The World Cup Thread | Page 2 | The Boneyard

The World Cup Thread

Without the US, I only have a passing (casual, at best) interest in the World Cup this time around. I'll probably start watching more closely toward the end of group play, after some story lines emerge.
 
Husky25 said:
Without the US, I only have a passing (casual, at best) interest in the World Cup this time around. I'll probably start watching more closely toward the end of group play, after some story lines emerge.
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I would give the group stage a shot. Follow a cheeky underdog like Egypt or Iceland.

Plus on Wednesday morning we’ll find out who will hosts the 2026 WC.
 
Excluding mexico, russya and australia none of which will win and cannot be supported, going with upsets over any non western European and non South American nation. Any nation and anything fifa supports enthusiastically opposed.
 
So Fox dropped $1 billion to get the rights and doesn't see it cost effective to send commentators to the WC??? Unreal....

Watching some games and knowing the commentators aren't there is very obvious. Their responses are delayed slightly and it just isn't enjoyable. It's why I don't watch much on beIN. They do the same thing with their commentators. However, in beIN's case, I understand why they do it. For Fox, this was your huge get. Why ignore it?
 
For: Poland and Peru
Interesting story: Egypt, Senegal
Against: Mexico
 
CToutlaw34 said:
Yikes. Bold strategy, Spain.

World Cup 2018: Spain sack manager Julen Lopetegui two days before first match
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I think the players were wanting to keep him around.

v7g6u9t.jpg
 
I missed the first goal but Saudi Arabia is outclassed. The stadium seems pretty dead too.
 
bobbygt said:
I know the US is now in between generations, and as bad as the US looked in qualifying, Saudi Arabia really stinks.
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And Russia is not good.
 
businesslawyer said:
Your point -- that the major soccer powers could send out their 4th and 5th teams and still be favored over us -- is certainly accurate, although it begs the question about why, over the last 20 years, our results have been as good as they have overall.

But leave Sissoko off the list. He couldn't walk into the starting lineup for anyone. It's truly amazing how someone with his physical skills can contribute so little to helping a team win.
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Sissoko was probably France’s best player in the Euros, he plays a lot better for country than club. He could walk, run, crab walk, waltz, etc. into our lineup.
 
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meyers7 said:
And Russia is not good.
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It's so hard to tell if a team is good or bad in blowout games. I don't think Russia looked like world beaters, but they had more skill than I thought they would. I thought they'd play a more physical game. I just don't know how they'll do against other teams, but their low ranking has to be for a reason.

I can say that Saudi Arabia is horrible. Small, slow and unskilled with a bad goalie. Other than those flaws they looked great.

I was watching intermittently, and it didn't matter, but it definitely looked like the refs wanted to help the home team get off to a good start. I saw at least three offsides that weren't called. Commentators didn't even bring it up. I just assume everything having to do with FIFA is fixed, especially in these early games. I can totally see a FIFA executive say "What's the big deal. It's not like Saudi Arabia was going to win the Cup. Why not give the home fans what they want?"
 
Chuck said:
I was watching intermittently, and it didn't matter, but it definitely looked like the refs wanted to help the home team get off to a good start. I saw at least three offsides that weren't called.
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They've instructed the ARs to keep their flags down if they think it's close and allow VAR to be used if necessary. They may be taking that instruction a bit too far.
 
Chuck said:
It's so hard to tell if a team is good or bad in blowout games. I don't think Russia looked like world beaters, but they had more skill than I thought they would. I thought they'd play a more physical game. I just don't know how they'll do against other teams, but their low ranking has to be for a reason.

I can say that Saudi Arabia is horrible. Small, slow and unskilled with a bad goalie. Other than those flaws they looked great.

I was watching intermittently, and it didn't matter, but it definitely looked like the refs wanted to help the home team get off to a good start. I saw at least three offsides that weren't called. Commentators didn't even bring it up. I just assume everything having to do with FIFA is fixed, especially in these early games. I can totally see a FIFA executive say "What's the big deal. It's not like Saudi Arabia was going to win the Cup. Why not give the home fans what they want?"
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By Russia standards, this Russia team is historically bad. I bet they will get through to the next round though.
 
businesslawyer said:
No, nothing ironic about supporting Egypt because you hate corruption.
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Not at all nor in most participating nations, yet the Russian version was clearly specified. :rolleyes: Alas, personal exp with the russya version influences things and it'd be good to see Salah play well and possibly an extra game.
 
I think Egypt can still get out of the group. They should be able to handle Saudi Arabia and Russia might be a chore simply because they are the host nation. Russia will have to play out of their minds to beat Uruguay.

Spain and Portugal should be an awesome match. Too bad I am at work.
 
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