# 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:** 96
**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 12, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1903 "2018-07-12T14:59:55Z")
Monte finally out at Chelsea. What a clustereff it is over there. Horrible timing in this firing and a disastrous transfer history. ---
**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 12, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1904 "2018-07-12T17:57:29Z")
Croatian firefighters miss PKs against Russia because of fire šŸ˜• [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ1g1DaKaG8) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1905 "2018-07-12T21:11:14Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Also, rereading the pre Cup predictions, no one mentioned Croatia. They have demolished Argentina and had three consecutive come from behind wins. No they havenā€™t. ---
**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 12, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1906 "2018-07-12T21:33:05Z")
Denmark Russia England > [@Yookeroo](#): > > No they havenā€™t. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1907 "2018-07-12T21:43:46Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Denmark > Russia > England I think he may have been objecting to ā€œdemolished Argentinaā€. šŸ˜‰ ---
**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 12, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1908 "2018-07-12T21:59:53Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I think he may have been objecting to ā€œdemolished Argentinaā€. šŸ˜‰ 3-0 against a usual footie superpower seems like a demolition to me. šŸ™‚ [https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/argentina-vs-croatia-final-score-recap-messi-and-company-thrashed-in-danger-of-elimination/](https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/argentina-vs-croatia-final-score-recap-messi-and-company-thrashed-in-danger-of-elimination/) ---
**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 13, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1909 "2018-07-13T00:25:28Z")
I apologize if someone already posted this, but Iā€™ve avoided posting here until I could finally watch the semis on dvr. I had to miss both due to work issues. There needs to be a global law that all business shuts down during the World Cup (except for bars, pubs and restaurants, of course). But the Croatia World Cup song had to be the difference between them and England: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FgMi9xsY-Ew/maxresdefault.jpg "ZapreÅ”ić Boys - Igraj moja Hrvatska [Official Video]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgMi9xsY-Ew) I almost feel like I need to hedge my France bet, because how can a team with that as its song possibly lose? ---
**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 13, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1910 "2018-07-13T00:35:06Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > 3-0 against a usual footie superpower seems like a demolition to me. šŸ™‚ > > [https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/argentina-vs-croatia-final-score-recap-messi-and-company-thrashed-in-danger-of-elimination/](https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/argentina-vs-croatia-final-score-recap-messi-and-company-thrashed-in-danger-of-elimination/) Dude, sorry for that post from a few days ago. Sports discussions get me heated, and are a big weakness of mine. While you!re wrong, that was uncalled for. ---
**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 13, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1911 "2018-07-13T00:45:17Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Dude, sorry for that post from a few days ago. Sports discussions get me heated, and are a big weakness of mine. While you!re wrong, that was uncalled for. Thank you. Iā€™m just like you. Its all good, even though what you said was bad. šŸ˜‰ Iā€™m Seriously their is no one current dominant force (by this I mean an international footie team with a track record like the Golden State Warriors). Ironically, were it Argentina playing Sunday perhaps they could make an argument with 3 straight second place finished in the last three major tourneys. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1912 "2018-07-13T22:01:32Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Denmark > Russia > England Russia and Denmark were draws. Croatia didnā€™t win. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1913 "2018-07-13T22:16:54Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Russia and Denmark were draws. Croatia didnā€™t win. You donā€™t understand the sport weā€™re talking about if you think so. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1914 "2018-07-13T22:29:01Z")
2022 dates announced. Nov 21 through Dec 18. Does it make since to reduce the number of days in the tournament? Its rough enough on the players as is. > **[FIFA confirms 2022 dates, but size undecided](https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3564870/fifa-confirms-2022-world-cup-dates-but-size-still-undecided)** > > The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played between Nov. 21 through December 18, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed on Friday. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1915 "2018-07-13T22:39:40Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > You donā€™t understand the sport weā€™re talking about if you think so. According to the Laws of the Game heā€™s technically correct if pedantic. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1916 "2018-07-13T22:42:02Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > 2022 dates announced. Nov 21 through Dec 18. Does it make since to reduce the number of days in the tournament? Its rough enough on the players as is. > > [FIFA confirms 2022 World Cup dates but size still undecided - ESPN](http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3564870/fifa-confirms-2022-world-cup-dates-but-size-still-undecided) I truly hope they donā€™t expand it to 48 participants. Heck, Iā€™m the first whose nature itā€™d be to indulge in watching even more matches, but enough is enough. Weā€™d get so much more boring and probably more third games in the group stage that could be ā€œarrangedā€. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1917 "2018-07-13T22:44:32Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > According to the Laws of the Game heā€™s technically correct if pedantic. I donā€™t see it. \*Statistically \*maybe, those games count as draws, but in any other definition the team that wins the shootout wins the game. ---
**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 13, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1918 "2018-07-13T22:58:40Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I donā€™t see it. \*Statistically \*maybe, those games count as draws, but in any other definition the team that wins the shootout wins the game. The team that wins the shootout _advances_. ---
**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 13, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1919 "2018-07-13T23:07:04Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The team that wins the shootout _advances_. Well, thatā€™s a question of semantics, and letā€™s not get full-fledged SDMB and quibble about semantics in a football thread :D. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1920 "2018-07-14T06:31:26Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > According to the Laws of the Game heā€™s technically correct if pedantic. I am sure the ā€˜94 Italian and ā€˜06 French teams would be delighted to hear that they did not lose the World Cup Final. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1921 "2018-07-14T06:41:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > 2022 dates announced. Nov 21 through Dec 18. Does it make since to reduce the number of days in the tournament? Its rough enough on the players as is. > > [FIFA confirms 2022 World Cup dates but size still undecided - ESPN](http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3564870/fifa-confirms-2022-world-cup-dates-but-size-still-undecided) Itā€™s a small Island. Not much by the way of traveling. Going to be interesting though. This time Lovren, Modric and Varane are going to play a World Cup Final after having played a CL Final the same year. Itā€™s very common for players to go all the way in a WC or a continental tournament right after a CL Final campaign. Ronaldo, Messi, Di Maria, Griezemann have done it recently. Then three weeks later the season starts again. The World Cup hangover is going to be real bad in 2022. ---
**Author:** ![dominic65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dominic65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dominic65)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1922 "2018-07-14T07:28:18Z")
Nice quip in the Fiver: is todayā€™s game between Belgium and England the first time two countries have played each other twice in a major tournament, with neither of them particularly caring whether they won either game? šŸ™‚ (Teams have played each other twice in tournaments before, e.g. during Euro 2004 when the opening game and the final both saw Greece beat hosts Portugal.) Meanwhile, tomorrowā€™s final will decide both the official world championship and the [unofficial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unofficial_Football_World_Championships) one, which is currently held by Croatia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=95) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=97)