World Cup Tournament 2018

[OwlsFan]

It’s in Europe so historically you can probably discount the South American nations.

It’s hard to see beyond the Big 3 of Germany, France and Spain. France currently has the best crop of players but mentally are they up to it?

Spain unbeaten in a lot of games but tired legs must catch up with them.

Germany ? Defend their title ?

It’s interesting because there is no clear favourite. And Russia at home will be powerful. Best value bet on them at 50/1.

The Germans came a cropper in Russia in 1941. Perhaps they might do a bit better this time with no Winter snow and blizzards to face.

As a WW2 buff, I look with envy at England's venues. Volgograd aka Stalingrad. Kalingrad aka Koningsberg, the once capital of East Prussia. Nizhny Novgorod - ok, don't know much about this place. Huge amount of travel though for the supporters.

[ArFella]

Spain have just sacked their manager the day before the tournament kicks off... Madness! He was announced as new Real Madrid manager yesterday and apparently all negotiations were done without the Spanish FA knowing and they were informed the deal was done 5 minutes before Real Madrid's press release. Can't be good for Spain's preparations as they face Portugal on Friday, players reportedly wanted the manager to stay on but the President was so incensed he insisted on sacking him. Reports now that either the assistant takes charge or they possibly air drop Del Bosque into the team as a calming presence...

I must admit I hadn't really gotten the same sense of excitement for this World Cup as all those that went before but this really has changed that now!

[NeverFeltBetter]

The Spanish situation is a mess, really bad form on all parties the way it has been handled. It will have to have an impact on their chances.

I worked out a German win over Belgium in the final. Think Brazil aren't there yet, France will balls it up somewhere, Argentina don't have it in them to get all the way and Spain, well, things could fall apart there quickly. Who else is there you could count as realistic contenders? Uruguay, Columbia maybe? England should get to the 1/4 finals, Senegal are decent.

Russia are terrible, and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Saudi Arabia get something tomorrow. They've tried ten different players at CB over the last few years, and some of their best players are crocked. Bar some officiating shenanigans that hosts tend to benefit from, I think they'll be pulling a South Africa.

[osarusan]

Russia are absolute muck, can't see them getting beyond the second round.

I'd go for Germany to win it again, they are probably the team with the fewest weaknesses. Spain will probably be affected by the manager situation.

[pineapple stu]

Russia have never got out of the groups before. It looks like they've an easy draw, but they've to face Salah and Suarez. They tend to not travel well, so home advantage could be good for them, but...

I fancy France; that squad is absurdly strong. I fear a good England performance more than usual. And with so many good teams not even qualified, a surprise semi-finalist could crop up. Though the last 8 last time was, Costa Rica aside, disappointingly predictable

[mattman]

Reckon Uruguay could be the surprisish Quarter Finalists this time around, they will most likely top their group and will then meet either Portugal or Spain. I would fancy them to take Portugal, but Spain even after their manager debacle I fear might be too strong for them. Time will tell.

[Scrufil]

I drew Saudi Arabia in our household draw so I'll be cheering 'Come on Galway!'

[NeverFeltBetter]

Dzagoev off early holding his hamstring. Pretty devastating for the hosts if he is out.

I'm also told that linesmen have been instructed to keep their flags down for tight offside calls, so VAR can do the necessaries if required.

[pineapple stu]

Do they Saudis have the record for worst World Cup performance? 2002 with no points and 0-12 in terms of goals. El Salvador also got no points and 1-13 in goals. I've never seen a wall as scared as the one lined up for that fifth goal.
They're well on course to beat that anyway.

It's an immediate question posed to the 48 team World Cup, particularly the idea of giving Europe just two of the extra spots. 2026 will see lots of these games.

[osarusan]

Saudis were brutal, countless times they turned a comfortable position into danger in their own half thanks to hopeless, aimless passing.

