Don't remember seeing a WC thread so.....

https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/groups/

Yawn.



I'm a super casual fan so I only follow soccer when the US team is in the WC.

Looking forward to it. Not as good as premier league IMO but still god to watch

Let's get that 5th title bu bu boys!

Do you have family from Germany David? Just curious to know why you are a Germany fan.

Looking forward to the Argentina game tomorrow, and Poland on Tuesday. I also will be following Portugal and Spain.

It's an exciting time in our household!

v6,
boNes

As Gary Lineker once said...



At least the hosts got off to a good start.

Yes Sir, my Mom is German (from Wurzburg) and my brother and I were both born there, Munich for me and Stuttgart for my brother.

I was in Germany when they won the World Cup in 1974 and in 1990, I was a kid in '74 living in Frankfurt and really don't remember much other then all the horns blowing all over the place.

The 1990 win is still a great memory, since I was an adult and remember, of pouring out into the streets of Nuremberg with the rest of the city and heading to the town square to celebrate.

The picks to go thru to the next round 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%

Going to try and watch Portugal vs Spain today from work, crazy that Spain fired the coach a few days ago!

Thanks for that great post David! Definitely some great memories there. I actually remember watching the finals match between Germany and Argentina in 1990 and how Maradona was crying afterwards. I guess I was bored that day so I watched most of the game.

I'll watch a lot of game. And of course, especially France

A lot of people here sees France reaching at least the semi-finals, but our defense makes mistakes, and we have only few players with experience. I'm affraid of a big disapointment. We will see.

Allez les bleus !!!

How in the hell did Holland and Italy not make it this time?

Sweden beated both

Holland during group phase, and Italy during play-off.

Unfortunately it's not new for Holland, they missed the UEFA Euro Championship in 2016. For Italy, it's the first major competition they miss since a lot of time.

I'd say for Holland it's disunity and dysfunction. There is no team there.

For Italy, it was a case of a manager out of his depth, poor formations and tactical decisions. Drawing Spain was never going to help, but they still should have navigated their group.

In my opinion, of course.

Not much of a soccer fan, nor am I Italian. but not having Italy in the WC seems that the tournament will be very bland.
Like having spaghetti with no sauce.

I love soccer! No better cure for insomnia!

Just kidding... Lighten up, Francis.

England is going to surprise everyone and win the WC.

Anyone watching the Germany vs Mexico game?

Mexico has been really aggressive so far.

Great game so far... Really.

And if Mexico had more spontaneity on their fast breaks... They could have more goals.

I think Germany will tie the score in the second half.

Tacos ate saussage

Finally they didn't... Bad start for the favorites, even France, we won but very luckily and what I saw on the pitch was very bad, far worse than Germany this evening. Let see if Brasil (in 50min) will have a better start, it should be the case.

Spot on Master,which is why I don't bother with it any more.

LOL


The German team had many shots on goal in the second half but Mexico was just too good.

Well... I don't remind this kind of first games for the so called favorites... Very strange... Only France won so far and it was lucky.

And another favorite--Brazil--fell short giving the moral victory to Switzerland!

v6,
boNes

I want to watch it but can't because I don't have a TV. Anyone know where I can watch it online for free?

The Germans did not look on point at all, they had the in-game stats but clearly Mexico played way better and as mentioned should have had more goals. The German squad needs to win the next two for sure.



Canadians have three different ways of watching the upcoming series.

CTV CTV will air some of the games coverage live on TV.
CTV’s website will also live stream 24 World Cup games this summer.
Lastly, the CTV GO app will both livestream content as well as make each game available on demand.
CTV GO is available on both Android and iOS.

TSN The Sports Network (TSN) will also air FIFA.
The network will show all 64 games, online and be on the TSN app.
The TSN app will further offer tournament stats and a ‘Match of the Day’ feature offering a 30 minute highlight.
TSN GO is available on both Android and iOS RDS

For the French-speaking Canadians, RDS will showcase all 64 games of the competition.
The RDS app will offer on-demand videos for each of the games.
The RDS app is available on both Android and iOS

If you have a family member (or friend) who subscribes to any of the networks above ask to borrow their app login and watch it using the apps
I am streaming the games at work using the FoxSports Go app here in the US and it works great.

