OT: World Cup 2018

[UConNick]

Good possession early for Belgium but they never threatened the goal. France meanwhile looking quicker and more deadly despite having less ball.

 

[auror]

Good possession early for Belgium but they never threatened the goal. France meanwhile looking quicker and more deadly despite having less ball.

Pretty even so far. France was content to sit back and counter. But when they did, Belgium re-countered with a couple chances.

 

[auror]

Hazard is abusing Pavard on the left side so far.

 

[auror]

A couple great chances for Belgium. France's D looking a bit shaky. Lloris came up huge.

 

[auror]

France just evened up the run of play a bit.

Quite even so far in terms of quantity and quality of chances.

 

[auror]

France just had the best chance. Great run from Pavard and nice read from Mbappe after he had just been stymied in a similar situation 30 seconds prior.

 

[auror]

I've been very impressed by Chadli this game/tournament.

 

[auror]

Hazard making things happen and then getting blown up. Russell Westbrook style.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Lloris has had a couple fantastic saves this match. The shot from Witsel was a straight laser and it was swinging away from him.

 

[the Q]

I don’t normally watch this commie sport, but the people I’m with do.

These guys are as corrupt as fiba

And why did Belgium just get a kick 20 yards back from where the penalty was?

 

[auror]

Mbappe is a punk.

 

[auror]

Mbappe is a punk.

Give him a 2nd yellow for diving after dribbling the ball away. Make him miss the next match for super punkery.

 

[the Q]

Give him a 2nd yellow for diving after dribbling the ball away. Make him miss the next match for super punkery.

It’s clear that the refs aren’t doing anything to hurt France

 

[the Q]

I’m glad I didn’t waste a lot of time on corrupt garbage like this for the last month.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Mbappe's antics just set casual soccer fandom in the US back a year

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Allez Les Bleus

 

[Rocktheworld]

Soccer player playing soccer just set casual soccer fandom in the US back a year

FTFY

Seriously how many people every fourth year tune in to care for 45 minutes (which itself is to be commended, given the failure of the USMNT this time around) and then remember why they never cared in the first place?

 

[MadDogRevival]

apparently mostly because of how the world views our president and his policies

Yeah. Definitely. It's understandable how non-American countries don't like America-first policies. Why would they. Lol.

 

[gtcam]

Revved up for the Three Lions tomorrow
Would love nothing better than meet the spineless on Sunday

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Given how the US wasn’t a clear-cut favorite over lone competitor Morocco for the 2026 cup, apparently mostly because of how the world views our president and his policies... yeah there’s no way you can say that politics are separate from this event.

@Rocktheworld Based on Morocco's infrastructure challenges, dearth of quality stadiums (hello Qatar, just a bit better), etc, few well reasoned people believed Morocco was an ideal location. However, some self-serving European nations, media, & online networks liked Morocco's time zone, relative proximity to Europe, massive business opportunities (bonjour France), etc.

In contrast, spreading 2026 across US/CAN/MEX, consequent distant travel requirements, time zone differences, etc. raised reasonable concerns. When the media, online, advertising, etc. revenues break all past records, such prior concerns will likely fade away.

Agreed, politics and business absolutely cannot be unwoven from FIFA's ongoing site selection, bracket selection, and potentially even referee selection and other possible game day considerations.

 

[HooperScooper]

@Rocktheworld Based on Morocco's infrastructure challenges, dearth of quality stadiums (hello Qatar, just a bit better), etc, few well reasoned people believed Morocco was an ideal location. However, some self-serving European nations, media, & online networks liked Morocco's time zone, relative proximity to Europe, massive business opportunities (bonjour France), etc.

In contrast, spreading 2026 across US/CAN/MEX, consequent distant travel requirements, time zone differences, etc. raised reasonable concerns. When the media, online, advertising, etc. revenues break all past records, such prior concerns will likely fade away.

Agreed, politics and business absolutely cannot be unwoven from FIFA's ongoing site selection, bracket selection, and potentially even referee selection and other possible game day considerations.

I've noticed the attendance at the games in Russia. Games in the U.S. will have much higher attendances. The stadiums are bigger and they will be filled. I remember how hard it was to get tickets to the games in Foxborough in 1994. I think it will be even harder in 2026.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I've noticed the attendance at the games in Russia. Games in the U.S. will have much higher attendances. The stadiums are bigger and they will be filled.

Even for today's France-Belgium semi-final, I'm fairly certain the most expensive upper center sections were not filled. Yes, Russia's absolutely experienced challenges selling out all of the games. Just don't tell FIFA!

In 2026, I share your well reasoned belief the games in the US, Mexico, and Canada will be packed to the gills. I'm confident that will include the games in Edmonton some for-nahs are bicthing about now.

 

[UConnSwag11]

@Rocktheworld Based on Morocco's infrastructure challenges, dearth of quality stadiums (hello Qatar, just a bit better), etc, few well reasoned people believed Morocco was an ideal location. However, some self-serving European nations, media, & online networks liked Morocco's time zone, relative proximity to Europe, massive business opportunities (bonjour France), etc.

In contrast, spreading 2026 across US/CAN/MEX, consequent distant travel requirements, time zone differences, etc. raised reasonable concerns. When the media, online, advertising, etc. revenues break all past records, such prior concerns will likely fade away.

Agreed, politics and business absolutely cannot be unwoven from FIFA's ongoing site selection, bracket selection, and potentially even referee selection and other possible game day considerations.

10 games are played in Canada and 10 are in Mexico. The rest are in the US

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is wild. Certainly some poor refereeing here.

 

[outlaw]