OT: World Cup 2018

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

My point is it's a less compelling outcome when, basically, 2 regions of the world are represented in the knockout stage.

Cream rises to the top. Fair play rule or not, I'm not so sure more people prefer to watch an outlier just for some non-traditional flavor versus watching the winning qualifying teams. Just one person, but I'm glad Japan advanced.

 

[UCDaveD]

Unless the cards situation changes, with a tie won't Belgium finish second due to the fair play tie breaker?

Yup, that’s probably what they want.

 

[Tenspro2002]

There were already a lot of surprises. The Dutch and Italians failed to qualify. Look at the representation from Eastern Europe, with Croatia and Russia getting through. Those are not traditional powers.

Mexico got through, which is a mild surprise. Columbia getting through is a bit of a surprise, and Japan got through. Are you complaining because the bad teams are bad?

Yes, qualifying was actually more surprising than the finals have been.

The group stages have been extremely "chalk"y. Russia aren't a traditional power but they were gifted a group with SA and Egypt. They were favored to advance. Colombia is a surprise? Japan, sure.

As someone rooting for chaos it's been pretty disappointing, with the exception of Germany bowing out.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Belgium vs England screams draw. Neither team should want to win this game as the Group G winner gets placed in the upper portion of the bracket with Brazil, France, Portugal, Argentina, and Uruguay. Bottom portion is much softer.

In the bracket I am looking at it is right left. Winner gets Japan, loser Columbia. Both would be favored heavily in either match. Beyond that is is the Swiss/Sweden winner or Brazil/Mexico winner. I'd suggest that Brazil is the most scary team of those four, so loser avoids that potential match-up. So you are probably right. Spain in the loser bracket, France, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay all in the winner bracket.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Yup, that’s probably what they want.

I would love to see a situation where a team sends in guys from the end of their bench to commit yellow cards because it would earn them a more favorable draw.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes, qualifying was actually more surprising than the finals have been.

The group stages have been extremely "chalk"y. Russia aren't a traditional power but they were gifted a group with SA and Egypt. They were favored to advance. Colombia is a surprise? Japan, sure.

As someone rooting for chaos it's been pretty disappointing, with the exception of Germany bowing out.

Chaos isn't going to happen. The African and Asian countries don't have enough players playing in top leagues. Nor do Mexico and Columbia, which is why I listed them as slight surprises. A grand total of 8 nations have won a WC.

Your best bet for a surprise team in the final four is if Spain loses and or the loser of this match loses. Every team in the top left is strong, it's crazy. France - Argentina, Portugal-Uruguay. Anybody's guess who comes out of that. Lower left will be the winner of this match or Brazil most likely.

 

[Mots010]

This England/Belgium game is pathetic.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

This England/Belgium game is pathetic.

It’s really not bad, Belgium has been pressuring and gettinf good opportunities, people are just saying this because each team is resting players.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This England/Belgium game is pathetic.

Would have been one of the best in the tournament if on the first week.

 

[UCDaveD]

Goalazo Belgium

 

[intlzncster]

Goalazo Belgium

That was really nicely done. Full strength Belgium would have striped England I reckon.

 

[UCDaveD]

That was really nicely done. Full strength Belgium would have striped England I reckon.

Looks that way for sure.

 

[intlzncster]

For those interested in growing the sport globally, this has been an awful WC.

Soccer has zero problem in terms of global reach or growth. It's popularity is ubiquitous. The different levels of strength are obviously expected, as the favored countries have been at it longer, or more resources/population to work with.

 

[HuskyHawk]

How did Rashford miss that?

 

[intlzncster]

Rachford. Yikes. Everything about that was beautiful but the finish...

 

[UCDaveD]

Yikessss

 

[HuskyHawk]

Rachford. Yikes. Everything about that was beautiful but the finish...

Sadly, as a Manchester United supporter, it's all too common. He has some great skills, finishing doesn't seem to be one of them...yet. He is young.

 

[Paesano]

Not a huge soccer fan but I follow when my boys are in it. This year, I just wanted Germany to lose. So I am happy. Who is the favorite of the final 16?

 

[Marat]

Not a huge soccer fan but I follow when my boys are in it. This year, I just wanted Germany to lose. So I am happy. Who is the favorite of the final 16?

Should still be Brazil, I believe.

 

[MadDogRevival]

Soccer has zero problem in terms of global reach or growth.

If soccer organizations aren't thinking about market share maintenance and/or expansion, then they're fools.
Maybe in undeveloped countries, where kicking a goat bladder around is still the only option.
Everywhere else, soccer is going to be competiting with the same elements as are the NBA, NFL, and every other pro sports team - a rapidly changing entertainment spectrum led by the Internet.

 

[UCDaveD]

Not a huge soccer fan but I follow when my boys are in it. This year, I just wanted Germany to lose. So I am happy. Who is the favorite of the final 16?

