It begins this Thursday with the Russians against the Arabs.
Honestly, I'm bummed that the Dutch and the Italians aren't there. But whatever, let's just hope it's gonna be entertaining. Portugal/Spain this Friday should be fun.
It begins this Thursday with the Russians against the Arabs.
Honestly, I'm bummed that the Dutch and the Italians aren't there. But whatever, let's just hope it's gonna be entertaining. Portugal/Spain this Friday should be fun.
Am also asking looking forward to Portugal Vs Spain.
This time I will be supporting Brazil
Group F looks like the race for second place will be a bloodsport.
Supporting my country since I get to! Go Colombia, even if supporting you feels like being the Ralph of the bus
Looks like the us never made it in th le cup so go England or Japan
Looks like the us never made it in th le cup so go England or Japan
I noticed something odd during the France-US match of last saturday
I don't understand why the 3 most populated countries in the world (China, India, US) don't have a good football team. They get all the medals at the Olympic Games, but they're unable to have a good team for the most popular sport in the world.
Though it has a lot of fans, soccer still isn't very huge in the US. I personally find it boring.
You probably haven't been watching the UEFA Champions League or the english Premier League, then, because those are two exciting as hell competitions. Most others are indeed quite boring, most of the time. After you start to like it, it will be easier to watch the more "boring" competitions, since they usually rely more on tactics to compensate for the lack of individual quality, which makes for interesting games.
Anyway, go Portugal!! (I bet we will be thrashed by Spain right in the opening match, just like against Germany 4 years ago. The morale will then plummet and we will go out at the group stage, just like in most World Cups. Seriously, Portugal is usually great at the Euros but always manages to fuck up the World Cups, except in 1966 and 2006).
You have to enjoy the passes, the work in the defense and all the failed attacks. The fun isn't just about attacking and scoring
I enjoy hockey for those reasons, but probably enjoy it more cause it's faster-paced and has shorter periods (45 straight minutes of play is bleh). But I still had fun with the World Cup 4 years ago and hope it'll be just as fun this year even if the US isn't in it. I'm not rooting for anyone so I'll gobble up anything entertaining.
Argh wish I was more active in these forums so that I can join in with the discussions. New job side effects.
Spain supporters anyone? I think France is going to nail it this time around.
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Doesn't matter what happens at the World Cup Nigeria has already won the most important award of all, most stylin team! Hoping they can make it out of the group stage, they have a tough group but if they're fortunate they might be able to sneak in a second place finish. [Hide]
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@xan:
Argh wish I was more active in these forums so that I can join in with the discussions. New job side effects.
Spain supporters anyone? I think France is going to nail it this time around.
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Germany, Brazil, Spain and France would be every neutral's dream line-up I reckon. And even looking at it realistically, those four might just make it there. I somehow doubt that France can take it though. They have an abundance of talent but at times it just won't click (see Euro 16 final).
Personally I will be rooting for Brazil this time as their new-found defensive solidity (thanks to Tite) combined with the inherent Brazilian attacking flair makes for some highly entertaining football.
@Black:
https://imgur.com/a/1T07r2Yhttps://imgur.com/a/1T07r2YDoesn't matter what happens at the World Cup Nigeria has already won the most important award of all, most stylin team! Hoping they can make it out of the group stage, they have a tough group but if they're fortunate they might be able to sneak in a second place finish. [Hide]https://i.imgur.com/NYxgWPu.jpg[/Hide]
It's funny how most of the focus in regards to that team has been on their outfit (which does look swell). If their recent friendlies are anything to go by though, they'll be having a hard time. Unless they pull a Germany (ie. bottle the friendlies leading up to a tournament only to then stroll to the semis).
That World Cup feeling you only get to experience every four years is something special indeed~
Agree. Imagine if WC is every year. It'll never feel the same.And I'm rooting for Argentina, as always.
It's funny how most of the focus in regards to that team has been on their outfit (which does look swell). If their recent friendlies are anything to go by though, they'll be having a hard time. Unless they pull a Germany (ie. bottle the friendlies leading up to a tournament only to then stroll to the semis).
That World Cup feeling you only get to experience every four years is something special indeed~
Yeah that's true the recent string of friendlies hasn't been great. I got to see the England Vs Nigeria game live though and whilst Nigeria were dreadful in the first half they dominated in the second half. So I am quietly hopeful they can turn an upset or two at this WC. I'm Rooting for Nigeria, following England and expectant of a France win
You probably haven't been watching the UEFA Champions League or the english Premier League, then, because those are two exciting as hell competitions. Most others are indeed quite boring, most of the time. After you start to like it, it will be easier to watch the more "boring" competitions, since they usually rely more on tactics to compensate for the lack of individual quality, which makes for interesting games.
Anyway, go Portugal!! (I bet we will be thrashed by Spain right in the opening match, just like against Germany 4 years ago. The morale will then plummet and we will go out at the group stage, just like in most World Cups. Seriously, Portugal is usually great at the Euros but always manages to fuck up the World Cups, except in 1966 and 2006).
