The ding-dong Zaragoza - Zagreb derby - ESP v CRO

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Spain finally came to life in their final group game, and arguably Croatia did the same. Could be a good game this afternoon.

[ad hoc]

Spain came to life once they had gone 2-0 up(the first goal of which was handed to them utterly ludicrously). I don't hold out any hope that the second half of the Slovakia game was anything but a fluke. I've found watching them to be awful. I was a fan of 2010 Spain, and loved watching them trying to unlock defences. This team however, seems to be playing possession for the sake of keeping possession, and without any creative players to conjure up chances, or goalscorers to get on the end of them, it just seems futile. Hope I'm wrong, but I can't see past a Croatia win (though probably only 1-0 as Spain aren't going to give up many chances either)

[imp]

Not trying to be contrary or owt, but I much prefer this Spain team to the World Cup winners. This team is human, it actually makes mistakes, and I think it's more direct and exciting to watch - even if that's not necessarily making them Brazil 1970. Successful Spain ended up boring me to the point where I'd probably have switched over to the rugby channel, if I'd had one.

[ad hoc]

Yeah I don't get that more direct thing. Without a Xavi or Iniesta or Silva (etc) sliding inch perfect passes through the defence, this team just seems to pass the ball round (like water polo but without a shot clock)

[Sporting]

Jordi Alba omitted from the starting line up. as is Gerard Moreno. Brave choices. Gayà plays.

[Ray de Galles]

Lovren and Perisic out with positive Covid tests.

The former of which must be a boost for Croatia, surely?

[Ray de Galles]

Ah, think maybe only Perisic is due to Covid test, Lovren might be just because he's rubbish.

[imp]

Lovren's suspended - two yellow cards.

[Ray de Galles]

Ah, so only indirectly due to being rubbish. Thanks.

[ad hoc]

Jordi Alba omitted from the starting line up. as is Gerard Moreno. Brave choices. Gayà plays.

Moreno has looked like the best forward player Spain have, so that's a surprise to me. Do they have a good replacement for Alba (going forward) - I presume they've opted this way to be more defensive?

[Sporting]

Busy start from Spain.

[San Bernardhinault]

Is every referee in this tournament bald (or has a shaved head)? Do they all believe themselves to True Heirs of Collina?

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

It's that thing where they have to give a dropped ball if it hits them and influences play. Imagine the VAR fuss if a ref had to be called over to adjudge if a chipped pass had brushed his own flowing locks.

[anton pulisov]

This is the tournament of missing from point blank range.

[anton pulisov]

OMFG

[S. aureus]

Well

[MarkF]

Oops.

[Ray de Galles]

WHAT JUST HAPPENED!

[Discordant Resonance]

Spectacular OG from halfway!

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Whoopsy!

[Ray de Galles]

Hey goalkeepers, STOP THINKING YOU'RE FOOTBALLERS!

[anton pulisov]

Was it Morata?

[Jah Womble]

Is every referee in this tournament bald (or has a shaved head)? Do they all believe themselves to True Heirs of Collina?

’Certainly not ‘true hairs of Collina’, eh folks?’

Why does ITV’s co-commentator use the ‘itch’-suffix for all of Croatia’s players bar ‘Mod-rick’ - who must after all be the best-known of them all?

Meanwhile, what the blue bloody blazes..?!

[S. aureus]

More a dire goal keeping fuck-up on a back pass from the halfway line

[Felicity, I guess so]

Holy fuckaroli!
this is the tournament of keeper OGs and howlers