Football WC 2018

So who is the favourite? Brazil?

Probably Brazil, Spain and Germany as the three front-runners. Others with half a chance are France, Argentina, Portugal and Belgium... the rest probably making up the numbers.

France should really be pushing everybody for the trophy this year with the talent they've got in their squad. The likes of Coman, Thauvin, Nzonzi, Fekir, Payet and Lacazette can't even make the squad at the moment. They have a spine that gives a good base for the attacking talent they have in the side. If they can keep Lloris, Umtiti/Varane, Kante and Griezmann fit, they can operate around that core to get the likes of Pogba, Mbappe and Dembele into the final third where they can be dangerous. They should have won the Euros, they should certainly be making the semis at the World Cup as a minimum.

Belgium are value.

JGK wrote:Belgium are value.

In terms of pure on-paper quality, definitely... but hampered by an Everton reject manager and “England syndrome” (being absolutely knackered after an intense Premier League season).

France have a lot of talent, but again can be much less than the sum of their parts.

JGK wrote:Belgium are value.

Not if you’re on them.

lardbucket wrote:

JGK wrote:Belgium are value.

Not if you’re on them.

KJr1 is on them.

Maybe the value bet is us making the knockout round.

I've just realised that I am going to be in Lisbon on the night of the Portugal-Spain group match.

Should be awesome.

JGK wrote:

lardbucket wrote:

JGK wrote:Belgium are value.

Not if you’re on them.

KJr1 is on them.

How’s his form? Is he up with you, or merely at 1919 Influenza Pandemic level on the Kiss of Death scale?

JGK wrote:I've just realised that I am going to be in Lisbon on the night of the Portugal-Spain group match.

Should be awesome.

You should probably go armed. Visited Lisbon late last year. Always loved the place, but I would rather be in Gaza than Lisbon during that match.

England’s 23-man squad chosen on Wednesday for the 2018 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones (both Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose (both Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Eric Dier, Dele Alli (both Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace), Fabian Delph (Manchester City)

Forwards: Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Makes you wonder why Spurs are so hopeless.

The three goalies have had a lot of practice trying to defend goals.

horace wrote:The three goalies have had a lot of practice trying to defend goals.

Think that may have been the excuse they trotted out for Rob Green, West Ham's sole representative at the 2010 WC....

Bradman wrote:Makes you wonder why Spurs are so hopeless.

If they’re hopeless, what are the 17 teams who finished below them in the Premier League?

Best goal ever

https://mobile.twitter.com/B8CSP0RF/status/999901646552383488/video/1

Got chatting to some locals in Clacton this afternoon, and they asked what I thought of Aus's chances in the WC. I said expectations weren't high but most Aussies hoped England would do well. They were shocked, expecting us to hate England's football side.

I explained that the EPL is very big in Aus, with all football fans having a favourite EPL side. As such we have an affinity with English football.

I'm sure most Aussies here agree, except perhaps horrie.

I thought the EPL was full of foreigners. These days Australians have the opportunity to watch a lot more football from other countries & have favourite players from all over the world.

Aust defeat Czech Republic 4/0 in a wc warmup

4/0? That’s a cricket score...

I think the Czechs got bounced out in qualifying, didn’t they? Early Czexit, if you like... Must be pretty demoralising to be “warm-up” opposition when you didn’t qualify. Italy had to play training ground dummies to the Saudis You’d have thought they’d just say “Fuq this, we’re having a summer holiday”...

Sounds about right, beams.

beamer wrote:

Bradman wrote:Makes you wonder why Spurs are so hopeless.

If they’re hopeless, what are the 17 teams who finished below them in the Premier League?

Over achievers

Have a go at the method employed at Russia 2018 Ekaterinburg Arena to achieve the required the 35,000 minimum capacity. Sweet Baby Jesus...

Will Chump open the wc with Putin?