Those were our old ways.
Now we'll be accumulating ties until we reach the finals were the most unexpected goal will happen. My bet is that Patrício will will score the winning goal this time around.
https://imgur.com/a/1T07r2Yhttps://imgur.com/a/1T07r2YDoesn't matter what happens at the World Cup Nigeria has already won the most important award of all, most stylin team! Hoping they can make it out of the group stage, they have a tough group but if they're fortunate they might be able to sneak in a second place finish. [Hide]https://i.imgur.com/NYxgWPu.jpg[/Hide]
Those do look dope.
Patrício in a last ditch corner kick, with the 11 players inside the box, heading the ball into the net and giving us our first world cup. Glorious. I'm just imagining Sporting's president go mad (well… even more) if something like that ever happens, lol.
That was pretty much what I was picturing. xD
We haven't had a goallie brave enough to go that far into the field since Baía.
Also, rip sporting.
It's my new favorite soap opera, it kicked Kanye West of that throne really fast, but it's very sad to watch.
Sucks the US isn't in it, but still excited for the World Cup. I think Germany wins it all.
Apparently, americans have to support Mexico–- because there are "lots of Mexicans in the US", "Mexico's national team jersey is the most popular sportswear in the United States" and "since 2010, Mexico played twice more matches in the United States than on its own territory"
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After a lot of thinking, For the moment, I think I'll just support every team who speak French. Which means Belgium, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal.
I checked, and there is only one problem. Tunisia/Belgium on this saturday. I guess I'll just support a draw then
Spain sacked their coach Lopetegui, because he would leave spanish nationalteam for Madrid after the cup. Two days before very importwnt match vs Portugal. Ouch!
Well, here is the only possible chance for Portugal to beat Spain. I hope we take it and go at the match putting everything into it, as if it was a final.
Congrats tu US, México and Canada for holding the World Cup in 2026!
[h=1]The United States, Mexico And Canada Will Host The 2026 World Cup[/h]Which means that the US will finally get to play at the world cup
Couldn't the USA host the world cup by itself? Isn't 3 huge countries a bit too much? Different time zones, widely different latitudes, huge trips all over the place, it's going to be very exhausting for the players. Doesn't seem like a good idea. It's an entire friggin continent! I can't understand FIFA's ideas, sometimes…
Yeah that is a bit weird. All 3 countries get automatic qualification and the tournament is held across an entire continent. Seems like a bloody expensive investment if you want to go watch your team as a fan.
The next euro cup will be held across the continent too. And it's only problematic for the fans who actually follow the team. No one else cares. It's better to share the burden with other countries so that no one spends billions into new stadiums that'll turn out to be useless afterward
Imagine the US actually building huge football stadiums.
wow cool. but yeah, playing a game in Vancouver and then travelling Acapulco for the next game will be definitely problematic.
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Group F looks like the race for second place will be a bloodsport.
yea, I agree as a Mexican, I can foresee every nation there basing their possible qualification not in the results between them but in how fucked they come out of facing Germany
The next euro cup will be held across the continent too. And it's only problematic for the fans who actually follow the team. No one else cares. It's better to share the burden with other countries so that no one spends billions into new stadiums that'll turn out to be useless afterward
Imagine the US actually building huge football stadiums.
That doesn't really make any sense. The US will host the vast majority of the games of the next World Cup, so the burden will be hard on them either way. And they have huge sports stadiums that can be adapted for association football anyway. Not to mention that they are a rich country. Unlike Brazil or South Africa who spent ridiculous amounts of money they shouldn't have into something that did not benefit them. And it's not only problematic for fans that follow the team, it is problematic for the team itself! Making ridiculously long trips between matches, losing valuable resting and training time, accumulating fatigue and needlessly wasting money from the country's federation (which is supported by public funds, at least in Portugal). So yes, it is a ridiculous idea to host a tournament accross an entire continent. If there are too many matches for a single country to host, then reduce the number of teams and stop being so greedy.
After Qatar I'm fine with the US et al hosting the 2026 showpiece. I do agree that the traveling could be a bit of a burden on the teams but I suppose smart planning will lift some of it.
In other news, what's wrong with the Spanish FA? They "had no choice but to sack the coach"? Mere days before the World Cup, disrupting a perfectly functioning team so they can save face? Jesus, what a bunch of idiots.
It's happening on 3countries only to make it look greater and better. But it's still not as much silly as you're implying.
Because (unless they fuck this up) it's not like they were gonna make play a team 7hours of flight away from their prior match. They'll be wise and everyone's next match should be at 3(or4)hours of plane ride at most
its gonna be 48 teams.
16 groups of 3 teams. Mexico hosts 5 groups, Canada 5 more and U.S. 6 groups.
the 16 qualifiers play all games in one country, then 8 qualifiers play all games in other, semi-finalist in the other country
then just coin toss the final game.