[NeverFeltBetter]

The AFC is the real weak link in FIFA now (leaving aside the OFC), though that weakness doesn't get anywhere near the same attention as Africa or North America used to get in their really low periods. South Korea in 2002 was an aberration, what kind of impact have they made since then? Japan and South Korea made it to the Last 16 in 2010, and that's it: all first round exits otherwise. Will 2018 be any different? Iran are the highest ranked Asian side but would need to finish ahead of Spain or Portugal, Japan seems overly-reliant on ageing squad members, South Korea apparently had a terrible qualifying campaign, Australia aren't really progressing and the Saudi's just demonstrated their own lack of quality and fitness at this level. An extra few AFC teams in will be easy fodder alright, as it stands.

Despite the opposition allowing themselves to be overrun so easily, I think this will be a big result for Russia. Expectations were so low, but they hammered their first opposition, conceded no goals, and played better after Dzagoev went off. Just for self-confidence, morale, I think it will be a very big deal.

[osarusan]

Who knew that Ray Houghton had such insight into the Zamalek players?

[OwlsFan]

I drew Saudi Arabia in our household draw so I'll be cheering 'Come on Galway!'

I run our office draw and always have money back for the team which concedes the most goals in the qualification stage - gives some interest to those who draw the Saudi Arabias of this world.

[pineapple stu]

Can only presume Salah isn't fit if he didn't get any run today. Even 20 minutes might have changed things as it turned out. Instead, they now need to beat Russia (assuming everyone beats the Saudis). But will Salah be 100% for that one?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Felt like the manager was satisfied playing for the draw and didn't want to risk Salah. Too late to change things when it went wrong. Presumably Salah will have to start the next game.

Didn't think Uruguay were all that great, but they should top this group easily enough.

[NeverFeltBetter]

An early blip, but Spain looked much the better side for the majority of the half, you'd expect them to come back. De Gea the last keeper in the tournament I thought would pull something like that, its like he thought Ronaldo would go for the corner and didn't expect it to come straight at him.

[pineapple stu]

Cracking game though; best of the tournament so far.

Streets above the other games in standard, and that it's a local derby is helping too.

[pineapple stu]

Also - 83 international goals for Ronaldo now. 1 more to draw level with Puskas as the second highest international scorer of all time (70 more caps, but it's a different game now). Given he's talked about playing till 40, and given Portugal wouldn't be the strongest team and could keep him till then, can he catch Ali Daei's record of 109?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Great game. Incredible cool from Ronaldo for the free; the accusations of Portugal being a one man team will be back in force now. Draw a fair result, and Iran's win makes the next round of games in this group more interesting.

[pineapple stu]

VAR - the end of debate on refereeing decisions.

Well, maybe not.

Goal-line technology worked perfectly by contrast

[NeverFeltBetter]

Iceland: who says 11 men behind the ball can't be entertaining?

[geysir]

Not a bad start for Iceland. Whilst Portugal players celebrated their draw with exuberance, the Iceland players appeared to take it in their stride. I felt this game was more difficult than any game Iceland have played and got a result in, over the last 8 years. Even if misfiring, Argentina are a tough opponent, not quite Nigel Benn tough, but close enough.

The bandwagon has been steadily revving up in Iceland since beginning of March. Euro 2016 was big of course, however these WC finals is many times bigger. People now know for sure that regardless of scales of difference in magnitude of opponent, anything is possible with this team. Qualifying automatically is no longer seen as the victory. I hadn't met anybody who thought Iceland would not get a result in the opener.
I couldn't get match tickets for the game v Argentina, then belatedly Ice FA got an extra thousand or so returned tickets to distribute from FIFA but I had already made arrangements with a direct flight to Volgograd before 2nd game and direct flight home from Rostov after 2nd game, both charter flights.
Cost about Eur 800 in total, not bad considering and beats the hell out of enduring 2 stopovers/3 flights each way.

[pineapple stu]

So 8 games in and European sides almost completely dominant.

21 goals scored so far; 17 by the 7 European teams. African sides have no goals in 3 games. Asian teams have two in 3 games - an own goal and a penalty. South America have 2 in 3 as well. Leaving aside Spain v Portugal - probably the best game so far - Europeans have conceded just twice. None of them have lost.

All for the development of the world game, but the expanded World Cup really is going to be quite uncompetitive if Europe is only getting 2/3 extra spots

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's astonishing watching the Argentina/Iceland game back: it really is 10 players passing the ball to Messi and waiting for him to do something. Di Maria was shocking. Hamilton also describing Messi having a penalty saved as "impossible", when he's missed four of his last seven, or so they said in studio.

