FIFA 2018 World Cup

**berko** · 06-24-2018, 03:27 PM

The fox commentators are fairly awful but it has to be said that a lot of wc football is pretty boring. The format encourages timid play, and sometimes the people calling the game are forced to conjure interest in matches which lack quality and intrigue.

**plugboots** · 06-25-2018, 08:42 AM

Hmmm, RSA v. EGY seems to have intrigue

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**Dee Hubbs** · 06-25-2018, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by plugboots

Hmmm, RSA v. EGY seems to have intrigue

Thats a "K"SA, as in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

**PNWbrit** · 06-25-2018, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Cono Este

This could be the yr.

Kane is clearly a world class and classy player on a rich vein of form. But I really have my doubts.. Southgate's "system" is being talked up so much and his selection of players who will conform to it. Smells of unable to adapt to me.

I thought they were deeply unimpressive against Tunisia and were very lucky to not stumble out of that game 1-1.

Yeah they scored lots of goals against the 55th ranked country in the world... with the help of two stupid penalties. But at times they looked troubled with counterattacks and pace and there was some very nervous defending under pressure. the few times that Panama did get some possession going England reverted to their old habit of chasing. Also talking of old habits a general lack of confidence on the ball and tendency to just get rid of the thing to anyone rather than to gain tactical advantage with their pass. Clearly they're dangerous at set pieces (which top team isn't - that's the easy bit) but they only really looked to make headway on the right wing in open play.

I think Belgium are going to be a very nasty surprise for them and highly likely they'll carry a defeat into the next round... to admittedly what looks a softish draw for the 16s.

My money is on them going out hard in the quarters.

It could have been the year with far better England teams than this.. and never was.

Never the less COME ON ENGLAND !!!!

**Cono Este** · 06-25-2018, 11:05 AM

I agree. They gave up a stupid goal, were given penalties, and kane scored one off his heel. All against a banana republic. I favor Belgium, it’s going to be a good test.

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**SumJongGuy** · 06-25-2018, 12:49 PM

Could also say that there were several near misses and a phantom penalty against England in the Tunisia game. That game could have easily been 4-0 with better luck and officiating. Haven't looked at possible knockout brackets, but England is final 4 at best. Better teams out there planning better ball. I have Mexico going deep, possibly all the way.

**From_the_NEK** · 06-25-2018, 01:53 PM

This last minute has been rather eventful in this afternoons games

**SumJongGuy** · 06-25-2018, 01:53 PM

Safe to say Spain gets biggest disappoint award? Looks like they ran into a tough keeper today. Dominated every stat except the score.

**BC.** · 06-25-2018, 01:57 PM

This VAR system seems to be a nightmare for everyone. Causes way too much stoppage in play.....and gives the players too much opportunity to complain, whine, etc....instead of just playing on.

**Cono Este** · 06-25-2018, 02:08 PM

Iran vs Portugal was totally out of control. Iranians in tears. WC madness! That ref will have a hang over tomorrow.

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**old goat** · 06-25-2018, 02:22 PM

vuvuzelas are a crime against humanity. should have been banned by the nuclear deal. thanks obama.

**Cruiser** · 06-25-2018, 04:38 PM

Did Ronaldo punch that nice Iranian fellow in the jaw?

**Long duc dong** · 06-25-2018, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Cruiser

Did Ronaldo punch that nice Iranian fellow in the jaw?

No.

The guy who deserves to get socked in the jaw is Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos. A dirty player and a sneaky scumbag. It was great seeing him fuck up today.

What Ronaldo did was very minor, the Iranian embellished the fuck out of it.

**Long duc dong** · 06-25-2018, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by SumJongGuy

Could also say that there were several near misses and a phantom penalty against England in the Tunisia game. That game could have easily been 4-0 with better luck and officiating. Haven't looked at possible knockout brackets, but England is final 4 at best. Better teams out there planning better ball. I have Mexico going deep, possibly all the way.

If Mexico won that would truly be amazing. No non-power has won since Uruguay eons ago.

I would agree that Kane is world class, and I think Sterling is terrific, but other than that there are guys who are very good and young, guys who need to take the next step. If Kane and Sterling can maintain their play and Rashford/Alli/Lingard and the rest of their young guysdevelop as much as they COULD then England could be really good in 2022.

The 2006 England team had seriously great talent. An argument could be made that they had more talent that year than anyone except Brazil. But Rooney was coming off an injury, Owen was coming off an injury and got hurt, and Gerard and Lampard were simply never able to play well together. Still, look back at England's 2006 roster, that was some serious talent. In a sense, where England really fucked up during those years was in the use of Paul Scholes. They played Scholes out of position to accomodate Lampard and Gerard, and Scholes was EXACTLY the type of player that team needed, a ball-control/point guard type midfielder.

**jackstraw** · 06-25-2018, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by old goat

vuvuzelas are a crime against humanity. should have been banned by the nuclear deal. thanks obama.

Yes.

That hand ball was questionable on Portugal...not that it matters in the end.

**Grape_Ape** · 06-25-2018, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate

Nice work by the Kosovo national team, showed those Serbs a thing or two.

Attachment 239701

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/201...itzerland.html

I didn't know these guys were Albanian. Huh...
Also, they got fined for those sweet gestures.

"The gesture is likely to inflame tensions among Serb nationalists and ethnic Albanians.

Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, the former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. Serbia doesn't recognize Kosovo's independence and relations between the two countries remain tense. Xhaka's parents are originally from Kosovo and they are of Albanian heritage. His brother plays for Albania's national team.

Years of war in Balkans sent many families to western European countries, including Switzerland. The Swiss have dozens of ethnic Albanians in their national soccer program."

**dunfree** · 06-25-2018, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Long duc dong

Sergio Ramos

break his fucking leg.

**Tri-Ungulate** · 06-25-2018, 10:35 PM

Yeah, and the Swiss striker (pretty mediocre, and all but invisible during the match) is Bosnian. You can bet the game against Serbia meant a lot to the team.

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**Tippster** · 06-25-2018, 10:54 PM

Been a hoot of a WC so far. I'm enjoying every moment.

Now the Mannschaft just needs to beat S. Korea by 2 and I'll be a happy bratwurst eater.

**Hicks** · 06-26-2018, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by Tippster

Been a hoot of a WC so far. I'm enjoying every moment.

Now the Mannschaft just needs to beat S. Korea by 2 and I'll be a happy bratwurst eater.

So if South Korea fiercely kicks the Germans' ass - which could easily happen - will the brat then get stuck in your throat?

**old goat** · 06-26-2018, 07:21 AM

Simultaneous games where the announcers keep telling the score of the other game. Have they never heard of DVR? Ruined Spain v Morocco for me yesterday, expecting the same today with ARG vs NGA vs CRO vs ICE.

**jackstraw** · 06-26-2018, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by old goat

Simultaneous games where the announcers keep telling the score of the other game. Have they never heard of DVR? Ruined Spain v Morocco for me yesterday, expecting the same today with ARG vs NGA vs CRO vs ICE.

Yeah, that is a bit f'd up. Who can't switch channels or Google it to find out?

**willywhit** · 06-26-2018, 08:14 AM

Brasil game was fun to watch. Anyone know if there's footage (hehe) of the face kick ? missed that match

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/06/201...-otamendi-kick

**old goat** · 06-26-2018, 08:17 AM

I assume the coaches know the score of the other game. Given the importance of ties and goal differentials in the group stage I wonder how much the running score of the other game affects strategy.