My hopes is for Germany to win it again! Brazil will threaten but end up 2nd. France and Argentina will also be in the mix. Portugal could also go far but tomorrow is the big test.
I'm going to stick my neck out on some things that almost certainly will NOT happen, but I feel like being daring.
Winners - Belgium
Runners Up - Argentina
Dark Horse - Croatia
Disappointment - France
Golden Boot - Ronaldo
Really looking forward to Egypt-Uruguay and Portgual-Spain tomorrow, though I'll probably have to pick one to watch in the evening.
Winners: Argentina (wishful thinking)
Runners up: Germany
Dark Horse: Serbia
Disappointment: Belgium
Golden Boot: Suarez (Picking a Group A player after the first match has been played is cheating a bit though).
A real Bear in back of a car in a Russian city plays a Vuvuzela after Russia beats Saudi Arabia... Would be a site to see for sure...
Winner - Portugal.
Golden boot - Andre Silva.
Viewers - bored to tears.
Doubt it will actually happen but not buying the doom and gloom. If they can defend as a team there's the talent to grab ugly 1-0 wins to a final.
The Figo Rui Costa Deco teams should of won something but ask Italy. Style points count for f*ck all.
Winner - Portugal.
Dear God, please. No! They were so drab in the Euros. I hope that doesn't happen again.
I'll go with...
My Brain Thinks: Germany
My Heart Wants: Argentina
So I'll go with...
Winners: Belgium (combination of both my heart and my brain)
Hope they lose: Spain (because Ramos), Portugal (because they are boring)
That's harsh.
I'm pretty sure they're not to the most boring team in the WC. Especially after watching yesterday's game.
I'm going to stick my neck out on some things that almost certainly will NOT happen, but I feel like being daring.
Winners - Belgium
Runners Up - Argentina
Dark Horse - Croatia
Disappointment - France
Golden Boot - Ronaldo
Elaborate on how choosing France as a disappointment is daring? Seems par for the course 
URUGUAY NOMA!
I mean, Uruguay wins it first match (since 1970 I think), but BOY what a boring match (except for the last 10 minutes)...but we are used to it xD
Egypt's gameplan nearly worked - grind out a draw against Uruguay without risking Salah, then go for wins against Russia and the abysmal Saudis. They are spectacularly mediocre without him...when commentators start saying 'XX of West Brom', then you know that you are not going to see much quality.
Now if they get beat by Russia on Tuesday, they are done.
4pm - Morocco vs Iran. Hmm, think I'll tidy the shed.
Morocco are an interesting side, they certainly have a lot of quality in their team, if they win here they certainly have a chance to overcome Portugal, depending on how Ronaldo plays.
Listening to game on radio of them against Iran and it sounds like an end-to-end cracker so far, both of them must win. Sounds like Morccan quality is showing a bit more though.
Really Iran? I was thinking about betting a little on Iran winning early in the game, just for fun, because it gave 5 times the money back. But they played so awful I couldn't do it. And then they end up somehow winning anyway at the very last moment.
I thought that game was less interesting than the other 1-0 game from today. Both games were settled in the last few minutes, both won by the teams I was cheering against. Alas.
Now I'm forced to cheer for the show pony because I can't stand the thought of Ramos doing well, even though I like players like Iniesta and Isco.
Morocco are an interesting side, they certainly have a lot of quality in their team, if they win here they certainly have a chance to overcome Portugal, depending on how Ronaldo plays.
Listening to game on radio of them against Iran and it sounds like an end-to-end cracker so far, both of them must win. Sounds like Morccan quality is showing a bit more though.
An end to end cracker? More like a steaming turd, played out between two teams lacking elementary football skills such as being able to trap a slow moving football, control it or shoot for goal and not hit the corner flag. They did show amazing abilities across both teams to roll around after a slight challenge as if they'd been shot (almost Serie A 1990s standard). The own goal was the sort of thing you'd see scored in Sunday Leagues up and down the country every week.
And is it me, or have the refs been told to cut down on yellow cards ? There were a fair few challenges that in most leagues would have had the ref reaching for the pocket, but there seemed be little inclination here. There was also no confirmation on screen of the award of one, so I'm not sure whether that was ITV's garbage coverage or the Russian feed.
Truly dreadful. I can't wait until the brown envelope merchants at FIFA expand the tournament to 48 teams (more votes and more opportunities for backha...err, more opportunities for deserving nations), so that there can be more sh*tty group games.
With regards to his... tax disagreement™ in Spain: "Ronaldo accepts deal of 18.8 million fine and 2 year suspended jail sentence."
The hits just keep coming for today's Iberian Mixup. I presume going in studs-up on Ramos triggers his suspended sentence.
