World Cup Football/Soccer 2018

[braumeister]

Brazil is the favorite to win followed by Germany

When has it ever been otherwise?

 

[candrew]

Brazil is the favorite to win

I am inclined to agree, just a little, when it comes to Brazil as the favorite. The very same prediction was made in 2014.

In looking at the Germany side and how loaded they are with talent, consider that their manager, Joachim Löw, left Man City's sensational winger Leroy Sané off their 23-man WC roster. Any other national team - Brazil included - would take Sané in a heartbeat. OTH, it could be that Löw made a grave error in excluding the PFA young player of the year. Time will tell.

IMO, the 2018 WC is Germany's to lose.

 

[Corporateburnout]

IMO, the 2018 WC is Germany's to lose.

I wouldn't bet against Germany for sure but I prefer the Brazilian brand of football with their offensive flash and firepower with Neymar, Coutinho, Jesus etc..

I've been a fan since Pele....

 

[candrew]

I wouldn't bet against Germany for sure but I prefer the Brazilian brand of football with their offensive flash and firepower with Neymar, Coutinho, Jesus etc..

I've been a fan since Pele....

It is the Brazilian style - flair, moving with the ball in a way that combines rhythm & dance - that helped coin the term "the beautiful game" when describing the game of futbol. From a young age Brazilian players are encouraged to express themselves with style during dynamic play.

In the WC's 84 year history, only twice have there been consecutive winners. Italy ('34 & '38) and Brazil ('58 & '62). The odds do not favor Germany in that respect, however, if there has been a national team in recent history with the chops to do it, this would be their time.

 

[Koogie]

A lot of the German stalwarts of the last few Cups aren't there anymore either.

Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Klose, Lahm.

Might be time for some Carioca revenge.

 

[candrew]

A lot of the German stalwarts of the last few Cups aren't there anymore either.

Schweinsteiger, Podolski, Klose, Lahm.

Might be time for some Carioca revenge.

True dat. Yet the passing of those German stalwarts you mentioned have also made way for the likes of Reus, Draxler, Brandt, Neuer and others. Löw has the luxury of starting the Bayern back 3 of Boateng, Hummels and Kimmich.

The absence of Lahm is a large, center hole to fill.

I still believe that the German side has the best overall quality starting 11, front to back to keeper of any side in this WC. At the end of the day though, it's all talk and it looks good on paper. I guess that's why they play the games!

 

[george76]

Yeah, my mistake! After 28 years of not qualifying we have become used to calling a tie a win!

No problem. Actually, a tie on the road is almost a victory anyway.

 

[george76]

I wouldn't bet against Germany for sure but I prefer the Brazilian brand of football with their offensive flash and firepower with Neymar, Coutinho, Jesus etc..

I've been a fan since Pele....

Me too. I remember watching the 1970 World Cup final where both Pele and Jair scored goals in their big win against Italy. Great match! Very fun to watch.

 

[MichaelB]

Spain has a novel strategy for this World Cup; they just fired the head coach. Spain sack Julen Lopetegui as coach before World Cup after taking Real Madrid job

 

[Texas Proud]

Well, we got the 2026 World Cup!!!


I know there will be games in Houston (at least they say there will) and at least one site things the finals will be in Dallas....


I plan to attend a few games...

 

[MichaelB]

Well, we got the 2026 World Cup!!!


I know there will be games in Houston (at least they say there will) and at least one site things the finals will be in Dallas....


I plan to attend a few games...

By “we”, you mean the three largest countries of North America.

 

[candrew]

Spain has a novel strategy for this World Cup; they just fired the head coach. Spain sack Julen Lopetegui as coach before World Cup after taking Real Madrid job

 

[NYEXPAT]

Interesting analysis from the washington post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2018/06/12/peru-could-be-the-surprise-team-of-the-world-cup-with-paolo-guerrero-back/?utm_term=.aea53b5c4aea&wpisrc=nl_break&wpmm=1

Spoiler alert: It deals mostly about Peru, but has a chess game analysis that has been applied to the world cup.

 

[candrew]

Well, we got the 2026 World Cup!!!

North America hosting the 2026 WC is very good news that even goes beyond just having regional venues to attend matches. It will give US Soccer a much needed boost in light of the USMNT's failure to qualify for this year's WC.

In spite of that epic qualifying failure, there is a crop of young, talented, energetic players who are ready to step up. This was evidenced in recent friendlies, the latest of which against France's number one WC squad that ended in a 1-1 draw. The average age of the U.S. 23 man roster for that match was 23 years of age. Many of those young players, ranging in age from 18-21 years-old, will be in their primes 8 years from now in addition to experiencing the 2022 WC qualifying cycle and tournament (assuming they qualify). More and more young U.S. talents are choosing to go overseas and test themselves, playing for top club teams in Europe - some on squads that routinely compete in the Champions League.

Depending on form and fitness, the USMNT could be in an excellent position to make a deep run in the 2026 World Cup.

 

[timo2]

Is there a streaming way to view world cup matches for us cord trimmers/cutters?

 

[MichaelB]

Is there a streaming way to view world cup matches for us cord trimmers/cutters?

If you can't get OTA, subscribe to PS Vue or DirecTV Now for a month.

 

[candrew]

Is there a streaming way to view world cup matches for us cord trimmers/cutters?

Here ya' go: https://www.totalsportek.com/football/fifa-world-cup-online/

You will need a VPN to get a UK I.P. address. If you don't already have a VPN subscription service, just sign-up for a free 30 day trial with Express VPN. Considering the WC is a 30-day tournament, you should be good-to-go!

 

[timo2]

I do have a VPN (I use Private Internet Access), so thanks. Also, I found this on the FIFA site https://worldcupupdates.com/fifa-world-cup-live-streaming/

edit: here is a screenshot what the FIFA sites has for ROKU

 

[Chuckanut]

Go Italy!

Actually, it should be Mannaggia! Italy didn’t make it to the WC. [emoji853]

 

[Texas Proud]

By “we”, you mean the three largest countries of North America.

Yes, as opposed to the 'other' bid.....

 

[MichaelB]

So, how about a friendly contest. Let's pick our top two finishers in each group. My picks

Group A - Russia, Uruguay
Group B - Spain, Portugal
Group C - France, Peru
Group D - Argentina, Nigeria
Group E - Brazil, Serbia
Group F - Germany, Mexico
Group G - England, Belgium
Group H - Colombia, Poland

 

[Koogie]

Not many changes. A lot of the groups are pretty predictable.

Group A - Uruguay, Russia
Group B - Portugal, Spain
Group C - France, Denmark
Group D - Argentina, Iceland
Group E - Brazil, Switzerland
Group F - Germany, Mexico
Group G - England, Belgium
Group H - Colombia, Poland

 

[george76]

Mine is not too different either:


Group A - Russia, Uruguay
Group B - Portugal, Spain
Group C - France, Denmark
Group D - Argentina, Iceland
Group E - Brazil, Serbia
Group F - Germany, Sweden
Group G - England, Belgium
Group H - Colombia, Poland

 

[Texas Proud]

So, how about a friendly contest. Let's pick our top two finishers in each group. My picks

Group A - Russia, Uruguay
Group B - Spain, Portugal
Group C - France, Peru
Group D - Argentina, Nigeria
Group E - Brazil, Serbia
Group F - Germany, Mexico
Group G - England, Belgium
Group H - Colombia, Poland

I will make it easy...


+1

 

[Corporateburnout]

Excellent game yesterday between two powerhouses Portugal and Spain that ended in 3-3 draw. 3 goals by Ronaldo with one as a gift by Spain's goalkeeper De Gea the best in the world....