I read that this is also supposed to be the most stable Nigerian team in years, regards squad cohesion and their FA not being a corrupt mess of ineptitude and missed bonus payments, but it certainly didn't show on the pitch. They barely looked bothered.

[seanfhear]

Iceland: who says 11 men behind the ball can't be entertaining?You don’t have to watch them every game when they are not your team and their success is still a novelty for them .

Success junkies are big in sport and especially in Irish Sport . Jack Charlton Played some awful football but because he was successful Irish Success junkies came for their Fix . Are Ireland actually playing the same Sport as Spain = Maybe / Maybe not .

[OwlsFan]

George Hamilton on Messi's penalty miss: "Unbelievable. Icelandic keeper has done something impossible. He had saved a Messi penalty". Messi has now actually missed 4 out of the last 7 penalties. Not so unbelievable George. Richard Dunne knew that fact. Not sure if someone had handed it to him during the break but at least he didn't come out with the Hamilton ott stuff.

Ronaldo makes me laugh though. He cannot resist looking at himself of the big screen. Even before the vital free kick he couldn't resist a glace up at the screen.

Are the African teams playing too negative football ? It appears to me that they don't trust themselves to "give it a go". They have some good footballers but they are usually just set up not to concede.

Iceland - have to hand it to them. They have a system and it works (so far). I'd sooner watch them than the African sides (so far).

Nice to see Fernando Hierro as manager of Spain. We owe him twice. Firstly, he scored the goal against Denmark in 1993 the night of the Alan McLoughlin goal against Northern Ireland which saw us through to the USA and secondly was it he who tried to swap shirts with Niall Quinn in Korea in 2002 to give us the last minute penalty against Spain ?

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, fairly sure that was Hierro trying to swap shirts with Quinny early. (You can just about make him out here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g78JRfwL3w)) Nice bit of reminiscing about that when Croatia were given their penalty against Nigeria too. Not penalised anywhere near often enough, though it's rarely as obvious as that.

Messi has missed 25 of 107 penalties he's taken (https://michelacosta.com/en/messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-penalties-missed-and-scored/). Which isn't actually all that bad - a typical conversion rate is about 75-80% - but it's not Messi-esque of course.

[osarusan]

George Hamilton on Messi's penalty miss: "Unbelievable. Icelandic keeper has done something impossible. He had saved a Messi penalty". Messi has now actually missed 4 out of the last 7 penalties. Not so unbelievable George. Richard Dunne knew that fact. Not sure if someone had handed it to him during the break but at least he didn't come out with the Hamilton ott stuff.

Yeah he was also emphasising the fact that the Iceland keeper plays in the Danish league, as if that was some kind of two-bit league and a keeper from here could never imagine such a moment against Messi.

But Hamilton has never, ever, known anything about football.

[NeverFeltBetter]

He's not alone in perpetuating this narrative of Iceland as plucky underdogs who could never have dreamed of winning a point against Messi, as opposed to a side that topped their qualifying group and have been playing at a consistently high level for several years now. Irish viewers will naturally lap it up.

[geysir]

The Icelandic goalie's first real pro contract came at the age of 32 and that was after euro 2016. He had his dodgy moments.at the euros and before but he has improved his technique and ability no end in the last 2 years.
So yeah, it could be said with credibility that he did come from a long amateur career in 2 bit leagues to face Messi at the WC finals.
He still had to make the save. He guessed right and made his move with perfect timing just as Messi's boot connected with the ball. He had also guessed right at euro 2016, dived low to his right v Rooney, but Rooney had struck the perfect penalty.

[osarusan]

Super stuff from Mexico, delighted they got the win.

[OwlsFan]

Yeah, fairly sure that was Hierro trying to swap shirts with Quinny early. (You can just about make him out here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g78JRfwL3w)) Nice bit of reminiscing about that when Croatia were given their penalty against Nigeria too. Not penalised anywhere near often enough, though it's rarely as obvious as that.

Messi has missed 25 of 107 penalties he's taken (https://michelacosta.com/en/messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-penalties-missed-and-scored/). Which isn't actually all that bad - a typical conversion rate is about 75-80% - but it's not Messi-esque of course.

