# 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:** 98
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1943 "2018-07-14T23:49:51Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > This. PK shootouts demand the basic footballing skills, to net the ball and to prevent it. There’s just no better way to untie a draw, or would you want to go back to a rescheduled decisive game (unthinkable with today’s schedules) or a coin throw, like in old times? I’d prefer: Golden goal – why suffer through PKs if both teams score in overtime. Though you still need a tiebreaker of course. Alternating corner kicks. Once defense clears it out of the penalty area (or perhaps some other area), it ends. The whole team is involved so it’s more like the game itself. The old version of MSL penalty kicks which started farther away. Kicker could dribble in. Goalie could rush the kicker. Again it seems more like the game itself. ---
**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 14, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1944 "2018-07-14T23:57:44Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I’d prefer: > > Golden goal – why suffer through PKs if both teams score in overtime. Though you still need a tiebreaker of course. > > Alternating corner kicks. Once defense clears it out of the penalty area (or perhaps some other area), it ends. The whole team is involved so it’s more like the game itself. > > The old version of MSL penalty kicks which started farther away. Kicker could dribble in. Goalie could rush the kicker. Again it seems more like the game itself. I agree with Golden Goals. My issue with successive corners is the chance of bumping heads and concussions. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1945 "2018-07-15T01:09:36Z")
For any of you in southern California Manchester United starts training at UCLA Monday. > **[Manchester United handed early summer boost](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-summer-ucla-mourinho-14277649)** > > Man Utd are set to return to Jose Mourinho's favourite pre-season training base at the UCLA for the second consecutive summer. They have pic and autograph sessions For the little kiddies and the bigger ones. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1946 "2018-07-15T02:08:18Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I agree with Golden Goals. My issue with successive corners is the chance of bumping heads and concussions. We had Golden Goals. The idea was rightfully shelved within less than ten years of having started. Two UEFA European Championships winners won their finals on a Golden Goal (Germany in 1996, scored by Oliver Bierhoff against the Czechs, and France in 2000, scored by David Trezeguet against the Italians). One match at the 1998 World Cup was decided by Golden Goal; three were decided by Golden Goal at the 2002 World Cup. A slightly revised version, called the Silver Goal, debuted shortly after the 2002 World Cup. In this version, a goal scored in the first half of Extra Time didn’t end the game immediately; the game ended at the interval between Extra Time halves if one team was leading. The Silver Goal decided the semi-final in the 2004 European Championship between Greece and the Czechs. It was scored in stoppage time on a corner kick. This highlighted the apparent unfairness of the concept: had the goal occurred at the start of play in the second half of Extra Time, the Czechs would have had all 15 min. thereafter to reply. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1947 "2018-07-15T03:08:00Z")
I am not a tweeter – has Cleese gone eerily quiet? ---
**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 15, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1948 "2018-07-15T05:04:12Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not a tweeter – has Cleese gone eerily quiet? Ill check…brb. ---
**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 15, 2018, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1949 "2018-07-15T05:10:16Z")
Just this posted after the Brazil v Belgium match. > > [@](#): > > Well done Belgium !! Many congratulations to the lazy, fat bastards on taming the silky Brazilian minnows !! Kudos, especially after being outplayed for 65 minutes by the tiny, sushi-guzzling, bandy-legged Nipponfolk > > 5:37 AM · Jul 7, 2018 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1950 "2018-07-15T06:15:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > For any of you in southern California Manchester United starts training at UCLA Monday. > > [Manchester United handed early summer boost - Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-summer-ucla-mourinho-14277649) > They have pic and autograph sessions For the little kiddies and the bigger ones. 😉 Why is Pogba missing Jose? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1951 "2018-07-15T06:26:30Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > We had Golden Goals. The idea was rightfully shelved within less than ten years of having started. Two UEFA European Championships winners won their finals on a Golden Goal (Germany in 1996, scored by Oliver Bierhoff against the Czechs, and France in 2000, scored by David Trezeguet against the Italians). One match at the 1998 World Cup was decided by Golden Goal; three were decided by Golden Goal at the 2002 World Cup. And a UEFA Cup final. The cynic in me thinks it was shelved since European teams lost on Golden Goals to non-European teams at the 2002 WC. Interestingly the two WC Finals during the Golden Goal Era ended in normal time. The 3 since went to PK in 2006 and ET in 2010 and 2014. In each of the later if Golden Goal had been in force, the winner would have remained the same. > [@](#): > > A slightly revised version, called the Silver Goal, debuted shortly after the 2002 World Cup. In this version, a goal scored in the first half of Extra Time didn’t end the game immediately; the game ended at the interval between Extra Time halves if one team was leading. The Silver Goal decided the semi-final in the 2004 European Championship between Greece and the Czechs. It was scored in stoppage time on a corner kick. This highlighted the apparent unfairness of the concept: had the goal occurred at the start of play in the second half of Extra Time, the Czechs would have had all 15 min. thereafter to reply. Yeah that was ridiculous. But we don’t need it for all games do we? Do you really want tonights WC Final to be decided on penalties? I think not. I am happy for the current rules to continue, except the final has no PK. Instead a 30 minute normal ET. If still level then limitless Golden Goal open play. Its the one match where broadcasters won’t mind, instead they’d be happy. ---