David, you forgot to mention the local sports bar/establishment, tho might have to buy a beer or two.

Officiating

As a whole think it has not been to bad.

What do you all think of Video Revue?

It is a bit of a song and dance isn't it

I like it. I'm a huge fan of the sport, and VAR is a step in the right direction. But until they have retrospective action on things like simulation I will always feel these are half-measures.

Ah you caught that mis spell.

The English pulled one out of the bag, for sure.

Yes, and surely they'll win it all now

Thanks, I will use CTV. I thought Fox had exclusive rights.

Great game right now between France and Peru. France is up 1-0.

Olivier Giroud is so important in our tactics. We missed him in the first game.

Congrats to the French team!

Congrats to Peruvian team too. They didn't diserve to be eliminated. About French team, far better than the first game, but I still have doubts in their capacities to reach the semi-finals, as expected.

France are through so congrats to them, but they haven't convinced so far and will need to improve if they are to progress I believe. I haven't watched every match thus far, but most and the only two teams that have impressed really have been Russia believe it or not, and Belgium. Belgium were my dark horse pick, and that was also true in Euro 16 and we all saw how that went (knocked out by Wales in quarters). And even though I'm not a fan of Martinez, the Belgians look strong and hungry at this tournament. Croatia played well too, but we will see how things go in this game against Argentina.

Croatia is spanking Argentina!

I'm not sad for Argentinian team, they deserve it... I'm sad for the fantasticks Argentinians soccer fans, this people really loves soccer, they breath soccer... Really sad for them.

It's not over yet, we will see what gonna happen tomorow, but... Argentina eliminated during the first phase, I've never seen that.

Argentina is a good as out. The goal saldo also matters in the end , and the other teams also have to play and can score more goals and Argentina are weakest of their group now, if they would go to the next round it would be a small miracle.

Also if Germany tomorrow loses from Sweden, and Sweden is a good team, then Germany is also on a plane back to Europe

The Germany vs Sweden game will be a must watch for me.

I don't know about you guys but I find the audio of the crowd noise excessively high. It sure doesn't get me more excited/involved in the game, just irritated. Yes I could use the volume control but then I can't hear what the announcers are saying (yes most of the time they are just babbling).

What an incredible game between Germany and Sweden!!! Germany wins it 2-1 at the very end.

...the very, very end indeed.

Das war knapp ! watched it on Das Erste just to be in the genuine mood !

The Swedish deserved a penalty at the beginning of the game, the referee pretended to not have seen anything and the VAR was not even asked! It was UNFAIR!

I guess the Fifa did not want the germans to be out in the first round, something smelling there!

I'll be honest,I didn't know what VAR was until a mate told me. I never thought such a system would ever make it into football. I also didn't know the ref carried a white marker for free kicks. How long has that been a thing?

What's really needed is a 'diving cam'. It's pathetic how a player will go down when taking a little light contact. Diving has ruined the game imo. I'd rather watch the women's game.

The problem with the VAR, as it is now, it's not really clear how it interacts with the referee on the pitch, and it gives me the feeling that every matches are not referee in the same way. Personnally I would prefer that the VAR can't have the possibility to call the ref, as it is in other sports, referee's mistakes are part of the sport. But if they remain in this VAR use, we need to have the communications between VAR and referee.

As for the white marker it is since the 2014 FIFA World Cup I think. Or 2010 maybe...

Oh my, 5-0 for England over Panama at 1/2 time.

That kind of thrashing hasn’t been done by the English since Trafalgar.

Players attitudes about actual or fake fouls are really boring : they systematically ask for fouls, offsides, penalties etc etc...they even ask for the VAR by doing the referee's gesture miming a TV screen...Id love to see the next one doing that having a yellow card. But it is also disturbing and frustrating not to understand how the referree decision is linked or not with the VAR. Il should be totally clear for the players and audience.

Poor Poland.

Aaaand Germany is out, in the first round, lost to Korea with 0 - 2.

