OT: Official 2018 World Cup Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
England 2-0. Gonna be hard for Sweden to come back now. I don't think they've showed too much to suggest that they would either.
EDIT: Another nice save by Pickford.....and another.
EDIT: Another nice save by Pickford.....and another.
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The last 6 teams in The Cup are from Europe. All 4 teams in the semi-finals will be from Europe as will the 2 finalists and the champ. Please don’t question why Europe gets so many more nations to the 32-team finals then every other continent. Pure domination.
They’re starting to pick it up at knowledge and are playing, and appears, without the ghost of the past anymore. Getting through that last game penalty kicks situation was so clutch for them as a team. Multiple Hoboken bars are packed today I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be late for the semi final.
This is going to get more pronounced, at least 'short' term. Brazil will be Brazil but basically all of Argentina's stars will be gone or very old for WC 2022. Ditto Uruguay - Suarez and Cavani will be 35/36. With Asia/Africa (although Nigeria might have something 4 years from now ) /Concacaf never really in the mix, I dont see Europe's hegemony ending any time soon.
I've never been surprised by the amount of European teams and have no issue with it. Frankly for me the Euro championships are just as fun as the World Cup. I'm more likely to watch that than CONMEBOL or CONCACAF (even though US is there).
Don't follow enough but if what you say is true, a little surprised though that the South American (outside Brazil) teams don't have up and comers waiting in the wings to spur a new generation of good players.
Give the Champions League a try if you haven't, thats great too.
Oh yea I've watched that too just not all that often, especially recently but thanks for the heads up. BTW love the theme lol. "THE CHAMPIONS" haha. I had an uncle who passed away a little over a year ago and he watched all the leagues in Europe, mostly EPL and Champions League though. That's part of how I got into it a little growing up, my dad too but he wasn't as big a follower as my uncle.
So I'll know the bigger teams and the bigger players but go down a level away from that my knowledge is meager but still can appreciate good soccer and good plays when I see them lol. The plays that show touch, finesse, placement, skill, vision are what impress me not necessarily the powerful shot into the goal or "everyday" plays. Like a soft lob over a charging goalie to me is skillful and shows touch as opposed to many who might just strike it hard right at the goalie or boom it into the stands.
Oh there will always be new talent. But the Suarez Cavani duo is unusual especially for a country as small as Uruguay. And obviously Messi is irreplaceable. But who knows maybe a Colombia steps up.
Europe just has so much depth that as - say - a Croatia ages for the next cup some other country will come into its prime and/or Italy / Netherlands bounce back.
Drinking game for the post-game show: Chug one every time Alexi makes reference to the "soccer gods".
Argentina should be fine. There is still a lot of talent available. Their problem this cycle was it became a stars vs coach dynamic. There was a lot of star power in that team, but if they weren't pulling together, it doesn't matter.
Europe, if anything, could feel a bit shortchanged in the # of previous WC spots, but as the game becomes more globalized, it's possible other regions will catch up. More non-EU players are playing in the big Euro-leagues, and as long as that continues, the rest of world should catch up.
2026 world cup here will expand to 48 teams, more European teams as well as other regions.
One proposed breakdown would comprise: Europe 16 teams (13 currently); Africa 9 (5); Asia 8.5 (4.5), South America 6 (4.5), Concacaf 6.5 (3.5), Oceania 1 (0.5), Host nation 1 (1).
But 2026 might be 3 host nations qualify, that hasn't been decided yet.
One proposed breakdown would comprise: Europe 16 teams (13 currently); Africa 9 (5); Asia 8.5 (4.5), South America 6 (4.5), Concacaf 6.5 (3.5), Oceania 1 (0.5), Host nation 1 (1).
But 2026 might be 3 host nations qualify, that hasn't been decided yet.
Interesting …but I could never watch this stuff during the regular season. I think these
guys are in great shape...but for most of the game I felt like I was watching a cross country
match (NPI). Actually started rooting for Russia (since my relatives were from that area)...and the shoot out was exciting. But the rest of the game (about 118 minutes...not so much).
