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2018 FIFA World Cup Thread [W:87]

PeteEU said:
Mueller has been out of the team for a few games plus he is a more false nine/winger type than a striker. And I dont underestimate them at all. All I am saying is that the attackers they have are not world class, which is what they had before. Klose at 40 is better than anyone in the present German attack if you ask me. Gomez is only their top striker because there is no one else. He was 3rd on the pecking order when Germany had Klose and Podolski and that was despite them being ancient.



Azpilacueta will be the main backup for center back and right back. That is clear from the last few games Spain played.



Dont disagree, but he aint playing for his team and that is a problem. What he is though, is a great target man, so he could come in as a plan B type player.



Took Spain decades to stop under preforming.



If Neymar comes back.. then he will be the star performer.. or so I suspect. Him and possibly Isco. The Brazilian team has sooooo much talent up front that it is nuts. We shall see.
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I agree with most of that, aside from the pessimism about the German attack; it's not like Gomez or Klose were in their prime even in 2014. Germany's wingers and midfielders are full of scoring potential. I only mentioned Mueller because he's the best of the lot (Oezil aside, but he's injured), and he is really returning to form at the right moment. Timo Werner may or may not be the German forward of the future. In form, he's dangerous. It's been a while since we've seen him in form. Part of that may be how the people around him at RBL are playing. (I've only seen a couple games this year)

Neymar is a real wild card. If he plays and plays well, that could be how Germany loses. But he is injured, and has spent the last season in France, which let's face it, is the little brother among the major domestic leagues. If he comes back at full speed, the Brazilian attack becomes terrifying in terms of speed and quality.

The more I think about the depth and quality of both the German and Spanish defense though, I suspect that's the final (even if it's a semi). Almost every other team could be all but undone by 1-2 injuries or an elim round suspension.

I'm also really interested to watch the Scandanavian teams, given the Iceland performance in the Euros, not to mention the solid qualifying campaigns each team had. As sad as it is to not have my USA in, and no Chile, Netherlands or Italy, that does leave room for a solid, well coached, defensive team from those small countries to get farther than they normally might. I've been a Chelsea fan so long I appreciate the aesthetics of a well parked team bus.
 
The Moscow Times | Cossack Vigilantes to Patrol Russian Streets During 2018 World Cup


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Pro-Putin Cossack thugs use whips on protesters in Moscow at Putin's inauguration on 6 May 2018
 
Critique said:
Maybe the 2022 world cup will be moved to a country that doesn't use slave labor.
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Perhaps they could also consider moving it to a Country that actually likes football.
 
Serenity said:
Perhaps they could also consider moving it to a Country that actually likes football.
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Err football is very popular in Qatar... hell they own some of the biggest clubs in the world.
 
PeteEU said:
Err football is very popular in Qatar... hell they own some of the biggest clubs in the world.
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Football is also popular in Somalia, doesn't mean they should host
 
Higgins86 said:
Football is also popular in Somalia, doesn't mean they should host
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Not the point.. as I read it, they should not have it because they know nothing about football... that is wrong.
 
PeteEU said:
You do know they said that about Poland/Ukraine 2012 Euros right? Did not happen.
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No. I don't know that. Of course Russia complained. But you tend to ignore Russia's nefarious activities.
 
Rogue Valley said:
No. I don't know that. Of course Russia complained. But you tend to ignore Russia's nefarious activities.
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I do not ignore Russia 's nefarious activities. I don't blow them out of proportion like you.

You forget that the WC is a prestige project for Putin and like any dictator he will make sure that there is no problems. He of course can't control fans from other countries, so he is making sure that they get the message.... don't mess with his WC.

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England squad announced today. No real surprises, it’s a young team with some incredible firepower but lacks leaders and is weak defensively.
 
Stupid US not qualifying, I'm so mad about this and its ruined the world cup for me

I think I'm going to root for Belgium. They have as solid team, DeBruyne is one of the best players, his passes are amazing
 
Higgins86 said:
England squad announced today. No real surprises, it’s a young team with some incredible firepower but lacks leaders and is weak defensively.
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You forgot lack of depth.

For one I don't get how Danny "bench warmer" Welbeck can get into the team..

The team picks it self basically.

Goalkeeper = all are inexperienced so toss up.

Defenders = Rose, Cahill, Stones, Walker
Midfield = Dier, Henderson, Alli
Attack = Kane and Sterling.

Leaves 1 spot open... Rashford is an option but might be too much too soon. Vardy but can he play with Kane? Or add another defensive mid to push Alli up.. but who? Delph and Ceek are bench warmers...Lingard...bleh.