Yup. No cup for Die Mannschaft this time around.


And Sweden destroyed Mexico 3-0!

I'll be shocked if that wasn't Low's final game in charge. It's a bit of a chicken and egg thing, but it appears he was found out in Russia. His lineups, substitutions and tactics were questionable at best, and the decision to leave Sane at home is looking like a bad one at the moment. I don't think anyone would argue that Germany would have progressed simply because Sane was available for selection. But he offers something that no other German player does. A directness that they might have benefited from when Plan A was clearly not working. Draxler in his place didn't play badly I don't think, but Sane could have possibly turned a game with his speed and directness. Off the bench against tiring defenders he could have made an impact.

Aside from the fact that their coach had no ideas to fix the problem, I'll say that their failure is down to a sense of overconfidence. In the run up to the tournament Germany had poor performances against Brazil, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. They felt that despite these warning signs, that they would show up in Russia, flip the switch, and play like World Cup champions. Some players and the coach even said as much publicly. But when that didn't happen they had no answers. No plan B that would show a different look, or cause tactical problems for their opponents.

The methodical build up and patient possession that are hallmarks of the German style are quickly becoming old news. The game is changing, and Germany might do well to update their approach. That will start (presumably) with a new coach. If I were that coach (ya never know!) I'd tell Ozil and Khedira thanks for the memories. In the end, Germany will probably be fine, they produce some fantastic footballers and will continue to do so. But they need to be shaken out of their current malaise. They need young blood to push the stalwarts, more meritocratic selection, and more of an up-tempo gameplan, even if it's just a plan B. This result is an embarrassment, especially as you could see it coming. Except if you wear your hair like Moe and maybe then it's harder to see

Whatever happens, don't mention the VAR

With Germany out I guess I'll be rooting for England!

I always thought it was a requirement to root for England over Germany.


Wheels

Good luck

They will still lose in the penalties.

Damn, Belgium won 1-0.

Some thoughts on the group stage.

Once again, you never know. It's always tempting to feel like the teams that will progress are easily identified before a ball is kicked. But it never shakes out that way, and is one of the reasons that the World Cup is such a wonderful event. The German capitulation might be the biggest 'shock', but as I outlined in my last post, it really shouldn't be much of a surprise. You could see it coming in the build-up. Complacency and overconfidence are a dangerous mix in such an abbreviated format. The margin for error is very slim, with a single defeat being all it takes to fail to progress.

As holders, there was an air of 'wake us up for the final'. The Mexico result should have been that wake up call, and if not for Kroos' sublime free kick at the death, Germany would have failed to win any of their matches. They finished bottom of their group! South Korea were above them. A disgrace and Low should already be gone. How he hasn't already fallen on his sword and resigned I cannot understand. If there is a silver lining in this it will be the injection of a sense of redemption for the next cycle. Complacency cannot be possible when you finished bottom of your group.

Changing gears, VAR worked well enough. In the past that South Korea goal against Germany would have been disallowed. And then maybe Germany goes on to win the whole thing, who knows? Probably not, but the important thing is to get the calls right. VAR helps do that. There are wrinkles yes, but overall I think it's been a success.

One thing that stood out to me is that few teams really stood out (in a positive sense). Belgium have looked good, and Croatia too.Sweden topping their group has to be a surprise, and Argentina nearly went home, but now anything is possible, though you see the weight of a nation of Messi's shoulders. Uruguay topped the group, didn't lose or even concede. But that was a historically bad group and let's see how they do from here.

England did enough, and have a real shot at this thing. With Italy and especially Germany out, England's traditional bogey teams are not there. It's also traditional for England to lose in the quarterfinals, so we will see if this time they can push through. Their path could hardly be better. If they can get past Colombia in the round of 16 they would face the winner of Switzerland and Sweden instead of Brazil. If James Rodriguez cannot be fit for the game, then England's chances of reaching the semis have rarely looked better.

As for standing out in the negative sense, where do you begin? Serbia were one of my sleeper picks to reach the quarterfinals, but they are going home. A poor showing for a team with so much technical brilliance. They probably weren't going to finish ahead of Brazil, but Switzerland and Costa Rica should have been navigable. Poland seem to always waltz through qualifying then implode when it matters most. Disappointing.

