World Cup 2018 --Pre and Group Stages

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:30 pm

Rams Fanny wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:25 pm Tony Meola sounds too much like Troy Aikman for me to enjoy his games. I keep waiting for Joe buck to chime in.

I assume they're calling the final.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:37 pm

Not that this was all that difficult to predict, but still...

Group C
France on 6, Denmark on 4, Australia on 1, (Peru done).
France and Denmark play each other and it would be shocking if this was anything other than a rather tepid affair. Australia will need to beat Peru by 2 goals just to tie on GD and hope Denmark lose. I would also say this is a trap game for AUS because Peru is actually very good and playing for nothing but pride at this point.

Group D
Croatia with 6, Nigeria 3, Iceland and Argentina with 1s.
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
Croatia to play a desperate Iceland team that needs to win, Argentina in the same boat facing Nigeria. This shit WILL be bonkers. My money is on Croatia (obvi) and Nigeria. I don't think ARG can handle Nigeria's speed... like, at all.

Last 7-10 minutes Iceland pushing forward. Couple of corners and free kicks from dangerous spots. I just don't think the Croats are going to be into this very long. And we've seen the Vikings bare down many many times. Should be an interesting 60 minutes here.

And ARG surprising me with their overall D right now. Very solid.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:41 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:37 pm ...7-10...in...pushing forward...dangerous...very long. And we've seen the V...bare down many many times. Should be an interesting 6...minutes here...surprising me with the...overall D right now. Very solid.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:47 pm

Looked like two different Iceland teams in that half.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:49 pm

rass wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:41 pm
Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:37 pm ...7-10...in...pushing forward...dangerous...very long. And we've seen the V...bare down many many times. Should be an interesting 6...minutes here...surprising me with the...overall D right now. Very solid.

I'm Ron Burgundy?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:20 pm

Will Aguero come on to save Messi???

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:35 pm

Welp... Still need ARG to do some work, but the Vikings claw back into the realm of possible here.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:37 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:35 pm Welp... Still need ARG to do some work, but the Vikings claw back into the realm of possible here.

Argentina getting a goal at the death only to have Iceland get one too would be pretty hilarious.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:40 pm

Contractually obligated Higuain miss

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:43 pm

If Argentina bounce out, the Manager just books his own flight home, right?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:47 pm

Booo. Come on Iceland!

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:47 pm

WOW was that shitty defending from Nigeria.

Great finish? I guess. Horrible horrible marking.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:49 pm

Done-so.

Very bad play from that bald dude, who had been killing it. BAD bad giveaway in a very bad spot. Nice finish from Croatia.

Croatia are a sneaky good team.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:49 pm

shit, Croatia scored

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:53 pm

suddenly it's working out for Spain

Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark in one section

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina in the other.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:57 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:53 pm suddenly it's working out for Spain

Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark in one section

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina in the other.

In reputation only. Croatia are clearly the class of group D, and Russia played really well in their first two games (yes the opposition was terrible, and they got steamrolled againt Uruguay, and will likely not get past Spain).

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:58 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:47 pm Great finish?

Given the context that's a solid "yes".

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:28 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:53 pm suddenly it's working out for Spain

Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark in one section

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina in the other.

It says here that France and Croatia are going through.

France hasn't shone, but they haven't had any weaknesses exposed. And while I didn;t see today's games, Croatia looked incredible in their first two games.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:55 pm

France and Argentina haven't met since 1978. A group match that was one of the best matches of the tournament.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:46 am

What a goal by Luque.

Story behind the game

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:12 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:53 pm suddenly it's working out for Spain

Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark in one section

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina in the other.

Knock out stage is starting to look like Euro 2016 with one half of the draw stacked. Should get a better idea after today, but if I were England/Belgium I might prefer to come second in the group.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:21 am

Baloney wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:12 am
degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:53 pm suddenly it's working out for Spain

Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark in one section

Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina in the other.
Knock out stage is starting to look like Euro 2016 with one half of the draw stacked. Should get a better idea after today, but if I were England/Belgium I might prefer to come second in the group.

Not sure about that - it could mean a game against Colombia, followed by Croatia.

Mind you, it could also be Japan... craziness.

This is why they play the final games at the same time.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:34 am

Stacked upper quadrant only affects you for one game; wouldn't you have to wait and see where Brazil and Germany land today before deciding if you'd rather into 2nd?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 8:14 am

Belgium and England play last so they will know where everyone is.

Belgium is already saying they will rest 4 or 5 starters. De bruyne for sure. He is on a yellow.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 9:29 am

oooooh. I think Chicarito got away with a handball in the box.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 9:39 am

A_B wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 9:29 am oooooh. I think Chicarito got away with a handball in the box.

100 percent.

Post by **brian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am

When was the last time Germany failed to advance to the knockout stage? Asking for a friend.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am

Whoa. If Sweden holds and Germany wins then Mex is adios, right?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:13 am

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am Whoa. If Sweden holds and Germany wins then Mex is adios, right?

Germany would have to win by 2, right?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:17 am

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am When was the last time Germany failed to advance to the knockout stage? Asking for a friend.

If Germany wins, Mexico (tournament darlings) are out if they don't at least get a draw. DRAMA!

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:18 am

A_B wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:13 am
P.D.X. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am Whoa. If Sweden holds and Germany wins then Mex is adios, right?
Germany would have to win by 2, right?

I think you're right. I can't keep up!

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:19 am

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:18 am
A_B wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:13 am
P.D.X. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am Whoa. If Sweden holds and Germany wins then Mex is adios, right?
Germany would have to win by 2, right?
I think you're right. I can't keep up!

Announcers just said a one-goal win would do it.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:20 am

a Germany win definitely knocks Mexico out now!

if both games had been 1-0, it would have gone down to discipline, Germany losing due to Boatang's red card.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:20 am

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:19 am
govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:18 am
A_B wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:13 am
P.D.X. wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:12 am Whoa. If Sweden holds and Germany wins then Mex is adios, right?
Germany would have to win by 2, right?
I think you're right. I can't keep up!
Announcers just said a one-goal win would do it.

If you're listening to the announcers on Fox, they're complete idiots, though. I thought goals scored was next tiebreaker after points and GD, inexplicably in front of Head to Head.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:21 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:20 am a Germany win definitely knocks Mexico out now!

Yup. Apparently my feed is a bit behind, but Mexico is in a world of hurt right now, since soccer is game where you kick it around for 90 minutes and in the end the Germans win.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:23 am

Mexico losing also knocks out Korea, the slim chance that they had

Post by **brian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:25 am

Switched over to Germany-Korea in time to see Germany is wearing...green? WTF?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:29 am

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:25 am Switched over to Germany-Korea in time to see Germany is wearing...green? WTF?

they usually wear green, not sure why they wore red/black in Brazil

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:35 am

Mexico are 100% out now if Germany score.

Post by **brian** » Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:38 am

If Germany's opponent is wearing a solid color like red, not sure why they wouldn't ever wear anything other than those iconic white jerseys with the shoulders striped in the color of the German flag.