# 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:** 33
**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 24, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/641 "2018-06-24T12:50:49Z")
The only reason Brazilians fill up the world is because they come from a poor nation and its clubs have to sell to survive. Ohh…7-1 in Brazil. None of the players you mention are the best at their position. Ohh…7-1 in Brazil. ---
**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 24, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/642 "2018-06-24T12:56:09Z")
In the last 50 years Brazil has won 2 World Cups…Germany 3. In fact, Brazil has only won two World Cups without Pele. They live on more because of their storied past than today. ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/643 "2018-06-24T13:03:06Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I’m not saying Germany has no talent. They are still world class, but talent-wise player-to-player, they are far behind Brazil and probably even behind France, Spain and Belgium. That’s why they deserve the credit they get. Their system is stable and they can plug in new pieces of varying levels of talent and still win. This language of “plugging in pieces” and “the system” is used in more than just this situation to denigrate successful team by describing them as some sort of modularized, impersonal process. Maybe it’s not what you meant, but the reality for Germany is that Löw regularly changes tactics and pace dependent on circumstances and the players on the pitch. ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/644 "2018-06-24T13:04:08Z")
> **[From Germany to Brazil (via England): which country has the best talent...](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/11/germany-brazil-england-france-best-football-talent)** > > With a weekend of international football coming up, we pick teams consisting of players under the age of 23 from nine different countries to see where the future looks the brightest And Germany have one of if not the best youth development systems in the world. ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/645 "2018-06-24T13:05:47Z")
England strolling against Panama. They’ve slowed down their play conspicuously and that has to be a premeditated tactic. 2 penalties and that’s the very least they’ve deserved, The wrestling by Panama is ridiculous. Great header by Stones, beautiful strike by Lingard and one of the best constructed set-pieces I’ve seen in a long time. Kane blasted in two unstoppable penalties. We could end up with a better GD than Belgium and only need a draw to top the group. Are we sure this is England? ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/646 "2018-06-24T13:06:57Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > England strolling against Panama. They’ve slowed down their play conspicuously and that has to be a premeditated tactic. > > 2 penalties and that’s the very least they’ve deserved, The wrestling by Panama is ridiculous. Great header by Stones, beautiful strike by Lingard and one of the best constructed set-pieces I’ve seen in a long time. Kane blasted in two unstoppable penalties. We could end up with a better GD than Belgium and only need a draw to top the group. > > Are we sure this is England? Someone predicted England would be this good earlier in this thread. 😛 ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/647 "2018-06-24T13:23:36Z")
Last I have to say about the subject, but most of the football world agrees with me that Brazil’s players are more talented than Germany’s. Just count… these are literally the first 2 links in a google search for best soccer players in the world: > **[The 100 best footballers in the world 2017](https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/dec/19/the-100-best-footballers-in-the-world-2017-interactive)** > > Our panel of 169 experts from 63 nations compiled a list of the greatest male players on the planet. Click on an individual to read more about their year > **[ESPN FC 100: The best men's players and managers in world football](https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/21589590/fc-100-best-men-players-managers-world-football)** > > Whether you're new to the sport or a die-hard fan, these are the 100 best men's players and managers in football that you need to know. Welcome to the ESPN FC 100. Also, hate to harp on this but you can simply check the FIFA world rankings on which group is more difficult. What also proves it is that Germany Won he last World Cup, is #1 in FIFA ranking, and somehow Brazil was still slightly favored to win this WC. Talent. ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/648 "2018-06-24T13:30:11Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Last I have to say about the subject, but most of the football world agrees with me that Brazil’s players are more talented than Germany’s. > > Just count… these are literally the first 2 links in a google search for best soccer players in the world: > > [The 100 best footballers in the world 2017 | Soccer | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/dec/19/the-100-best-footballers-in-the-world-2017-interactive) > > [FC 100 Best men's players and managers in world football](http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/21589590/fc-100-best-men-players-managers-world-football) > > Also, hate to harp on this but you can simply check the FIFA world rankings on which group is more difficult. > > What also proves it is that Germany Won he last World Cup, is #1 in FIFA ranking, and somehow Brazil was still slightly favored to win this WC. Talent. We have yet to see that talent. O goals in almost 90 minutes against Costa Rica is telling. Not that Brazil has been any better in the Cops America. Chile has won the last two. ---
**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 24, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/649 "2018-06-24T13:35:32Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This language of “plugging in pieces” and “the system” is used in more than just this situation to denigrate successful team by describing them as some sort of modularized, impersonal process. Maybe it’s not what you meant, but the reality for Germany is that Löw regularly changes tactics and pace dependent on circumstances and the players on the pitch. Sorry, didn’t want to ignore this. I’m not denigrating anybody. If it’s successful, that’s all that matters and that’s what every country should strive for. I started a thread not too long ago lamenting the embarrassing state of US Soccer and admiring Iceland’s system. The debate here is simply which country’s players, as of now, are more talented. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/650 "2018-06-24T14:52:01Z")
The best that can said for Panama is that they got their first-ever World Cup goal. My Panamanian friends are posting on Facebook “Baloy has more goals than Messi!”😃 ---
**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 24, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/651 "2018-06-24T14:53:28Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The best that can said for Panama is that they got their first-ever World Cup goal. > > My Panamanian friends are posting on Facebook “Baloy has more goals than Messi!”😃 Yes they lost big but they showed courage and never quit. They have nothing to be ashamed of. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/652 "2018-06-24T15:18:17Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Germany is better at 2-3 positions. Give you Neuer and Kroos and one more, probably the right back but only because Dani Alves is injured. Think about it, most of the Brazilians excel, or have excelled, in La Liga and EPL. Bundesliga is a step below. Based on the WC squads, a combined squad would probably feature 6 German starters: Neuer, Hummels, Boateng, Kimmich, Kroos, Reus. I think swapping Paulinho for a German central mid is arguable too. Yes, La Liga and the EPL are better overall than the Bundesliga, but Bayern was the best team in the world this year. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/653 "2018-06-24T15:22:34Z")
Mane going to drag Senegal through this group? Quite possibly. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/654 "2018-06-24T15:30:40Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Mane going to drag Senegal through this group? Quite possibly. Senegal look good. If I were England/Belgium I would be worried. ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/655 "2018-06-24T15:34:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Senegal look good. If I were England/Belgium I would be worried. I wouldn’t. Groups A and H are so weak that B and G don’t care if they finish second. Either England or Belgium would be massive favorites over either of these teams compared to even Croatia or Mexico. Great equalizer! ---
**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 24, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/656 "2018-06-24T15:38:49Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I wouldn’t. Groups A and H are so weak that B and G don’t care if they finish second. Either England or Belgium would be massive favorites over either of these teams compared to even Croatia or Mexico. > > Great equalizer! I hate when that happens just after I post. ---
**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 24, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/657 "2018-06-24T16:22:36Z")
Japan should be up by at least one. Whiff on goal from 6 yards and then a crossbar on a nice chip attempt. ---
**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 24, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/658 "2018-06-24T16:29:24Z")
Nice goal by Senegal. This has been fun too watch. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/659 "2018-06-24T16:34:57Z")
Japan pulls it back level. ---
**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 24, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/660 "2018-06-24T16:40:04Z")
Japan are technically better than they have ever been. They will always be at a physical disadvantage but they make it up with their speed and ball movement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=34)