In case it may not have been abundantly clear before, Diego Maradona is insane.

One last thought, even though I could write pages, is that fair play needs to not be a tiebreaker. There has got to be a better way. I'm all for fair play, but when a team like Senegal gets eliminated by a referee's perception the system needs to change in my opinion. If anyone watched the second half of the final Japan game I think they'd be inclined to agree.

That is true at any level.

Yes, the 'fair play' as a tie breaker needs to be looked at.

I'd replace it by the earliest goal, would maybe entice teams to push earlier so we get a better show.

Not a bad idea rollnloop, and is better than fair play as far as I am concerned. And by the way good luck to France, they have to be considered one of the favorites now.

I've thought about some alternatives to the fair play tiebreak. Shots on goal? Corners? Record against top team in group? Maybe, but the fact remains that, like fair play, these things can be 'gamed'. If shots on goal, suddenly the team needing more will start shooting from 40 yards out with zero chance of scoring, but accumulating SoG. Or if corners, trying to ricochet it off anyone standing near the goal line, even if a better option exists to take it closer to goal. People are natural schemers and you cannot have these sorts of things where teams are gaming the game, like we saw at the end of the Japan-Poland match.

For me there is only one possibility. And that is off-day penalties. The day after the group stage ends, any teams that find themselves in this situation would be required to fly to whichever stadium is most equidistant and have it out from the spot. I see no other sporting solution to this. And wouldn't that be fun to watch?

France-Argentina is a belter of a match so far

Thanks for wishes DBond, it worked !!!!

Oh messi ciao, oh messi ciao ciao ciao !!!

What a tense game though, up to the last second.

Both teams had genius (and stupid) moments. Di Maria then Pavard's goals are superb.

Yeah, sorry I missed it, but saw the result and congrats to France. They could win this thing.

Hey who knows, why not, just like every other team qualified

Ronaldo going HOOOOMME!!!

It's all going to plan so far

Well I wasn't expecting that! Russia through on penalties.

uraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Seems VAR didn't do its job in the Spain-Russia game for some reason.

Fantastic stuff yesterday! The Croatia-Denmark shootout was good theatre. Looking forward to more.

Wow, that Russian team is quite impressive.

The comeback of the Cup, Belgium down 2:0 to Japan and scores the winning goal with seconds left on the clock.

Both teams would have deserved to make it into the next round ... but there can be only one.

Colombia vs. England today!! Who will come out on top?

I hope Colombia stays in the tournament, England can go home if it was up to me.

England goes on. 4-3 on shoot out.

Wow. What a fricking game!!!

Harry freaking Kane. That is all.

Ahum, Kane was nowhere in that game, England was nowhere in that game, same as Colombia, none of the 2 teams deserved to go to next round, but hey, there had to be 1 winner, and so it was by lottery

Don't think they'd be where they are without him. But I could be wrong.

Those Columbians play a real dirty game. They got what they deserved.

Congrats to England and Sweden, both are through deservedly. Not the best matches today in my view. The Colombia-England match was two teams giving the ball away for 120 minutes, though the shootout was great. England's record in major-tournament penalties is well known, so it must be quite satisfying to have come through it. Southgate though found time to claim that 'Today will give belief for generations'. Is that how it works Gareth? So your miss in '96 took belief for generations? Haha. Well, it's super he thinks so. Time will tell.

I know Sterling had a great season at his club, but he has no impact on the national team for whatever reason. I think he gave the ball away the first 15 times he touched it today.

The England-Colombia match today was the poster child for what is worst about the modern game (aside from clubs paying player agent fees, which for some reason drives me mad). Football is fantastic, I'm a big fan obviously. But the petulance, simulation and general thuggery were on full display.

I only saw that from one side my friend....

.....but yes it was a game of losing the ball I agree. Macguire impressed me throughout the game though.

I think England will take Sweden but go out on the next game.

