**** 2018 WORLD CUP THREAD ***

I'm a Liverpool fan, and yep, something seems to happen to attacking players when they sign for LFC. Salah was pretty young at Chelsea and didn't really get a run of games. And he was strictly a winger at Chelsea and being asked to do a lot of defensive work under Mourinho. He did well at both Italian clubs. At Roma, he had a great relationship with Dzeko and changed from a wide player into more of a second striker. I was happy when LFC signed him and thought it would be great if he could score 15-20 goals. I did not imagine he would score 44 goals and break the EPL record. At Roma he was a bit wasteful in front of goal, but at LFC he was really clinical and took a very high % of his chances.

It was shame he got injured in the UCL final because he was in such good form. Part of me wants him to miss these world cup games so he can let his injury fully heal and return for LFC healthy when the next season starts. But I understand that it's the world cup and both he and the coach will do anything for him to be available.

SB runner. wrote:

Spain vs Portugal was superb. The quality was not there, but it sure was fun to watch. Without the USA, ITA and NED, I am rooting for Iceland and Belgium.

The quality was certainly there. This was a brilliant game from start to finish. Was there a few mistakes (notably De Gea's for 2nd Portugal goal)? Sure, but find me a match without mistakes.

Costa, Ronaldo and Nacho all scored brilliant goals. Spain put together some passing moves that were outstanding, while Portugal retained a constant threat on the break.

This was a very high quality game. Will be remembered as one of the best world cup games ever.

My benchmarks are WC 94 and 98, Brasil vs Denmark in '98...now that was quality. These games are good, but man those were the days where the stars were out in full force.

If anybody is interested in USA '94:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=world+cup+94&atb=v119-2o_&iax=videos&iai=rDDES3sAmD8&ia=videos

Scorpion_runner wrote:

Since I watch the EPL, I'm rooting for England. I know all the players. I support Chelsea and Real Madrid ( so many players and coaches have worked for both clubs...I look at them as cousins) on the club level.

Rooting for: England

My dark horses: Belgium/ Portugal...don't sleep on Senegal!

Likely to win it all: Brasil/France

Ronaldo doing Ronaldo things, he already has 2 goals against Spain.

The Albiceleste will win it.

Paulo Dybala will shine .......and of course, the great one as well!

I also think Argentina will win it this time. It’s finally Messi’s turn. But the way CR7 always lifts and inspires a small country like Portugal to exceed expectations everytime makes me believe he’s the actual ?

I literally think Russia will do really well. Turkey and Egypt to because they are friends with Russia and will share the dope. I would love if Bekele showed up to the world cup and show them footballers what a real athlete is. He could run around the field the whole match and none of them could catch him. It will embarrass Dopamir Putin.

I follow the WC.

As a Belgian, I'm of course rooting for Belgium. The country is quite excited about the WC as soccer is sport #1 here and we have a really good team. Many were angry , sad and disappointed with the coach's decision to not take Radja Naingolan, but now the excitement is growing again as the competition is about to start for us (on Monday). Plus, as a very small country, we don't have many opportunities to support a good national team in a collective sport. I think that with a great Eden Hazard we can go far in the competition (and if Kevin De Bruyne can play on par with his Chelsea's prestations for once, that would be awesome)

I wouldn't be surprised if France gets to the Final, as they always manage to get lucky and somehow advance in the competition. Just see how they had a very hard time to qualify and still ended up in the easiest group for the 1st round.

Let's go Red Devils !

A bit of a disappointing display by France this morning. I was really hoping they might become the first African team to take home the cup this year.

yes, they were disappointing, but they still win because they got lucky as they always do. This time they were saved by an autogoal from the Aussies.

They are having trouble with Iceland so far. 1-1 after first half. Iceland's spirit is an example many teams should follow. They play like true Vikings. There's don't have fantastic players individually, but are creative, and they never let up from any move in the game.

As a Portuguese I would love to see Portugal x Iceland somewhere in the tournament.

You were so excited to make that lame potshot that you couldn’t help but post it even though they won.

Pathetic.

No surprise at Messi missing the penalty kick. He sucks at taking penalties, which is why I can't put him over Ronaldo.

No way should he be allowed to take penalties, he is too predictable.

FOX's coverage is atrocious. The announcer stated that Iceland beat Argentina 1-1!

good lord.

Root for the underdog , root for Iceland . Never seen a team so tired in the 85 min of play. 1-1 is an upset. I was worried that their endurance was going to give out on them.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

FOX's coverage is atrocious. The announcer stated that Iceland beat Argentina 1-1!

good lord.

You misunderstood his reference.. It is a common statement when a big underdog ties one of the favorites

coach wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

FOX's coverage is atrocious. The announcer stated that Iceland beat Argentina 1-1!

good lord.

You misunderstood his reference.. It is a common statement when a big underdog ties one of the favorites

No it is not! This is soccer, not MLB, NFL or the NBA.

This is soccer. A draw is stated as a draw.....and that is the problem with commentating on FOX. They do not know how to announce soccer.

NBC does not do that, because all the commentators are british...and would NEVER do something atrocious like that.

coach wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

FOX's coverage is atrocious. The announcer stated that Iceland beat Argentina 1-1!

good lord.

You misunderstood his reference.. It is a common statement when a big underdog ties one of the favorites

Also, they are already talking about that crazy statement on soccer message boards. .... that american stuff don't fly in soccer.

Is it time for the World Cup already? I thought the World Jock Strap was still in progress!