The World Cup Thread | Page 2 | The Boneyard

The World Cup Thread

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 Spartacus fifa supports enthusiastically opposed.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
UCFBfan said:
Still not sold that it'll be enjoyable to watch on Fox. If there was one complaint, that would be it. I'll miss ESPN and Ian Darke calling games.
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I've been watching the games on mute, but I just tuned in and see both Ian Wright and Guus Hiddink in the studio- "Nice," I'm thinking.

Then Alexi Lalas starts talking :(
 
bobbygt said:
I've been watching the games on mute, but I just tuned in and see both Ian Wright and Guus Hiddink in the studio- "Nice," I'm thinking.

Then Alexi Lalas starts talking :(
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Unbelievable that he is in there with those two.

Telemundo can’t be worse.
 
Home sick today so got to catch the games. Egypt was a tough luck loser. They shut Uruguay down for most of game but committed some dumb fouls at end of game, one ending in game winner.

Fell asleep during Iran game but woke up to see On go winner.

This Spain-Portugal game is a whole different level. Really good. Renaldo is playing out of his mind but Spain's passing is just insane.
 
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For those who think Lionel Messi is the best player in the world over the last few years -- LMAO. Most entertaining and fun to watch -- absolutely. But actually the best? Talk to me when he can accomplish a third as much with an Argentina team of international all-stars as Renaldo can do with Portugal.
 
businesslawyer said:
For those who think Lionel Messi is the best player in the world over the last few years -- LMAO. Most entertaining and fun to watch -- absolutely. But actually the best? Talk to me when he can accomplish a third as much with an Argentina team of international all-stars as Renaldo can do with Portugal.
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Well Messi IS the best (it's close though). And I hate Ronaldo (what an @ss), HOWEVER, he was fantastic today. What an idiot Pique was giving that foul away right there near the end of the game. :mad: You just knew what was gonna happen.

Game definitely lived up to the hype. :D This WC is starting out pretty good so far.
 
meyers7 said:
Well Messi IS the best (it's close though). And I hate Ronaldo (what an @ss), HOWEVER, he was fantastic today. What an idiot Pique was giving that foul away right there near the end of the game. :mad: You just knew what was gonna happen.

Game definitely lived up to the hype. :D This WC is starting out pretty good so far.
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See, it's not close. In La Liga its close. But does Messi make his international teammates better? Because Renaldo (whom I like no better than you) simply pulls off his jersey and shows you a big S.
 
Who is this "Renaldo" you guys keep speaking of? ;)

That second goal should never have found the net, but "shooters shoot".

I don't know that Ronaldo makes his teammates any better. He obviously makes his team better, but so does Messi. Don't forget Portugal went on to score/win the Euro championship AFTER he left with an injury. And for all the (well-deserved) praise he'll get for today, he and his team had consistently under-performed in 2 of the last 3 world cups.

So, I think we need to wait until this WC is over to have the conversation about who is the best. Because it's Harry Kane.



(kidding)
 
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businesslawyer said:
Talk to me when he can accomplish a third as much with an Argentina team of international all-stars as Renaldo can do with Portugal.
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Portugal - 2002, didn't make it out of the group stage, 2006 - 4th place,
2010 - round of 16, 2014, didn't make it out of the group stage.

Argentina - 2002, didn't make it out of the group stage. then went quarterfinals, quarterfinals, runners-up.

Advantage - Argentina
 
WingU-Conn said:
Portugal - 2002, didn't make it out of the group stage, 2006 - 4th place,
2010 - round of 16, 2014, didn't make it out of the group stage.

Argentina - 2002, didn't make it out of the group stage. then went quarterfinals, quarterfinals, runners-up.

Advantage - Argentina
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Argentina and Portugal are not comparable bases to compare without weighting. Messi has Aguero and Higuin up front with him. Renaldo is it. Argentina won World Cups before Renaldo got there. Has Portugal?
 
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