₦airaland Forum

2. France

They have impressed for probably a grand total of 45 minutes at the World Cup finals.

They laboured to a win over Australia, and continued to play within themselves in the 1-0 win over Peru. That pattern continued in the draw with Denmark, and you simply cannot just turn playing well off and on like a tap.
Didier Deschamps is still yet to find a balance in midfield and attack that really works and Les Bleus are a side that too often look less than the sum of its parts. They dumped out Argentina with an at-times irresistible attacking display - led by the breathtaking pace by Mbappe - but left holes in defence and conceded three times to a side that contained Messi but had been little more than shambolic in Russia.

Now they meet a Uruguay side who won't give them space, who will defend deep and smother them. There have to be questions marks over Deschamps and his ability to affect matches in play, whether with substitutions or tactical changes, while Messrs. Cavani and Suarez can hurt them.

However, with the amount of talent that they possess, with genuine quality right through the side, they are serious contenders. That's why they are our No.2.

3. Croatia

Croatia put in the performance of the tournament with their 3-0 decimation of Argentina, a match in which they toyed with the South Americans and were absolutely outstanding during the group stage.

Binning off Ante Cacic and his dour tactics for Zlatko Dalic has already proved well worth it. But in the last 16 against Denmark, we saw signs that the pressure was starting to get to the Vatreni, although they eventually won on penalties.

In the last eight, there is no doubt that they are favourites to beat Russia. Like Spain, they will dominate and control the hosts, and Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic must ensure that, unlike the Spanish, they don't lose focus on the task at hand and retain clarity.

They have a clear pathway to the final, because they are the best team on that side of the draw. Their quarter-final is a battle of mentality and a battle with themselves, as much as anything else.

Can they keep their heads against the hosts?

4. Uruguay

La Celeste's reward for winning Group A with a 100 per cent record and without conceding a goal was a nightmare draw; if they want to get to the final, they'll have to go past Portugal, France in the last eight and then likely favourites Brazil.

Part A of that has been achieved, Edinson Cavani's double seeing off the Seleccao. It was an excellent display where they never allowed Portugal to gain a foothold on proceedings and kept Cristiano Ronaldo at arm's length throughout.

When all is said and done, playing more expansive sides plays into the hands of veteran coach Oscar Tabarez and a stubborn, difficult, battle-hardened team, who are still to be behind at these finals.

This is the final hurrah for the likes of Diego Godin, Luis Suarez and Cavani and they look determined to make the most of it. They win matches not necessarily by raising their game, but rather by dragging opponents down to where they want them.

France looks a mouthwatering clash already and one that they will truly believe they can come out the other side of with a victory. Cavani faces a fitness test - losing him would be a major blow.

5. England

The Three Lions secured a World Cup first in the last 16, by winning a penalty shootout.

The win over Colombia showed that Gareth Southgate's side, the youngest left at the finals and very much one learning on the job, are growing in stature. The clash was far from pretty and in terms of technical quality was one of the worst in the second round, as it descended into something of a blood-feud with plenty of sniping, play-acting and late challenges on display.

But John Stones, Harry Maguire and the whole team grew in Moscow, showing the stomach for the fight and going out and winning a game that already looked won after Yerry Mina's 93rd minute equaliser. It was an excellent display of heart.

Now they will again be asked to use their heads, when they face an obdurate Sweden side who will allow England to dominate the ball and ask them to break them down. With six-goal Harry Kane on fire, there's every chance, but there remains the worry that England are very-much set-pieces or bust when it comes to notching at these finals.

Can the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli create or take chances when it's really necessary?

6. Belgium

Make no mistake, Belgium got out of jail against Japan.
Having qualified for the last 16 with three wins from three and nine goals scored, Roberto Martinez's men looked to have the dream draw against the Blue Samurai. However, tactical naivety and a lethargic opening 60 minutes meant they found themselves two goals down.
Credit Martinez for the changes and to Marouane Fellaini for wreaking havoc. Credit Kevin de Bruyne for casting aside his shackles with a 94th minute surge and Nacer Chadli for finishing an outstanding counter to give them victory.

But if they play in a similar fashion, with a similar formation, against Brazil, then expect them to be absolutely destroyed in Kazan. This is the biggest test Belgium's 'golden generation' has faced since the Euro 2016 loss to Italy; they don't often play teams who are perceived as better (or at least on a par) with them.
They may (on paper) be the third/fourth best side left at the finals but they are the most fragile side on their half of the draw. They either improve drastically, do things smarter, or they go home.

