And I said it was way better than I expected, but nothing to do with Messi topping Ronaldo. Hope you won money on it.
OT: Official 2018 World Cup Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
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And I said it was way better than I expected, but nothing to do with Messi topping Ronaldo. Hope you won money on it.
Fox went too much with the "greatest upset ever" stuff during the match.
1 this is not a great Argentina squad. They qualified the last possible day. They are not balanced - great attackers (although getting long in the tooth) but holes in many other spots.
2 Iceland finished first in their qualifying group over Croatia. They dont play sexy but Ive seen enough of them that they can frustrate just about anybody.
If we assume he was making a reference to Harvard-Yale, it was clever. But it would be a reference lost to many and isn't the way it's going to be remembered.
Peru with a miss over the crossbar on the PK. Never like those kind of shots, at the very least get it on the goal and make the keeper make a save.
Eriksen was pretty quiet throughout, but his perfectly weighted pass led to the goal for Denmark. Lets see what Modric can do in the next match coming up.
BTW which group is considered the "group of death" just judging from my pedestrian soccer fan eyes, it looks like the Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea.
According to the World Power Rankings, there is no single group that is far tougher than any other. Three groups are all close to each other in average rankings: D, F, and E. And Group A is one of the easiest groups ever.
1. Group D: Argentina (6), Croatia (12), Nigeria (17), Iceland (22)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 14.25
Group D has everything you could possible want from a World Cup group. It has star power, and a title contender (Argentina). It has a dark horse semifinal candidate (Croatia). It has a high-upside, low-floor enigma (Nigeria). It has a pesky, scrappy, lovable, actual-quite-good underdog (Iceland). It has stylistic contrasts, storylines aplenty, and much more. It’s not far and away the toughest. But it is the toughest, and it’s certainly the most intriguing.
2. Group F: Germany (2), Mexico (11), Sweden (18), South Korea (28)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 14.75
3. Group E: Brazil (1), Switzerland (14), Serbia (16), Costa Rica (27)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 14.5
Group E has a very clear hierarchy. There’s Brazil at the top, who should win it. There’s Switzerland and Serbia (at least) two steps below. And then a (small) step below the two European foes is Costa Rica. However, that’s perhaps a bit harsh on the Central Americans, who reached the quarterfinals four years ago. If they can rise to the challenge again, the battle for second place could be a whole lot of fun.
4. Group B: Spain (3), Portugal (8), Iran (24), Morocco (26)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 15.25
Group B was really tough after two Pots had been emptied. After all four had been, it wasn’t notably more or less difficult than an average four-team pod. Instead, it’s stratified. Spain and Portugal should advance. But Iran and Morocco had two of the best defensive records during qualification, so there’s great Cristiano Ronaldo frustration potential here.
5. Group H: Colombia (10), Poland (13), Senegal (19), Japan (23)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 16.25
Group H followed the opposite trajectory of Group B. Colombia and Poland are a relatively weak Pot 1-Pot 2 pairing, but Senegal is a top-three team from Pot 3, and Japan is a top-three team from Pot 4. The result: All four nations could realistically win the group. All four could realistically finish second. All four could realistically finish last.
6. Group C: France (4), Peru (15), Denmark (20), Australia (29)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 17
Group C is Group E Lite. France is right up there with Brazil among the contenders. But the Peru-Denmark middle tier doesn’t possess much upside. It’s weak enough that Australia might even like its chances to reach the knockout rounds out of Pot 4.
7. Group F: Belgium (5), England (7), Tunisia (30), Panama (31)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 18.25
This is one of those groups whose difficulty depends on perspective. When Tunisia was drawn and saw Belgium and England staring it in the fast, the Eagles of Carthage (great nickname) had to be disappointed. But Belgium and England are ecstatic, and the English media are already giddy with their “this group couldn’t be easier” takes. (And they’re right. If either Belgium or England doesn’t advance, heads will roll.
8. Group A: Uruguay (9), Russia (21), Egypt (25), Saudi Arabia (32)
Average Power Ranking of teams: 21.75
The worst team from Pot 1, the worst in the entire tournament, and the third-worst from Pot 3. They’re partying in the streets of Montevideo.
https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-2018-world-cup-groups-difficulty-1-8-174346479.html
I think FIFA may have created a monster with VAR. One of its stated purposes was to make sure that penalties were being called right. I think it is having the opposite effect in that marginal calls which the referee lets go, are being reversed and called PK's in VAR.
Kind of like replay in baseball when a sliding runner is called out because he is off the base for a nanosecond.
