The Official 2018 World Cup Thread...

[PoopandBoogers]

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Fifa Ranks-
10. Spain
70. Russia

Biggest upset in WC round of 16?

 

[noleit]

Russia didn't deserve to win but Spain sucked with stalling instead of attacking tactic.

 

[NoleLizards]

Fifa Ranks-
10. Spain
70. Russia

Biggest upset in WC round of 16?

Yes, they just said so.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Imagine being a bartender in Moscow tonight? O/U on average russian vodka consumption tonight has been set at 1L.

 

[GwinnettNole]

Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands all out
Whose the favorite? France and Brazil?

 

[NoleLizards]

Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands all out
Whose the favorite? France and Brazil?

Go Chels...I mean Belgium!

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands all out
Whose the favorite? France and Brazil?

Belgium, France, Brazil for sure. But you dont ever see people mention the Swiss. Fifa rank-6th.

 

[seminoleed]

Croatia may be the team to watch.

 

[FSUdawg]

Per FIFA rankings it is the largest upset outside the group stage. Including the group stage, it is the 3rd biggest upset ever at the World Cup.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Per FIFA rankings it is the largest upset outside the group stage. Including the group stage, it is the 3rd biggest upset ever at the World Cup.

What were the other 2?

 

[NoleLizards]

What were the other 2?

I would assume that Cameroon knocking off defending champs Argentina in '90 is one.

 

[NoleLizards]

Doing some quick research, Algeria beating West Germany in '82 may be the other.

 

[FSUdawg]

2010 Group Stage - South Africa defeated France 2-1; Ranking Difference 74
1998 Group Stage - Nigeria defeated Spain 3-2; Ranking Difference 70

#4 was:
2018 Group Stage - South Korea defeated Germany 2-0; Ranking Difference 56

I am guessing prior to about 1990 the FIFA rankings were different and that is why you don't see some of those other big upsets listed. I could be wrong on that though, I am just guessing why everything is from 1998 - present.

 

[NoleLizards]

Going purely by the "eye test", today's is the biggest WC upset I can remember. Russia didn't look as if they even belonged on the same pitch skill wise relative to Spain.

Nice jinx job on Croatia, by the way, Ed!

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Wow. 2 goals in 4 mins.

Both goals have been AYSO level goals lol.

 

[noleit]

Someone please score in extra time. Don't want another game to go to penalty kicks.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Someone please score in extra time. Don't want another game to go to penalty kicks.

Oops! What a save.

 

[noleit]

Croatia wins on 5th penalty kick!

 

[NoleLizards]

Croatia wins on 5th penalty kick!

Watching all this drama today, it's hitting especially hard for me now that the U.S. isn't in this.

 

[DDennis73]

I saw this on Twitter. One of these teams will be in the WC Final.

Croatia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia or England.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Didn’t see the match - sounds like Spain today was less about the beautiful game and more keep away?

 

[Fijimn]

Didn’t see the match - sounds like Spain today was less about the beautiful game and more keep away?

Waiting for the announcement of a huge a Russian investment into Spanish infrastructure...and I’m only partially joking.

 

[funksouljon]

A laser!

This is how I read your post.

 

[SeaPA]

Didn’t see the match - sounds like Spain today was less about the beautiful game and more keep away?

You can't really even call it keepaway if the other team is just standing around on the defensive end, watching a few of your guys passing the ball back & forth at the midfield line.

Soccer would be a lot better if they had a shot clock.

 

[noleclone2]

You can't really even call it keepaway if the other team is just standing around on the defensive end, watching a few of your guys passing the ball back & forth at the midfield line.

Soccer would be a lot better if they had a shot clock.

Yep. Or do away with Penalty Kick solution the lesser team and keep playing 15 minutes sudden death periods. But I did like Spain losing to what was clearly an inferior team. Pretty funny. You can’t really see that sort of tactic used in any other sport.

 

[LesClaypool]

My natioanal team support, in order:

USA
Argentina
Spain

This has been a tough WC for my rooting interests.

 

[cfbfan23]

Yep. Or do away with Penalty Kick solution the lesser team and keep playing 15 minutes sudden death periods.

I think Spain and Russia would still be playing.

 

[cfbfan23]

Russia was playing not to lose and Spain was playing not to win.

 

[SeaPA]

Yep. Or do away with Penalty Kick solution the lesser team and keep playing 15 minutes sudden death periods. But I did like Spain losing to what was clearly an inferior team. Pretty funny. You can’t really see that sort of tactic used in any other sport.

If they did so, right now they'd be in the 1350th minute, Russia's 11 would still be standing around on the defensive end, watching two Spanish defenders at the top of their defensive box complete the team's 75,000th pass, still looking for their first shot on goal.

 

[LesClaypool]

39-year old international drug trafficker, Rafa Márquez, starting at DM for Mexico vs Brazil.

Also, not so fun fact for the players today, it’s going to be 93-degrees At match time today.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I saw this on Twitter. One of these teams will be in the WC Final.

Croatia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia or England.

Jeebus. Gotta hope it's Colombia or England, with Croatia as a worst case.

That side of the bracket looks like the newly Lebron-less NBA eastern conference.

England taking the loss on purpose to close out the group stage is starting to look real smart (provided they win today).

 

[SeaPA]

Jeebus. Gotta hope it's Colombia or England, with Croatia as a worst case.

That side of the bracket looks like the newly Lebron-less NBA eastern conference.

England taking the loss on purpose to close out the group stage is starting to look real smart (provided they win today).

England will not win today.

 

[NoleLizards]

England will not win today.

Sounds like a quote from Anti-Churchill.

 

[GoNolesTX]

England will not win today.

Pains me to agree with you, but I just don't see a scenario where England pulls out the W today.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Pains me to agree with you, but I just don't see a scenario where England pulls out the W today.

How about tomorrow?

Is James playing for COL?

 

[SeaPA]

How about tomorrow?

Is James playing for COL?

Their chances are significantly better tomorrow.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Viva Mexico!
I have high hopes for this match being entertaining.

 

[GoNolesTX]

How about tomorrow?

Is James playing for COL?

You'll honestly never see me giving genuine compliments to a Colombian side. Being an FCD fan (shut up), we get the "up and coming" Colombians on the reg with our international spots, and their game just isn't appealing on a world stage when it comes down to it. I think if England can keep as much pressure applied on the COL defense, it'd inherently keep the pressure off Bickford which would be a dual positive result.

 

[TennNole17]

One of the better games (on paper) and I'm stuck at work.