# World Cup 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 7, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615 "2018-06-07T18:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/241 "2018-06-16T12:25:31Z")
Lets go Iceland. Back up that bus and get the draw. Its so cool that a nation of about 325,000 is playing in the World Cup. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/242 "2018-06-16T12:49:54Z")
I’d like to see Argentina finally click. Even with the 3 straight Finals runs, and all the South American qualifying, I just haven’t seen the team real look fluid like when seeing these same players play for their club teams. Seeing their starting lineup, I’m not too familiar with their fullbacks. It looks like fairly defensive set up to allow Messi to star. I guess no room for Dybala. Or Higuain. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/243 "2018-06-16T13:03:33Z")
Argentina is a weird team ridiculous attacking players and then the only other person on the roster you might consider world class is Mascherano, but he’s past his prime. Getting through qualifying was pretty slap dash, without a real vision of style of play. I do expect 3 wins in teh group stage, but either a round of 16 or a QF loss. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/244 "2018-06-16T13:08:27Z")
The pacing of the match seems to favor Iceland. The Argies look bored out there. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/245 "2018-06-16T13:10:55Z")
Rojo is having a shocking opening 10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/246 "2018-06-16T13:11:02Z")
Iceland should be 1-0 up, that was quite a miss. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/247 "2018-06-16T13:12:02Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Rojo is having a shocking opening 10 minutes. I agree. Argentina really need to score or they risk losing control of this match. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/248 "2018-06-16T13:12:58Z")
Except for their finishing skills, Iceland is giving Argentina a lesson right now. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/249 "2018-06-16T13:18:19Z")
Argentina is very static in the attack. Not a lot of big off the ball runs. Now Messi with a shot and a strong punch away. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/250 "2018-06-16T13:19:40Z")
Now that Argentina has calmed it down a little, I think it’s go a little more their way. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/251 "2018-06-16T13:19:58Z")
What a shot by Aguero! ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/252 "2018-06-16T13:20:25Z")
Fantastic goal by Aguero. Wonder how that will change the pace of the game. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/253 "2018-06-16T13:20:43Z")
(see what I did there - plausible deniability no matter who wins the match) ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/254 "2018-06-16T13:20:57Z")
World class striker goal by Aguero. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/255 "2018-06-16T13:24:42Z")
And once again shambolic defending by Argentina, a well deserved 1-1. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/256 "2018-06-16T13:25:11Z")
lol…utter chaos in the Argentine back line. Game on! ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/257 "2018-06-16T13:25:37Z")
And then they remind us that their back 3 basically consists of Manchester bench players. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/258 "2018-06-16T13:31:57Z")
Argentina’s entire plan seems to be pass it back and forth from the CBs to Maschereno until Messi gets open and then hope he can do something. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/259 "2018-06-16T13:43:23Z")
Hand was in an unnatural position. That’s a penalty, IMO. _eta_ Rules expert disagrees. Interesting that they give guidance on which hand counts as a hand when you’re sliding. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/260 "2018-06-16T13:43:24Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Argentina’s entire plan seems to be pass it back and forth from the CBs to Maschereno until Messi gets open and then hope he can do something. It reminds me of 90s football. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=14)