Except it's been decided that the USA will host 60 matches in 10 cities, Canada 10 in 3 cities, Mexico 10 in 3 cities. The Russia and Brazil tournaments already prove that the diciding factors for the organization are not player comfort and efficiency, but whatever gives the most exposure to the brand new stadiums that took hundreds of millions of public funds to build.
Couldn't the USA host the world cup by itself? Isn't 3 huge countries a bit too much? Different time zones, widely different latitudes, huge trips all over the place, it's going to be very exhausting for the players. Doesn't seem like a good idea. It's an entire friggin continent! I can't understand FIFA's ideas, sometimes…
All those problems apply to the US just by itself.
Also the alternative was Morocco, no other real bids that I recall. So it's not nearly as controversially stupid a decision as Qatar.
The Qatar choice had more to do with corruption that an actual choice though
Also, map of the cities that will host the world cup in 2026
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I think that the Moroccan application was initially supposed to be along with Portugal and Spain. Or maybe it was just a random idea discussed at the time. That would have been a good choice. 3 small countries but with good capabilities to host a football competition. Anyway, back to the topic of the 2018 cup, gentlemen/ladies?
I'm afraid to admit that I reckon England have a decent chance of doing well.
The Qatari have almost bought all the TV rights for the world cup in France. It's getting harder and harder to watch the world cup peacefully.
Most of the matches will be broadcasted on beIngSport (the Qatari pay channel).
Anyway, I'll probably watch them somewhere on a stream, but I was wondering if it's the same in other countries too. Are there still countries where all the matches are broadcasted on publics channels ?
wanna play to guess results?
The Qatari have almost bought all the TV rights for the world cup in France. It's getting harder and harder to watch the world cup peacefully.
Most of the matches will be broadcasted on beIngSport (the Qatari pay channel).Anyway, I'll probably watch them somewhere on a stream, but I was wondering if it's the same in other countries too. Are there still countries where all the matches are broadcasted on publics channels ?
In Portugal we have four open signal channels (two of them being state owned) and these open signal channel will air most of the games, including of course the ones our national team will be playing. The rest of them will be aired on a premium cable channel.
So we have
20 games broadcasted in RTP1, two of them featuring Portugal (that's the state owned channel)
7 games broadcasted in SIC, one of them featuring Portugal (open signal channel)
20 games broadcasted in Sport TV (premium cable channel)
[source: [URL]https://observador.pt/2018/06/13/mundial-2018-na-tv-jogo-por-jogo-os-canais-onde-pode-assistir-a-cada-partida/ ]
This being said, it's not very hard anyway to catch the games provided you have no qualms about watching them in cafés/pubs. We have a big culture of watching big and international games in such places so pretty much every café/pub has that premium cable channel.
And since Euro 2004, which we hosted, there's also the tradition of setting up huge screens in plazas or football stadiums so that every one can see the national team playing.
Edit: that data refers only to the groups phase. I couldn't find the schedule for the post-groups games.
Still, it's easy to bet that most of those, including the final will be broadcasted by public channels. Certainly all games that could feature Portugal will be open channel.
The Qatari have almost bought all the TV rights for the world cup in France. It's getting harder and harder to watch the world cup peacefully.
Most of the matches will be broadcasted on beIngSport (the Qatari pay channel).Anyway, I'll probably watch them somewhere on a stream, but I was wondering if it's the same in other countries too. Are there still countries where all the matches are broadcasted on publics channels ?
Thankfully in England International football is still broadcast on public TV. All the matches are either on BBC or ITV both of which are public channels, there's also the thousands of pubs that will always be showing the games. Premier league and champions league matches are getting harder to watch each year as private companies are getting all the rights to them but at least the international tournaments seem to be safe.
The Qatari have almost bought all the TV rights for the world cup in France. It's getting harder and harder to watch the world cup peacefully.
Most of the matches will be broadcasted on beIngSport (the Qatari pay channel).Anyway, I'll probably watch them somewhere on a stream, but I was wondering if it's the same in other countries too. Are there still countries where all the matches are broadcasted on publics channels ?
I think, you're wrong nilitch. Most matches will air also on the free channel TF1.
Well… i wasn't expecting THIS! Congrats to the hosts, let's see how far they can go!
well, the Arabs played very badly in that match.
Yeah , kinda sad Italy didn't qualify yet this team is.
Atleast we did get to see some nice goals so that's that.
The Qatar choice had more to do with corruption that an actual choice though
Also, map of the cities that will host the world cup in 2026
snort Not surprised that it says Boston-Foxborough there, since the Gillete Stadium (i.e. the Patriots stadium) is probably the only place in the area big enough to hold all the people.
I wanted to mock Saudi Arabia but then I quickly remembered that we're going against Germany this sunday so I better wait
I'm hyped for Portugal vs Spain today. That match is gonna be epic.
hahaha lol pepe