The world Cup Russia 2018 Thread

[Panda Paws]

Placing any weight on Fifa rankings is ridiculous, as I'm sure you're aware.

Poland and Switzerland are comfortably in the top 10 yet will both struggle to get out the groups. Spain are 10th, and are expected to go very close (before all of this stuff with the manager).

QFs is a realistic success.

[Reg Smeeton]

Placing any weight on Fifa rankings is ridiculous, as I'm sure you're aware.

Poland and Switzerland are comfortably in the top 10 yet will both struggle to get out the groups. Spain are 10th, and are expected to go very close (before all of this stuff with the manager).

QFs is a realistic success.

It just gives a bit of weight to considering the relative strengths of sides.  In recent years I've see England struggle against sides who are considered inferior, to the extent that I can see no reason why we should expect to beat Tunisia.

For me it's down to mental strength and desire, qualities sadly lacking in our players.  THe WC presents a golden opportunity for lads from countries like Tunisia.... what you might call Gamboa syndrome... Christian Gamboa, had a tidy WC for Costa Rica, who won the group we failed to qualify from, and on the back of it got a nice Prem contract (WBA) then a move to Celtic.... 30 games in 4 years, but lucrative.

Our lot just don't have that sort of motivation.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Linesmen, or whatever they are called nowadays, have been instructed not to flag for close offside decisions.

Wonder what definition of 'close' is going to be used.

[Reg Smeeton]

 So Lopetegui is sacked 

 Certainly different. Andres Iniesta, could do a caretaker job 

[Quagmire]

So Spain have just sacked their manager because he agreed to take over at Real after the tournament, it’s almost Swindon esq.

[Quagmire]

Reg beat me to it.

[Batch]

So Lopetegui is sacked 

Not even Holland managed that level of implosion at a WC.

[Reg Smeeton]

Reg beat me to it.

When you think about it, makes sense... there has always been a schism between the Real and Barca players.  Barca players are not going to take kindly to being told what to do by Real's next manager.

Iniesta, would have the status to close that divide.  Anyway will be interesting to see what they do.  Pep is probably around somewhere.

[Sippo]

Just throwing it out there, and extremely unlikely but Wenger?

[Nemo]

2026 World Cup venue being chosen today too. North America (Canada/USA/Mexico) or Morocco. Quite fancy a month in Morocco...

[horlock07]

When you compare the income that FIFA are going to get for each bid, there is sadly no way its going to be Morocco....

[fittons_coaching_badge]

England have only won 6 knockout games since 1966. SIX. Depressing or what.

Paraguay 1986
Belgium 1990
Cameroon 1990
Spain 1996
Denmark 2002
Ecuador 2006

Of those 6, I think Spain in Euro96 had 2 perfectly good goals disallowed and Lineker cheated to get a pen in WC 1990 .... FOOTBALLS COMING HOME!

[Abrahammer]

How many of those were even in 90 mins? Paraguay and the last 2 according to my memory

Anyway im tipping France, quality squad as long they can avoid falling out with each other.

As for England, it’s a great group and a great last 16 potential draw against a team from the weakest group. Should get to QF against Brazil or Germany and that’s where it will end

[Private Fraser]

....meanwhile, looking ahead, the joint USA, Canada, Mexico bid just got the nod for the 2026 WC (with 48 teams - so Scotland will have a chance!).  Hopefully, Trump will be long gone by then or travel between the three countries could be a long, drawn-out affair.

[Abrahammer]

Pretty surprised FIFA went with the sensible choice