The Official 2018 World Cup Thread...

[FSUdawg]

FiveThirtyEight can say it is wildly inaccurate, but then again their time keeping can be wildly inaccurate.

Based on their comment that there is a stoppage about every 38 seconds makes me think they are stopping the clock every time a whistle is blown or a ball goes out of bounds. In soccer this is not the case, as the clock is not considered to be running only when the ball is in play.

If the ball goes out for a throw, the clock would remain running, unless there is some sort of unnecessary delay. Same goes for corner kicks as the setup is deemed to be part of the game and thus the clock runs.

Injuries when a trainer comes onto the field would be an example of when the clock would stop.

I'm not saying it is the most accurate thing in the world. However, most teams can plan accordingly because they already know approximately how much time there will be added. At the end of the first half, 1-3 minutes is common, while at the end of the second half 3-6 minutes is common.

 

[GwinnettNole]

Anyone else excited for England and Belgium today? I know that both are moving on but this is a real good test for the UK...

 

[LesClaypool]

Anyone else excited for England and Belgium today? I know that both are moving on but this is a real good test for the UK...

Can’t wait. Should be a great match.

Hoping Belgium smashes them.

 

[FSUdawg]

I think Belgium v. England is going to be a boring game. Neither side is going to want to risk injury to top players, and will also want to avoid yellow cards. They both know they are advancing, and there is no clear 1 or 2 in the group they match-up against. Heck, it might actually be better to finish second in this group when all is said & done.

 

[DDennis73]

Both teams know that is far better to finish runners up. The winner gets a potential matchup in the quarterfinals with Brazil/Mexico winner. The runnerup in group G gets a potential QF draw with Sweden/Swizz winner.

Both teams are fielding near complete B teams. The one good thing from this is that these second team players get to play in a WC game. If the game is still tied late on look for a lot of "professional" tackles to try to move the fair play tie breaker.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

I know its a long shot, but would love to see both Colombia and Senegal advance.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I know its a long shot, but would love to see both Colombia and Senegal advance.

Same.

As I understand it, the scenarios to play that out would be:
- Colombia win, Poland win
- Colombia/Senegal draw, Poland win
- Lots of random tie breaker stuff.

Basically have to root against Japan.

 

[Fijimn]

This is going to be fun.

 

[NoleLizards]

This is going to be fun.

Colombia has to play to win, so yes.

 

[Fijimn]

Colombia has to play to win, so yes.

Yep, but they can advance with a tie and a Poland loss.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Yep, but they can advance with a tie and a Poland loss.

Poland loss or Japan loss?

Freaking tiebreakers gots me confuzzled.

 

[Fijimn]

I don't know if VAR got that right....pretty close.

 

[Fijimn]

Poland loss or Japan loss?

Freaking tiebreakers gots me confuzzled.

Correct...Japan. Japan and Senegal have 4 points, Colombia 3. Goal differential: Japan and Senegal - 1; Colombia 2.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Good god that Kate Abdo chic is making it extremely hard for me to concentrate working today.

 

[DDennis73]

The thing that makes this the most confusing is that if the results hold leaving Senegal with 5 pts and Japan and Colombia on 4 apiece you do not get to head to head until the 3rd tie breaker. That is absurd, but it has been that way for a while. Japan would be unlucky to go out to a side it beat level on points.

 

[noleit]

Columbia scores up 1-0. This would knock out Senegal with Japan placing second as it stands now.

 

[Fijimn]

What's the fair play differential between Senegal and Japan?

Edit: Japan has two fewer yellow cards.

 

[noleit]

Col vs Sen game ref is letting play be rough all game.

 

[SeaPA]

What's the fair play differential between Senegal and Japan?

Edit: Japan has two fewer yellow cards.

Man, what a garbage way to break a tie. I'd rather lose on a coin flip than lose because the other team was a bunch of wusses who play timidly.

 

[GoNolesTX]

Good god that Kate Abdo chic is making it extremely hard for me to concentrate working today.

What's that?

 

[PoopandBoogers]

What's that?

 

[Fijimn]

With the fair play points deciding this Group, if refs were more liberal with the yellow on flops, you would probably see huge improvement in play.

 

[DDennis73]

Colombia looks like a side that could be dangerous. I wonder if Belgium and/or England change their strategy a bit and play to win now to avoid them in first round.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Damn! Sad to see Senegal out. They're one of my fav teams stylistically in this tournament.

 

[noleit]

Damn! Sad to see Senegal out. They're one of my fav teams stylistically in this tournament.

Definitely one of best physical teams having a non stop attack. They were fun to watch!

 

[ReliableOstrich]

So it would appear the afternoon game is one simply of strategy in terms of which bracket.

