2018 World Cup Thread + Predictions Game

[Shill Jackson]

Just an update-
Pick the total points scored in the final game, as a tie breaker.
For example, if you think the final score will be 3-1, you would write “4”.
Those who have already picked, just edit your post.
Get picks in by Saturday morning (6/30/18), 6:55am (Pacific).

[FPL]

Round of 16
Uruguay over Portugal
France over Argentina
Brazil over Mexico
Belgium over Japan
Russia over Spain
Croatia over Denmark
Switzerland over Sweden
Colombia over England

Quarterfinals
France over Uruguay
Brazil over Belgium
Russia over Croatia
Colombia over Switzerland

Semifinals
France over Brazil
Colombia over Russia

Third Place
Brazil over Russia

Finals
Colombia over France

Tiebreaker: 1

[Shill Jackson]

Uruguay
France
Brazil
Belgium
Spain
Croatia
Switzerland
England

France
Brazil
Spain
England

Brazil
England

England (total 3 goals)
3rd place - Spain

[somberbostonian]

Goodbye, Argentina. Mbappe been a problem for them all game long.

[TheSaboteur]

Argentina choosing to pick fights instead of trying to get the last goal. LOL! Otamendi cements his CB spot alongside Ramos in the "most hated" starting 11.

[somberbostonian]

Messi and Ronaldo both officially out in likely their last World Cup. Uruguay’s got a murderers’ row path to the final but they’ve got the strikers and tough defense to win it. Quarterfinal against France should be interesting.

[gaskill15]

Messi and Ronaldo both officially out in likely their last World Cup. Uruguay’s got a murderers’ row path to the final but they’ve got the strikers and tough defense to win it. Quarterfinal against France should be interesting.

Better hope Cavani can go otherwise they’re screwed. That head ref shouldn’t be allowed to work another match. Not one yellow given. Players basically had free reign.

[thatoothpick45]

I am still upset over Dybala not getting serious minutes this tournament. What a crock of shit. Not to mention, Icardi was left off the squad when he scored damn near 30 goals in the Serie A. Personally, I am glad the likes of Mascherano and Biglia retired, a couple of muertos. Lo Celso, who is one of the most promising footballers we have sat the bench the entire tournament. Unbelievable. This needs to be a time to clean-house, the old-guard to the new guard. The good news is that there are the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala who will be world-class players in the near future(If not that Icardi and Dybala already are).

[somberbostonian]

Better hope Cavani can go otherwise they’re screwed. That head ref shouldn’t be allowed to work another match. Not one yellow given. Players basically had free reign.

Both Uruguay and Portugal are known for physical play, so it’s funny how the only yellow went to Ronaldo for arguing with the ref at the end of the game. Uruguay’s defense can keep France close, but it will be tough to play from behind if Cavani’s hobbled. He and Suarez clicked well against Portugal.

I am still upset over Dybala not getting serious minutes this tournament. What a crock of shit. Not to mention, Icardi was left off the squad when he scored damn near 30 goals in the Serie A. Personally, I am glad the likes of Mascherano and Biglia retired, a couple of muertos. Lo Celso, who is one of the most promising footballers we have sat the bench the entire tournament. Unbelievable. This needs to be a time to clean-house, the old-guard to the new guard. The good news is that there are the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala who will be world-class players in the near future(If not that Icardi and Dybala already are).

Couldn’t have managed the attacking talent any worse, between Aguero coming off the bench in a knockout round game and Dybala playing about 20 minutes the entire tournament. Plus a lot of midfield minutes went to a 34-year-old Mascherano, who played in China the last few months, and a couple of Argentine League guys. Will be interesting to see how they retool at Copa America 2019 and the rumored 2020 tournament.

[thatoothpick45]

Better hope Cavani can go otherwise they’re screwed. That head ref shouldn’t be allowed to work another match. Not one yellow given. Players basically had free reign.

