Based on this official FIFA World Cup graphic, TBD have the best chance of winning the World Cup this year. 

Pretty much there already :-)

You can start your party anytime now.

Who caught the games this morning? 

First penalty shootout of the tournament, with Japan missing three to allow Croatia to sneak into the QF's, then Brazil absolutely taking Korea apart. 

Brazil were 4-0 up at half time and simply cruising. They took the collective feet off the gas in the second half and conceded a very well taken goal by Korea, but the result was never in doubt. 

I saw a close up of Neymar having what looked like a small plaster cast cut off his ankle in the dugout. So much for him not really being injured! 

Looking forward to the Battle of the Channel, England vs France on Sunday morning. That'll be a real doozy! 

Netherlands vs Argentina won't be lacking in excitement, either. Both teams oozing with talent and self-belief. 

The other QF's will be Brazil vs Croatia and TBD vs TBD. I've got my money on TBD. 

Now you point it out, I realise TBD perform consistently every tournament.

I just watched the first half of the Japan game and paused it to resume work so, ahhh, thanks for that :-)

Sad for Japan. On balance of the the game they probably should have won. Surprised Croatia took off Modric and Perisic in extra time as they would have been penalty takers but it didn't cost them. Terrible penalties from Japan. At least put your foot through it.

Hard to look past Brazil, although the script must be for a Messi-Ronaldo final.

Handsomedan:

 

So...it's coming home? 

 

Surely that depends on where you live?

There are four teams above England in the FIFA world rankings. Three of them are still in the World Cup. Realistically i expect a Brasil v. France final, but I have my fingers crossed behind my back for Netherlands to upset Brasil in the semi. England to go home after losing a penalty shoot-out to France.

elpenguino:

 

Now you point it out, I realise TBD perform consistently every tournament.

 

I just watched the first half of the Japan game and paused it to resume work so, ahhh, thanks for that :-)

 

You really should have been avoiding the internet...there are spoilers EVERYWHERE! In saying that - I apologise for my assumption that everyone had seen the games. 

invisibleman18:

Sad for Japan. On balance of the the game they probably should have won. Surprised Croatia took off Modric and Perisic in extra time as they would have been penalty takers but it didn't cost them. Terrible penalties from Japan. At least put your foot through it.

Hard to look past Brazil, although the script must be for a Messi-Ronaldo final.

Handsomedan:

 

elpenguino:

 

Now you point it out, I realise TBD perform consistently every tournament.

 

I just watched the first half of the Japan game and paused it to resume work so, ahhh, thanks for that :-)

 

 

You really should have been avoiding the internet...there are spoilers EVERYWHERE! In saying that - I apologise for my assumption that everyone had seen the games. 

 

There are, so no hard feelings. If anyone wanted to keep the surprise, they would have to shun the outside world completely.

Re what we used to call 'diving' but I think is now called 'simulation' . FIFA has had trouble removing this behaviour and should now embrace this part of the game.

Perhaps some kind of award? The cheville d'or (golden ankle) ?

Dochart:

Agree, Japan played really well right up to the penalty shootout

Brazil had really good acting out in the field, basically Brazil milking for those penalties. That first penalty that was awarded to Brazil look fake as, I can’t believe the ref awarded the penalty to Brazil.

ball is round

referee is blind

real football theatre begins

elpenguino:

 

Now you point it out, I realise TBD perform consistently every tournament.

 

...

 

I don't rate them myself....eternal chokers...never, ever actually seen them win a final.

i'd rather have vuvuzelas than whistling and boos

i'm going to turn off the sound. 

ball is round

ref is blind (spain player got hacked right in front of ref and play on)

crowd is idiotic

unlike japan croatia, both teams are at walking pace by the middle of 2nd half

everyone on crutches in extra time

stark contrast to yesterday

Great to see Ronnie getting a rest for his questionable attitude. 

Coach proving that the team is bigger than one player. And they're not suffering for it either. I'd say that there's likely a bigger plan here though - go to late in the second half drawn and you'd want to be able to call on someone like him to change the game or take a winning penalty in a shootout. 

Quite funny reading the anti-CR7 brigade going on though. Personally, I don' like his petulance and overall lousy "look at me" attitude, but you can't deny he's a fantastically gifted athlete. And a decent human, based on his philanthropic work, despite the footballing persona. 

One wag suggested that you simply can't play an old bloke from the Saudi Pro League in a knockout game of the World Cup. I actually guffawed at that. 

Portugal looking good so far though. Pepe (as much as he's a polarising character) rolling back the years to look like the Pepe of old.