Time to get this thread going! Not sure how popular it will be with the US not in it, but I know a few of you guys follow soccer. Eden Hazard is my favorite player so I’ll be pulling for Belgium. Plus I guess I will root for CONCACAF teams, just like how I root for B1G teams in the NCAAs (except IU).
World Cup 2018
wettsten
- Chicago
i'm pulling for germany to repeat again. for some reason, i can never get behind brazil/argentina/spain to do well. belgium seems to look better on paper but france is scary good. can i call england a dark horse candidate? i think they might actually live up to expectations this year.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
I don't have one favorite that I'm rooting for. Just want to see some fun games and see which players stand out.
Favorites:
Brazil
Germany
Argentina
France
Next Group:
Belgium
England
Croatia
Portugal
I wouldn't mind seeing Messi win one with Argentina. If they get to the finals, I'll root for them.
Favorites:
Brazil
Germany
Argentina
France
Next Group:
Belgium
England
Croatia
Portugal
I wouldn't mind seeing Messi win one with Argentina. If they get to the finals, I'll root for them.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
My Predictions:
Group A - Uruguay, Egypt
Group B - Spain, Portugal
Group C - France, Denmark
Group D - Argentina, Croatia
Group E - Brazil, Switzerland
Group F - Germany, Mexico
Group G - Belgium, England
Group H - Poland, Columbia
Rd 16 - Portugal over Uruguay, France over Croatia, Brazil over Mexico, Belgium over Columbia, Spain over Egypt, Argentina over Denmark, Germany over Switzerland, England over Poland
Quarters - France over Portugal, Brazil over Belgium, Spain over Argentina, Germany over England
Semis - Brazil over France, Spain over Germany
3rd place - Germany over France
Finals - Brazil over Spain
Golden Ball - Neymar
Golden Boot - Griezmann
Golden Glove - Neuer
Best Young Player - Mbappe
Nothing really shocking here, LOL. Save for Spain over Germany. Should be a favorites tourney.
Group A - Uruguay, Egypt
Group B - Spain, Portugal
Group C - France, Denmark
Group D - Argentina, Croatia
Group E - Brazil, Switzerland
Group F - Germany, Mexico
Group G - Belgium, England
Group H - Poland, Columbia
Rd 16 - Portugal over Uruguay, France over Croatia, Brazil over Mexico, Belgium over Columbia, Spain over Egypt, Argentina over Denmark, Germany over Switzerland, England over Poland
Quarters - France over Portugal, Brazil over Belgium, Spain over Argentina, Germany over England
Semis - Brazil over France, Spain over Germany
3rd place - Germany over France
Finals - Brazil over Spain
Golden Ball - Neymar
Golden Boot - Griezmann
Golden Glove - Neuer
Best Young Player - Mbappe
Nothing really shocking here, LOL. Save for Spain over Germany. Should be a favorites tourney.
KBLEE
- Montgomery, IL
In case anyone missed it, the US team played a friendly against a stacked France team (one of the WC favorites) on Saturday. The US held France scoreless for 75+ minutes and wound up earning a 1-1 draw. Most had predicted a 4-0 or 5-0 win for France, so this is definitely something to build on.
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
It is something to build on. France did dominate that game, though. But Steffens played well in goal and our defense was gritty enough to hold them off. Still had some issues in the midfield, trying to cover Pogba and Matuidi, and of course we struggled with Mbappe's speed (although, who doesn't, LOL).
It may be just me, but I'd rather see a Sargent or a Weah up top instead of Bobby Wood. Wood seemed to struggle, quite a bit. And McKennie was wasted outside with Trapp playing holding mid. I know they kind of set it up as a 5-3-2, to kind of park the bus, but I'd rather of seen a 5-4-1, with one striker up top (Sargent) and Trapp at holding, McKennie ACM, with Weah and Adams on the outside mids, instead of the Green/Wood combo they tried up top.
We've got some solid young talent in the system. I like Robinson as an outside back. Pair him with Yedlin on the other side. Carter Vickers is a good defender, although the slip opened up the French goal, and he had his hands full with Giroud in the air, as did Miazga.
I hope the time for Altidore/Bradley/Dempsey has passed. They served the national team well in their time, but I don't see any of them being real factors for us in 4 years, should we qualify for Qatar.
Altidore will be 32, Bradley will be 34, and Dempsey will be 39 by the time the next World Cup rolls around. Dempsey for sure will be done. Bradley I'd put at about 50/50 depending on who we have in the midfield. Altidore maybe might stick depending on who they want to use as a forward.
Certainly something to build on. Definitely good to see some young guys get some experience, especially on such a big stage. Qualifying for 2022 in Qatar would likely start late next year I would think so a lot of time to see who will be part of the future.
Dempsey going for that Landon Donovan role
True. Though Donovan was 32 when he got left off the 2014 roster so if we're going by that metric, then perhaps Altidore is the only one who possibly stays.
As if things weren't going to be tough enough for Iran being in Group B, now they're scrambling to find shoes as Nike, who was supposed to be the supplier for their boots, withdrew their supply of soccer cleats due to current sanctions against the Asian nation: http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wor...d-cup-squads-supply-of-boots-due-to-sanctions
Joint bid with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico won the right to host the 2026 World Cup. Other candidate was Morocco.
Host cities are to be determined but it's already been decided that the U.S. will host every match from the quarterfinals going forward.
Host cities are to be determined but it's already been decided that the U.S. will host every match from the quarterfinals going forward.
Be sure to rest up tonight because tomorrow...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch8MzYclx5I
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Ugh, Russia v Saudi Arabia???
I'll hang on til Friday. Portugal v Spain. How does Spain react to losing their manager two days before their first game???
Great overreaction by the Spanish Federation.
I'll hang on til Friday. Portugal v Spain. How does Spain react to losing their manager two days before their first game???
Great overreaction by the Spanish Federation.
So we can find out once and for all which is the greatest nation on earth!
[YOUTUBE]rJu2qSJ9zno[/YOUTUBE]
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Was that a Saudi prince that was in Putin's box for the game? Was he being held there against his will to make sure that Russia won the game? LOL!!!
Saudi Arabia looked bad. At least the little I saw, especially in mid-field. Russia/Egypt will be the game of the group to decide who goes on with Uruguay.
Oof, heartbreak for Morocco losing to an own goal at the death.
(That was a terrible game)
(That was a terrible game)
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
Yeah, how many fouls did Iran take to stop the Moroccan attack? I hate that style of play. But, do what you got to do to get the 3 points.
Soccer equivalent of international basketball intentional fouls on the fast break. The frickin worst
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
My Iranian co-worker was pumped. She was jumping around. Now she just hopes that they don't get smoked by Spain and Portugal.
Today's scores:
Egypt 0:1 Uruguay (Jose Gimenez, 89')
Morocco 0:1 Iran (Morocco with the own goal in the 95th minute)
Portugal 3:3 Spain (Ronaldo with the hat trick, the final goal coming in the 88th minute)
Tomorrow's matches:
France vs. Australia
Argentina vs. Iceland (My pick for match of the day)
Peru vs. Denmark (Based on the FIFA rankings, this one may be the match of the day)
Croatia vs. Nigeria
Egypt 0:1 Uruguay (Jose Gimenez, 89')
Morocco 0:1 Iran (Morocco with the own goal in the 95th minute)
Portugal 3:3 Spain (Ronaldo with the hat trick, the final goal coming in the 88th minute)
Tomorrow's matches:
France vs. Australia
Argentina vs. Iceland (My pick for match of the day)
Peru vs. Denmark (Based on the FIFA rankings, this one may be the match of the day)
Croatia vs. Nigeria