World Cup 1st Group Phase Live Match Chat
Welcome to World Cup 1st Group Phase Live Match Chat. The long four year wait is over and so is the tinkering for the first set of matches. We hope that you are happy with the 15 players you ended up with, but even if you decided against playing the fantasy version we still encourage you to partake in the chat below. We are sure there will be plenty to discuss that doesn’t always involve whether you should get assist points for a shot that was blocked or your striker really did touch the ball a la Kane before it went in. Predictor games, brackets, bets on the golden boot are all welcomed here. And yeah, even old school footy chat for those that who are just watching the games for fun and just want to talk about the Joga Bonito.
So that you have them to hand, we will post a screenshot of the substitution rules, transfer allotment, wildcard, boosters and of course we will have times and dates for all matches in this, the first of three group phases/rounds/fixtures or whatever you want to call it.
THE GAMES IN FULL
Thursday June 14th
Russia vs Saudi Arabia 4pm (Group A)
Friday June 15th
Egypt vs Uruguay 1pm (Group A)
Morocco vs Iran 4pm (Group B)
Portugal vs Spain 7pm (Group B)
Saturday June 16th
France vs Australia 11am (Group C)
Argentina vs Iceland 2pm (Group D)
Peru vs Denmark 5pm (Group C)
Croatia vs Nigeria 8pm (Group D)
Sunday June 17th
Costa Rica vs Serbia 1pm (Group E)
Germany vs Mexico 4pm (Group F)
Brazil vs Switzerland 7pm (Group E)
Monday June 18th
Sweden vs South Korea 1pm (Group F)
Belgium vs Panama 4pm (Group G)
Tunisia vs England 7pm (Group G)
Tuesday June 19th
Colombia vs Japan 1pm (Group H)
Poland vs Senegal 4pm (Group H)
SUBSTITUTIONS
TRANSFERS
Keep track of all the action, the goals, the talking points, right here at FF247 Live Match Chat, an interactive chat which encourages you to keep involved and share your thoughts and emotions as the matches take place.
Good luck to most of you, but not all of you for this 1st phase of fantasy World Cup!
Silvers
Come on Harry my boy
Silvers
Stroke of luck but we will take that
IvanTheTerrible
Let’s hope England don’t rely on luck and Kane only. More difficult games ahead.
secretzorro
3pts in the bag, better than Spain, Portugal or Germany. Just enjoy it I say.
Pancho
Captain Kane!
Matt
I was really unimpressed by Kane today after the 1st goal he completely disappeared from the game. Yes he scored two goals but if he’s the captain he should always be involved and lead by example. Just didn’t do enough today.-
Pancho
Hey Matt, I agree. He’s just my captain in FWC
Matt
I was really unimpressed by Kane today after the 1st goal he completely disappeared from the game. Yes he scored two goals but if he’s the captain he should always be involved and lead by example. Just didn’t do enough today.
Cookie
Did you ever see Lineker dominate a game?! No but he scored goals. That’s what Kane is there for. Twice in the right place at the right time.
That’s the best I’ve eeen England play for a long time, especially the first half. Admittedly I did fall asleep in the 2nd half!!
Matt
Never saw Lineker play a game to be honest Cookie! 😉
He and England were brilliant in the first 15/20 mins but after that they went to hell and looked like they were out of ideas. I actually don’t think this formation suits them it just seemed to congested in the final third and too many of the same style of players trying to do the same thing and going nowhere.
Cookie
Don’t agree at all mate, I think it was a very refreshing 1st half.
We’ve criticised England for years, for being boring, creating little etc etc….remember 2 years ago vs Russia & Iceland? Dreadful. This was so so much better and I’m hugely critical of England.
For once get behind them. They have done something Brazil, Germany, Argie & Spain haven’t done and got a win under their belt.
I’m not saying they’re going to win it, of course they’re not, but we don’t always have to criticise!
Matt
The first half was very good I just wish they had kept it up or had even killed the game off in the 1st half but Walker was an idiot. I hope they do well but I still wouldn’t see them go past the quarterfinals.
It’s important that they got the 3 points against a ‘weaker’ side and kept in touch with Belgium but I just fear when they come up against a better attacking side. I wouldn’t change too much about this starting line up apart from maybe Rose in for Young. I’d keep an eye on Alli he looked a bit iffy or tired. I’m not sure how to describe it but he kept feeling and stretching his thigh so hopefully it’s not an injury.
Cookie
It looked like Alli picked up a knock late on in the 1st half.
Walker isn’t a centre back, the penalty proved that. He’s a very good attacking right back.
I agree that defensively we will be suspect vs better sides.
Matt
Yeah so I’d be a bit worried about him but maybe give him a rest in the Panama game and start Rashford or Vardy.
