Fifa World Cup Football 2018 Official Discussion Thread
- Thread starter Caliburn
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Most life long football fans of mine (and myself) actually had France as the heavy favorite, belgium was in many top 3s as well. Germany is actually quite obv weaker than it was 4y ago, most of their best are gone and some who aremleft should have been replaced years ago (mueller), but GER did still underperform imo. Spain lost its golden generation before 2014 and i was surprised they were even favorites. Argentina also wasnt a real reasonable favorite, they barely made the wc and it was clear from their first match it was gonna be very hard for them. Out of those only Brasil were amongst my favorites, but still behind France, about tied with Belgium. I was surprised how few ppl were talking about croatia, many picked nigeria over them (both behind argentina) for grp stages, despite croatia having an insane midfield and just overall world class players this generation.
Germany was the best in 2014 but if u recall they struggled a bit, even against the US, despite being clearly better. They even lost their 2nd in grp stages. Spain lost their very first grp stage match in 2010. Clubs ALWAS have better teams than nations, they can pick and buy anyone and they spend most of their time of year playing as one united team, club and national football cant really be compared. As for small teams catching up, well, football is very different than it was 2 decades ago. Yes group stages are closer but mostly because most matches there end up being straight up bunker play by the weaker team, and even th best national teams can have trouble scoring against a bunker because national teams have a lot less playtime together than clubs, and with less team play its harder to get past 10 defenders and a GK so the result is usually very close even if one team is clearly technically superior.
Not to mention that there ARE teams this year clearly above the rest, France obviously, also Brasil and Belgium, and on the ither side of the bracket probably Croatia if not even England if they get it together. I think you are wrong when you say this is a weak world cup, i dont think its any defferent than the past couple. The only trully obviously dominant national team in the last decade was spain, which was one of the best national teams ever. Period. But no national team can ever get close to something like, say, barcelona during their reign (might be unfair since that wa s probably one of if not the best team ever but it illustrates my point) which was basically the super dominant Spanish team except with specially picked improvements and more coordination ... and messi ... imagine Spain but with messi
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Totsuka No Tsurugi
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Good game by england, it looks like its going to be very difficult for any remaining team to beat them, at this rate its feels like football is coming home.
Ansatsuken
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Memento Mori
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Well France, Belgium, England made it into the Semis. Probably, Croatia will move on ahead into Semis too.
WoldOfFingo
Active member
Hold on, this is going to be a long reply xd
Trying out the fisherman life I take it? Lofoten especially is know for fishing...
And speaking of which, time to focus on the game again, haha.
The 3 Pre-World Cup favorites were based on the qualification form but also their form going into the World Cup. A German side whom won 10 out of 10 games and scored 43 goals and only let in 4, a Spanish side that only drew once, scored 36 and only let in 3 goals, and least not forget a Brazillian side that dominated their tough group over the course of a two-years qualification process and only lost once. Not to take away from France whom also had a good qualification run, but even so as soon as the World Cup started, it was as if all the favorites just said "Nah, we can't be bothered to play football." It's rather strange if you ask me. If they only played like they did in their respectively qualifications, they should have dominated way more than they did. Not a single big team (Brazil, Germany, Argentina, England, France, Uruguay) seemed to impress in their first game except from maybe Spain and Portugal but that game was simply insane and not accurate to judge from, and Belgium of course, whom won 3-0 (against a weak side for sure but still).
As for Argentina, they were nowhere close to being favorites. Sure they made it to the final 4 years ago but their qualification run was horrendous, they almost missed out of the competition all-together, in a group where 4 teams progressed and the 5th got a preliminary qualification match at that. No one in their right minds thought they stood a chance, even if Messi brought them from brink on extinction in their last qualification match. The fact that Argentina was placed above Portugal as bigger favorites is beyond me. Argentina had 3 finals to show for (WC2014 as well as the two Copa Americas where they somehow played decent, sure), but their display in the qualification to the WC alone shouldn't place them over Portugal or even mention them as favorites to win it (as some believed). A Portugal side that not only won the Euro through sheer willpower and strength in defence, but also a Portugal side that won 9 out of 10 games in the qualification to the WC. Granted that it's hard to compare Argentina's group with Portugal's group in terms of team strengths, but still. If anything, Argentina ended up playing just as everyone thought they would while Portugal underperformed in my opinion, even though plenty of people for obvious reasons didn't give them a chance neither...
And Croatia was always on the higher part of the list of favorites, even though they came 2nd behind Iceland in their Group of Death qualification. Their display in the Euro 2016 supported this and were just unlucky to go out against Portugal, so why anyone would place them below Nigeria is a mystery, lol.