Definitely don't think it was a great game. Columbia barely even attempted to play football for 75 minutes, which for the supposedly better team is quite pathetic.

Thought England played pretty well on the whole, particularly looking more comfortable in possession than the opposition for the most part, which seemed very unusual. Deserve a lot of credit for - other than the occasional incident - not rising to the Columbian bait. To come through it with no one suspended for the quarter final is creditable. Similar circumstances were the undoing of Beckham and Rooney in previous knockout games.

Still have reservations about England's failure to create chances from open play. Kane might currently be walking away with the golden boot, but half his goals have been penalties, one bounced off his heel and the other two came courtesy of opportunistic rebounds from corners. That leaves only *one* goal genuinely creative goal England have scored, Lingard's in the rout of Panama.

The expectation will now be for England to beat Sweden, although I'm not sure exactly what justifies that.

That is what I don't like about soccer, the PK is not taken by the fouled player.

Talking of the PK,did you see what the Columbians were doing while they argued with the ref over that 1st penalty? At least 2 of them had tried to cut up the penalty spot with their boots. Is this what the 'beautiful game' has come to?

As you put thuggery in bold I agree. England admirably kept their heads and didn't fall in to the trap.

However, fall they did Harry Maguire has been studying at the Dele Alli school of dance, though his technique needs work. His twinkle-toed flop in the box was embarrassing. It's rampant throughout football, and I'm not singling out England, but they are far from immune to it.

So far this tournament has been great I think. Competitive games for the most part. Comebacks, goals (every team in the tournament scored I believe), controversy, tons of penalties, giant-killings. Good stuff. But I wonder what a 48-team World Cup will look like. Can it absorb that dilution and not be worse for it? We shall see.

And last thing..... Low will keep on as German coach. What do Germans think of this? What is the general reaction at home?

Good post Brun, agree with all of it.

Not happy about Löw's attitude that the failure in the first round was anyone's failure but his.
Not entirely unhappy that he stays because usually firing the coach is pointless scapegoatery..

I read somewhere that Low had recently signed a new contract with the team soon before the start of the WC. If the team owners wanted to dump him they would have to buy out his contract. I’m sure that was a major factor behind Low staying.

WHY the DFB did that rather than waiting for results first still baffles many, however.

I asked the same question at another forum and one German said that he sees a marked indifference to the entire thing in Germany, which is surprising. Low should have fallen on his sword, and I think is largely responsible for Germany's performance in this tournament. But the DFB has been just as bad. It seems to me that in any other nation the coach would have been fired. If this World Cup wasn't down to Low, then what does the DFB attribute it to? Crap players? Come on. Back luck? Referee bias? Food poisoning? Stalin?

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Big games tomorrow, and something has to give in the Brazil-Belgium match. Two favorites and tough to pick. I've been on the Belgium bandwagon so pulling for them. Plus, the footballing gods must surely send Brazil home since they have a player who thinks this is the proper way to behave on the pitch

Good one

I think Neymar just rolled past my office window.

Appreciate it

Belgium played Brazil in 2002 and gave them a run for their money. Still lost though. Back then the Belgian team was not nearly as good as it is now and I think Brazil's team then was better than now (Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho). So even if the odds are against us, it's not completely hopeless... I guess...

My predictions for tomorrow:


France beats Uruguay

Belgium beats Brazil

Seen a nice video on the TV news tonight from Switzerland.

A kids soccer team was doing Neymar practice. The kids were dribbling the ball and the coach yelled Neymar. The kids then fell to the ground rolling and moaning.

I see that the Columbians have set up a petition to get the match with England replayed to 'set a precedent for fair play'. Oh how I laughed. They don't know what fair play is. They are of course referring to the American referee who they say gave England a penalty for a 'non-existant foul'. Never mind the red card they should have got when VARS gave a yellow card for a headbutt instead. John Stones said that Columbia 'were the dirtiest team he'd ever played'.

I can't find a clip of the foul unfortunately.

Here you Chucky.

That had us all laughing at the office

Columbia will win the "most #%&*$# team" award for the WC.

