# 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:** 36
**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 25, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/701 "2018-06-25T17:41:48Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > For the Gold Cup to matter you’d probably need at least 3 teams as good as the mid-level, but not favorite Euro teams. That, or a significant proportion of the teams in the region to have at least one or two players be standouts for Champions League qualifying clubs. I think we’re at least a couple decades away from that in the US. > > My wish would be to have a combined Americas tournament be a regular thing. Then a 4-year cycle would be: 1-Gold Cup, 2-Copa Americas, 3-Confederations Cup, 4-World Cup. They have invited S American teams (Brazil has won it twice) and hopefully they will again when the field expands to 16. I would rather see a Copa America that covers all the Americans. ---
**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 25, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/702 "2018-06-25T17:54:43Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > They have invited S American teams (Brazil has won it twice) and hopefully they will again when the field expands to 16. > > I would rather see a Copa America that covers all the Americans. I would like to see that too, but CONMEBOL would just win 90% of the titles. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/703 "2018-06-25T18:23:15Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I would like to see that too, but CONMEBOL would just win 90% of the titles. In ok with that because the tougher competition will make the CONCACAF nations better in the long run. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/704 "2018-06-25T18:26:44Z")
In disappointed that Telemundo is choosing to air Peru v Australia instead of France v Denmark. This smells of provincialism. Few footie fans not Aussie or Peruvian would choose to watch that match. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/705 "2018-06-25T18:28:39Z")
Kee-rist, Spain is going to give me a heart attack today. Two horrendous defensive howlers that allowed a fast Moroccan counter-attack; one cost them a goal and the other _almost_ did so (luckily De Gea was in the right place at the right time and the Moroccan striker kicked the ball straight into his hands). Spain 1 - 1 Morocco. Let’s see how it goes from here! (At the same time, Iran - Portugal is still 0-0… Is there anybody watching that game who could tell us something about it?) > [@madsircool](#): > > In disappointed that Telemundo is choosing to air Peru v Australia instead of France v Denmark. This smells of provincialism. Few footie fans not Aussie or Peruvian would choose to watch that match. Well, it is understandable — Peru is a fellow Latin-American… BTW, any opinion about my slight misgivings re: the France-Denmark match (which I expressed earlier in the thread)? ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/706 "2018-06-25T18:32:55Z")
Flurry of yellow cards against Morocco — apparently for protesting a referee decision. Good for the refereeing!! I _thoroughly dislike_ when players get all in the face of the referee complaining about a refereeing decision. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/707 "2018-06-25T18:40:59Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > (At the same time, Iran - Portugal is still 0-0… Is there anybody watching that game who could tell us something about it?) It’s shown at the main ZDF channel (with interludes from the main events from Spain-Morocco). Rather level game so far, with even the best chance of the match by the Iranians. ETA: and now a beautiful goal by Portugal! ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/708 "2018-06-25T18:42:21Z")
538 has a [nice tool](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-world-cup-predictions/bracket/) for playing around with the possible knockout brackets. A reasonable set of choices gives this for half the bracket: Uruguay - Spain France - Argentina Brazil - Germany England - Colombia :eek: ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/709 "2018-06-25T18:45:16Z")
Iran has done a great job making CR7 a deseparacido in this match. But that can change at any minute. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/710 "2018-06-25T18:46:23Z")
