# 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:** 29
**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 23, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/561 "2018-06-23T12:34:09Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Tunisia equalize! > Man there should be a way for three teams to advance. Wait…what? ---
**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 23, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/562 "2018-06-23T12:38:33Z")
Those vests meant to mask a players number are moronic in the internet age. Like we don’t know that’s Cristiano Ronaldo warming up until he takes off his vest. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/563 "2018-06-23T12:43:24Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Wait…what? Pull one back, yeah I noticed the mistake after ETA time had expired. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/564 "2018-06-23T12:48:44Z")
3:1, Lukaku again. ---
**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 23, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/565 "2018-06-23T13:13:58Z")
Belgium look awesome and what a balanced group of generational talent. ---
**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 23, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/566 "2018-06-23T13:26:30Z")
This is the best I’ve seen them look. Everything finally seems to be coming together, but have they really been tested yet? Either way, it looks like a pretty easy cruise for them to the QF’s. ---
**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 23, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/567 "2018-06-23T13:35:26Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > This is the best I’ve seen them look. Everything finally seems to be coming together, but have they really been tested yet? Either way, it looks like a pretty easy cruise for them to the QF’s. Can’t wait for Thursday and their match against England. I think Belgium are vulnerable in the back. Italy would have dominated them but Italy aren’t in Russia. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/568 "2018-06-23T14:08:52Z")
Belgium vulnerable? Pfff. I predict an easy 4-1 against England. In my eyes Belgium is a serious candidate for the title, Portugal, Belgium and maybe Germany (if they find their form against Sweden tonight). ---
**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 23, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/569 "2018-06-23T14:13:21Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Belgium vulnerable? Pfff. > > I predict an easy 4-1 against England. > > In my eyes Belgium is a serious candidate for the title, Portugal, Belgium and maybe Germany (if they find their form against Sweden tonight). Never going to happen. I predict 1-1. But I do agree Belgium has to be the favorite at this point. ---
**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 23, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/570 "2018-06-23T15:28:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Never going to happen. I predict 1-1. But I do agree Belgium has to be the favorite at this point. I got no idea since i predict both teams will have qualified. ---
**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 23, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/571 "2018-06-23T16:54:16Z")
Glad to see S. Korea get one back against Mexico (even though the latter is my sweepstake team). They worked hard and had some good chances. And Mexico’s two goals were both a little suspect. Mexico deserved to win but 2-0 would have been a bit cruel. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/572 "2018-06-23T18:08:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Those vests meant to mask a players number are moronic in the internet age. Like we don’t know that’s Cristiano Ronaldo warming up until he takes off his vest. 😛 That’s not what they are for (as I assume you know)… :rolleyes: ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/573 "2018-06-23T18:17:57Z")
Sweden trying the Mexico strategy. Almost worked twice already. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/574 "2018-06-23T18:29:50Z")
The Germans seem not to have learned how not to telegraph their attacks. Its like they are chanting “Achtung!, we are coming”. If the Germans lose today, they are as screwed as Guderian’s Panzers outside Moscow, right? As in out ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/575 "2018-06-23T18:33:33Z")
Neuer chipped. 1-0 Sverige. Germany is in deep shit. ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/576 "2018-06-23T18:35:02Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The Germans seem not to have learned how not to telegraph their attacks. Its like they are chanting “Achtung!, we are coming”. > If the Germans lose today, they are as screwed as Guderian’s Panzers outside Moscow, right? As in out Yes, a loss has them out. A draw and they’re still in a ton of trouble as they both need to win against SK and have Mexico beat Sweden. Expect this played as if a draw is the same as a loss. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/577 "2018-06-23T18:35:54Z")
Sweden scores! Kroos gives the ball away. Sweden is ahead. Ola Tovonen is 1st Shock Army which beat back 7th Panzer when it had made its breakthrough across the Moscow-Volga canal. Of course the Swedes also have a history of military debacles in Russia. ---
**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 23, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/578 "2018-06-23T18:46:39Z")
Did Germany not play a single counter attacking team during qualifying? They look completely out of sorts defending every Swedish attack. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/579 "2018-06-23T18:48:39Z")
Wow. Sweden ALMOST went in up 2-0. Great save! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/580 "2018-06-23T18:50:46Z")
Sweden has its own history of military disaster in [Swedish invasion of Russia - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_invasion_of_Russia_(1708%E2%80%931709)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=30)