The official FIFA World Cup 2018 thread

[dmash]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

I had them 2-0 as well in the Predictor. Just a bit off

I really didn't expect that. I mean, I didn't think Saudi would do much other than a fluke goal........but I didn't think Russia would look that decent. Been putting in the practice time to represent the home squad, I see you Russia, I see you.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by dmash

I really didn't expect that. I mean, I didn't think Saudi would do much other than a fluke goal........but I didn't think Russia would look that decent. Been putting in the practice time to represent the home squad, I see you Russia, I see you.

Haha yea - though in all fairness Saudi Arabia looked like me trying to kick a ball drunk. No cohesion, no vision, inability to make a simple pass, or do anything for that matter

[dmash]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Haha yea - though in all fairness Saudi Arabia looked like me trying to kick a ball drunk. No cohesion, no vision, inability to make a simple pass, or do anything for that matter

IDK what your channel showed.....but the funniest part of the match.......was how German TV would show Putin shaking the Saudi Crown Prince's hand, each and every time Russia scored a goal. As if he was saying 'yes, welcome to Russia, thank you'

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Haha yea - though in all fairness Saudi Arabia looked like me trying to kick a ball drunk. No cohesion, no vision, inability to make a simple pass, or do anything for that matter

Now it’d be a brilliant story if Saudi of all teams actually were playing the game whilst pissed.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by dmash

IDK what your channel showed.....but the funniest part of the match.......was how German TV would show Putin shaking the Saudi Crown Prince's hand, each and every time Russia scored a goal. As if he was saying 'yes, welcome to Russia, thank you'

Yeah - I watched it on Fox sports (no comment about commentators ). They showed the same image a few times, and then at the end Putin gesticulating as if to say "what do you want me to do, we're this good"

[Roll the Lex]

Only got to watch the first 15min of the game before I had to go back to work...
There better be nothing tomorrow for me to do at work at 2pm...

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Haha yea - though in all fairness Saudi Arabia looked like me trying to kick a ball drunk. No cohesion, no vision, inability to make a simple pass, or do anything for that matter

I was wondering if Russia found a covert way to drug the Saudi team

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

I was wondering if Russia found a covert way to drug the Saudi team

[Runnin' Rebel]

Sent from my iPad while on the beach

[Rolex Essex]

Wtf! Portugal has the same odds as England?
Didn’t they just won the Euro cup recently?

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Gotta love business mixing with latin blood

Try marrying Latin Blood. That's real work

[cvera]

I'm just catching up on today's games. Can't watch them during work, but watching recorded games just isn't as exciting.

[City74]

Originally Posted by The Nail Tech

Wtf! Portugal has the same odds as England?
Didn’t they just won the Euro cup recently?

Yea that’s a head scratcher

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by The Nail Tech

Wtf! Portugal has the same odds as England?
Didn’t they just won the Euro cup recently?

Portugal are rubbish!

OK maybe “rubbish” is overstating it and yes they won the Euro’s but so have Denmark and Greece in my living memory. Portugal were incredibly lucky in 2016. They came third in a group containing the might of Hungary, Austria and Iceland and didn’t win a game. I’m not sure that’s ever happened in the Euro’s. They then narrowly beat a decent but not stellar Croatia, needed pens to beat International journeyman team Poland and were massively jammy to draw Wales in the semis. Obviously France in the final were on paper a fabulous team but they played terribly and still should’ve won that game several times over. Deschamps is a poor manager and he will hamper France in this campaign.

They won that tournament by winning 1 game out of 7 in normal time, which is astonishing and unlikely to be repeated any time soon.

Portugal really aren’t very good, Ronaldo aside (and even he may be past the stage where he is able to carry the team on his own) and I wouldn’t be surprised if either Morocco or Iran turn them over and knock them out in the group stages.

[cedargrove]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Portugal are rubbish!

OK maybe “rubbish” is overstating it and yes they won the Euro’s but so have Denmark and Greece in my living memory. Portugal were incredibly lucky in 2016. They came third in a group containing the might of Hungary, Austria and Iceland and didn’t win a game. I’m not sure that’s ever happened in the Euro’s. They then narrowly beat a decent but not stellar Croatia, needed pens to beat International journeyman team Poland and were massively jammy to draw Wales in the semis. Obviously France in the final were on paper a fabulous team but they played terribly and still should’ve won that game several times over. Deschamps is a poor manager and he will hamper France in this campaign.

They won that tournament by winning 1 game out of 7 in normal time, which is astonishing and unlikely to be repeated any time soon.

Portugal really aren’t very good, Ronaldo aside (and even he may be past the stage where he is able to carry the team on his own) and I wouldn’t be surprised if either Morocco or Iran turn them over and knock them out in the group stages.

I'm a Portugal fan and would agree with most of this. Despite winning Euro, it wasn't convincing. Hoping for a strong showing today.

