even still, the 7 goals came from 3.5 xG, which shows Spain were clinical and Costa Rica unlucky. On another day it could be similar to how Germany had 3.1 xG and still lost 1-2 to Japan this morning.  One site has us as having 1.7 xG vs Costa Rica, yet instead of having half what Spain scored we had 7 less. That's just how things work out.

Agreed, way too much being read into two games. Even the NZ game where "NZ played poorly", NZ had twice the possession, three times the shots, and played 20 minutes with a man down. Costa Rica got an early goal and it suited them immensely.

Also we may have a potential best ever AWs team, a 'Golden Generation' for us - but the level our guys are at is still a million miles off a team like Spain, with it's team of La Liga stars.

Listen to Martin Tyler go through the playing elevens of the various teams, and there ain't many with guys in Serie C, the Danish 2nd tier or even a middling SPL team.

nufc_nz

2ndBest

I remember people saying how good Costa Rica were ahead of the WC playoff. 

Shows how bad NZ was.

Watching Costa Rica wear an all white outfit, being unable to pass, and getting reamed made it feel just like we were really there!

What is with the additional time of 8 or 9 minutes in these world cup games? The Spain v CR game had extra 8 minutes in the second half with no VAR, no penalties and no serious injuries. Yes, there were a lot of subs but 8 minutes???

apparently FIFA have changed how they calculate it, so adding more for players staying on the ground etc - to stop players wasting time.

HT, and it's CR 0 Japan 0. 

Poor quality game, very slow (apparently hottest tourney day in Qatar to date), and all playing into hands of Costa Ricans who have unlike them normally, have dominated possession

Suppose you have to say well done to Costa RIca. Japan couldn't make an impression on a ten man defence and got undone by the only shot CR have managed to get on target in 180 minutes of football.

Germany will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Perhaps biggest upset of WC so far, Ticos win 1-0.

2 games, 1 shot on target for 1 win

Japan were poor, little movement, slow, lots of passing backwards

So drawing a long bow, AWs are not far off Japan, but long long way off Spain

coochiee

Perhaps biggest upset of WC so far, Ticos win 1-0.

2 games, 1 shot on target for 1 win

Japan were poor, little movement, slow, lots of passing backwards

So drawing a long bow, AWs are not far off Japan, but long long way off Spain

Have you forgotten Argentina v Saudi Arabia?

Or England drawing with US.

amongst all the other odd results, you know Japan beating Germany!
The Germans really need a win today against Spain!

Germany staring down the barrel of an early exit here, 0-1 down with 20+ mins to go.

That draw pretty much dooms Japan to an early exit, which is a real shame after that huge result against Germany. Can't see them getting anything out of Spain, and Germany sure as hell won't slip up against Costa RIca. 

Outpost

That draw pretty much dooms Japan to an early exit, which is a real shame after that huge result against Germany. Can't see them getting anything out of Spain, and Germany sure as hell won't slip up against Costa RIca. 

Costa Rica will park the bus for sure. Question is how long will they be able to hold out for and how will it frustrate Germany. 

I can’t believe Japan didn’t tear Costa Rica a part there. Huge chance blown. They could be playing Spain with nothing riding on it. Incredible 

Outpost

That draw pretty much dooms Japan to an early exit, which is a real shame after that huge result against Germany. Can't see them getting anything out of Spain, and Germany sure as hell won't slip up against Costa RIca. 

I'm happy for germany but now sad for Japan, I have both teams in the draw. Could japan upset spain?

what an anti climax for Japan....  They are back to almost impossible to get out of the group.   all that after beating germany

kwlap

I can’t believe Japan didn’t tear Costa Rica a part there. Huge chance blown. They could be playing Spain with nothing riding on it. Incredible 

5 changes. Starting a J league winger ahead of Mitoma, Ito, [edit Doan started soz], Kubo, Maeda, Hatate, Furuhashi and Tomiyasu…
I mean it fits with their qualification campaign. 

Even though Asano’s goal was brilliant, it was counter attacking, long ball from a defender with the other team pushed forward.

No such favors from Costa Rica. Japan dominated possession and territory, but hardly troubled Navas. 

Buffon II

coochiee

Perhaps biggest upset of WC so far, Ticos win 1-0.

2 games, 1 shot on target for 1 win

Japan were poor, little movement, slow, lots of passing backwards

So drawing a long bow, AWs are not far off Japan, but long long way off Spain

Have you forgotten Argentina v Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia didn't come into that game off a 7-0 loss!
Was a massive form turnaround by CR.