I had hoped for some suprise picks from the U21 or lower teams who have actually won stuff.

Pray that there are no injuries to the main picks.

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PeteEU said:
You forgot lack of depth.

For one I don't get how Danny "bench warmer" Welbeck can get into the team..

The team picks it self basically.

Goalkeeper = all are inexperienced so toss up.

Defenders = Rose, Cahill, Stones, Walker
Midfield = Dier, Henderson, Alli
Attack = Kane and Sterling.

Leaves 1 spot open... Rashford is an option but might be too much too soon. Vardy but can he play with Kane? Or add another defensive mid to push Alli up.. but who? Delph and Ceek are bench warmers...Lingard...bleh.

I had hoped for some suprise picks from the U21 or lower teams who have actually won stuff.

Pray that there are no injuries to the main picks.

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Southgate has been flirting with the 3-5-2 in recent games. Vardy Kane up top, Rashford Stirling and Lingard behind with Dier and Henderson sitting deep.
Great counter attacking team but very vulnerable on the flanks.
 
Higgins86 said:
Southgate has been flirting with the 3-5-2 in recent games. Vardy Kane up top, Rashford Stirling and Lingard behind with Dier and Henderson sitting deep.
Great counter attacking team but very vulnerable on the flanks.
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3 at the back with the players England have... suicide. The team would be out of balance, and would require to be "score more than you let in" type of team.
 
Spanish team finally out, and that means all the big teams have their teams out... well pretty much.

I dont see a clear "omfgs" team. Sure the Spanish midfield is "wtf" and "omfg", but their attack is by international standards... average. The Belgians have an over all team that on paper looks good, but in reality they are average players. England has a great attack, weak midfield and poor defensive 4. Germany lack firepower up front and seem unbalanced. Brazil is Brazil. Lots of individual stars, but that does not mean they can play together when it counts. Argentina are Messi, and not much more.

One thing for sure, the Spanish team are relatively defensive compared to previous years.
 
PeteEU said:
Spanish team finally out, and that means all the big teams have their teams out... well pretty much.

I dont see a clear "omfgs" team. Sure the Spanish midfield is "wtf" and "omfg", but their attack is by international standards... average. The Belgians have an over all team that on paper looks good, but in reality they are average players. England has a great attack, weak midfield and poor defensive 4. Germany lack firepower up front and seem unbalanced. Brazil is Brazil. Lots of individual stars, but that does not mean they can play together when it counts. Argentina are Messi, and not much more.

One thing for sure, the Spanish team are relatively defensive compared to previous years.
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Plus they have the best goalie in the world right now.
 
Higgins86 said:
Plus they have the best goalie in the world right now.
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Well the Germans would disagree there.. but yea, De Gea basically gave Man U second place. Also the Slovenians would disagree and would have some merit with Jan Oblak, the most wanted goalkeeper in world football.

Did you see Icardi was not called up? Guessing his wife stealing finally bit him in his ass.
 
PeteEU said:
Well the Germans would disagree there.. but yea, De Gea basically gave Man U second place. Also the Slovenians would disagree and would have some merit with Jan Oblak, the most wanted goalkeeper in world football.

Did you see Icardi was not called up? Guessing his wife stealing finally bit him in his ass.
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Yeh i did see that, Pedro didn’t make the cut either.
 
Higgins86 said:
Yeh i did see that, Pedro didn’t make the cut either.
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That was expected. Most of the Spanish players in the PL bar De Gea, are basically has beens or benchwarmers and have better players in La Liga or elsewhere that will beat them to a call up. Of the 4 EPL Spanish players called up, 1 is a sure starter (De Gea), 1 is a maybe (Silva), and the rest are backup/benchwarmers. It is turning into a career killer going to the EPL for many Spanish players. Morata will push for an exit no doubt this summer.. Juventus want him. Cesc has gone downhill since leaving Barca (arguably Arsenal), and Pedro was always a backup. The list goes on.
 
Okay Harry Kane as captain... wtf? He ain't no leader.

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PeteEU said:
Okay Harry Kane as captain... wtf? He ain't no leader.

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Meh I always think the whole captain thing is overplayed anyway.
 
Higgins86 said:
Meh I always think the whole captain thing is overplayed anyway.
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The Captain of a team is damn important.

1) During the game he is the one calling the shots. The players have to respect him or the team will become undisciplined.
2) Rules state that if there are complaints during the game then it is the captain that is called in.
3) You know as well as I do that every team has a hierarchy and that is often key to discipline. Having a poor captain influences the team of pitch and on.

It is the English that have downwatered the captain thing due lack of any real Captain type for over a decade. Does not mean it is not important. And no Rooney was not a good captain either.

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