# 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:** 72
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1422 "2018-07-06T19:54:30Z")
Awesome game! ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1423 "2018-07-06T19:54:44Z")
FRA-BEL and ENG-CRO here we come ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1424 "2018-07-06T19:55:28Z")
And what was the last action on the pitch by Neymar to remember: a ridiculous dive… Ball d’or my ass… ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1425 "2018-07-06T19:55:32Z")
Sweet, sweet South American tears! Yummy! ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1426 "2018-07-06T19:56:46Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > FRA-BEL and ENG-CRO here we come England and Croatia still have to win their matches. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1427 "2018-07-06T19:56:54Z")
Fellaini proving why he got a contract renewal. ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1428 "2018-07-06T19:57:01Z")
Well, that’s why they play the game. Nice win, Belgium. Courtois the player of the game for sure. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1429 "2018-07-06T19:58:36Z")
Geeze, now who do I root against? ---
**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 6, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1430 "2018-07-06T19:59:13Z")
_Sigh_ Japan might have had a good chance against this Brazil squad. _sads_ ---
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1431 "2018-07-06T20:00:50Z")
The Belgian coach played with more effective tactics, but both sides were awesome. This was by far the best game of the tournament. No bad player on the pitch. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1432 "2018-07-06T20:02:06Z")
Congrats Belgium, Sitting back was a dangerous game to play but their defence was awesome. Fellaini was was a man-mountain…with an afro. France v Belgium will be very tasty (I hope) ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1433 "2018-07-06T20:02:24Z")
Would have liked at least one South American squad still in it, but alas. Good game at any rate. ---
**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 6, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1434 "2018-07-06T20:02:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > _Sigh_ Japan might have had a good chance against this Brazil squad. _sads_ Ahhhh…no. ---
**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 6, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1435 "2018-07-06T20:05:30Z")
Belgium will have to forget this match as soon as possible and fully concentrate against Brazil. France is more athletic and more dangerous. I hope Tuesdays match is classic. ---
**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 6, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1436 "2018-07-06T20:09:18Z")
Belgium is fated to win. 😛 If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium > **[If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064471/)** > > If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium: Directed by Mel Stuart. With Ian McShane, Suzanne Pleshette, Vittorio De Sica, Murray Hamilton. The humorous adventures of a group of American tourists taking an 18-day guided bus tour of nine European... ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1437 "2018-07-06T20:32:58Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Congrats Belgium, Sitting back was a dangerous game to play but their defence was awesome. Fellaini was was a man-mountain…with an afro. > > France v Belgium will be very tasty (I hope) If Belgium wins it, I hope its Fellaini who scores the winning goal in the Final. The anguish of Man Utd fans will be felt world over and might even get aliens to drop by and have a look. ---
**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 6, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1438 "2018-07-06T20:37:07Z")
TEBOW Courtois ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1439 "2018-07-06T20:42:08Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Congrats Belgium, Sitting back was a dangerous game to play but their defence was awesome. Fellaini was was a man-mountain…with an afro. > > France v Belgium will be very tasty (I hope) A bit aside, Fellani made Neymar his bitch tonight. Have not seen a DM dominate a playmaker like this since Paul Walker on Zidane in the 1997 CL Final. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1440 "2018-07-06T20:49:45Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > If Belgium wins it, I hope its Fellaini who scores the winning goal in the Final. The anguish of Man Utd fans will be felt world over and might even get aliens to drop by and have a look. Well I have no doubt that England are a step down from Belgium and France so even if we got there I wouldn’t be too hopeful, but whatever happens on that side of the draw I’d be perfectly content with Belgium winning and Fellaini scoring. They play attractive and incisive football and I have a bit of soft spot for the big lad. Not a flash player but he gives hope for the limited footballers in all of us. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1441 "2018-07-06T20:53:42Z")
That was a very good game. One thought I had during the game was that Brazil play with a very high energy; Belgium rarely had time to just sit on the ball and think about what to do with it. Same opportunities existed for Belgium in the second half, but Brazil really got much better about shutting down the counter-attack (even, gasp, yes, fouling to stop it on occasion). Cynics will say that Brazil got punished for not diving and crying and all that. I don’t recall any free kicks for Brazil from in front of goal; surely that reflects the fact that Brazil in that area simply pressed for the goal instead of luring Belgium into a cheap foul/opportunity to dive. Good job by the referee, btw. Very professional, competent, and everything that Geiger wasn’t the other day. 😕 N’golo Kante matched up against Marouane Fellaini. That’s gonna be FUN!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=73)