The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[Deutsch Wolf]

The Squads

The TV guide

 

[Langers]

Top work, sir - been looking for a decent TV guide so thank you!

 

[Jinky]

Starting to get excited about the World Cup now (plus FIFA18 have released a World Cup update for free today, so I'll be starting a new tournament later as Nigeria in their absolutely outstanding kit!).

Who are people going for at the moment? I can't see past Germany. They just know how to turn it on in the tournament's and they know how to grind wins out when required. France have an easy group and will be fun to watch but I, like with other teams such as Argentina, Belgium & Brazil, I don't think they have quite enough to topple zee Germans.

England will probably go through in 2nd place after a couple of tight, low scoring affairs against Panama & Tunisia - before being knocked out in the last 16.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Very likely England will get Poland or Colombia in the last 16. Both games that could easily go either way.

Germany have a few question marks hanging over them - is Werner going to get the goals on the big stage, they appear to be gambling on Neuer even though he hasn't played since September, Draxler, Özil and Müller have been short of form at club level for a while. They will of course challenge.

I'm going with Spain. Stupid amounts of talent and Lopetegui has moved them on from the Del Bosque era which had gone badly stale.

Argentina have a ridiculous forward line but their defence is laughable and they're going to have to start Willy Caballero in goal at a World Cup, that can't end well.

France have some brilliant players on board but a rubbish manager, he'll always hold them back.

Brazil still seem too dependent on Neymar and he's another coming back from injury who hasn't played for ages. It doesn't work out very often (Ronaldo in 2002 would be the exception).

Portugal can fuck off after not picking Neves.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Who are people going for at the moment?

Portugal.

Just cos.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Portugal.

Just cos.

I hope not. A) Picking Adrien Silva (nine league starts for Leicester) over Neves and an ancient, shite Quaresma (four goals all season in the Turkish league) over Jota annoys me, B) Ross and Monica's Dad out of Friends plays some really, really shit football, C) Cron's annoyed me over the last year or so and I don't want him to win anything else until he stops being a knob.

 

[Johnny75]

Spain or France for me. Wouldn't put it past Russia to get further than everybody thinks.

 

[Langers]

Spain or France are my picks.

I hate the fact it's being played in a country that doesn't deserve to stage the tournament, I'll no doubt get pissed off with 'reaction' from the England camp during a group C match, I'll no doubt moan about Tyldesley and other buffoons with microphones but by god I'm looking forward to the tournament starting!!

I just hope the quality of football shines through!

I think we'll make the 1/4 finals if we're lucky, but TBH I'm not expecting much from England, nor do I think any of our games will be particularly good to watch.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Actually the quality of managers for big nations kind of sums up how international football has steadily eroded in importance over the last decade or two. Southgate, Martinez, Deschamps, Fernando Santos, Tite, these are not coaches who would get anywhere near the top end jobs in club football. Löw can point to his record over a prolonged period with Germany but he'd been in the doldrums at club level for a while before Klinsmann brought him on board, Sampaoli is highly rated but wasn't great for Sevilla. We saw what happened to Italy when they appointed a nobody. The Dutch kept going back to ancient coaches living off past glories before their current attempt at rehabilitating Koeman.

I do find it odd how France and Belgium in particular with the current quality they have in their respective squads can't do better than that pair. I wouldn't trust Roberto Martinez to defend my seat in a pub if I popped to the toilet.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

I hope not. A) Picking Adrien Silva (nine league starts for Leicester) over Neves and an ancient, shite Quaresma (four goals all season in the Turkish league) over Jota annoys me, B) Ross and Monica's Dad out of Friends plays some really, really shit football, C) Cron's annoyed me over the last year or so and I don't want him to win anything else until he stops being a knob.

Yeah I get all that, but it's been the year of all things Portugal for me so thats who Im backing.

 

[YoungWolf]

Brazil or Spain for me. Both managers done very well so far and look like the most cohesive teams to me

 

[Tredman]

France for me, would hope to see Nigeria do well too.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

What's the Brazil team likely to be? Something like?

--------------------Alisson------------------

Danilo----Marquinhos----Thiago Silva-----Marcelo

-----Fernandinho---Casemiro---Coutinho-----

--------Willian--------Firmino------Neymar--------

Just seen they have Solbakken 2012 target Geromel in the squad!

 

[The Bear]

Brazil or Germany for me. Think France and Spain will get far but not quite all the way.

 

[visage]

Assuming (and thats always dubious) we get through the group, we should be configent of beating Poland or Colombia in the R16.

Then it gets tricky...

 

[Parkins left foot]

There's nothing to fear from Group H so get through the group & are capable of a quarter final - gets much more difficult after & no guarantee that we won't cock it up before then either.

Sneaking fancy for France this time

 

[Sam-Wolf]

Spain for me. If their strikers can turn it on then I can't see anyone stopping them, not to mention the fact that they seem to actually have a good manager. I'd have said Brazil would have been up there until Alves got injured, I just can't get behind Danilo for whatever reason.

 

[Freddeno]

Im sticking with Belgium, they have some real talent and should work internationally at some point..

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'll happily state right now that Roberto Martinez is never going to be a World Cup winning manager.

You could give him England's back four from 2006 and he'd still have them leaking goals.

 

[Johnny75]

I just can't get behind Danilo for whatever reason.

Most teams can.

/tapin