Kind of like replay in baseball when a sliding runner is called out because he is off the base for a nanosecond.
Thanks for that. I was thinking the Argentina group was a close 2nd and the Brazil group just after.
I don't follow soccer a lot but I've kinda questioned the rankings in the past sometimes about how accurate they are in that I don't think all teams play each other enough and each region has varying difficulties. I've seen teams be ranked high and I'm like how are they that high and then teams below who I think are likely better.
It's ironic for someone who doesn't watch soccer all that often look at it more as an eyeball test but that's kind of how I judge it and recent reputation/achievement.
Germany/Mexico coming up. Germany is my 2nd team after the U.S. since I was young, not even sure how it happened, no heritage or connection. Go Germany!
And, oddly, even though my background is half German/half English, I tend to root for England, but not Germany - think it's the underdog thing. Good match so far. As a keeper, I love watching Neuer play and am very happy to see him back, healthy and playing well.
Haha, I actually have family in England and cousins born there but I'm usually indifferent to them or root against England on occasion. I tend to think my Germany rooting thing is from something silly like the team colors. As a kid I was Raider fan (silver/black,..etc) so I think that was probably it.
Germany has been allowing some dangerous counters and has been a little sloppy too. Mexico had a really nice chance on that one where I think it was Hernandez had a one/one against Neuer and inexplicably didn't shoot. I was like thanks for waiting for the defense to get back, haha.
Oh man, nice pressure and counters by Mexico again and this time they scored. Mexico 1-0. Mexico playing well so far.
Yeah, they're really countering well and deserved that goal. Germany with some really good pressure at the end of the half, though. This one ain't over.
Mexico holds on to win 1-0. Incredible pressure by Germany for most of the 2nd half, but they just couldn't make that last good pass or shot. The upset of the tournament, so far - even though Mexico is a good team, Germany has been nearly invincible and very dominant since winning the last World Cup (10-0 in qualifying, scoring 43 and giving up 4).
Well I thought this group was the "group of death" but didn't expect Germany to be in the firing squad lol, oh well. Mexico seemed to have more energy and speed, specifically in the first half. Hopefully Germany rights the ship.
Uhm, if you’re OFF the base, and the tag is still being applied, you’re OUT. Period. That being said, I agree with you in the case of soccer officiating, it is definitely having the wrong effect on things thus far in my humble opinion.
It helps to have about 80% of the Stadium in green. Mexicans ate up tickets purchased in the U.S.(most sold outside of Russia) And showed up in unbelievable numbers. Wow! I would rather have seen the entire stadium be consumed by a black hole, given it was Mexico versus Germany, but got to give credit where credit is due!
I didn't see much of the first half, but a lot of the 2nd. Definitely rooting for the Swiss to hang or even steal the W with a late goal.
I don't follow soccer a lot and not knowledgeable enough but came across this article about Mexico's strategy in beating Germany. Also didn't realize the Mexican coach was held in such disdain.....until yesterday I'm guessing.
https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-...uan-carlos-osorios-vindication-204107600.html
https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-...uan-carlos-osorios-vindication-204107600.html
I don't think a Group of Death can have both South Korea and Sweden in it. Maybe one of them but not both. There really isn't a Group of Death this go around. If you had Italy and Holland qualify in vintage form it might be a different story.
Yeah, I'd say by the rankings and general consensus, there's no brutal Group of Death, like in past Cups.
Rough match this morning between SK and Sweden - lots of hard fouls - Sweden was the better side and won 1-0 on a PK, although SK blew a chance to tie in stoppage time on a free header from 8 yards out that was sent wide.
Mexican fans hate whoever the coach is. Before the last WC they went through several coaches during qualifying.
Yea I wasn't looking at it in terms of which group is head and shoulders more difficult than the rest but just which one is the toughest of the bunch of groups. Sometimes it's clear, this year maybe not so much.
I do agree that I think it's somewhat splitting hairs as I thought the German group was the toughest, followed closely by Argentina's group and Brazil's group. RU#s article above had it a little different based on rankings but still close among the bunch. But really I'm not a big enough soccer follower to parse it down so much beyond the surface.
As far as hating the coach is that specific to Mexico? I feel like I see that often with quite a few countries.
Obviously, if "you win you're loved and if you lose you suck"but I feel like some have the itchiest of trigger fingers but can also turn on a dime.
Then root for the underdog in Tunisia like me haha. England just can't finish which doesn't seem to be unusual for them in recent times.
Well there you go, just as I say they're having trouble finishing they do in extra time.