"World Cup 2018" Topic

Starts June 14th. Group A-Russia/Saudi Arabia/Egypt/Uruguay. Group B-Portugal/Spain/Morocco,Iran. Group C France/Australia/Peru/Denmark. Group D-Argentina/Iceland/Croatia/Nigeria. Group E-Brazil/Costa Rica,Switzerland/Serbia. Group F-Germany/Mexico/Sweden/South Korea. Group G-Belgium/Panama/Tunisia/England and Group H-Poland/Senegal/Colombia/Japan.

People still play soccer? :)

Dan

Cacique, is that because the US is out?

If you make it to Historicon, we will be hosting a mini-World Cup using the acclaimed rules Corner Kick.

Our question is which teams will make the final four. Right now we are guessing Brazil and Germany, but who are the other two?

LOL. No, it's really just a running joke between me and my 94-year old sports fanatic Mom.

I tell her the same thing during basketball season. I'm not into sports, but she loves all of that (mostly basketball and soccer), and knows every team and the players by heart.

Dan

Rather hopeful for the Three Lions and the Socceroos.

link

I liked the "Root for your roots" commercial, noting that while the USA is not in the World Cup this time around, Americans are a world population.

SWMBO and I have three "roots" teams in The Cup (two for her, one for me), so that will be fun.

We will probably play another Jurassic World Cup game sometime during the competition.

The Cup this year is as notable for who is in and who is out.

The US, Holland and Italy out………I was in the Netherlands a few weeks ago and are they ever dirty!

Serious contenders are Germany and several of the South American countries. Given so many Africans play in Euope at the top level, don't be surprised if one or more of them do really well.

Liverpool's Mohamed Saleh hoping to recover in time to play for Egypt,after an injury at the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid.

I hope he makes it. He's a gifted player.

I think it was his shoulder.

Starts up on Thursday.

Moscow is looking quite bright now with all the fans on the streets and underground.
I need to get home in time not to be caught in the crowd as the opening match is played on my subway line.
I don't think a lot of Russians are expecting good results from our team, so we'll just wait off for these 3 games and then we'll be watching good football ;)

well, the opener was better than I've expected, still KSA looks just too bad for the World Cup.

Well the Socceroos tried hard. Still reckon Risdon got a touch for the penalty, but Umiti doing a Hand of God ala Maradonna made it even. That second goal was just in but thems the breaks. Not happy though with the foul when Duric was through, lucky he wasn't last man or it would have been a red, nor was I impressed by the three faked injuries by a French player; VAR should have retrospective powers to book for time wasting….The result though was only a -1 goal difference so not too bad. Display like that I reckon we can beat Peru and draw with Denmark.

Australia and Iceland are very solid looking teams. The cup so far looks very unpredictable, but we still have to see Germany and Brazil. May be they're their usual selves ;)

True, I'm also curious about Belgium and I think they are going to upset a few. I think they could make the semis. Iceland are great, after their Euro success I wondered if they would back up and they certainly did. The best thing was they did it against my least favourite team :)

And Mexico dinged Germany 1-0. Denmark over Peru by same,Iceland drew w/ Argentina 1-1,as did Switzerland/Brazil. Iran surprised Morocco 1-0,ditto for Serbia over Costa Rica. Uruguay topped Egypt 1-0(Saleh was on the bench),3-3 draw,Spain/Portugal. 2-0 win for Croatia over Nigeria. South Korea/Sweden,Belgium/Panama and England/Tunisia today. And the Swedes win 1-0 earlier today,over the Taeguk Warriors. also Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick for the Os Conquistadores

Also the second goal given to Les Bleus was ruled via VAR(video assisted referee) as an "own goal" by Australia. But the Socceroos denied France a clean sheet.

Small consolation….:( Now watching Colombia v Japan and reckon that must be one of the quickest red cards in WC history. No brainer though….

And the Samurai Blue take the day,2-1. Colombia playing short a man after Carlos Sanchez was sent off in the 3rd minute(first red card of the tournament,I believe). The Three Lions also celebrating a 2-1 win over Tunisia,Harry Kane knocking in brace for England. Romelu Lukaku also contributing a brace for Belgium,ending with a 3-2 win for the Diables Rouges over Panama. Poland/Senegal,Russia/Egypt(second Group A match) also today

It seems we're in the play-off unless Saudi will invest all of their budget into bribing Urugway to lose ;) I confess I was not expecting these 2 wins…

…and I'm so glad Senegal finally got a win for African team on the cup, too.

Russia have played well. Whilst the opposition may be easier than the later rounds, Russia look well organised, if perhaps a little regimented. But I reckon they could get through the round of 16 if they get the right opponent.

Agree about Senegal, nice to see.

Socceroos draw with Denmark 1-1,with some impressive saves and shots on goal. And 1-0 wins for Portugal,Uruguay and Spain,over Morocco,Saudis,and Iran,respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo(POR) ,Luis Suarez(URU) and Diego Costa(ESP) all scoring their game winning lone goals. And Saleh(EGY)recovered long enough to get on the pitch as a sub and score the Pharoahs' lone goal against Russia.

And Brazil tops the Ticos 2-0 with two second half stoppage time goals,one by Coutinho and the other from Neymar. France punches their ticket to the knockout round with a 1-0 win over Peru, and Croatia thumps Argentina 3-0,joining France,Russia,and Uruguay so far, in the Group of 16. Nigeria/Iceland coming on the pitch in about 20 minutes from now.

