It definitely at least has to serve as a major wake-up call for South American teams. (As if Brazil's debacle as host four years ago already wasn't.)
The Official 2018 World Cup Thread...
- Thread starter LesClaypool
- Start date
I think it is widely known that the best league soccer is played in Europe. As for the best individual players, I think this can still be debated. However, I think it is becoming known now that the depth in Europe exceeds that of any other place in the world.
Speaking of where the best soccer is played, I would be interested to see a breakdown of what league each player on the Final 4 teams plays in. Does EPL have the most, does La Ligue, Serie A, etc.? I am thinking with England present the number is going to be skewed to EPL because just about the entire squad plays in that league.
Argentina lost 1-0 in the last WC. Brazil has 5 championships and have never missed a WC. Euros have (i believe) 11 championships to new worlds 9. When you consider the population and wealth difference, it’s not a good showing for the Euros, in general.
Gringos have such a MTV/reality tv understanding of history.
Sorry, poorly stated. My reference was to the first three OT games in knockout round, not the group stage.
One of the better arguments for playing out a full overtime (including the change of sides of the field at the halfway point) is weather conditions. On a highly windy day, the weather can greatly influence play; this setup keeps one team from having that advantage throughout the OT.
Gwinnett's post was not referencing history back to the 40's, just this year's WC. I think.
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The best club teams are in Europe, which means the best South American players all play in Europe. I think part of the issue for them is that they play across all of European leagues in numerous different teams and styles. That means most of the South American teams lack their own style. Uruguay is the exception as they are committed to their style, but their two center backs play for Atletico Madrid, who play a very similar style.
I'm pretty sure stats show that WC's played in Europe favor the Euros, while WC's played in the Americas favor the South Americans, historically.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_team_appearances_in_the_FIFA_World_Cup
I enjoy reading up on history of sports. Europe has historically had the majority of slots. The results have played out. It’s been I think over 60 years since UEFA hasn’t had a team in the championship match. They’ve placed at least 2 teams in the semis for a least the same length. Even in the last 4-5 WCs where it’s representation has been reduced to about 1/3 of the field their teams make up at least half the semis. Including twice in last 4 WCs where the entire final 4 was from Europe.
South America is like the Big Ten with Brazil and Argentina being the most competitive but other countries do field strong squads, ie Uruguay. But it’s still mostly those big boys making the semis and beyond. North America has really disappointed in that US and Mexico can’t get past the QFs. In Europe countries like Belgium and Croatia still find a way to create runs ever so often. It’s not just Germany and Italy.
I enjoy reading up on history of sports. Europe has historically had the majority of slots. The results have played out. It’s been I think over 60 years since UEFA hasn’t had a team in the championship match. They’ve placed at least 2 teams in the semis for a least the same length. Even in the last 4-5 WCs where it’s representation has been reduced to about 1/3 of the field their teams make up at least half the semis. Including twice in last 4 WCs where the entire final 4 was from Europe.
South America is like the Big Ten with Brazil and Argentina being the most competitive but other countries do field strong squads, ie Uruguay. But it’s still mostly those big boys making the semis and beyond. North America has really disappointed in that US and Mexico can’t get past the QFs. In Europe countries like Belgium and Croatia still find a way to create runs ever so often. It’s not just Germany and Italy.
I like that they actually play an additional 30 minutes. However I absolutely despise PKs as a way to decide who the better team is. It would be like using a homerun derby to determine winning baseball games after 10 innings or field goals in the NFL. Penalty kicks is an easier method to implement, but I'd love to see some alternative ideas considered, maybe allow each team to take turns running a set piece of their choice until someone scores. Maybe after a few rounds each you make the defending team play down one extra man each round until you get a victor or something like that. I'm sure there's a ton of issues with that which would have to be thought through, but there's got to be a better option than penalty kicks which just seem so random.
They replay the whole match in the English FA Cup competition. Not at all practical in the World Cup, but by far the best way to settle it.
We could always go to this masterpiece of thinking...
Geez those kits and the hair... ouchies.
Geez those kits and the hair... ouchies.
