2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

#176      
TentakilRex
#177      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
TentakilRex said:
What Norway did was coward crap. Benching Haaland is stupid when a win means you win your group. It wasn't a Team USA situation where the result meant nothing. Enjoy the Cote D'Ivoire elimination, guys hehe.
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I'd disagree to a certain extent. If guys like Haaland or Odegaard get hurt in a match where they were probably big enough underdogs as it is, then they don't have them for the first knockout match. If any of the players on yellows get one today, they don't have them for the first knockout match. Plus there's a quicker turnaround time than they've had between this last match and the knockouts than what they've had thus far. They basically only have 3 days between today's match and the knockouts and one of those will be a travel day since they'll have to go to Arlington now.
 
#182      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Knockout round bracket:

HL31Z0TbUAAIdBB.jpg


First knockout round match is Canada-South Africa tomorrow in L.A. Match is at 2:00 PM Central and will air on FOX.

The U.S. match with Bosnia & Herzegovina will be in Santa Clara on Wednesday. Match is at 7:00 PM Central, also on FOX.
 
#185      
Lefty_55
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
With us at half now of the final group stage matches, who would you consider to be the biggest surprise in this tournament thus far? Biggest disappointment?
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Hard to pick a specific team but maybe the African teams being as strong as they have been. It would be nice to have a change up from the traditional European and South American powers running the tournament.

As for disappointment maybe Belgium? They’re into the knockouts but the only team they’ve done much against was the lowest ranked team in the tournament
 
#186      
AssemblyHallForever
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Knockout round bracket:

HL31Z0TbUAAIdBB.jpg


First knockout round match is Canada-South Africa tomorrow in L.A. Match is at 2:00 PM Central and will air on FOX.

The U.S. match with Bosnia & Herzegovina will be in Santa Clara on Wednesday. Match is at 7:00 PM Central, also on FOX.
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I like our draw. We can beat BIH and Belgium. Getting to the Elite 8 would be a huge step up for USA.
 
#188      
OrangeBlue98
AssemblyHallForever said:
I like our draw. We can beat BIH and Belgium. Getting to the Elite 8 would be a huge step up for USA.
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Count me in as one who would much rather face Belgium than Senegal. Belgium is slow and pretty toothless. Senegal is a dangerous team. They didn’t put things together in the group stage, but they are a tough out.
 
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#189      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
AssemblyHallForever said:
I like our draw. We can beat BIH and Belgium. Getting to the Elite 8 would be a huge step up for USA.
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Not to be that guy but it's the quarterfinals once you get to that stage.

OrangeBlue98 said:
Count me in as one who would much rather face Belgium than Senegal. Belgium is slow and pretty toothless. Senegal is a dangerous team. They didn’t put things together in the group stage, but they are a tough out.
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I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Senegal beat Belgium. Aside from their last group stage match against New Zealand, Belgium has looked pretty pedestrian in this tournament and could easily be beaten in the Round of 32.
 
#190      
AssemblyHallForever
OrangeBlue98 said:
Count me in as one who would much rather face Belgium than Senegal. Belgium is slow and pretty toothless. Senegal is a dangerous team. They didn’t put things together in the group stage, but they are a tough out.
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IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Not to be that guy but it's the quarterfinals once you get to that stage.



I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Senegal beat Belgium. Aside from their last group stage match against New Zealand, Belgium has looked pretty pedestrian in this tournament and could easily be beaten in the Round of 32.
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Sorry, I fell back into basketball mode lol. You are correct, Senegal would be a tough match. But if we play our game, we can make the Quarters
 
#197      
AssemblyHallForever
Japan was on tired legs. Played a ton of defense. Brazil took advantage. Second match Germany has outplayed Paraguay but a huge defensive mishap by Germany gives Paraguay a 1-0 lead
 
#198      
Mr. Tibbs
question for all you diehard soccer fans

are 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 scores really what FIFA wants for all these games ?

is that really what satisfies the world wide soccer fan ? for me ? I would prefer scores similar to hockey : 4-3 or so with the knowledge that at any given point in a game a goal could be scored.
I just never have that feeling when watching these games & I lose interest
 
#199      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Mr. Tibbs said:
question for all you diehard soccer fans

are 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 scores really what FIFA wants for all these games ?

is that really what satisfies the world wide soccer fan ? for me ? I would prefer scores similar to hockey : 4-3 or so with the knowledge that at any given point in a game a goal could be scored.
I just never have that feeling when watching these games & I lose interest
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In the knockouts you'll see low scoring matches more commonly as it becomes more of a defensive battle. The World Cup final is considered to be one of the more "boring" matches to watch because the stakes are so high and no one wants to make a massive mistake (the 2022 final is an exception to this).
 
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