Their entire antics during the England game stunk to high heavens.
Mobbing the ref on every occasion, even borderline assaulting him.
Arguing about every decision the ref made, drawing out the game.

France vs. Uruguay will be starting soon.


Go Les Bleus!

Watching the WC games,,,all you hear from the announcer on TV is cliché after cliché. Europeans don't know how to provide color commentary during sporting events.

"If he scores, it will be joy for their team and tears for the other" - at almost every corner kick
"The tension in the match is getting thicker by the minute" - at least every 5 min.
"Can he score and be a hero or will he miss and be just another player"
"One goal can mean the difference between winning and loosing"


On and on it gets nauseating.

I agree Jack but I think that covers ALL sports commentary.

Think about it, there’s only so much you can say over the course of 2 or 3 hours so the commentators simply come up with trivial fluff in order to justify their jobs.

1-0 for France at half-time, but I'm sweating

Tough game for us, I didn't expect an easy win for France, but not so hard. A lot of technical errors, from Pogba (not surprising) and from Griezman (more surprising). I hope second half will be less stressing for french fans

Oops! That was clumsy

Lights out for Uruguay. Start making your flight reservations.

Thanks for posting that vid David, that was a good laugh. In the same vein I want to make a contribution with the funniest football-related thing I've ever seen. This had me in tears, literally, the first time I saw it. Still does.



Watch it before reading comments.

Scott Sterling!

Objective reached !!!

Not a great win, but a win.

Yeah,I think you deserved that win.

I would love to see France vs Belgium in semi-finals. We have 2 belgians in our friends group, it could be a great moment for us.

Is Sweden the favorite to win tomorrow’s game against England?

Hardly but everything is possible and it might be the best team on the pitch tomorrow...

So far so good for Belgium, 2-0 but still another 45 minutes to go.

Everyone in the break room at my job is in shock.


Yes, Miami has a ton of Brazilians.

That is why to me John Madden was the best, loved watching Madden & Sumnmerall call NFL games

And Belgium goes wild

Bye-bye Brazil

Well done Belgium.


Only one more big team to fall and Belgium do it?

I see Neymar was up to his usual tricks. He probably cost them the game with his antics.

Should have got at least one YELLOW card.

not watched any of the WC
22 over dramatic millionaires chasing a bag of wind, thanks but no thanks.

True of any pro sport. But, they all started as little kids playing sports.

LOL Still feels unreal that we beat Brazil

True, I have to take my grandson to his football practice occasionally but he blows hot and cold about playing, the WC has kind of re-kindled his interest in the game. When I'm there I will encourage him and be supportive but to be truthful I would rather watch paint dry

Going to my mates today to watch the England match. Honestly,I don't care if the Swedes beat us,I have no animosity towards them like I do certain other teams. I mean who doesn't love the Swedes,they gave us ABBA and for that I'll always be gratefull

and Belgium gave us French fries, Belgian beer, Technotronic, and Front 242!!!

Knock out France, mes amis!

v6,
boNes

England draws first blood!

A very confident England go through. What's happening? It's been 28 years since we made the semi-finals.

You forgot chocolate!

Chocolate (cacao) is indigenous to Mexico and Central America so we should thank the Aztecs and Maya.

Oh by the way, great game played by England!!

I thought so too Panzer. They seemed confident and sure of themselves. Southgate is on to something. I'd like us to meet Russia in the semi-final,that would be something special for the hosts. They really are the underdogs in this thing.

*edit* So close!

So, Belgium meet England in the final?

England has to get by Croatia first.

I think France will beat Belgium.

And I think, you are thinking wrong

France vs belgium and england vs croatia could both be very close, this will be interesting to watch. Of course I wish France will make it, but belgians played beautifully vs brazil and it's really comforting that one of those two will be on final, whatever the odds. What a year for WC !

I hope the WC championship game is between England and France.

It can be called “Waterloo version 2.0”.

One more game !

Congrats to France!!! Half of my prediction is now in place. :-)

Still one to go... won 98, lost 2006, hopefully we'll win this 2018 edition.

God damnit! But hey, it's a game

Congrats to France. But today we celebrate this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Golden_Spurs