Winner faces Japan --> Bra/Mex --> Fra/Arg/Uru/Port
Loser faces Colombia --> Swe/Swi --> Spa/Cro/Den/Rus

I'd rather face Japan but after that I'd much rather face the bottom set. So I'd consider losing on purpose considering the goal is to advance more than just one game.

Plus just play your worst players, avoid injury at all costs.

 

[FSUdawg]

The problem for England / Belgium winner is the entire side of the bracket they will be in. Granted they get Japan in the Round of 16, but if they win they likely get Brazil. Win that game and they likely get France or Uruguay.

The second place team from their group will have to play Colombia. However, after that they get Sweden or Switzerland. Finally they will most likely have to beat Spain or Croatia to get to the Final.

Overall IMO there is definitely an advantage to finishing the group second and not winning it.

 

[GoNolesTX]

So it would appear the afternoon game is one simply of strategy in terms of which bracket.

Winner faces Japan --> Bra/Mex --> Fra/Arg/Uru/Port
Loser faces Colombia --> Swe/Swi --> Spa/Cro/Den/Rus

I'd rather face Japan but after that I'd much rather face the bottom set. So I'd consider losing on purpose considering the goal is to advance more than just one game.

Plus just play your worst players, avoid injury at all costs.

I'll take Option B, Alex. Colombia looks like a team that'd totally crumble if down a goal or two - do not see that they can sustain an attack when forced to. The road after them seems to aim at taking advantage of some beaten up squads.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I'll take Option B, Alex. Colombia looks like a team that'd totally crumble if down a goal or two - do not see that they can sustain an attack when forced to. The road after them seems to aim at taking advantage of some beaten up squads.

Agreed on Option B.

Too bad it's worked out this way b/c a competitive England/Belgium match would be really fun to watch. Would be annoyed if I had tickets to either of this afternoon's games.

This is basically a week 17 NFL game between teams who've already clinched and teams who are completely eliminated.

 

[LesClaypool]

Lineups are a total bummer in this England match.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

VW commercials going to need some major edits now that Germany and Iceland are gone.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Did they just quote the coach as saying their strategy was to play hard but not to win? Im conflicted by this. Embarrassing, but refreshingly candid.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Did they just quote the coach as saying their strategy was to play hard but not to win? Im conflicted by this. Embarrassing, but refreshingly candid.

I need to find video of this.

The question I have is how to two teams who want to lose win at losing? Do you just own goal yourself and hope the other team doesn't have the gall to do the same?

^^ That is the only intriguing part of this game.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

I need to find video of this.

The question I have is how to two teams who want to lose win at losing? Do you just own goal yourself and hope the other team doesn't have the gall to do the same?

^^ That is the only intriguing part of this game.

This was the female doing the game quoting someone right before the game when they were in the tunnel. Im not 100% it was a coaches quote, as I was doing something else when I overheard it, but it sure sounded like a player or coach. That's why I asked the question here to see if someone else heard the same. Could be wrong, but I don't have the ability to rewind where Im at and was hoping someone here was able to. It was when they were in the tunnel talking about the lineups and strategies for both teams in the game and going forward.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I appreciate a good quote that doesn't treat the fans like idiots.

Like NBA coaches of terrible teams should be able to say without backlash, "I want to see our players try hard, as it'll determine their role on our team next season, but strategically we're playing for a lottery spot to improve the team next year, so a win isn't what we're looking for."

It's the truth and anything else is a charade and insult to our intelligence.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Interesting that if this match is a draw, the tie breaker immediately falls to 'fair play'.

The team with the most yellows finishes second, which is the desired result.

So both teams maybe incentivized to commit yellow (or red) worthy penalties! That'll be fun also!!

Belgium began the game with 3 yellows to Englands 2, in the first half they've earned two more yellows, giving them a 5-2 lead. Drivers seat!

 

[SeaPA]

I need to find video of this.

The question I have is how to two teams who want to lose win at losing? Do you just own goal yourself and hope the other team doesn't have the gall to do the same?

^^ That is the only intriguing part of this game.

The key is to time your own goal. You want it late in stoppage, so the other team doesn't have enough time to come from ahead & lose.

 

[FSUdawg]

Justice would be both England & Belgium losing in the next round.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

belgium have snatched victory, and hence defeat, from the jaws of defeat, and hence victory.

this saves england from the public embarrassment of own goaling themselves.

i would send my keeper down to belgium's side of the field to defend their goal from any belgian own goals.

 

[Fijimn]

belgium have snatched victory, and hence defeat, from the jaws of defeat, and hence victory.

this saves england from the public embarrassment of own goaling themselves.

i would send my keeper down to belgium's side of the field to defend their goal from any belgian own goals.

Teams just don't think like that. I'm betting the English and Belgium players believe that can compete and beat any team in the tournament. Old school Bowden days: anytime, any place.