# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/141 "2018-06-14T16:36:36Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I do not know who Robbie Williams is ☹ He was in a very successful 90s UK boyband called Take That, then had a very successful solo career about fifteen years ago. He’s also known to be an amateur UFO researcher. I was somewhat surprised to see him turn up in the Russian World Cup opener. > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I thought this would be easy to find, but what are the group stage tie-breakers; i.e., teams tied for either the top spot or 2nd spot in their group on points? I assume it would be head-to-head first? If there are 3 , then points gained in just the games amongst the 3 teams, followed by goal differential, followed by goals scored. > > Google keeps leading me to the qualifying tie-breakers. In 2014, it was points, then goal difference, then goals scored, then head to head records, according to [FIFA](https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/what-if-2378875). According to the Wikipedia article for the 2018 World Cup, it’s the same this time. Should teams still be level after head to head results, it goes to fair play points and then the drawing of lots. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/142 "2018-06-14T16:55:04Z")
5-0 to Russia. MBS looks sick. ---
**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 14, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/143 "2018-06-14T17:24:36Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Robbie Williams flips off the world during opening ceremony > > [Robbie Williams flips off camera at World Cup](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2018/06/14/robbie-williams-kicked-off-the-world-cup-by-flipping-the-bird-to-a-camera/111175342/) Robbie was always a prat, but at age 44 opening the world cup…what’s he doing? Not cool in any kind of rebellious way, just looked desperate for attention. ---
**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 14, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/144 "2018-06-14T19:23:18Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Robbie was always a prat, but at age 44 opening the world cup…what’s he doing? > Not cool in any kind of rebellious way, just looked desperate for attention. (deleted snark)…It occurs to me that Robbie actually has many self-admitted problems. So my snark about how nearly billionaire Robbie, hearth throb of millions of women is not ‘desperate for attention’…might not be accurate. but i do maintain he’s not flipping off the camera cause he’s a washed up asshole. ---
**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 14, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/145 "2018-06-14T19:25:04Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > It is possibly the worst 3-0 game I’ve seen in a long time. Luckily we’ll be treated to much more of this when the tournament is expanded. > > And just to be clear, SA have been appallingly bad and Russia have just been very poor. The last two goals were fantastic though. ---
**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 14, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/146 "2018-06-14T19:49:30Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > The last two goals were fantastic though. I agree, they were taken very nicely, easy on the eye indeed but it was still a 5-0 hammering of a dreadful team by a poor one. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/147 "2018-06-15T01:45:13Z")
Just read that Salah won’t be ready for Uruguay game. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/148 "2018-06-15T01:52:13Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Just read that Salah won’t be ready for Uruguay game. Wait…really? Have to change my prediction. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/149 "2018-06-15T01:58:01Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > (deleted snark)…It occurs to me that Robbie actually has many self-admitted problems. So my snark about how nearly billionaire Robbie, hearth throb of millions of women is not ‘desperate for attention’…might not be accurate. > > but i do maintain he’s not flipping off the camera cause he’s a washed up asshole. Well the snark would have been misplaced, because in fact I’m essentially saying the same thing. There’s no doubt he’s had a great career, and getting this gig is [del]the[/del] a cherry on top. Even though I’ve never been a fan, I was enjoying the show. Then he demonstrates that he still hasn’t grown up. He’s his own worst enemy. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/150 "2018-06-15T02:07:09Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Just read that Salah won’t be ready for Uruguay game. I can’t find a confirmation. All the sources I am seeing say he will play but they are 12+ hours old. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/151 "2018-06-15T02:22:38Z")
And I’ve heard he can play but won’t start, so who knows? ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/152 "2018-06-15T02:55:09Z")
Apologies, I was reading something old. No news on Salah. ---
**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 15, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/153 "2018-06-15T03:12:21Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > And I’ve heard he can play but won’t start, so who knows? I hope he sucks it up and starts. It makes the game so much more interesting. I feel like a little kid at Christmas. I can’t wait till tomorrow. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/154 "2018-06-15T03:51:44Z")
With 2026 being awarded to Canada, the US and Mexico, does that mean all three teams get an automatic pass into the tournament? ---
**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 15, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/155 "2018-06-15T04:20:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > With 2026 being awarded to Canada, the US and Mexico, does that mean all three teams get an automatic pass into the tournament? In not sure that we know yet. ---
**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 15, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/156 "2018-06-15T11:29:46Z")
Isn’t Ekaterinburg (city of the URU v Why match) the city where the Bolshiviks murdered the Tsars family? And Mondays England match is being played in the city that previously known as Stalingrad. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/157 "2018-06-15T11:54:07Z")
Ekaterinburg is East of Dubai and almost on the same longitude as the Pakistan coast. Wonder why no more matches are being played further East, none in Vladivostok or even Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city. The biggest FIFA cash cow is the Asian rights and those cities would be perfect as far as timings are concerned. ---
**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 15, 2018, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/158 "2018-06-15T11:59:52Z")
No Salah. This saddens me. ---
**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 15, 2018, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/159 "2018-06-15T12:01:14Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Ekaterinburg is East of Dubai and almost on the same longitude as the Pakistan coast. > Wonder why no more matches are being played further East, none in Vladivostok or even Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city. The biggest FIFA cash cow is the Asian rights and those cities would be perfect as far as timings are concerned. Honest answer is the teams having to make the trip to Vladivostok would whine like little bitches about travel. Otherwise I agree with you. ---
**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 15, 2018, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/160 "2018-06-15T12:03:13Z")
Having a world-class sporting event to watch at 5am my time is one reason I love the World Cup. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=9)