So yeah we mostly seem to agree actually, I even think Germany would have had a better chance if they went with their Confederation Cup winning side, but that might just be me, lol. My main point here is simply that the big teams have underpreformed, not whether they were justified as favorites or not before the World Cup started. As for France, they seem to be on the right track but I still believe they have an extra gear or two to show for. Griezmann for instance was on fire in the Euro but seems to struggle this time around. If they get him going as well, they'll win it for sure. Except for Belgium, they are the only team that can prevent a feeling of a winner that didn't impress so let's hope that actually happens.
As for Argentina, they were nowhere close to being favorites. Sure they made it to the final 4 years ago but their qualification run was horrendous, they almost missed out of the competition all-together, in a group where 4 teams progressed and the 5th got a preliminary qualification match at that. No one in their right minds thought they stood a chance, even if Messi brought them from brink on extinction in their last qualification match. The fact that Argentina was placed above Portugal as bigger favorites is beyond me. Argentina had 3 finals to show for (WC2014 as well as the two Copa Americas where they somehow played decent, sure), but their display in the qualification to the WC alone shouldn't place them over Portugal or even mention them as favorites to win it (as some believed). A Portugal side that not only won the Euro through sheer willpower and strength in defence, but also a Portugal side that won 9 out of 10 games in the qualification to the WC. Granted that it's hard to compare Argentina's group with Portugal's group in terms of team strengths, but still. If anything, Argentina ended up playing just as everyone thought they would while Portugal underperformed in my opinion, even though plenty of people for obvious reasons didn't give them a chance neither...
And Croatia was always on the higher part of the list of favorites, even though they came 2nd behind Iceland in their Group of Death qualification. Their display in the Euro 2016 supported this and were just unlucky to go out against Portugal, so why anyone would place them below Nigeria is a mystery, lol.
So yeah we mostly seem to agree actually, I even think Germany would have had a better chance if they went with their Confederation Cup winning side, but that might just be me, lol. My main point here is simply that the big teams have underpreformed, not whether they were justified as favorites or not before the World Cup started. As for France, they seem to be on the right track but I still believe they have an extra gear or two to show for. Griezmann for instance was on fire in the Euro but seems to struggle this time around. If they get him going as well, they'll win it for sure. Except for Belgium, they are the only team that can prevent a feeling of a winner that didn't impress so let's hope that actually happens.
I'm not saying that neither one of them didn't have a bad game, I'm saying that their style of play and ways of winning seemed so confident and strong, like they really believed in the way they were playing, knowing they could beat anyone. For me, I would pick the Spanish winning side of 2010 over the German winning side of 2014 simply because their ability to completely play their opponent out of the match for most matches. They seemed invincible for the major part of the tournament. Most teams this time around looked shaky and unconfident in most of their games, like they didn't realize the World Cup had started before they reached the Round of 16 so to speak, and even then teams like Spain seemed to lack vision and a plan so to speak, like anyone could beat them by being effectively in front of goal.
What I meant by the club level didn't come off as obvious as it should have. Of course it can't be compared because of the circumstance of how the players play together and the teams operate, but what I meant is that the World Cup games seemed to be on a whole other level in the past, like they were the Holy Grail of football, but now they don't seem to be much other than tight affairs, the magic seems to be gone, that's what I was getting at. In the end though that might be personal preference, but still. And yet I haven't seen as many World Cup games as I have now ever before.
What you say might be true though, but judging by the Qualification run it seems to not be that way. I mean, how could Germany Score almost 50 goals in 10 matches and win every single one of them against smaller teams if that was true? Granted that the level of the World Cup is a bit higher and the stakes are higher but still. If it was in the qualification, they probably would have dominated Mexico and South Corea by a large margine. Strange indeed...
What I meant by the club level didn't come off as obvious as it should have. Of course it can't be compared because of the circumstance of how the players play together and the teams operate, but what I meant is that the World Cup games seemed to be on a whole other level in the past, like they were the Holy Grail of football, but now they don't seem to be much other than tight affairs, the magic seems to be gone, that's what I was getting at. In the end though that might be personal preference, but still. And yet I haven't seen as many World Cup games as I have now ever before.
What you say might be true though, but judging by the Qualification run it seems to not be that way. I mean, how could Germany Score almost 50 goals in 10 matches and win every single one of them against smaller teams if that was true? Granted that the level of the World Cup is a bit higher and the stakes are higher but still. If it was in the qualification, they probably would have dominated Mexico and South Corea by a large margine. Strange indeed...