Arghhh. That last penalty. Shay went too early and the wrong way for all of them. Seeing that again has opened up old wounds.

[pineapple stu]

Loving the Belgian cardigan jersey here

[NeverFeltBetter]

None of the group favorites have been especially impressive, even Belgium right now are in second gear against a very limited Panama side. There's room here for a dark horse to make a proper go, maybe Mexico?

[pineapple stu]

Similar story last time I think?

But then it was the usual suspects (plus Costa Rica) in the quarters

[NeverFeltBetter]

Tunisia would be a decent side if their back 4 didn't occasionally turn into panicked 10 year olds. Their midfield is quite handy with the short passing.

Englands defence doesn't seem much better than Tunisia's. The Belgian attack should be looking forward to their meeting.

[pineapple stu]

It's actually slightly uncomfortable watching this English performance. Even having seen it so many times before.

They're just so wooden it's unbelievable. No better than Sweden or Switzerland. Genuinely thought this year they'd be better, but...

[pineapple stu]

Has to be said, this is the first had refereeing performance of the tournament. He's letting Tunisia away with every niggle in the book

[NeverFeltBetter]

Must just be the ancestors talking to me, but even if one of them was a last minute winner, the state of England celebrating their goals like that. You just squeaked past Tunisia in Group G lads, not Germany in the final.

Did feel for Tunisia, the most impressive African side so far (even though they've all lost). Just Senegal left to buck the trend.

[seanfhear]

Tunisia produce no decent forward play . When you do that , you deserve nada .

[osarusan]

Did feel for Tunisia, the most impressive African side so far (even though they've all lost). Just Senegal left to buck the trend.

It doesn't say much for the Africa teams, I thought they were woeful, with some crazy passing that just got themselves into trouble.

England should have been about 5-1 up at halftime, but ended up leaving it very very late.

In the second half they looked fairly limited and ran out of ideas, but always looked likely to get something from set-pieces.

[pineapple stu]

Other side of it is that Tunisia were quite cynical, and got what they deserved out of the game.

Even there about ten minutes from time, they had a fella standing over the ball stopping England taking a free-kick even after the ref had told him to move away. The two penalty calls were blatant; they were even wrestling two separate players on one of them.

Nasty team. Hope Panama stuff them.

[OwlsFan]

Tunisia produce no decent forward play . When you do that , you deserve nada .

Agree absolutely. Only one team tried to win that game and score goals. I knew they'd win it when in the 89th minute George Hamilton said that England hadn't looked like breaking Tunisia down and of course 2 minutes later we have the classic "oh, danger here" moment. Ronnie Whelan said England didn't deserve to win. Not sure what game he was watching but they missed a load of chances, had nearly all the attacking play and possession and didn't play camped in their penalty area. It's good for football that ultra negative tactics like this don't work. The African teams should take a leaf out of the South American teams' tactics: attack and then attack again. Dietmar Hamann disagreed with Whelan and was quite optimistic about England's future in the competition. They tried to pass the ball around. We shall see.

[tetsujin1979]

watching the Tunisia-England game last night with my flatmate, and there's a closeup shot of the Tunisian goalkeeper
Him: The keeper's got braces
Me: Dental plan!

[seanfhear]

watching the Tunisia-England game last night with my flatmate, and there's a closeup shot of the Tunisian goalkeeper
Him: The keeper's got braces
Me: Dental plan!Was that mixed up with Tunisia’s attacking Plan .....Or was that toothless .....

[NeverFeltBetter]

A nice dynamic to the Columbia/Japan game now, with Columbia a man down but needing to score. Only a quarter of the game gone, but they look good to score at least one, but the gaps at the back mean Japan's general inferiority isn't as much of a factor.

[osarusan]

Japan are hopeless up front from first half viewing, and completely unable to stretch the Colombian defence at all.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Thought they had two decent chances after the penalty, but its clear that Columbia are the better side.

[ArFella]

Japan a completely different side this second half, look to be on their way to a well earned victory.

[osarusan]

Much much better from Japan in the second half. Making Colombia run all over the place. Looks like the first half efforts from Colombia really took a lot out of them.