# 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:** 84
**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 10, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1662 "2018-07-10T13:57:31Z")
Justin Timberlake throws his support behind England [https://mobile.twitter.com/i/events/1016583713755258880](https://mobile.twitter.com/i/events/1016583713755258880) ---
**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 10, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1663 "2018-07-10T14:04:02Z")
Wenger puts Wilshire on the same plane as Messi and Mbappe :o Jack Wilshere is like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe - Arsene Wenger [Jack Wilshere is like Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappe - Arsene Wenger](http://www.espnfc.com/arsenal/story/3561402/jack-wilshere-is-like-lionel-messi-kylian-mbappe-arsene-wenger) via @ESPN App [http://es.pn/app](http://es.pn/app) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1664 "2018-07-10T14:32:16Z")
I was all ready for some breakfast soccer and then I checked the schedule. Lunch soccer just isn’t the same. ---
**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 10, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1665 "2018-07-10T15:35:43Z")
BBC confirms CR7 to Juventus > **[Ronaldo completes Juventus move](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785173)** > > Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo joins Italian champions Juventus for 112m euros (£99.2m) on a four-year deal. ---
**Author:** ![Knight\_Of\_Few\_Words](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@Knight\_Of\_Few\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knight_Of_Few_Words)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1666 "2018-07-10T16:01:57Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I think the other thing JJ doesn’t appreciate is that Brazil is pretty much universally loved in Europe - they avoid all the petty inter-country rivalries which dog most European teams - Germany, France, England, Spain, Portugal etc all have other European countries who hate their guts. Brazil doesn’t carry that weight of wider history, so to suggest this Euro-slanted board is some how ganging up on them is pretty laughable as a concept. Yes, when I was growing up Brazil were very much the team on the pedestal. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1667 "2018-07-10T17:23:04Z")
> [@Knight\_Of\_Few\_Words](#): > > Yes, when I was growing up Brazil were very much the team on the pedestal. I thought European teams would never bridge the gap, the Brazilian technical skills were just that much superior. Wrong again, Red Wiggler. The Euros figured out new tactics and caught up. ---
**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 10, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1668 "2018-07-10T17:38:41Z")
This is the brilliant Brazil [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj_lVQgilAI) Wish I could find the whole match ---
**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 10, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1669 "2018-07-10T17:51:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > BBC confirms CR7 to Juventus > > [Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus sign Real Madrid forward for £99.2m - BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785173) £99 mil seems like a bargain…even though he is 33. He’ll make so much more for Juventus. The moronic hubris in Madrid to think they will be as good or better without him. > **[Ronaldo completes Juventus move](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785173)** > > Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo joins Italian champions Juventus for 112m euros (£99.2m) on a four-year deal. ---
**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 10, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1670 "2018-07-10T17:59:46Z")
They finally put de Bruyne on the wing were he belongs. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1671 "2018-07-10T18:06:10Z")
Am I dreaming or is Fellani…leading the line. ETA: That corner sucked. ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1672 "2018-07-10T18:10:02Z")
> [@Knight\_Of\_Few\_Words](#): > > Yes, when I was growing up Brazil were very much the team on the pedestal. And no matter what the state of the current Brazil team, [This goal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HbmeNKino) represents everything wonderful about Brazilian football. Even in Europe you can guarantee that this will always top a poll of “best ever world cup goals” ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1673 "2018-07-10T18:12:43Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Am I dreaming or is Fellani…leading the line. He has been played up front before…not particularly successfully of course. Some nice stuff early doors from the waffle-munchers (for this game I will be mostly speaking in cliches and lazy national stereotypes) ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1674 "2018-07-10T18:14:39Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > And no matter what the state of the current Brazil team, > > [This goal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HbmeNKino) > > represents everything wonderful about Brazilian football. Even in Europe you can guarantee that this will always top a poll of “best ever world cup goals” Archie Gemmill begs to differ :mad: ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1675 "2018-07-10T18:18:36Z")
If I was suddenly made a Russian billionaire and could buy any team the first player I would buy is de Bruyne. I think he is currently the best player 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:** [July 10, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1676 "2018-07-10T18:20:19Z")
I think we can safely say that neither of these teams came to park the bus ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1677 "2018-07-10T18:20:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > He has been played up front before…not particularly successfully of course. He was Van Gaal’s first choice striker for a while. Big target man. But, that was when the cupboard was very bare. They have Lukaku! > [@](#): > > Some nice stuff early doors from the waffle-munchers (for this game I will be mostly speaking in cliches and lazy national stereotypes) Typical Pom.😃 ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1678 "2018-07-10T18:21:37Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Archie Gemmill begs to differ :mad: let it go Baron, let it go. ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1679 "2018-07-10T18:30:11Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > let it go Baron, let it go. “_Forty years of hurt…_” ---
**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 10, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1680 "2018-07-10T18:34:43Z")
Hazard to Real perhaps? You can imagine the other Spanish defenders thinking “at last, Real won’t have Ronaldo running at us full tilt every week” (looks at transfer news)"…awwwwww, shit" ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1681 "2018-07-10T18:37:26Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > BBC confirms CR7 to Juventus > > [Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus sign Real Madrid forward for £99.2m - BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785173) > [@madsircool](#): > > £99 mil seems like a bargain…even though he is 33. He’ll make so much more for Juventus. The moronic hubris in Madrid to think they will be as good or better without him. > > [Cristiano Ronaldo: Juventus sign Real Madrid forward for £99.2m - BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44785173) Any chance someone could put this into context for a stupid American who can’t really follow Euro soccer very easily? Is the Italian league comparable to the Premier? What does Ronaldo gain by moving? Why would Real dump their best player? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=83) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=85)