Not to mention that there ARE teams this year clearly above the rest, France obviously, also Brasil and Belgium, and on the ither side of the bracket probably Croatia if not even England if they get it together. I think you are wrong when you say this is a weak world cup, i dont think its any defferent than the past couple. The only trully obviously dominant national team in the last decade was spain, which was one of the best national teams ever. Period. But no national team can ever get close to something like, say, barcelona during their reign (might be unfair since that wa s probably one of if not the best team ever but it illustrates my point) which was basically the super dominant Spanish team except with specially picked improvements and more coordination ... and messi ... imagine Spain but with messi
I hear you say that but I fail to really see it. France was mediocre through the group stages (their first and last game especially), Brazil too (although a bit more sharp in their finishing), heck the team that impressed the most was easily Croatia (and maybe Belgium as well), and that says it all. Even Uruguay whom won all their matches and let in 0 goals didn't seem to impress except for their game against Russia. It changed from the knockout stage though for France at least, so we shall see if that will be enough.
Don't get me wrong it's entertaining for sure, but the overall level of the teams seems to be weaker compared to the past, but then again as you pointed out, it might simply be because teams in general are better at defence now than before which makes it that way. What you said at the end there puts us on the same page really, maybe we were just blinded by the greatness of the past teams? xd I mean, that could very well be the thing. I'll leave it at that before this becomes a Caliburn level of Infamous Wall-writing...
Don't get me wrong it's entertaining for sure, but the overall level of the teams seems to be weaker compared to the past, but then again as you pointed out, it might simply be because teams in general are better at defence now than before which makes it that way. What you said at the end there puts us on the same page really, maybe we were just blinded by the greatness of the past teams? xd I mean, that could very well be the thing. I'll leave it at that before this becomes a Caliburn level of Infamous Wall-writing
...And that is why I believe they will win it actually, but who knows, might be Belgium or even any of the remaining teams on the others side, lol.
By the book sure, but it was one heck of a boring game really, lol. If France or Belgium plays at their best, it will be a one-sided show but that's just it, no one seems to hit their max potential so who knows, lol. You only need to be good in defence and hope that you somehow get a goal it seems...
That's coolI gonna travel around a bit, Lofoten and Senja mostly.
Trying out the fisherman life I take it? Lofoten especially is know for fishing...I was actually thinking about that from a Historical perspective, could be fun indeed. Pretty sure France will still win it though but that's now my bet for a final, in fact the only remaining option for a "big" final at that. As much as I like Croatia, England might as well make it to the final now. God forbid Russia makes it...
And speaking of which, time to focus on the game again, haha.
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Totsuka No Tsurugi
Active member
Do not you like how Russia plays, or are you Russophobe?Hold on, this is going to be a long reply xd
The 3 Pre-World Cup favorites were based on the qualification form but also their form going into the World Cup. A German side whom won 10 out of 10 games and scored 43 goals and only let in 4, a Spanish side that only drew once, scored 36 and only let in 3 goals, and least not forget a Brazillian side that dominated their tough group over the course of a two-years qualification process and only lost once. Not to take away from France whom also had a good qualification run, but even so as soon as the World Cup started, it was as if all the favorites just said "Nah, we can't be bothered to play football." It's rather strange if you ask me. If they only played like they did in their respectively qualifications, they should have dominated way more than they did. Not a single big team (Brazil, Germany, Argentina, England, France, Uruguay) seemed to impress in their first game except from maybe Spain and Portugal but that game was simply insane and not accurate to judge from, and Belgium of course, whom won 3-0 (against a weak side for sure but still).
As for Argentina, they were nowhere close to being favorites. Sure they made it to the final 4 years ago but their qualification run was horrendous, they almost missed out of the competition all-together, in a group where 4 teams progressed and the 5th got a preliminary qualification match at that. No one in their right minds thought they stood a chance, even if Messi brought them from brink on extinction in their last qualification match. The fact that Argentina was placed above Portugal as bigger favorites is beyond me. Argentina had 3 finals to show for (WC2014 as well as the two Copa Americas where they somehow played decent, sure), but their display in the qualification to the WC alone shouldn't place them over Portugal or even mention them as favorites to win it (as some believed). A Portugal side that not only won the Euro through sheer willpower and strength in defence, but also a Portugal side that won 9 out of 10 games in the qualification to the WC. Granted that it's hard to compare Argentina's group with Portugal's group in terms of team strengths, but still. If anything, Argentina ended up playing just as everyone thought they would while Portugal underperformed in my opinion, even though plenty of people for obvious reasons didn't give them a chance neither...
And Croatia was always on the higher part of the list of favorites, even though they came 2nd behind Iceland in their Group of Death qualification. Their display in the Euro 2016 supported this and were just unlucky to go out against Portugal, so why anyone would place them below Nigeria is a mystery, lol.
