2018 FIFA World Cup

[2014olympicgold]

I've been following it, but not watching full games. Just the fact they run 8-4 when I'm at work, but I've caught some reruns of games. It's been a really good round robin so far, and if Morocco had some ball luck they'd be the hit of the tournament. They played amazingly both games, just didn't go their way. They outplayed Portugal in their last game easily.

Argentina has no forwards (besides Messi), ok mid-field, and sick D. Croatia has sick mid-field, shakey d, and good forwards. Should be an entertaining matchup.

[PenguinHunter]

Croatia over Argentina? Wow! ?

[Tobias Funke]

Well it’s not that stunning in that they both should be amongst the very best teams in the world. Argentina just has too many internal, backroom politics that kills any sort of team spirit.

[DusterDave]

Well it?s not that stunning in that they both should be amongst the very best teams in the world. Argentina just has too many internal, backroom politics that kills any sort of team spirit.

Going into this game I predicted a 2-1 Croatia win, what I didn't expect was for Argentina to be absolutely embarrassed. As Tobias said, the problems with this team go far beyond the field, the AFA is one of the most corrupt federations in all of FIFA but that is a whole other problem that isn't even worth getting into right now. I've been a die-hard fan of the Argentina national team since 1990 and I have never come across such a bad team. They didn't even deserve to qualify for the tournament in my opinion and it pains me to say it but I wish they hadn't. It would have saved them and fans alike from complete embarrassment. This is even worse than France at the 2010 World Cup. For those unfamiliar with that story, France's star forward Nicolas Anelka told then coach Raymond Domenech to "go f*ck yourself you son of a wh*re." at half-time of a World Cup match. During yesterday's post match presser Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli threw his players under the bus saying that they failed to adapt to his game plan (which was completely flawed in my opinion) and star striker Sergio Aguero hit back saying "Let him say what he wants." Now this morning news has been brought to light that the players have requested that Sampaoli step down immediately and have the assistant coach tale over for their last group match vs. Nigeria on Tuesday. To make matters worse, rumours have been floating around that following Tuesday's match vs. Nigeria (assuming they don't make it out of the group) the core pieces of Argentina's golden generation will retire from the national team having not won a trophy with this group. This includes the likes of Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano, Kun Aguero, Gonzalo Higuian, Angel Di Maria and others. A very sad day in Argentine futbol. I've never been so embarrassed by a sporting team and I am a Leafs fan to Christ's sake.

[Godin]

As I am watching Nigeria vs Iceland, on close ups, the field doesn't look like real grass. You can clearly see lines in the grass like you would see on a golfing tee mat, but I can't imagine they would play on artificial grass. Would they?

The field is actually made of a hybrid grass. There are 20 million polypropylene fibres injected into the soil. Then it is seeded and the grass intertwines with the fibres. This makes it stronger and maintains an even and stable playing surface.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrassMaster

[Tobias Funke]

Huge lifeline for Argentina. Their fate is back in their hands. Although they’ll be facing a Nigerian side high on confidence after this impressive and comfortable handling of Iceland, at least the last matchday is now meaningful.

[DusterDave]

Huge lifeline for Argentina. Their fate is back in their hands. Although they’ll be facing a Nigerian side high on confidence after this impressive and comfortable handling of Iceland, at least the last matchday is now meaningful.

This group has been blown wide open thanks to Nigeria. Anything can happen but it still doesn?t change the fact that Argentina are a complete disaster right now. Can they right the ship by Tuesday? Match Day 3 is going to be very interesting!

[Godin]

Just finished watching Senegal and Japan and as a sports fan, and of the few games I have watched, it was the best game i've seen yet. Great flow to the game. Back and forth and plenty of chances, AND the best part was there was no diving or fake injuries. Really!

I don't know if these players are just tougher than the Europeans and South Americans but there was just as much contact as any other game as proven by the 4 or 5 yellow cards handed out and these guys just bounce back up again rather than going through the dramatics of rolling around which just turns everyone off. It was actually enjoyable to not see that crap.

[Tobias Funke]

Germany. Is out of the World Cup. In the group stage.

[Godin]

Germany. Is out of the World Cup. In the group stage.

Yes. Defending champs are out. I don't watch a lot of soccer but I don't think I have ever seen 9 minutes of injury time added before.

[PenguinHunter]

Yes. Defending champs are out. I don't watch a lot of soccer but I don't think I have ever seen 9 minutes of injury time added before.

Germany should never have done so good in the hockey Olympics... because it came back to bite them in this tournament.

I would never in my limited knowledge have picked them to fall out this early.

[2014olympicgold]

Last time Germany left the World Cup this early was 1938

[Loch]

Last time Germany left the World Cup this early was 1938

Are you suggesting that Poland should be wary?

[2014olympicgold]

Are you suggesting that Poland should be wary?

Too soon.

[DusterDave]

Well, the group stage is all wrapped up and I have to admit that it has been the most unpredictable, entertaining World Cup ever so far. There have maybe been 2 boring games, maybe 3? So what do we expect to happen in the knockout phase? Defending World champions Germany haven't been eliminated in the first round since 1938, but here we are with a World Cup elimination round without them so anything can happen. Here are the Round of 16 matches followed by my predictions for the pool I am in.

ROUND OF 16 - times ET
France vs. Argentina - Saturday 10am
Uruguay vs. Portugal - Saturday 2pm
Spain vs. Russia - Sunday 10am
Croatia vs. Denmark - Sunday 2pm
Brazil vs. Mexico - Monday 10am
Belgium vs. Japan - Monday 2pm
Sweden vs. Switzerland - Tuesday 10am
Columbia vs. England - Tuesday 2pm

FULL PREDICTIONS
Round of 16
France 1 - 0 Argentina
Uruguay 2 - 1 Portugal
Spain 2 - 1 Russia
Croatia 2 - 0 Denmark
Brazil 3 - 0 Mexico
Belgium 4 - 0 Japan
Sweden 3 - 0 Switzerland
Columbia 1 - 2 England

Quarter-Finals
Uruguay 2 - 0 France
Brazil 3 - 2 Belgium
Spain 2 - 3 Croatia
Sweden 1 - 1* England (*ENG win on PKs)

Semi-Finals
Uruguay 0 - 1 Brazil
Croatia 3 - 0 England

3rd Place
Uruguay 2 - 0 England

Final
Brazil 2 - 0 Croatia

As unpredictable as this World Cup has been I still think the current favourite takes home the title. Croatia has been a threat the last 8 years or so and are at their peak of their golden generation and I think it will finally pay off and earn them a second place finish. I'm likely to be way off in my predictions but my pool requires you to fill out the whole bracket with scores so I thought I'd share.

VAMOS ALBICELESTE!!!! (even though I have them being eliminated straight away)