It would appear 1958 was the one where no winner of the 4 groups had a clean sweep. Still, this stat at this WC hadn't occurred to me and it's a real sign of the gap narrowing.

Just checking more. 1962, 1994 also saw no team win every group game.

Netherlands have been average. We'd have a pretty good chance against them I'd reckon.

As for Australia's play I reckon we've played one decent half and that was the first half against Tunisia with all the overlapping runs on the wings. Other than that we are playing this backs to the wall, counter attacking stuff which is what we have to do given our squad.

BUT it's got us this far.

Kosovo was a majority ethnic Albanian region within Serbia until they declared independence. Serbia tried to take it back by force, as they have done to virtually every neighbour of theirs who declared independence from Yugoslavia in the 90s (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia). Kosovo is now recognised as an independent nation by nearly every country except for Serbia and some of their enablers like Russia. In this world cup, the Serbian team displayed a map of Serbia which includes Kosovo in their dressing room, which is very offensive to Albanians and Kosovars. So Serbs and Albanians have no love for each other. In fact, it's fair to say that Serbia isn't liked by any of its neighbours.

Switzerland have recently had a strong Albanian contingent in their team led by Xerdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka. These two players are despised by Serbia and regularly (intentionally) provoke strong reactions whenever they play against them. This morning, Shaquiri celebrated in front of the Serbian fans after scoring. And Xhaka, in response to the Serbian scorer grabbing his crotch earlier on, grabbed his crotch in front of the Serbian bench, which led to the push and shove.

Serbian coach Stojkovic could be seen mouthing an offensive anti-albanian slur while celebrating Serbia's second goal. 

Fantastic. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

Was a wild match to be at.

Cheers.

Interesting riff in the French squad with Pavard. Can hardly think it's due to losing Goodwin for the goal but he came across as less involved and was out the next game. 

Kicker's team of the group stage.

                               Szczesny
                     Dest   Gvaridol  Jordi Alba
                        Adams  Casemiro
              Bruno  Fernandes       Gavi
                Gapko   Aboubakar  Mbappe

A 2:1 loss might have seen Souttar come under consideration. Typical top 11's favouring attacking players.

Nicely worked goal by Netherlands but Adams has just jogged behind Depay for 50min with the risk in full view. That is a shocking effort to completely ignore danger and they paid dearly. 

going for England now 

That;'s certainly one side to the story is all I will say to that.

While you're at it can you give us a history of the KLO and their role in the war? And all the displaced serbs and burnt churches going down in Kosovo now?

Also ask anyone in Kosovo - "what are you?" and you'll get to 50 people before someone answers 'Kosovar'. They all say Albanian. Kosovo is nothing but a land grab inside serbia, the heart of Serbia, by Albania and people calling themselves Albanian under the guise of a made up and non-existent people.

Not to mention, they also had the highest number of ISIS recruits in Europe....yeah innocent little lambs these kosovars.

What I will say is there is fools on both sides, but the Swiss Albanians are trouble makers and those firing back are silly too. Do it on the pitch. Having said that I wouldn't mind seeing Mitrovic put one on the teeth of Shaquiri

Anyway, hope u enjoyed the game. :)

Happy to see Japan, Croatia or Argentina win

Would love to see Modric with a medal. An absolute champion 

Should love Croatia or Japan to win 

Or essentially any nation that has never won it before - Hollans probably deserve to win one as they have made 3 finals and lost them all. 

Would hate Brazil France England etc because all they would be doing is blowing their arrogant out of their own ass for 4 years

Cheers mate. Sounds complicated. 

Game was fantastic. 

Lol the Balkans of course it is. 

Haha. Just read your post out to the bloke on the couch next to me and I said to him, although I have opinion on just about anything 2 things I never get involved in are middle east politics or the Balkans.

Was a lot of fun mate. Messi scored right in front of us, Behich had his shot blocked not 15m from where we were standing and Kuol had my heart racing. So close.

Very, very proud.

Respectfully disagree.

Australia has never rolled over in recent times. There are a few aged former  Socceroos claiming the Socceroos have. There is such a phenomenon as being outclassed.  France were imperious in every way against Aus.

Plus Aus hadn't had a game for a while - certainly not against a team the calibre of France for a long time. Moreover, some players, like Rowles and Souttar, hadn't even played together.

Netherlands looked effortless playing Qatar. They stroked the ball around imperiously. 

Just having watched the game against USA, it was interesting. Netherlands were either knackered with  nothing left in the tank - or - they were conserving energy for the next round. Most of the game against USA , the Dutch Squeezed with little intensity. It is like they didn't want to compete in midfield, and didn't seem too bothered about the USA having  a lot of possession and territory, because they didn't fear American attacks.

Or they were happier to defend deep, conserve energy and launch accelerated attacks - wanting the USA  to defend by running towards their own goal.

We will know in the next  game against Argentina, because the South Americans  had to put in a big effort against the Socceroos. 

I've got English roots. I still have  a lot of cousins in England. One part of me  would like  them to win.

However, if they did, given so many stakeholders in English  football already think football ends at the English Channel, I think they could become   shocking gloaters and think the EPL is  even more the world epicentre of football much more than they do already!

Wow!

France block twice off the line. Poland with a massive chance. 

I have long been a giroud critic, but that was a very tidy finish.

2:0 France. Szczesny is 196cm and is too short for a keeper. A taller one would've gotten to that. Is my thinking right? FFS even the first goal. If Ryan concedes that he should've moved further to the left, right? 

Fair point, and same can be said of the third.

I think the forward doesn't get enough credit in football. In any sport, the last line of defence is so harshly scrutinised. Yes, they have a job to do, but there is an opponent trying to ruin your day. I think that's something a lot of sports fans forget. Maybe you weren't so bad but more so the opponent was out to do better.

Pen Poland as last kick of game. Surely Lewandowski can get a farewell goal. WC at 38? Maybe. Lewandowski slows his run up and it's saved but al French players have entered the box so it's to be retaken. He doesn't the same feint and slots it left this time. 3:1 France make light work of Poland.

unbelievable walker gets no card for that. england special status with the refs

Jude Bellingham what a player 

That he is @ 19yrs ! 

whats going on no pen shootouts yet. it cant be a major tournament without a good england penalty drama

Our game was so intense compared to these last couple.

What a blockbuster England France will be.