I am hoping for France- England final...the Euro version of Yankees- Red Sox - who knows it could restart the 100 years war !~
MO
guys are in great shape...but for most of the game I felt like I was watching a cross country
match (NPI). Actually started rooting for Russia (since my relatives were from that area)...and the shoot out was exciting. But the rest of the game (about 118 minutes...not so much).
I am hoping for France- England final...the Euro version of Yankees- Red Sox - who knows it could restart the 100 years war !~
MO
What a freakin' day and what an amazing World Cup so far!! Just finished watching both games on DVR, since we were down OC today to choose a rental for Labor Day week. Luckily, I was able to maintain a complete blackout while eating my favorite cheesesteaks (Angelo's II on 14th and the Boardwalk) and walking around/shopping with the wife.
England looked close to dominant - they just seem so confident and free on the attack and Pickford came up big a couple of times when he had to. Sterling probably played as great a game as someone can play without scoring - he was everywhere - so much speed and while he continues to struggle when he has an opportunity to score, if he gets one, look out, as the floodgates might open.
And that Russia-Croatia match was epic. Sure, Croatia has more skill, but Russia had so much heart and energy and never gave up, even after Croatia scored what looked like the winner in the first OT. Still hate PKs, but they were exciting. Both teams looked dead at the end and Subasic's injury could be an issue. Might help England a little. Been rooting for England and Belgium the whole time, so why not them in the final? Wouldn't mind France either. Can't wait.
England looked close to dominant - they just seem so confident and free on the attack and Pickford came up big a couple of times when he had to. Sterling probably played as great a game as someone can play without scoring - he was everywhere - so much speed and while he continues to struggle when he has an opportunity to score, if he gets one, look out, as the floodgates might open.
And that Russia-Croatia match was epic. Sure, Croatia has more skill, but Russia had so much heart and energy and never gave up, even after Croatia scored what looked like the winner in the first OT. Still hate PKs, but they were exciting. Both teams looked dead at the end and Subasic's injury could be an issue. Might help England a little. Been rooting for England and Belgium the whole time, so why not them in the final? Wouldn't mind France either. Can't wait.
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Especially when teams like France and Belgium have stars they pull from Africa.
Sterling drives me nuts. Never saw someone create and completely waste so many chances.... the guy just cant seem to finish. Its been 3 yrs since hes scored for England. Kane's shot on goal today only came about because sterling's final touch is awful.
I'm looking forward to the Gryffindor vs Slytherin match. That should be a good one!
I make perfect sense. I know lots of people who, both to me personally and/or on social media. who constantly complain about the # of European nations in the WC as the format currently stands. I was simply commenting about that by using the (at the time) current makeup of the 6 remaining nations.
Pretty simple my friend.
Ugh...anyone BUT France thx!
That match was epic yesterday and watching at a bar with maybe 200 Croatians, and about 30 Russians, made it so damn excutubg! I’ve gotta try to get the videos linked here later.
Hudson Hall in Jersey City. One of the owners is Croatian And they’ve been throwning huge parties for each of their matches.
#clueless
TV viewership USA
2018 NBA Playoffs: 4.8M
2018 World Cup Round of 8: 4.5M
(NO night games NO Team USA)
Not specifically about World Cup but soccer related, saw this piece on Christian Pulisic on 60 minutes just now. The Young American is the name of the piece. Nice to learn about him and how big he's becoming in Europe. Offers of 40M for transfer I guess and makes around 8M a year I think they said
4M kids in youth soccer here more than any other country they said, shame we can't do better than we do.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christian-pulisic-soccer-skills/
4M kids in youth soccer here more than any other country they said, shame we can't do better than we do.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christian-pulisic-soccer-skills/
yeah but TVs don't have to be legal
I kid, I kid. I had ZERO interest in the NBA but haven't missed a WC game since knock out round. Heck, even my wife i watching it and following it now. And she can't stand watching sports. (somehow she even knew who Lalas was!)