Both Uruguay and Portugal are known for physical play, so it’s funny how the only yellow went to Ronaldo for arguing with the ref at the end of the game. Uruguay’s defense can keep France close, but it will be tough to play from behind if Cavani’s hobbled. He and Suarez clicked well against Portugal.

I am still upset over Dybala not getting serious minutes this tournament. What a crock of shit. Not to mention, Icardi was left off the squad when he scored damn near 30 goals in the Serie A. Personally, I am glad the likes of Mascherano and Biglia retired, a couple of muertos. Lo Celso, who is one of the most promising footballers we have sat the bench the entire tournament. Unbelievable. This needs to be a time to clean-house, the old-guard to the new guard. The good news is that there are the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala who will be world-class players in the near future(If not that Icardi and Dybala already are).

Couldn’t have managed the attacking talent any worse, between Aguero coming off the bench in a knockout round game and Dybala playing about 20 minutes the entire tournament. Plus a lot of midfield minutes went to a 34-year-old Mascherano, who played in China the last few months, and a couple of Argentine League guys. Will be interesting to see how they retool at Copa America 2019 and the rumored 2020 tournament.

Sampaoli is a disciple of El Loco Bielsa. His system is to be high-pressing and to control a match with 90minutes of pressure. For Sampaoli, he came into the picture very late into the game. He couldn't get a grip of the squad. He tried a 4-3-3 with Messi-Dybala and Icardi up-front but it failed. So, Dybala was relegated to the bench and Icardi dropped.

With the old-guard out of the picture, i.e. Mascherano, I believe the new blood of players will help the seleccion win a trophy sooner than later. I think Messi, if he does decide to come back, he needs to play a more reserved role, and let the likes of Dybala, Lo Celso, Icardi take over. There are fantastic players that did not make this squad that will surely get a look. Look at Santi Ascacibar, who is at Stuttgart, and is rumored to be making a move to Bayern. He is a destroyer, what Mascherano was 10-12 years ago. You have Leandro Paredes, who is a deep-lying midfielder who can make a pass from middle of the pitch and find his forward.

The likes of Tagliafico, who is with Ajax will return back to seleccion and will be onto a better club in the near future. Cristian Pavon, he played quite a bit at this World Cup is from Boca and is being linked to the likes of Barcelona. He is immensely talented and his star will shine brightly.

It is an interesting and sad time for our football but we always rebound. From the disaster of 1974, we ended up winning in 78, with Diego's exclusion of 82, the team won it 86, with the embarrassment of 2010, the team reached a final in 2014.

[Shill Jackson]

Fans of the World Cup


https://www.totalsportek.com/list/hot-f ... euro-2016/

[somberbostonian]

All that passing/possession for Spain and they only had a Russian own goal to show for it until Iniesta came on with a decent shot on goal. Ruskies just might sneak this out on PK’s.

[gaskill15]

Wow. 3rd biggest upset in World Cup history. Kick save FTW!

[TheSaboteur]

I'm glad someone put Spain out of their misery, surprising it was a team as bad as Russia.

[somberbostonian]

Russia got the clutch saves when they needed it. Given how wide open that half of the bracket is now with Spain out, plus home advantage, they could end up parking the bus all the way to the final just like Greece at Euro 2004.

[lettherebehouse]

I am still upset over Dybala not getting serious minutes this tournament. What a crock of shit. Not to mention, Icardi was left off the squad when he scored damn near 30 goals in the Serie A. Personally, I am glad the likes of Mascherano and Biglia retired, a couple of muertos. Lo Celso, who is one of the most promising footballers we have sat the bench the entire tournament. Unbelievable. This needs to be a time to clean-house, the old-guard to the new guard. The good news is that there are the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala who will be world-class players in the near future(If not that Icardi and Dybala already are).

100% agreed

[manchild98]

4 minutes into Denmark/Croatia and it's 1-1.

[AlaskaHawks]

What a save!

Abe may just be right.

[somberbostonian]

Wow, both goalkeepers coming up huge in this shootout.

[AlaskaHawks]

Wow, both goalkeepers coming up huge in this shootout.

This is incredible.

They're stopping some great attempts.