Russia 2018 Chat

[blahblah]

The Weaker Teams in Group get worse as it goes on (or they start a bit Katy - firework), so there is an advantage in top 2 playing first for them to both go through.

Thanks, i see your thinking now - although you could probably pick out many examples where a stronger team playing a minnow first could have been deemed to have helped or indeed vice versa, so its possibly arguable either way.

I know England have had many pretty awful results in the past so this is potentially another, but playing them first shouldn't make too much difference. (hopefully )

I think they are the exceptions ie minnow improveing through the 3 matches, but on the whole the "upsets" have been in the first matches?

Tbh I was going to ask why\how the hosts are opening this, when I thought it was the holders that was the tradition. Too any upsets, maybe? But why expose Mother Russia to it? (I'm not even getting into Russia buying off Saudi's...)

[jimmy ching]

This is the First World Cup where I haven't heard an English supporter say they are going to win it. What is happening?
Have dreams been stolen in Old Blighty? Is it a case of people being scared of prosecution for putting Fake news on the social network?
Or maybe realism is the new way of thinking.
You all know what that adds up to. Every body will be unprepared for the disbelief across the nation as the clock strikes seven on the evening of July 15th.

[hancockjr]

First one I remember was 1974 and the Scotland-Netherlands game which Scotland won 3-2 but missed out on advancing to next stage to Netherlands on goal difference by 1 goal

So long ago the details have become blurred - that was 1978.

[blahblah]

This is the First World Cup where I haven't heard an English supporter say they are going to win it. What is happening?
Have dreams been stolen in Old Blighty? Is it a case of people being scared of prosecution for putting Fake news on the social network?
Or maybe realism is the new way of thinking.
You all know what that adds up to. Every body will be unprepared for the disbelief across the nation as the clock strikes seven on the evening of July 15th.

'70 was our last chance, arguably '74 if we had qualified

some have been on this here for a fair while, and finally the natuon gets that we are actually mediocre and aren;t going to recreate the 1940's and (allegedly) take on the world and win..... You should have seen the World\European tee shirt things with the venues of the supposed victories


the band should stop playing that Dambusters shite and the NA, imho, and fans enjoy every\any win as opposed to fists in face stuff....

[blahblah]

First one I remember was 1974 and the Scotland-Netherlands game which Scotland won 3-2 but missed out on advancing to next stage to Netherlands on goal difference by 1 goal

So long ago the details have become blurred - that was 1978.

Yep '78. In 74 the (Leeds based Scots) played keep ball against Zaire(?) and went out on GD....

[liquidfootball2]

Tbh I was going to ask why\how the hosts are opening this, when I thought it was the holders that was the tradition. Too any upsets, maybe? But why expose Mother Russia to it? (I'm not even getting into Russia buying off Saudi's...)

1966 England the hosts played the opening game

1970 Mexico the hosts played the opening game

The next nine World Cups the holders played the opening game until....

2010 South Africa the hosts played the opening game

2014 Brazil the hosts played the opening game

2018 Russia will play the opening game

[forestfan]

Tbh I was going to ask why\how the hosts are opening this, when I thought it was the holders that was the tradition. Too any upsets, maybe? But why expose Mother Russia to it? (I'm not even getting into Russia buying off Saudi's...)

1966 England the hosts played the opening game

1970 Mexico the hosts played the opening game

The next nine World Cups the holders played the opening game until....

2010 South Africa the hosts played the opening game

2014 Brazil the hosts played the opening game

2018 Russia will play the opening game

They dropped the custom of having the holders as opening game when they stopped them qualifying automatically I think. I guess it ties in with the way they set the schedule in advance, they used to put holders in group A and hosts in another prearranged group so they had the venues they wanted, now the host nation is the only one that is pre-determined as the defending champions might not qualify (though it’s yet to happen!) so the hosts get the first game.

Euros have always started with the (co-)hosts as far as I can remember, and I don’t think the holders have ever qualified automatically (will be interesting to see what happens in the “host-less” 2020 event - will it be England opening it up as hosts of the semis and final, or whichever nation hosts the opening game, or Portugal assuming they qualify, or just random?)

[blahblah]

I'm old and just remember the 1st match upsets

hosts and Holders qualified for WC's, but my age again?

[forestfan]

Actually the hosts Germany played the opening game in 2006 as well, so France v Senegal in 2002 was the last time the defending champions opened the batting. Seems that was the last time they didn’t have to qualify as well.

I always liked the winners of four years earlier being there to be shot at in the first game, and it gave us a couple of legendary World Cup shocks, but I guess the home crowd would probably rather watch their own team after the opening ceremony?

[blahblah]

I always liked the winners of four years earlier being there to be shot at in the first game, and it gave us a couple of legendary World Cup shocks, but I guess the home crowd would probably rather watch their own team after the opening ceremony?

