# 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:** 55
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1082 "2018-07-01T18:01:57Z")
Well, that was fast :eek:. ETA: and a fast equalizier! First four minutes more exciting than the whole match before. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1083 "2018-07-01T18:06:05Z")
Turned on 4 minutes late and already missed 2 goals? Damn. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1084 "2018-07-01T18:55:10Z")
England has to like ita chances. If they get past Colombia it may be a smooth path to just-like-1966. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1085 "2018-07-01T19:00:29Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > England has to like ita chances. If they get past Colombia it may be a smooth path to just-like-1966. Lol…have you not seen Croatia nor Sweden nor Switzerland play? Reputation means nothing on the pitch. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1086 "2018-07-01T19:09:20Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Lol…have you not seen Croatia nor Sweden nor Switzerland play? Reputation means nothing on the pitch. Sure, nothing is a gimme, but with Spain out of the way you know the Brits have to be secretly eyeing things quite far down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1087 "2018-07-01T19:10:20Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Seriously? You are going to disregard what a man who played and won both competitions says? Yes, Puyol is/was merely a professional sportsman, these guys are capable of delivering both worthy insights and incredible gibberish. I can count on one hand the number of well regarded autobiographies of footballers. Their opinion on most things are not particularly insightful. For instance Puyol may have said it after a WC victory or defeat. On either occasion his words would have been self serving. I hold Alex Ferguson in high regard, but would rather gouge my eyes out with a hot poker than listen to him interviewed. He is rarely worth listening to for more than a few minutes. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1088 "2018-07-01T19:21:40Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Sure, nothing is a gimme, but with Spain out of the way you know the Brits have to be secretly eyeing things quite far down the road. I can buy that. And I agree that they are one of the favorites. They have 2 issues: they have had a pessimistic mindset about winning and penalties. If they believe they should be right up there with Brazil and France as favorites because they have some excellent players and Gareth Southgate is an excellent coach. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1089 "2018-07-01T19:25:38Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > …Pele has the WC medals; he also has a multitude of goals and trophies from a 2nd rate league… I don’t think you’ll find any evidence that the Brazilian league was any less of a league than the top European leagues at the time. It’s only over the last couple of decades that the most of the top South American players have moved over to Europe for the money, causing the talent disparity. In fact, the Santos teams of Pele are often considered to be the top teams of all-time. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1090 "2018-07-01T19:26:23Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > They have 2 issues: they have had a pessimistic mindset about winning and penalties. As far as public support is concerned, it’s beyond pessimism. There are no longer _any_ expectations. To some extent, that takes the pressure off. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1091 "2018-07-01T19:30:22Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Y > I hold Alex Ferguson in high regard, but would rather gouge my eyes out with a hot poker than listen to him interviewed. Maybe sticking the poker in your ears would be the better strategy here? :dubious: ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1092 "2018-07-01T19:47:54Z")
Maybe we get 2 PK shootouts in one day? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1093 "2018-07-01T19:49:20Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > As far as public support is concerned, it’s beyond pessimism. There are no longer _any_ expectations. To some extent, that takes the pressure off. Yes. No matter what happens from this point on, this World Cup has been a smashing success for Russia. They don’t have to worry 'bout a thing against CRO/DEN (as long as they don’t lose _too_ disgracefully.) ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1094 "2018-07-01T19:53:50Z")
Aside from South Africa in 2010, when’s the last time a host nation failed to advance out of the group stage? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1095 "2018-07-01T20:13:51Z")
Gee, Spain, do you think firing your coach just before the tournament might have been a mistake? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1096 "2018-07-01T20:22:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Gee, Spain, do you think firing your coach just before the tournament might have been a mistake? He accepted a job with Real Madrid. What else could they have done? Why couldn’t the club kept the deal secret until after the WC? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1097 "2018-07-01T20:25:45Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > As far as public support is concerned, it’s beyond pessimism. There are no longer _any_ expectations. To some extent, that takes the pressure off. Before the WC began, in this thread, I predicted that England would have a very successful WC. They have excellent players and a youngish brilliant manager. There should be expectations but they should be tempered. However, they should be favored to make the quarter finals at the least. They are a very dangerous side. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1098 "2018-07-01T20:26:46Z")
He gave the defender a yellow for an incredibly obvious DOGSO? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1099 "2018-07-01T20:27:47Z")
Schmeichel makes a brilliant PK save against Modric only to likely set up more PKs in 5 minutes. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1100 "2018-07-01T20:27:49Z")
Penalty saved to keep this game going. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1101 "2018-07-01T20:28:53Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > He gave the defender a yellow for an incredibly obvious DOGSO? Should have been red. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=56)