A really pretty goal for Portugal by Queresma. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/711 "2018-06-25T18:48:52Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > Kee-rist, Spain is going to give me a heart attack today. Two horrendous defensive howlers that allowed a fast Moroccan counter-attack; one cost them a goal and the other _almost_ did so (luckily De Gea was in the right place at the right time and the Moroccan striker kicked the ball straight into his hands). > > Spain 1 - 1 Morocco. Let’s see how it goes from here! > > (At the same time, Iran - Portugal is still 0-0… Is there anybody watching that game who could tell us something about it?) > > Well, it is understandable — Peru is a fellow Latin-American… > > BTW, any opinion about my slight misgivings re: the France-Denmark match (which I expressed earlier in the thread)? I’m confused by the first part because I thought they would show the Spain match because its the mother country; the Peru match basically means nothing unless the Aussies sneak in. Would you please restate your concerns about France v Denmark? ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/712 "2018-06-25T18:51:54Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > 538 has a [nice tool](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-world-cup-predictions/bracket/) for playing around with the possible knockout brackets. A reasonable set of choices gives this for half the bracket: > > Uruguay - Spain > France - Argentina > Brazil - Germany > England - Colombia > > :eek: Would it be ENG-GER in the quarterfinal if they advance? I’d love to see that match once again, it’s always epic in tournaments. ---
**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 25, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/713 "2018-06-25T18:58:58Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Would you please restate your concerns about France v Denmark? It was my post #688. Quoting myself: > [@JoseB](#): > > **\** > > That last incident led to changes in the scheduling of World Cup games from then on: the last games of each group are now played at the same time to diminish the chances of chicanery knowing what you would need to go through. > > However, in this World Cup I am seeing potential echoes of that last one… Right know, in Group C, France and Denmark have a guaranteed pass to the round of 16 if they tie the game. Denmark would NOT pass if they lose to France and Australia wins against Peru with enough of a goal difference to put them ahead of Denmark. I think that the temptation to “reach an agreement” and tie the game (thus guaranteeing both teams to pass to the next round, France first in its group and Denmark second) is going to be overwhelming… > > What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/714 "2018-06-25T19:06:46Z")
Yes, I think there’s a decent chance of something like that in Denmark-France. In fact, France may even prefer to take second in the group, looking at how the bracket seems to be shaping up. They’re not very likely to pull out all the stops to try to win this Denmark game. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Would it be ENG-GER in the quarterfinal if they advance? I’d love to see that match once again, it’s always epic in tournaments. Yes, it would be. This is a similar case where England might prefer to finish second in their group. Would you rather have a quarterfinal against Germany/Brazil or against Mexico/Switzerland? ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/715 "2018-06-25T19:13:50Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > It was my post #688. Quoting myself: Thank you. I think this could be a thing but probably not. Their group plays first tomorrow. The group winner could likely meet Argentina in the round of 16. I could see France not being unhappy about finishing second. ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/716 "2018-06-25T19:15:56Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Yes, I think there’s a decent chance of something like that in Denmark-France. In fact, France may even prefer to take second in the group, looking at how the bracket seems to be shaping up. They’re not very likely to pull out all the stops to try to win this Denmark game. > > Yes, it would be. This is a similar case where England might prefer to finish second in their group. Would you rather have a quarterfinal against Germany/Brazil or against Mexico/Switzerland? While I agree with you I think anyone looking forward to facing this Mexican team and their swarming team defense might be in for a surprise. Mexico could be the best side of the three. Assuming they aren’t eliminated by Sweden. ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/717 "2018-06-25T19:21:22Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Yes, it would be. This is a similar case where England might prefer to finish second in their group. Would you rather have a quarterfinal against Germany/Brazil or against Mexico/Switzerland? Well, I’m German, so I’d love to see GER-BRA in the next round and GER-ENG in the quarterfinals, with Germany advancing in both rounds of course ;). But I’m dreaming, I’m not even convinced that we’ll manage to beat South Korea… ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/718 "2018-06-25T19:41:49Z")
Agggggg, Spain is really miserable in defense today!!! Morocco capitalizes yet another blunder and now it is Morocco 2 - Spain 1 with ~ 10 minutes to go. ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/719 "2018-06-25T19:42:02Z")
Morocco leading Spain 2-1. Another shocking result. ---
**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 25, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/720 "2018-06-25T19:43:24Z")
Spain v Uruguay should be a great match. Possibly followed by France v Argentina! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=37)