# 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:** 24
**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 20, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/461 "2018-06-20T13:55:55Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > (Sighs at the fact that he is still at the office and will miss the Morocco-Portugal game) Time to catch that week-long flu. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/462 "2018-06-20T14:14:18Z")
MP W D L GF GA GD PTS Russia 2 2 0 0 8 1 7 6 Uruguay 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 Egypt 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0 Saudi Arabia 1 0 0 1 0 5 -5 0 GROUP B MP W D L GF GA GD PTS Portugal 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 4 IR Iran 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 Spain 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1 Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 2 -2 0 Wow, the quality in these groups seem wildly disparate. ---
**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 20, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/463 "2018-06-20T14:28:56Z")
But Russia is 20 of 20 in bribery. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/464 "2018-06-20T15:50:07Z")
Frustrating watching Saudi Arabia. They have actually had a lot of the possession and created some decent chances. And then the finishing makes you feel embarrassed for even thinking they could get a goal. ---
**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 20, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/465 "2018-06-20T16:50:36Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Frustrating watching Saudi Arabia. They have actually had a lot of the possession and created some decent chances. And then the finishing makes you feel embarrassed for even thinking they could get a goal. I agree. This is a much better effort. Uruguay will now have to beat Russia to win the group and likely avoid Spain in the round of 16. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/466 "2018-06-20T17:16:49Z")
Ridiculous [theatrics by Pepe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44553190), as usual. He’s a great defender and appearer in viral videos, but he can be a bit of a wally. Rivaldo still holds the crown for the [worst World Cup simulation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c17aeF7JxAg), though. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/467 "2018-06-20T18:26:57Z")
Oh gosh, the Iranian fans bought the very last stock of vuvuzelas still existing and are using them with impunity :(. Thought we got that settled after the 2010 WC… ---
**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 20, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/468 "2018-06-20T19:12:06Z")
I am now rooting for Iran for the as long as they last in the tournament, for I love the vuvuzela. I want to start an all vuvuzela Zeppelin cover band. I’ll call it Stairway to Honking. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/469 "2018-06-20T19:33:58Z")
Anyone but Spain, Germany, Brazil, Russia, France and Portugal! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/470 "2018-06-20T19:37:18Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Oh gosh, the Iranian fans bought the very last stock of vuvuzelas still existing and are using them with impunity :(. Thought we got that settled after the 2010 WC… Possession of vuvuzelas was controlled under the Iranian arms treaty that was recently junked by the USA. There was always a very real danger of them being used in the field. It’s an atrocity but I don’t see the UN stepping in on Russian soil. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/471 "2018-06-20T19:37:46Z")
Watching Spain-Iran. So far, Spain 1-Iran 0, 77 minutes on the clock. Had to miss the whole first half 😛 Ugly goal by Spain, and more by luck than anything else, but hey… I will take it ^.^ What can I say? I am biased, I am Spanish… There was what looked like a goal by Iran shortly after the Spanish goal, but it was disallowed by the VAR (offside). Free kick by Spain. Isco shoots and… deflected. The game looks interesting. Spain attacking hard, but Iran is a brick wall in defense. What a difference with Poland yesterday…! ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/472 "2018-06-20T19:45:43Z")
I am having flashbacks to 2010, ermagerd… I THOUGHT THE VUVUZELAS WERE A NIGHTMARE FROM THE PAST! WARRRHGARGBL! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/473 "2018-06-20T19:48:32Z")
Well Iran almost scored the goal of the tournament… more for the nutmeg on Pique… ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/474 "2018-06-20T19:52:57Z")
Almost 90 minutes … Seems like Spain has this in the bag, but of course you cannot say anything until the final whistle… If Iran loses this, they definitely MUST win against Portugal to have any chance of qualifying to the round of 16. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind: they have shown combative spirit, and I think that it is just bad luck what has prevented them from getting at least one goal against Spain (not counting the one that was annulled due to offside). And it is over. Iran _has_ to win against Portugal to avoid having to go back home. I wouldn’t mind Iran winning against Portugal, truth be told… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/475 "2018-06-20T20:04:46Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Possession of vuvuzelas was controlled under the Iranian arms treaty that was recently junked by the USA. There was always a very real danger of them being used in the field. It’s an atrocity but I don’t see the UN stepping in on Russian soil. Heck, if I had a say in this, vuvuzelas were outlawed by the UN Declaration of Human Rights. ETA: right after the ban of chanting “Seven Nation Army”. The original White Stripes song may still be played. ---
**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 20, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/476 "2018-06-20T20:22:16Z")
I feel I must reiterate my position (speaking of the 2010WC). [Request to all international soccer fans: STOP THAT FUCKING BUZZING!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=566867&highlight=vuvuzela) > [@Request to all international soccer fans: STOP THAT FUCKING BUZZING!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/request-to-all-international-soccer-fans-stop-that-fucking-buzzing/542942/308): > > I’m anti-anti-vuvzelas. I think they should be mandatory at every sporting event. Including The Masters and the International Chess Championships. ---
**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 20, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/477 "2018-06-20T21:08:52Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > Almost 90 minutes … Seems like Spain has this in the bag, but of course you cannot say anything until the final whistle… > > If Iran loses this, they definitely MUST win against Portugal to have any chance of qualifying to the round of 16. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind: they have shown combative spirit, and I think that it is just bad luck what has prevented them from getting at least one goal against Spain (not counting the one that was annulled due to offside). > > And it is over. Iran _has_ to win against Portugal to avoid having to go back home. I wouldn’t mind Iran winning against Portugal, truth be told… 😛 They have to win by 2 correct? Because of goal difference? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/478 "2018-06-20T22:03:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > They have to win by 2 correct? Because of goal difference? If Iran wins they’re in regardless; they’ll have six points to Portugal’s four. Win by two, win by three, win by eight, win by 0.035, doesn’t matter. Win and you’re in. Whether first or second would depend on what Spain does. ---
**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 21, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/479 "2018-06-21T00:55:37Z")
Who wins the group if Spain and Portugal both win the next game by the same score? ---
**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 21, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/480 "2018-06-21T01:20:46Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > If Iran wins they’re in regardless; they’ll have six points to Portugal’s four. Win by two, win by three, win by eight, win by 0.035, doesn’t matter. Win and you’re in. Whether first or second would depend on what Spain does. My bad. I thought Iran and Morocco drew. The fog of these 5am games and little sleep is getting to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=25)