I think they used to do replays after the end of full time without even going to extra time. Then TV happened and it requires you determine a winner. There just isnt a better way to determine a winner. And every team knows the rules so its not like anyone is getting caught off guard.
Horrible. The whole thing.
There were some quirky MLS rules at the beginning to think it would increase US citizens interest. I read that inbounding the ball could be done via a kick (as opposed to a throw in). I don’t know if that was ever done in a game or was just proposed. I also recall there was a proposal to have an area in play behind the net, like hockey and lacrosse. Thank God none of these ideas lasted or made to approval. We need to be playing the same game as the rest of the world.
We actually had that style of shootout in high school in the late 90s. No lie, I was pretty good at it as a GK. Just sprint off the line, just past the dot, and cut off angle, still leave room to sprint back if there was a chip. Happy that MLS did away with it after 4 years though, no credibility world wide to play by our own rules.
I believe that shootout style was introduced by the original NASL that played from the late 60s thru the early 80s. I kinda like it - it's certainly no worse than deciding a game on PKs. At least in the NASL shootout, you have to be able to both dribble and shoot - and the keeper has options other than "guess a direction, dive that way, and hope that it hits me."
It is terrible way to decide a game, but after 120 minutes, basically everyone on the pitch is completely spent. Continuing to play on starts becoming dangerous for the players.
The only rule I liked was having an actual clock that starts and stops. I'd love for the official to be able to stop the official clock for things like injury (Faking injuries) to make it less likely for someone to do it as a time wasting step towards the end of matches. I would hate for us to start having timeouts and especially tv timeouts though.
Oh I don't disagree. I don't think you can continue a standard game format. But I would like some better, team-based ideas. If so many games didn't go to PKs it wouldn't be that bad. I haven't run the numbers, but it seems an extraordinarily high number have this year.
Where did everyone go? Since we have one more day to wait lets grade the remaining teams WC so far.
France - Were one of the tourney favorites and to some extent getting to Semis almost always (save for maybe Brazil) is a successful campaign. If they were to lose I think they would see this as a lost opportunity but still overall good WC.
Belgium- Never made it this far before. Has to be a success even if they bow out at this stage, especially beating England and Brazil.
Croatia and England - playing with house money. Didnt expect to get this far. Will look at this as a golden opportunity to get to a final but based on expectations entering WC smashed them and this is a positive WC.
I do think that both France and England will have expectations of success at the next Euros and WC. Seem to have great foundation for group of players moving forward. Dont know enough about Belgium to know if they are on the rise or this is their shot.
France - Were one of the tourney favorites and to some extent getting to Semis almost always (save for maybe Brazil) is a successful campaign. If they were to lose I think they would see this as a lost opportunity but still overall good WC.
Belgium- Never made it this far before. Has to be a success even if they bow out at this stage, especially beating England and Brazil.
Croatia and England - playing with house money. Didnt expect to get this far. Will look at this as a golden opportunity to get to a final but based on expectations entering WC smashed them and this is a positive WC.
I do think that both France and England will have expectations of success at the next Euros and WC. Seem to have great foundation for group of players moving forward. Dont know enough about Belgium to know if they are on the rise or this is their shot.
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Meanings of who is left, in order:
Belgium. Awesome variety of great beers. Abbeys, lambics, pilsners, browns, reds, saisons, trappists, wits... Something for any time of day, any day of the week.
England. Lot of good ales, which is my preference overall.
France. Yeah, they supposedly have great wine, but I don't really like wine.
Croatia. Ranked here solely because I have no clue what they drink.
Go Belgium, except that after a few St Bernardus I won't remember the game.
Belgium. Awesome variety of great beers. Abbeys, lambics, pilsners, browns, reds, saisons, trappists, wits... Something for any time of day, any day of the week.
England. Lot of good ales, which is my preference overall.
France. Yeah, they supposedly have great wine, but I don't really like wine.
Croatia. Ranked here solely because I have no clue what they drink.
Go Belgium, except that after a few St Bernardus I won't remember the game.
I want, in order:
Croatia
France
Belgium
England
I really don’t want Belgium or England at all, but I had to rank all 4.
Croatia
France
Belgium
England
I really don’t want Belgium or England at all, but I had to rank all 4.