So yeah we mostly seem to agree actually, I even think Germany would have had a better chance if they went with their Confederation Cup winning side, but that might just be me, lol. My main point here is simply that the big teams have underpreformed, not whether they were justified as favorites or not before the World Cup started. As for France, they seem to be on the right track but I still believe they have an extra gear or two to show for. Griezmann for instance was on fire in the Euro but seems to struggle this time around. If they get him going as well, they'll win it for sure. Except for Belgium, they are the only team that can prevent a feeling of a winner that didn't impress so let's hope that actually happens.
I'm not saying that neither one of them didn't have a bad game, I'm saying that their style of play and ways of winning seemed so confident and strong, like they really believed in the way they were playing, knowing they could beat anyone. For me, I would pick the Spanish winning side of 2010 over the German winning side of 2014 simply because their ability to completely play their opponent out of the match for most matches. They seemed invincible for the major part of the tournament. Most teams this time around looked shaky and unconfident in most of their games, like they didn't realize the World Cup had started before they reached the Round of 16 so to speak, and even then teams like Spain seemed to lack vision and a plan so to speak, like anyone could beat them by being effectively in front of goal.
What I meant by the club level didn't come off as obvious as it should have. Of course it can't be compared because of the circumstance of how the players play together and the teams operate, but what I meant is that the World Cup games seemed to be on a whole other level in the past, like they were the Holy Grail of football, but now they don't seem to be much other than tight affairs, the magic seems to be gone, that's what I was getting at. In the end though that might be personal preference, but still. And yet I haven't seen as many World Cup games as I have now ever before.
What you say might be true though, but judging by the Qualification run it seems to not be that way. I mean, how could Germany Score almost 50 goals in 10 matches and win every single one of them against smaller teams if that was true? Granted that the level of the World Cup is a bit higher and the stakes are higher but still. If it was in the qualification, they probably would have dominated Mexico and South Corea by a large margine. Strange indeed...
I hear you say that but I fail to really see it. France was mediocre through the group stages (their first and last game especially), Brazil too (although a bit more sharp in their finishing), heck the team that impressed the most was easily Croatia (and maybe Belgium as well), and that says it all. Even Uruguay whom won all their matches and let in 0 goals didn't seem to impress except for their game against Russia. It changed from the knockout stage though for France at least, so we shall see if that will be enough.
Don't get me wrong it's entertaining for sure, but the overall level of the teams seems to be weaker compared to the past, but then again as you pointed out, it might simply be because teams in general are better at defence now than before which makes it that way. What you said at the end there puts us on the same page really, maybe we were just blinded by the greatness of the past teams? xd I mean, that could very well be the thing. I'll leave it at that before this becomes a Caliburn level of Infamous Wall-writing
And that is why I believe they will win it actually, but who knows, might be Belgium or even any of the remaining teams on the others side, lol.
By the book sure, but it was one heck of a boring game really, lol. If France or Belgium plays at their best, it will be a one-sided show but that's just it, no one seems to hit their max potential so who knows, lol. You only need to be good in defence and hope that you somehow get a goal it seems...
That's cool
I was actually thinking about that from a Historical perspective, could be fun indeed. Pretty sure France will still win it though but that's now my bet for a final, in fact the only remaining option for a "big" final at that. As much as I like Croatia, England might as well make it to the final now. God forbid Russia makes it...
And speaking of which, time to focus on the game again, haha.
Russia plays well and the championship is organized according to the fans one of the best for all time
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It's true though, lol.
Well they played well in their 2 first matches, I'll give them that. Maybe because Saudi and Egypt underestimated them, who knows. But the last 3 were drab at best and now they are out. It was mentioned during the game that Russia was the World Cup's most effecient when it came to putting their chances, so yeah beside that, meh... xd
And now for another few days break, sigh...
The same way I get bored of England? xP JK, lol. I mean they've played okay in terms of structure, but they haven't amazed anyone really. Except for the Belgium game that doesn't count, Croatia will be their 2nd real test after Colombia, a Colombia side that didn't even have James in their line-up at that (and I'm not only blaming England, I'm blaming 90 per cent of all the Big Nations for not living up to expectation this time around really).
I'm split about the game though, for as great as a final between France and England sounds, I would also like Modric to lift it. That guy deserves it in my opinion, as a matter of fact, if anyone else beside Ronaldo and Messi should grab the Ballon D'Or this year, I believe it should be him (though he probably needs at least a final here to get the recognition he deserves sadly). Hopefully it will be a fantastic game, hopefully, lol. By this point though I'm kind of irrelevant as to who I want to lift it, so that's that, so I got to go with my remaining Madrid boys I reckon (Modric, Kovatic, Varane)...
PS: We're "only" 235 posts away from beating the Euro 2016 thread, alas I think it's too late for that now, lol.
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Powerslave
Member
Tbh Croatia is getting worse with each game. They're nowhere near their group stage level. The coach made some bad calls with some tactical changes, and apparently players are getting exhaused from playing 2 consecutive 120 minutes.