Anything with a sentence that short can be converted into a fine in Spain. Messi did the same a couple of months back.
Yeah, I was just going to say looks like Ronaldo got the Messi Tax Evasion deal.
Wow horrible goal given up by De Gea.
Now that was a bit more like it.
Can't see either making the final, unfortunately. Spain's passing now looks a little too static, and any team with Pepe and Fonte in the back 4 is not going to win anything, no matter how many goals Ronaldo scores.
On the bright side for Spain - De Gea and Pique surely can't play that badly again.
Clusks wrote:Morocco are an interesting side, they certainly have a lot of quality in their team, if they win here they certainly have a chance to overcome Portugal, depending on how Ronaldo plays.
Listening to game on radio of them against Iran and it sounds like an end-to-end cracker so far, both of them must win. Sounds like Morccan quality is showing a bit more though.
An end to end cracker? More like a steaming turd, played out between two teams lacking elementary football skills such as being able to trap a slow moving football, control it or shoot for goal and not hit the corner flag. They did show amazing abilities across both teams to roll around after a slight challenge as if they'd been shot (almost Serie A 1990s standard). The own goal was the sort of thing you'd see scored in Sunday Leagues up and down the country every week.
And is it me, or have the refs been told to cut down on yellow cards ? There were a fair few challenges that in most leagues would have had the ref reaching for the pocket, but there seemed be little inclination here. There was also no confirmation on screen of the award of one, so I'm not sure whether that was ITV's garbage coverage or the Russian feed.
Truly dreadful. I can't wait until the brown envelope merchants at FIFA expand the tournament to 48 teams (more votes and more opportunities for backha...err, more opportunities for deserving nations), so that there can be more sh*tty group games.
Now I remember why I stopped posting in the soccer thread...
That's harsh.
I'm pretty sure they're not to the most boring team in the WC. Especially after watching yesterday's game.
After watching today's Portugal/Spain game, I give Portugal more credit. They boxed up at times, but spent more time high pressing and attacking. Being behind forced them to open up to a degree, but even early on they were more aggressive than I remember them being in the Euros. Super fun game to watch, although I wonder if their play will change should they (likely) make it through pool play.
I actually enjoyed Russia/Saudi Arabia, as low-quality as it was. It's more the whole-game park-the-bus strategy that I find tiring, not so much the quality of the play. Two weaker teams going is all good for me. I enjoy seeing the contrast between those matches and the high-powered teams.
Helluva game. Whatever I might say about him, that Ronaldo boy is the best finisher I've ever seen in my lifetime.
Now I remember why I stopped posting in the soccer thread...
eh, it becomes like white noise after a while. Angry, biased white noise. 
Anyone else getting up early to watch the Argentina v Iceland game tomorrow?
Anyone else getting up early to watch the Argentina v Iceland game tomorrow?
*raises hand*
I'm hoping to watch one game live each day of pool play, and I'm thinking that's my game tomorrow. I'm also interested in Croatia vs. Nigeria, so maybe I'll watch two games tomorrow.
Yeah, it's also really early here. *cough* 10h30*cough* 
I'm gonna have to deal with that problem in 2026.
Spain was better today through most of the game. Portugal looked good before scoring and in the last 10 minutes.
That centre defence it's just the same crap from 2016. Just gotta deal with it. However, some players like Gonçalo Guedes seemed a bit, uhm, frightened? I guess at times like these you need a Ballon D'Or winner.
It's nice to see a good game. The previous ones were really dreadful.
That De Gea, though. Oof...
Costa vs Pepe battle of karma trying decide who should get hit by a random plane.
How about the reigning and future ballon d'or winner.
Dominic Knight wrote:Anyone else getting up early to watch the Argentina v Iceland game tomorrow?
*raises hand*
I'm hoping to watch one game live each day of pool play, and I'm thinking that's my game tomorrow. I'm also interested in Croatia vs. Nigeria, so maybe I'll watch two games tomorrow.
I'm hoping to watch every single game, but it seems like work and life will surely keep that from happening.
"Early" here would mean getting up at 5am to watch France and Australia. I'm considering it. 
I have to say, Portugal-Spain was a better match than even what Twitter hyped it up to be.
I thought Busquets really showed his age in this one. Portugal were able to counter and get into the final third with ease so often.
Helluva game. Whatever I might say about him, that Ronaldo boy is the best finisher I've ever seen in my lifetime.
Clusks wrote:Now I remember why I stopped posting in the soccer thread...
eh, it becomes like white noise after a while. Angry, biased white noise. :lol:
I even stopped reading it, never mind posting in it. Looks like the same is about to happen here
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