WC 2018

[kilo2]

Morocco has potential. Ziyech may be one of the better young wingers and Benatia is sturdy in the back. I just don't know if they can get past Portugal/Spain. You really believe Son will carry Korea past Mexico?

No doubt in my mind. South Korea has a good team.

[Dace]

This is a good prediction, safe even. As we all know, the World Cup is full of surprises. While this is the obvious group results, I doubt it will come true. Group E is so interesting, Brasil is the only guaranteed winner of the group I think. Any of the other three can make it. Even then, I think Costa Rica will handle Brasil with their counter-attack.

Yeah, I had a hard time with keeping Costa Rica(e), Sweden(f) and Japan(h) out of the Knockout rounds. Those 3 groups will be the most unpredictable IMO.

[Bruv119]

taken from BBC website, some machine has run statistical analysis;

Group A: Uruguay 77%, Russia 60%, Egypt 36%, Saudi Arabia 27%

Group B: Spain 76%, Portugal 58%, Iran 35%, Morocco 30%

Group C: France 69%, Peru 68%, Denmark 35%, Australia 27%

Group D: Argentina 82%, Croatia 57%, Iceland 35%, Nigeria 27%

Group E: Brazil 90%, Switzerland 51%, Serbia 31%, Costa Rica 28%

Group F: Germany 79%, Mexico 60%, Sweden 34%, South Korea 27%

Group G: England 71%, Belgium 71%, Tunisia 32%, Panama 26%

Group H: Colombia 77%, Poland 50%, Senegal 45%, Japan 29%

Only surprise here is Peru, who must have done well to qualify against the likes of Chile who I thought were superb last WC.

[perdue3]

taken from BBC website, some machine has run statistical analysis;

Group A: Uruguay 77%, Russia 60%, Egypt 36%, Saudi Arabia 27%

Group B: Spain 76%, Portugal 58%, Iran 35%, Morocco 30%

Group C: France 69%, Peru 68%, Denmark 35%, Australia 27%

Group D: Argentina 82%, Croatia 57%, Iceland 35%, Nigeria 27%

Group E: Brazil 90%, Switzerland 51%, Serbia 31%, Costa Rica 28%

Group F: Germany 79%, Mexico 60%, Sweden 34%, South Korea 27%

Group G: England 71%, Belgium 71%, Tunisia 32%, Panama 26%

Group H: Colombia 77%, Poland 50%, Senegal 45%, Japan 29%

Only surprise here is Peru, who must have done well to qualify against the likes of Chile who I thought were superb last WC.

These all make sense, obviously. I think we all know it will not be this straightforward. Peru is a surprise simply because of Chile. But, this World Cup is missing some constants (Chile, Netherlands, Italy, USA).

[Mister Fork]

These all make sense, obviously. I think we all know it will not be this straightforward. Peru is a surprise simply because of Chile. But, this World Cup is missing some constants (Chile, Netherlands, Italy, USA).

They didn't qualify for the WC this round...

While the bookies have their money on Brazil, we need to watch Germany and Uruguay - both have strong very teams.

[perdue3]

I suppose I should add Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana to the list of notable absentees.

Uruguay will not be as strong as many might think. They are strong going forward, but defending may be an issue for them. I am not sure if Cavani and Suarez can do all of the heavy lifting.

[JimmyC]

It's like a world series in football.....

[SysError]

For this WC I have started following:

Men in Blazers
Rog & Davo's Guide to Russia

https://meninblazers.com/2018/06/07/mib-roganddavosguidetorussia/

https://meninblazers.com/

Their podcast:
American Fiasco
How Not To Win The World Cup

https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/american-fiasco/podcasts/2
https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/american-fiasco

Sort of interesting.

[perdue3]

Men in Blazers is hilarious. I watch every Saturday morning.

[SysError]

My guess for today:

Russia 1 - Saudi Arabia 0

 

[Meatwad]

Hong Kong has bestest team next year

[Bruv119]

My guess for today:

Russia 1 - Saudi Arabia 0

 

add another 4!   saudi arabia were terrible!  but did we expect anything else??  Maybe they were paid off???   Some good goals just god awful defending. 

[Bruv119]

so one thing I've learnt about this WC,  Kaliningrad who knew that this territory sits in between poland/lithuania on the baltic coast cut off from the rest of mainland russia?

Talk about Brexit this place is surrounded by the EU and the Russian navy has its baltic fleet and nuclear capable missile systems based there.   

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

[SysError]

add another 4!   saudi arabia were terrible!  but did we expect anything else??  Maybe they were paid off???   Some good goals just god awful defending.

5 - 0 !, the other day when I was thinking about what might happen I thought that perhaps 2 - 0 was a possibility.  While I don't follow the Saudi team, they have always seemed to have been very well coached.  So up against Russia I expected a closer game.  (For those of you who are unfamiliar, a 2 - 0 game is usually considered decisive, a 3 – 0 game is a blowout, 5 – 0 is a rout).

Two Stats, when taken together, tell an interesting story.

Possession: Russia 39% Saudi Arabia 69% 
On Target Goal Attempts: Russia 11 Saudi Arabia 2 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/14/russia-saudi-arabia-world-cup-2018-match-report


I think that you are perhaps right, unfortunately at times there was some awful soccer going on.


I am taking off my Nostradamus’ hat for a while.


Today Portugal and Spain should be very interesting.

[MiloMorai]

Spain vs Portugal was some game.

One has to wonder about France with the Ozzies giving them a hard time.