And Nigeria wins 2-0. Serbia gets dropped by the Swiss, 2-1 . Senegal 2-1 over Japan,Colombia thumps Poland 3-0,Mexico 2-1 over S. Korea ,ditto Germany over Sweden,Belgium 5-2 over Tunisia and The Three Lions deliver a 6-1 thumping of Panama,Harry Kane supplying a hat trick for England. Final group matches today. Egypt/Saudi Arabia and Uruguay/Russia(Grp. A) starting about now,and Potugal/Iran and Spain/Morocco(B) around 1900 UTC.

And so far,Egypt leads Saudis 1-0 and Uruguay leads Russians 2-0,with Russia's Smolinkov getting a red card on a second yellow,and the second Uruguayan goal was an own goal by Russia 's Cheryshev,bounced off his head by Uruguay striker.

And somehow the Green Falcons manage to drop Egypt 2-1,and Uruguay with a 3-0 clean sheet over Russia,to win Group A. Portugal/Iran 1-1 draw(Team Melli equalizing in second half stoppage time,following a VAR induced penalty kick.) ,2-2 draw for Spain/Morocco. Group C and D finals start 1500 UTC with Peru/Australia,and France/Denmark. Later at 1900 UTC,Argentina/Nigeria and Iceland/Croatia

Peru lights the board up first ,1-0 to Los Incas. Not a twig yet for Les Bleus/Danish Dynamite. 30 minutes in.

And France /Denmark winds up with a 0-0 draw. And Peru 2-0 over Socceroos(sorry to report that,korsun0,my condolences). Argentina gets to the knockout round, 2-1 over Nigeria(Messi finally scoring),and Croatia 2-0 over Iceland. First up today,S. Korea/Germany and Mexico/Sweden,then later on,Switzerland/Costa Rica and Brazil/Serbia.

Only minutes to go in first half,no goals yet from anyone.

And,Die Mannschaft gets dropped by S. Korea 2-0,knocking the current World Cup champions out of contention,but the Taeguk Army goes home also,as Sweden thumps El Tri 3-0(Mexico still gets in the knockout round,along with the Swedes). Brazil 2-0 over Serbia,and 2-2 draw for Swiss Red Crusaders and Costa Rica's Ticos. Switzerland also gets to the Group of 16. Poland/Japan and Colombia/Senegal on the pitch now,with Belgium/England and Panama/Tunisia later today.

Colombia dings Senegal 1-0(with the Lions Of Teranga even on record,goal differential total goals and head-to -head,so they went to a "fair play" decider;fewest bookings moved up. Japan only had 4 players booked,Senegal 6.) ,Poland over Japan by same. Samurai Blue moves on into knockout round . Belgium and the Diables Rouges squeeze by England 1-0,winning Group G, but both in KO round. Tunisia goes home with a some pride after topping Panama 2-1. Draw for KO round,tomorrow France/Argentina and Uruguay/Portugal . Sunday-Spain/Russia and Croatia/Denmark. Monday-Brazil/Mexico and Belgium/Japan,and Tuesday-England/Colombia with Sweden/Switzerland preceding.

Harry Kane ,
The best out and out goalscorer in the world .
" football is coming home " well maybe.

And Russia/Spain and Croatia /Denmark end regulation w/ 1-1 draws,both matches go into 30 minutes extra time;no change. Then they both go to penalty shootouts. Russia outshoots Spain 4-3,and Croatia drops the Danes 3-2. France tops Argentina 4-3, and Uruguay 2-1 over Portugal . Mexico/Brazil start at 1500 UTC today,and Belgium/Japan around 1900-2000 UTC.

Brazil all the way. It's the home of the "Muhammad Ali" of football after all.

That's Pelé in case you're wondering.

And the Selecao did just that,2-0 over Mexico. Belgium made a comeback in the second half,topping Japan 3-2. Swedes/Swiss in about 20 minutes,followed later by England/Colombia. BTW,welcome aboard,Terry.

England/Colombia end regulation w/ 1-1 draw;extra time,same result. Going to pens ,the Three Lions move up, edging the Cafeteros 4-3,and take on Sweden in the quarter-finals,the Swedes topping Switzerland 1-0. Quarters;Uruguay/France,Sweden/England,Belgium/Brazil,and Croatia/Russia. Action starts tomorrow around 1500 UTC.

And France/Uruguay match kicks off about now. Belgium/Brazil about 1900 UTC.

" please sir , can l introduce you to a lump of cheddar cheese "

It's happening,

And the Three Lions get to the semifinals,dropping Sweden 2-0,Croatia/Russia,2-2 draw even after half hour extra time, Penalty shootout,Croatia top the Russians 4-3,and play England in the semis. France tops Uruguay 2-0 and get to battle Belgium,which edged Brazil 2-1. The latter match is tomorrow,and England/Croatia is on Wednesday.

And Les Bleus edge the Diables Rouges 1-0,to go to the finals. England/Croatia today around 1900 UTC.

And as reported earlier,Croatia edges England 2-1 in extra time,and play France for the Cup in Moscow, Sunday, about 1900 UTC,England/Belgium on Saturday about the same time,in St. Petersburg.

Belgium 2-0 over England,for third spot. And France tops Croatia 4-2;one French goal(the first one) being an own goal from Mandzukic(CRO)in the 18th minute. Harry Kane(ENG) wins the Golden Boot,for most individual goals scored. Next year ,it's the Women's World Cup,held in France.