ponsaelius

I don't think there's difference between European and English refs personally. There's good and bad in both. The way rules are implemented do vary slightly between competitions though.

This is actually funny and good. Plus the Dutch players were at it throughout the shootout trying to follow and interrupt the players walk ups. It was a heated tie from both teams.

Fans of the old tournament goal per game ratio will be happy to know that it has just nudged ahead of 2018 at 2.66 to 2.64

I honestly don't think Argentina are as bad as people make out. They have a very good tactical structure which gives them a foothold in every game. Holland were supposed to be the slicker footballing side according to many and I thought they were completely outplayed there. Even in extra time.

It's not completely luck, obviously. The idea that it is a 'lottery' is nonsense. But there is undoubtedly an element of it and the more you play the higher the odds of eventually losing one go up IMO. Even winning the toss and shooting first can be a huge advantage which is backed up by stats.

I don't hate them like I do Spain but there's a lot of similarities in the way they use possession to try and control the tempo of a game to its detriment. It's obviously excusable more though just because they're such a small country and a lot of their rotation attacking options play in Croatia. So I appreciate them a lot but I am getting to the point of simply having seen enough. Four penalty shoot out wins in a row is undoubtedly a lot of luck that deserves to run out.

The other thing about a Croatia - Netherlands semi is that there would have been about 1000 fans in total supporting the two teams. I am really glad at least one of the two South American sides got through.

Thank fuck for that, tbh. Netherlands were terrible for me and deserved nothing. Even in extra time Scaloni was the one who had the balls the go more attacking and try and win.

Yeah they've been absolutely crap. Not just as a match up but in terms of the narratives left in the competition it feels a loss for me, too.

Ah for god's sake man.

I know extra time would be fun but honestly I'm not sure I can be arsed with a Croatia - Netherlands semi final.

Lovely. Wish that free kick had gone in mind.

He'll miss again

Fucking wizard

Noppert howler needed today. Can't be dealing with this jobber being competent.

Yeah no more left footers needed for me. A right sided CB with good recovery pace would be an important summer signing, though.

Really? It would be far more odd to me if you got a goal for scoring a pen in a shootout. Then again Germans include the penalties in the scoreline by adding them all onto the final match score, the utter deviants.

Just feel like they were the worse team in both of the last two games and got away with it. At least at in 2018 they probably edged the games they won on pens.

Jammy for me. Respect Croatia but bored of them drawing their way through tournaments. Hope they gou out in the semis.

Loved that goal man. He had a chance to shoot when it first came to him but played the pass, then held off the challenge, then around the keeper and a great finish.

Superb

As good as Croatia are they don’t have a Suker or even a Mandzukic. Basically lack a cutting edge in attack.

Paqueta is an awful selection against this midfield tbh. Bruno needed.

My high score is 22. It's a really cool quiz. But I reaffirm my previous comments.

Similarly appears to include Olympic goals too which adds further confusion. Sorry I'm honestly not bitter at losing.