Brazil 7/2
Spain 4/1
Belgium 13/2
England 7/1
France 8/1
Argentina 12/1
Croatia 12/1
Portugal 20/1
Colombia 20/1
Uruguay 20/1
Switzerland 33/1
Mexico 40/1
Russia 50/1
Sweden 50/1
Denmark 66/1
Japan 100/1

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

How did Rashford miss that?

Conveniently?

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Zero worries! Soccer organizations including FIFA, Adidas, Nike, Umbro & other brands, 2018 and future World Cup sponsors, etc may think long and hard about market share maintenance and expansion, demographics, current and projected affluence and relative disposable income, etc. With the exception of Germany going kaput, they know fans among Africa's 1.3 b will watch without Senegal and they must be absolutely miserable to have the 16 nations advancing to the knockout phase.

Now, if India was a football country and China currently didn't sukc ... FIFA, brands, sponsors, etc might happily replace Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay and even Japan with either nation and still not give 2 shats about Senegal.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Should still be Brazil, I believe.

Not a huge soccer fan but I follow when my boys are in it. This year, I just wanted Germany to lose. So I am happy. Who is the favorite of the final 16?

IDK... with Alves out and Marcelo injured (haven't checked to see if he's ok) I'm not sure how they'll do. They might have the most star power in the tourney but their play has been underwhelming. I would say from the eye test Belgium and Croatia are the top two. Then you have historic powerhouses who aren't playing well but have a ton of stars to get them over the hump if they can play together - Argentina, France, Brasil, Spain Uruguay. Portugal isn't a powerhouse and they haven't been impressive. Ronaldo has been in the right place at the right time but I'm not sure if the rest of the team can show up. I can see them doing what they did in the Euro. Squeak out wins by drawing, then going to penalties and moving on (I'm hoping they either lose to Uruguay and if not then definitely Argentina)

 

[UConnSwag11]

Check out this side of the knockout stage... STACKED

 

[intlzncster]

If soccer organizations aren't thinking about market share maintenance and/or expansion, then they're fools.
Maybe in undeveloped countries, where kicking a goat bladder around is still the only option.
Everywhere else, soccer is going to be competiting with the same elements as are the NBA, NFL, and every other pro sports team - a rapidly changing entertainment spectrum led by the Internet.

I didn't say they weren't thinking of it. Just that they aren't having any issues. The outreach absolutely dwarfs all other sports. And the money is absurd.

Soccer has the highest viewership (3.9 billion tuned into the 2014 World Cup at some point), the highest prize money (€1.5 billion awarded in prizes and bonuses in the Champions League), the most expensive TV right (Sky paid £5.3 billion in 2016 to air the Premier League), as well as the biggest kit deals and richest clubs with 30 of the top 50 richest sports teams coming in the form of soccer clubs. Soccer’s popularity is unrivaled by all and it looks set to stay that way for the foreseeable future.​

The number of places where soccer faces stiff competition from other sports are few and far between--that includes most developed countries. Off the top of my head: India and cricket. Australia and rugby/footy. New Zealand and rugby. South Africa and Rugby. Russia and some other Eastern blocks and hockey.

Pro American sports challenge soccer in very few countries in the world. Japan/South Korea and Baseball. Dominican/Puerto and baseball. Maybe Lithuania and basketball? Canada and hockey.

I guess the next big market up for grabs in terms of athletic sports is China. NBA does pretty well there right now.

Esports is probably the biggest competitor to everybody right now. Fans of traditional sport hate that, but it's the way it is. IME, it has the biggest upside potential of anything at the moment.

 

[intlzncster]

Check out this side of the knockout stage... STACKEDView attachment 32539

Every one of those games is appointment TV.

 

[intlzncster]

IDK... with Alves out and Marcelo injured (haven't checked to see if he's ok) I'm not sure how they'll do. They might have the most star power in the tourney but their play has been underwhelming. I would say from the eye test Belgium and Croatia are the top two. Then you have historic powerhouses who aren't playing well but have a ton of stars to get them over the hump if they can play together - Argentina, France, Brasil, Spain Uruguay. Portugal isn't a powerhouse and they haven't been impressive. Ronaldo has been in the right place at the right time but I'm not sure if the rest of the team can show up. I can see them doing what they did in the Euro. Squeak out wins by drawing, then going to penalties and moving on (I'm hoping they either lose to Uruguay and if not then definitely Argentina)

They're defense was already rough with Marcelo. Without him, they're in serious trouble. And his replacement Felipe Luis clearly would rather be playing forward. The right back Danilo blows.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I guess the next big market up for grabs in terms of athletic sports is China. NBA does pretty well there right now.

In China, the NBA is huge as are the top European leagues. Chinese League not as much now. As China's national team improves and it actually is, the increasingly nationalist country's 1.4 b people will support their team in massive #s. Knock off Japan and beat South Korea more often in Asia Cup and in World Cup qualifying matches, the Middle Kingdom (Zhong Guo/China) will go even more bat shti crazy!

 

[Mazhude]

Check out this side of the knockout stage... STACKEDView attachment 32539

That line-up makes me more and more convinced that Croatia could advance pretty far on its side of the bracket.