World Cup 2018

[jimibt]

anyway -everyone chill (possible in these temps??) - with this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHVarQbNAwU

[Dallas]

Now the poll has finished I've removed it so it no longer shows at the top of each page, but here is an image of how the final result looked (I've also added a copy to the opening post of this thread)

Poll.JPG

[spreadbetting]

So you predicted England, Dallas

[Dallas]

So you predicted England, Dallas

I did indeed

[SeaHorseRacing]

12 years ago on World Cup down time, Ashley Cole was sulking around Germany, sulking with Cheryl shopping being harassed by paps

2018 The England team are running around theme parks enjoying themselves.

This team really has changed. Really interested to see how they do.

[ShaunWhite]

And if they're knocked out on Tuesday you'll be complaining that......

The England team are running around theme parks enjoying themselves.

If you win you did the right thing, if you lose you didn't. Simples.

All I know is that if we miss a load of penalties or get thrashed, those staged 'hunks in trunks' social media photo opportunities, playing on their little blow up unicorns will deservedly haunt them.

[Jukebox]

The odds seem very pessimistic about there being a goal in the Uraguay-Portugal game - even lower than the Denmark-France group game.

[Kafkaesque]

And if they're knocked out on Tuesday you'll be complaining that......

The England team are running around theme parks enjoying themselves.

If you win you did the right thing, if you lose you didn't. Simples.

All I know is that if we miss a load of penalties or get thrashed, those staged 'hunks in trunks' social media photo opportunities, playing on their little blow up unicorns will deservedly haunt them.

I agree that it will likely haunt them, with the press being what it is. Disagree that it would be deserved.

Team unity is the most underrated aspect of these big internatioal tournaments imo. Lack of training time - comparetive to club football - as a group, based at a camp with tons of spare time, expectations of a "whole" nation on young shoulders, club and for some countries regional rivalries needing to be put aside etc. all adds to the importance of bonding excercises and their succesfull implementation. To me the reason that there's a much bigger chance of outsiders of say 30/1+ ending with the trophy at these event than CL with a similar structure over a longer time frame.

And for this reason I look at media outlets from all around the world specifically looking for these stories at least as much as I do so for the team news.

[SeaHorseRacing]

France odds look a little big to me for a win.

[JTEDL]

The odds seem very pessimistic about there being a goal in the Uraguay-Portugal game

Saw that too - draw 2.96/98 and 0-0 is 6.6/6.8!! have to get used to this now it's the knockout stages

[wearthefoxhat]

The odds seem very pessimistic about there being a goal in the Uraguay-Portugal game

Saw that too - draw 2.96/98 and 0-0 is 6.6/6.8!! have to get used to this now it's the knockout stages

Ordinarily I'd agree, but VAR has moved the goalposts. (how'd that happen?...)

The players in both teams can easily con the ref for a set piece, (not a penalty due to VAR). Set pieces have been very effective in this world cup for sure.

[Jukebox]

Isn't VAR producing more penalties? During a corner the holding etc that previously went on unpunished now gets a penalty - even for teams who had no real chance of a goal. We had only one 0-0 in the group stage - and that was a game where the draw suited both teams. I'd say VAR has already been seen to work against 0-0 not for it.

[Dallas]

No need for VAR this time, they don't come more obvious than that for a pen!

[Jukebox]

Argentina just don't seem to be able to get the idea that a foul in the area will not work for them.

[Korattt]

United’s old boys just showing ‘em what they can do, Januzaj, di Maria, what price Falcao on Tuesday?