intlzncster
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He didn't make a single play that game iirc.
OT: World Cup 2018
- Thread starter Kemba'sYogurt
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He didn't make a single play that game iirc.
Well looks like both teams are putting out their B teams
HuskyHawk
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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?
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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.
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Unless the cards situation changes, with a tie won't Belgium finish second due to the fair play tie breaker?
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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.
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Yup, that’s probably what they want.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Would have been one of the best in the tournament if on the first week.
intlzncster
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That was really nicely done. Full strength Belgium would have striped England I reckon.
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Looks that way for sure.
intlzncster
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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.
intlzncster
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Rachford. Yikes. Everything about that was beautiful but the finish...
HuskyHawk
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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.
Marat
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Should still be Brazil, I believe.
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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.