Yep, and depends if the the Hosts lose

[murf]

First one I remember was 1974 and the Scotland-Netherlands game which Scotland won 3-2 but missed out on advancing to next stage to Netherlands on goal difference by 1 goal

So long ago the details have become blurred - that was 1978.

Thought that was what I remembered from 78 but it could have also happened in 74 which I don't remember. Also happened in Trainspotting.

[blahblah]

Definitely Ally's Army in 78 before Cubillas...

[Tacalabala]

Actually the hosts Germany played the opening game in 2006 as well, so France v Senegal in 2002 was the last time the defending champions opened the batting. Seems that was the last time they didn’t have to qualify as well.

I always liked the winners of four years earlier being there to be shot at in the first game, and it gave us a couple of legendary World Cup shocks, but I guess the home crowd would probably rather watch their own team after the opening ceremony?

Japan and South Korea argued over the order of names on the logo, so you can understand why FIFA went for holders in that occasion.

Rome is due to host the Euro 2020 opener, I'm guessing Italy will open provided they qualify.

[MoSe]

 

[forestfan]

It will be an interesting scheduling challenge, if the match dates are already set it would take some serious fudging of the draw to get most teams playing at home, assuming most of the hosting nations qualify.

[liquidfootball2]

It will be an interesting scheduling challenge, if the match dates are already set it would take some serious fudging of the draw to get most teams playing at home, assuming most of the hosting nations qualify.

Probably take a Michel Platini like crook then?

[Tacalabala]

Don't quote me on this, but the venues are paired, so Wembely is paired with Hampden, and if England and Scotland both qualify they'll be in the same group and there'll be a draw to decide where the head to head takes place.

What's more confusing is we won't know four of the teams when the draw is made as the playoffs take place in March 2020!!!

[Surprised]

First one I remember was 1974 and the Scotland-Netherlands game which Scotland won 3-2 but missed out on advancing to next stage to Netherlands on goal difference by 1 goal

So long ago the details have become blurred - that was 1978.

Yep '78. In 74 the (Leeds based Scots) played keep ball against Zaire(?) and went out on GD....

Age has addled my brain.

[liquidfootball2]

Spain sack their Real bound manager Lopetegui on eve of World Cup

https://www.theguardian.com/football/li ... adrid-live

Maybe have Pardew lined up?

[llama]

[Maldini]

Was feeling quite smug about drawing Spain out in the work sweepstake. FFS!

[blahblah]

Spain sack their Real bound manager Lopetegui on eve of World Cup

https://www.theguardian.com/football/li ... adrid-live

Maybe have Pardew lined up?

Pep?

[liquidfootball2]

Bet Big Sam is sat in his villa learning the Spanish for "keep it tight" as we speak

[liquidfootball2]

OFICIAL | Fernando Hierro asumirá el cargo de seleccionador nacional durante el Campeonato del Mundo de Rusia.

All starting to make some sense with sporting director and Real legend Hierro taking over as no real alternative this close to the start.


https://en.as.com/en/2018/06/13/footbal ... 17316.html

Big Sam cruelly overlooked then

[forestfan]

I thought Zidane would have been a good shout... knows the system and half the players, could do a month’s work, add a World Cup to his trophy cabinet then go off and do something else again!

Makes sense to go with Hierro though as someone from within the system who is a big name in Spanish football anyway. Might not make that much difference anyway (is he too late to change the squad though, if he wanted someone who was originally left out?)

[blahblah]

Big Sam cruelly overlooked then

An ex player may bring him as a Number 2?

[forestfan]

Big Sam cruelly overlooked then

An ex player may bring him as a Number 2?

Forgot Hierro played for Bolton I’m sure Samwise will take all the credit if they win it

[Tacalabala]

We'll try and run 24hr polls throughout the tournament, starting tonight with the only question that really matters....

Who will win the World Cup? Reasons please....

Give me or one of the other mods a shout as the days tick by and we'll put new polls up as and when.

[blahblah]

Big Sam cruelly overlooked then

An ex player may bring him as a Number 2?

Forgot Hierro played for Bolton I’m sure Samwise will take all the credit if they win it

Hmm a Portman Road link too? I wonder if he'll do a reverse Ramsey

[forestfan]

We'll try and run 24hr polls throughout the tournament, starting tonight with the only question that really matters....

Who will win the World Cup? Reasons please....

Give me or one of the other mods a shout as the days tick by and we'll put new polls up as and when.

I’ll go for Brazil... looking for payback after the disaster of 4 years ago, with young attacking quality to take the weight off Neymar (instead of last time’s shambolic supporting cast of (old) Fred, Jo and Hulk...) and a dominant qualifying showing.