I think you meant Belgium in your team breakdown....Brazil at home on the beach.
My desired results:
England - Grandmother grew up in London before Air Force grandfather of mine married her and moved her - after my aunt and dad were born in London
Belgium - Love their counterattack, general style they play and Courtois has made some big time saves... and also, De Bruyne/Hazard/Lukaku/Kompany, some of my fav players lately
France - They're just a smug bunch, but they seem to actually be gelling as the tournament moves on... Mbappe is going to be REAL good for a REAL long time
Croatia - Meh. Feels like they're really the reason Ferdinand was assassinated, and I'll never forgive them
England - Grandmother grew up in London before Air Force grandfather of mine married her and moved her - after my aunt and dad were born in London
Belgium - Love their counterattack, general style they play and Courtois has made some big time saves... and also, De Bruyne/Hazard/Lukaku/Kompany, some of my fav players lately
France - They're just a smug bunch, but they seem to actually be gelling as the tournament moves on... Mbappe is going to be REAL good for a REAL long time
Croatia - Meh. Feels like they're really the reason Ferdinand was assassinated, and I'll never forgive them
Really?! That would be an awful decision.
We need the guy who refused to call fouls during Uruguay/Portugal. THAT GUY is the man.
Where are you getting this story though? The only info I've seen is that Geiger has been kept in Russia, along with 11 other referees, as possible officials for the 3rd place match and final...so if that's the case, at least he only has a 1/12th chance at getting the final.
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/07/09/world-cup-final-referee-mark-geiger-fifa
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I’ll be rooting for Croatia all the way. Them and Uruguay were my picks from the beginning. Belgium is the only team left that were really a favorite going into the tourney with France also kind of being a favorite but people not knowing if they would all gel together and how MBappe would perform. Some were upset that Benzema was left off the team and thought that would be the difference. I’m not a fan of England and hope their bus to the game gets a flat.
Above all that, we should all be thankful for a pretty incredible semi’s as far as talent level goes. All of the teams left have great talent through out the squad and most of the starting players on all of the teams play for big clubs. Should be a great Semi’s over all and I’m excited about it.
Above all that, we should all be thankful for a pretty incredible semi’s as far as talent level goes. All of the teams left have great talent through out the squad and most of the starting players on all of the teams play for big clubs. Should be a great Semi’s over all and I’m excited about it.
My personal favs of the remaining group, my rationale rests on some shaky logic but who cares...
Croatia - Great beaches and islands, been through a lot as a nation. The underdogs.
..
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Belgium - Really like Lukaku but dislike Belgium's role in the diamond trade and brutal history of African colonization.
France - Mbappe is exciting to watch. Makes Belgium's history look like child's play.
England - Brexit + makes France's history look like child's play.
Considering my track record in this tournament, Croatia might as well start packing its bags for home.
Croatia - Great beaches and islands, been through a lot as a nation. The underdogs.
..
..
Belgium - Really like Lukaku but dislike Belgium's role in the diamond trade and brutal history of African colonization.
France - Mbappe is exciting to watch. Makes Belgium's history look like child's play.
England - Brexit + makes France's history look like child's play.
Considering my track record in this tournament, Croatia might as well start packing its bags for home.
I'm rooting for a Croatia/Belgium final, w/Croatia winning it all...but either way, I want a team that's never won it, to win one.
...Which means it will be England/France, and that damn, "It's coming home" song that the English keep singing, will never stop. Harrumph!
An England / France final would be good for some hype / rivalry value. I can go along with it for that alone.
I'm pulling for an England/Belgium final so we can have 8 Spurs in the finals.
Where is the dislike button. If this happens I will be happy I am headed to the Atlanta United game & won't be able to watch. I won't even both recording the game either.
I also will not watch an all-spuds final. There will be no enjoyment in it at all.
Unfortunately for you, they are playing the game on the giant screens before the United game and those with tickets get in to watch.
I am pulling for England, but I am really looking forward to the game today. It should be a great game and I am pretty indifferent as to who wins. I am just hoping to see some good football.
I will be eating at Molly B's before the game. I will just do my best to not pay attention. Of course if England lose to Croatia then I will more than likely try to watch the game.
