Group F: Games 5 & 6
Game 5: South Korea 2-0 Germany : 27th June, Kazan
Game 6: Mexico 0-3 Sweden : 27th June, Ekaterinburg
Well, just to piss on my punditry parade, Sweden have won the fecking group haven't they!
So, to the games, Germany were in control of the game against Korea, they had all the ball, they made very few chances and they looked like they knew they were going out… It was very peculiar. South Korea broke against Germany trying to emulate Mexico on several occasions, they could have probably had about five or six breakaway goals but never seemed to be able to get the decisive last pass.
Right up until the end when it was just "one of those things" and it slipped through, the referee tried to keep Germany in this tournament but VAR didn't let him and gave the Korean goal (as it should have). The second Korean goal was a breakaway goal when Manuel Neuer inexplicably decided that he was just going to be a midfielder and of course got robbed with the long ball over the top the answer to his ridiculousness.
In the Sweden game, they could have actually had more goals, Mexico tried hard but looked like they didn't quite know what to do against somebody who were playing them with the same tactics they played Germany with.
At the end both Sweden and Mexico went through with Sweden as group winners. I think, on the balance of play that we've seen in this World Cup, that was probably the right result, certainly with the two going through although, Mexico might have edged it with their other games to come top.
Anyhow, you know, I think Sweden were worth it, they did exactly the right things against the right people exactly the right times. Are they a great footballing team, no, definitely not, do they have a smart manager, I think so, do they have good team spirit and work for each other, absolutely.
Mexico, they remind me of West Ham, they can, on their day, get things right and have the right tactics and make it all happen. Otherwise, they fold like a soggy paper bag under the weight of a greasy takeaway. I think they've got some surprises left in them but nevertheless, I'd rather play them than Sweden after watching the group stages.
Game 6: Mexico 0-3 Sweden : 27th June, Ekaterinburg
Well, just to piss on my punditry parade, Sweden have won the fecking group haven't they!
So, to the games, Germany were in control of the game against Korea, they had all the ball, they made very few chances and they looked like they knew they were going out… It was very peculiar. South Korea broke against Germany trying to emulate Mexico on several occasions, they could have probably had about five or six breakaway goals but never seemed to be able to get the decisive last pass.
Right up until the end when it was just "one of those things" and it slipped through, the referee tried to keep Germany in this tournament but VAR didn't let him and gave the Korean goal (as it should have). The second Korean goal was a breakaway goal when Manuel Neuer inexplicably decided that he was just going to be a midfielder and of course got robbed with the long ball over the top the answer to his ridiculousness.
In the Sweden game, they could have actually had more goals, Mexico tried hard but looked like they didn't quite know what to do against somebody who were playing them with the same tactics they played Germany with.
At the end both Sweden and Mexico went through with Sweden as group winners. I think, on the balance of play that we've seen in this World Cup, that was probably the right result, certainly with the two going through although, Mexico might have edged it with their other games to come top.
Anyhow, you know, I think Sweden were worth it, they did exactly the right things against the right people exactly the right times. Are they a great footballing team, no, definitely not, do they have a smart manager, I think so, do they have good team spirit and work for each other, absolutely.
Mexico, they remind me of West Ham, they can, on their day, get things right and have the right tactics and make it all happen. Otherwise, they fold like a soggy paper bag under the weight of a greasy takeaway. I think they've got some surprises left in them but nevertheless, I'd rather play them than Sweden after watching the group stages.