Completely agree with you on that and I was saying before the tournament that Cahill should start for Walker and Walker out to RWB but Tripp played well today so maybe he could move to LWB but I don’t know what he’s like on the left side.
I didn’t get to see the Belgium game unfortunately but they could cause problems. I also think Mexico could really screw England if they meet. The only teams I’ve sat and thought ‘wow’ so far have been Spain, Portugal and Mexico and if England play any of them they could be in trouble.
inittowinit
You have to take the conditions and the opposition into account too Matt. They came out with intent to press and it looked great.
Two things then happened. The first was tangible and objective which was that Tunisia did everything, and I mean everything, to disrupt the game. That takes the sting out of the pressing and the flow. Stop, start constantly and it’s difficult to maintain what they were doing. Having a very weak ref didn’t help. Which in itself was a shame because they’ve been great so far and have looked like they’ve been told by Collina to take charge properly and almost bully the players around. This guy must have missed that meeting.
The second is subjective but it is the heat. The commentators mentioned it a number of times. The implication of that is obvious.
Despite all that they kept pressing to win. The subs worked nicely. I’d have also stuck Vardy on for Lingard myself but whatever.
What I saw bodes well.
As for Kane he did what he’s there to do. It’s not his role in that system to be constantly involved. The whole thing is set up to provide for him. If he drops back he’s getting in their space and then he’s not there on the end of what they are trying to do. He’s not a Gerrard style captain on the pitch and his role says he can’t be. He is the correct choice though in my opinion.
Matt
I agree about the ref and I was only saying before this game that I have been really impressed by them this tournament but this one was terrible!
I didn’t know about the conditions the Irish commentators didn’t mention it once so I can see now why they slowed down the game and seemed to drop off so I’ll apologise for that.
I thought Rashford was great when he came on and if Lingard kept his mouth shut Rashford could of had a goal. I’d have stuck Vardy on as well instead of RLC.
I can see where you’re coming from with Kane I just felt that England needed someone to grab that game and take charge. I feel a captain should be someone who can do that but I actually saw a quote by Wenger today that I agree with about how there are no more natural leaders like your Gerrard’s etc as today’s generation are stars and they have millions of followers so even if you tell them to do something they will just do what they want.
inittowinit
Refs have been superb. Like a mini bunch of Collina’s running around bossing the players about as oppposed to the other way around. I particularly like the one finger in your face pointing and the physical manhandling of them that he’s clearly told them to proactively do. It’s like they’ve suddenly been empowered.
RLC looked great when he came on. I’d probably start him instead of Alli as he was a bit anonymous. The injury probably didn’t help but he looked like he did a lot for Spurs last season. RLC got them on the back foot again and they looked a bit scared of him.
That’s just a Wenger excuse mate! He’d lost them a fair time ago. He was getting the runaround from Ozil et al for quite a while. I’m pretty sure if Southgate tells any one of these lads to do something they will do it.
inittowinit
And this may be a stab in the dark but I’m guessing the Irish commentators may have been in a studio in Ireland as opposed to in the stands in Russia?!
Matt
I love how the ref’s are handling the players especially when the one pushed Kroos away the other day really showing them who’s boss and Prem refs should probably start doing that too!
You could have a point there with Wenger. He lost his respect years ago and that could be clearly seen in Sanchez (clear to me again way!)
I believe the Irish have commentators over there but the pundits are in a studio in Ireland. Like I think Brian Kerr, Ray Houghton are over in Russia but there are useless just look at some of the quotes Kerr has come out with.
Matt
And today’s little gem! Haha
Silvers
Anyone else thinking of playing max capo for round 2 ????
secretzorro
Mine’s active
IvanTheTerrible
I might do the same. All teams have still something to play for. In round 3 some teams will be already guaranteed place in the last 16 and will start resting big players.
Gear
I’m thinking save it for the semi’s / final. You’ve got so many chances in the group games to nail a good cappo, seems a waste.
Silvers
I just thk there are weaker teams in competition now get to the semis not going to be a lot of goals
Gear
You’re right, that’s why I think it’ll be harder to nail the captain pick later on.
inittowinit
With Gear on this Silvers. Easier to float around right now. You’ll have multiple players in one game come the later stages and so less options to land it on. Max cap allows that.
It’d also be a more valuable chip if you had to set one captain per round.
Silvers
Ok get that Init I’ll stick cheers
Silvers
Ok guys do I need a TF
The Gallant Pioneer (@MitchellC_FF247)
I’d maybe look to ditch Mueller.
Others may disagree Silvers but he’s not the player of old and I don’t see them putting loads by Sweden.
Silvers
GP any ideas to who , not a lot of choice.
DMC
Silvers – Eriksen, Coutinho are good options. Also you could think about upgrade Jesus to Ronnie and do Muller to say Golovin