7. Russia

Labelled the worst Russian side ever by members of the home press, expectations were low pre-tournament.
But Stanislav Cherchesov's side put in excellent performances against Saudi Arabia and Egypt to book a last 16 spot - before being brought back down to earth with a bump by Uruguay..

Hammered 3-0 by the South Americans, the momentum looked to be gone. Then somehow they held Spain out for 120 minutes, conceding only to an own goal, and won on penalties, Igor Akinfeev the hero with two saves. They should have been beaten, but Spain were just so toothless that they were able to cling on and then held their nerve.

They can't possibly see off Croatia too...can they?

8. Sweden

Sweden aren't pretty, but my word they're hard to beat. In their four games at these finals they've been behind for only the moments following Toni Kroos' stunning freekick winner in the 2-1 loss to Germany.
A team that runs itself into the ground and refuses to quit, they may be limited but they play within their limits, built on a collective work ethic instilled by Janne Andersson.

However, there is only so far that defensive nous and the over-reliance on Emil Forsberg for spark can carry them. Eventually they are bound to come unstuck, it's just a matter of when. That, and because this is not their home tournament, they rank below Russia on our list.
Regardless, Zlatan Ibrahimovic watches on ruefully.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/world-cup-2018-power-rankings-12851556

..
to spot a broke guy is very easy.

nothing attractive about that girl. signs she sponsors the vacation. but the guy is really cute for the baddest hot girl with all the shape.

despite the fact she select the best out from all the pictures. she is even hiding behind a tree.

there are some photos that shouldn't be on social media.

look straight to her, when she look back look at her eye balls and do not blink. she will definitely be the first to remove her eye. make sure when she look back at you. your eye is still very much focus on her the second and third time.

she will lose balance and shy. and when you have any slight opportunity to talk to her walk up to her. and say hi, she will respond you well and give you her number or anything you ask from her, but she will never look you on the eye again.

80% girls will respond to you this way. other than just walk up to her from no where she will have more boost and confident to face you and turn you down at once because she haven't notice/know you before and your intentions.

after you collect her number ensure you never look at her again until you left there. otherwise you will ruin everything.

this is unacceptable...

that's definitely not Nigeria and i sure it's heat. she don't want it to smell down there. she is going for a runs. if she sweats the place will smell bad. she has heavy and tight thigh.

why do ladies feel inferior and worthless more than guys? the society seems to favor them more and men have too much pressure. but ladies experience inferior and worthless more of the time. why?

what happen to pipe line or rail. Nigeria is a failed states. its too bad the British created it with no intension for development. the thing they created will come back to hurt them.

so you mean that car using a CCTV camera? like as a said before most of this trucks are not fit to be on the road. Nigeria is a country where anything happens.

in this country I also get scared when tanker get close of my vehicle. majority of the tankers doesn't meet standard test for road fitness.


its risky this highly explosive thing to be on the road

.. chia. in a develop country tanker doesn't move on road without escort from fire disaster management, tanker inspection for fitness, security escort and other road clearance because of issues like this as terrorist can hijack the tanker. Africa needs to caught up with the rest of the world

Bet9ja account suddenly inactive. Two of my friend account is inactive and they said contact customer care.

Is anyone experiencing the same problem?

okosodo:
No light for 2 weeks now and no explanation from BEDC. Ikpoba hill, benin city

lol. this town na dead.

Macgyver1:
Please where do this 1xbet people get their results from? This Germany game is clearly under 9.5 saves from soffer score app. Ans 1xbet put a different result

Please did the red yours?


newsheriffintown

is the 1xbet still paying out instantly?

what is happening to nairabet? they have not been able to pay out their agent for the past 4 days now. its giving us problem.

cc: akinalabi

the Argentina coach have not pull shirt yet.

is the Jersey not a bad luck

just because the Ghanaian government refuse the US military base on there soil.

i bought a glo line and i'm trying to call customer care but its not default to English. I mistakenly load *223* Instead of *123* airtime and I was given data instead of airtime.

buhari is a terrorist. and would be dealt with.

i do not believe the Nigeria police or SARS for 1 seconds.

these guys can frame you up if you refuse to settle them. they just waste an innocent man who did not settle. it all a cover up.

buhari is a terrorist, obama is a terrorist. hate trump or like him. since assumption of office. ISIS has become a thing of the past. there is more calm in the middle east now.

buhari is a terrorist, obama is a terrorist. hate trump or like him. since assumption of office. ISIS has become a thing of the past. there is more calm in the middle east now.