Official 2018 World Cup/Soccer/Futbol Thread

[Joemailman]

Starts Thursday June 14

With the USA embarrassingly not a qualifier, I will be cheering for the country of my ancestors, Germany.

Group Stage matchups: https://www.google.com/search?source.../030q7;st;fp;1

Best Round 1 Group Stage Matchups:

Portugal vs. Spain
Germany vs. Mexico
Brazil vs. Switzerland

[ThunderDan]

I might watch when they get to the knock out rounds.

[Joemailman]

On a related note, United States/Canada/Mexico have been awarded the 2026 World Cup.

[Bretsky]

DAMMIT.....I thought this was a T and A thread !!! Didn't the last one turn partially into one ?

ANYWAYS....US is where it should be.....not in this thing. Soccer is for Europeans. That is what I tell my basketball players I coach

[red]

Yeah, I think i’m Going with Germany too

[Joemailman]

Russia 5
Saudi Arabia 0

I guess they wanted to make sure Russia had a chance to start with a win. Saudis were ranked 67th. Russia 70th.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Go Germany! Embarrass Brazil again!

[hoosier]

Great game between Spain and Portugal this afternoon. Amazing one-man show by Renaldo. Game ruined by the absence of a tie-breaker. Is it only in the final round that they do OT and penalties? Who the fuck wants to end in a tie????

[wist43]

Commies

[red]

Great game between Spain and Portugal this afternoon. Amazing one-man show by Renaldo. Game ruined by the absence of a tie-breaker. Is it only in the final round that they do OT and penalties? Who the fuck wants to end in a tie????

It’s only in the group stage that they allow the ties

Win =3 points
Tie=1
Loss=0

That 1 point comes into play more then you would think

Plus all these guys just came off long seasons, the season just ended a few weeks ago, and it starts again in July, their off season is about a month long before trading starts up again. But the guys in the World Cup now get to play through that month off

No reason to make them play longer games

[red]

i think i said it last world cup, but every time i finally get to see messi play on TV he does nothing

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Russia 5
Saudi Arabia 0

I guess they wanted to make sure Russia had a chance to start with a win. Saudis were ranked 67th. Russia 70th.

USSR! USSR!

[Joemailman]

Germany loses to Mexico. Brazil, Argentina and Portugal held to draws. It's really wide open.

[red]

Germany loses to Mexico. Brazil, Argentina and Portugal held to draws. It's really wide open.

portugal holding spain to a draw is a pretty big upset for portugal. they are like the packers of the world cup, you take away c ronaldo and they are pretty shitty. spain is always just awesome

[hoosier]

It’s only in the group stage that they allow the ties

Win =3 points
Tie=1
Loss=0

That 1 point comes into play more then you would think

Plus all these guys just came off long seasons, the season just ended a few weeks ago, and it starts again in July, their off season is about a month long before trading starts up again. But the guys in the World Cup now get to play through that month off

No reason to make them play longer games

1. They get days off in between games. 90 minute games played on grass, nominally non-contact sport. Shouldn't be that tough on the body, aside from the occasional torn ligament and ruptured tendon. But those things are going to happen regardless of whether they play 90 or 105 minutes.

2. You know how soccer players flop and roll around on the turf in agony for five minutes after getting tripped or kicked in the shins, and then miraculously get up and return to the game with nary a limp? Has anyone ever been legitimately injured while going through the motions in an effort to draw a yellow card on the opponent?

3. I take the point that a tie in the first round is as good as a win or loss when it comes to separating the wheat from the chaff. Spain and Port each get a point, and that will surely be enough to send both of them on to the second round. But aesthetically speaking the tie sucks.