[AK797]

Interesting that the Euros can throw up an outsider winner, but the WCs never do, in fact the continent rule plays a huge role in selecting the winner, Germany winning in the Americas was a big change, maybe a new dawn, but still the Europeans tend to only win in Europe since Sweden 58.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by AK797

Interesting that the Euros can throw up an outsider winner, but the WCs never do, in fact the continent rule plays a huge role in selecting the winner, Germany winning in the Americas was a big change, maybe a new dawn, but still the Europeans tend to only win in Europe since Sweden 58.

Yeah it is a bit odd.

The beauty of football is that the best team doesn’t always win - both in terms of individual matches and tournaments/cup competitions. Even league titles occasionally a la Leicester City. Yet, as you say, a fancied team if not the outright favourite always wins the WC.

[tudorbaja27]

Egypt Uruguay kind of garbage so far. Maybe I should work for a while and enjoy Portugal Spain with a few brews later on

[dmash]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Egypt Uruguay kind of garbage so far. Maybe I should work for a while and enjoy Portugal Spain with a few brews later on

Typical Uruguay. Great individual players with suarez and cavani, etc, but absolutely no cohesion.

And actually, Suarez looks horrendous. Cavani has had a few good looks though.

Edit: man, that free kick looked NICE

Edit2: There goes Egypt’s chances at making it out

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by dmash

Typical Uruguay. Great individual players with suarez and cavani, etc, but absolutely no cohesion.

And actually, Suarez looks horrendous. Cavani has had a few good looks though.

Edit: man, that free kick looked NICE

Edit2: There goes Egypt’s chances at making it out

Haha indeed. Morocco Iran presents little interest (for me personally) - waiting for Portugal Spain.

Are you also doing the predictor through the FIFA app? We created a league with some friends - each threw in $30. Makes it a bit more fun and engaging.

[Zakalwe]

The Morocco-Iran game is pretty good value so far, entertaining game.

I long, ache for Portugal to get absolutely battered tonight. I have nothing against the country (which is lovely - good wine too) the people or even the football team. I just want to see Ronaldo cry.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

The Morocco-Iran game is pretty good value so far, entertaining game.

I long, ache for Portugal to get absolutely battered tonight. I have nothing against the country (which is lovely - good wine too) the people or even the football team. I just want to see Ronaldo cry.

Haha! I have them upsetting Spain. A long shot but with the recent coaching change - worth the odds

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

Haha! I have them upsetting Spain. A long shot but with the recent coaching change - worth the odds

Yeah the coach thing is absolutely crazy. The Spanish federation managed to shoot themselves in the balls and both feet in one shot.

I still think Spain will win handily but if I had to put money on one outcome it’d be that Ramos will get yellow-carded for putting a reducer on Ronaldo at some point in the game.

[tudorbaja27]

And Iran with the stunner! Definitely did not expect that.

[dmash]

What were you guys saying about portugal?!?!

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by dmash

What were you guys saying about portugal?!?!

It’s a game of two halves.

But it’s not looking good.

Bloody Ronaldo.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

It’s a game of two halves.

But it’s not looking good.

Bloody Ronaldo.

They don't even look that good! Portugal just seems to pull it out of the hat though......

EDIT: WTF HAHAHA 3-2!?

[dmash]

HE IS THE REAL DEAL THIS WC

A HAT TRICK GOAL TO TIE IT AT 88’?!?! He came to WIN IT this year

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Portugal are rubbish!

OK maybe “rubbish” is overstating it and yes they won the Euro’s but so have Denmark and Greece in my living memory. Portugal were incredibly lucky in 2016. They came third in a group containing the might of Hungary, Austria and Iceland and didn’t win a game. I’m not sure that’s ever happened in the Euro’s. They then narrowly beat a decent but not stellar Croatia, needed pens to beat International journeyman team Poland and were massively jammy to draw Wales in the semis. Obviously France in the final were on paper a fabulous team but they played terribly and still should’ve won that game several times over. Deschamps is a poor manager and he will hamper France in this campaign.

They won that tournament by winning 1 game out of 7 in normal time, which is astonishing and unlikely to be repeated any time soon.

Portugal really aren’t very good, Ronaldo aside (and even he may be past the stage where he is able to carry the team on his own) and I wouldn’t be surprised if either Morocco or Iran turn them over and knock them out in the group stages.

Another typical example of how difficult it is to be a at home sitting couch "expert".

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Another typical example of how difficult it is to be a at home sitting couch "expert".

Where would the fun be in sitting on the fence?!

I’m not a fan of the man but the guy is a complete machine. Despite the fact he’s a poser he probably works harder than anybody at making himself the best player he can be and he always has done.

Portugal really aren’t very good.

But Bloody Ronaldo is ridiculous.