**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 15, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1952 "2018-07-15T06:42:52Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > And a UEFA Cup final. > The cynic in me thinks it was shelved since European teams lost on Golden Goals to non-European teams at the 2002 WC. > Interestingly the two WC Finals during the Golden Goal Era ended in normal time. The 3 since went to PK in 2006 and ET in 2010 and 2014. In each of the later if Golden Goal had been in force, the winner would have remained the same. > Yeah that was ridiculous. > But we don’t need it for all games do we? Do you really want tonights WC Final to be decided on penalties? I think not. > > I am happy for the current rules to continue, except the final has no PK. Instead a 30 minute normal ET. If still level then limitless Golden Goal open play. > Its the one match where broadcasters won’t mind, instead they’d be happy. See post 1941. I like your idea and it sounds good on paper but it depends on starting time and weather. The 1994 WC final started in the early afternoon in Pasadena. It was very hot. Players were cramping and Baresi could barely continue. If FIFA weren’t in it for Euro TV the match could have started at 6 and the Players would have been in shade. Is it really worth risking heat stroke and perhaps a life? Unless we stipulate after 120 minutes unlimited substitutions would be allowed in the interest on player health? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1953 "2018-07-15T07:19:18Z")
Todays game: France is the better side. But…the Croats are going to try and hog midfield possession. And the French will likely let them, like versus Belgium and hit on the counter. They have the players. Mbappe etc. The French need to ensure that Modric and Rakatic don’t start dictating the game (like they did against England) and that Mandzukic is cut off from his midfield (the one thing England did very well until ET at least(. If it goes to ET, I think Croatia will win, so France of course need to win it in regulation. Now that I have said that, no doubt the French win with a Giroud brace in ET. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1954 "2018-07-15T13:47:35Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I am happy for the current rules to continue, except the final has no PK. Instead a 30 minute normal ET. If still level then limitless Golden Goal open play. > Its the one match where broadcasters won’t mind, instead they’d be happy. I’m sorry, but no, you simply cannot do this. For one thing, depending on conditions, the teams can be pretty close to completely done at the end of extra time. All that would happen is that teams would refuse to take any chances, because the risk of being caught out at the back for the killing goal would be too great. And for another, soccer is one of the few sports (baseball is another) which insists that both teams have a preset time within which to accomplish the goal of winning. That character of the sport shouldn’t be discarded; that’s exactly why they gave up on the Golden Goal. There’s nothing wrong with deciding the Final by penalties if need be. It’s great theater. Just sucks to lose that way, but it sucks to lose a final no matter how it happens. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1955 "2018-07-15T13:49:10Z")
Back at the start of the knockouts, I predicted that France would beat Croatia in the Final. I’m sticking with that prediction. But it won’t be an easy win, I don’t think. Croatia are playing well. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1956 "2018-07-15T14:13:32Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I’m sorry, but no, you simply cannot do this. For one thing, depending on conditions, the teams can be pretty close to completely done at the end of extra time. All that would happen is that teams would refuse to take any chances, because the risk of being caught out at the back for the killing goal would be too great. And for another, soccer is one of the few sports (baseball is another) which insists that both teams have a preset time within which to accomplish the goal of winning. That character of the sport shouldn’t be discarded; that’s exactly why they gave up on the Golden Goal. > > There’s nothing wrong with deciding the Final by penalties if need be. It’s great theater. Just sucks to lose that way, but it sucks to lose a final no matter how it happens. Which is why I said only the final should have such rules. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1957 "2018-07-15T14:15:57Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > My semifinalists: > > Croatia v England > > Uruguay v Belgium > > Mexico could be the dark horse in the top half of the bracket if they can play with the intensity they showed against Germany. They won’t play scared. > > Sweden in the bottom half because of their size and defense. 4 of their last 5 competitive matches have been clean sheets: ITA ITA SK and MEX. 3 out of 4 ain’t bad. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1958 "2018-07-15T14:21:51Z")
In the Telemundo poll 60% are picking Croatia to win fwiw. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1959 "2018-07-15T14:36:26Z")
Closing ceremony is interesting. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1960 "2018-07-15T14:42:28Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Closing ceremony is interesting. I liked it too. Ill have the Russia never sleeps earworm in my head for awhile. Nice to see Will Smith there too. ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1961 "2018-07-15T14:48:58Z")
Most appearances always advancing to the next round: Ireland 3 Most appearances never advancing to the next round: Scotland 8 😛 ---
**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 15, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615/1962 "2018-07-15T14:57:46Z")
Does anyone think that Luca Modric has a chance at the Ballon D’or if Croatia wins today and he has a great game? A backbone of 3 straight CL’s and a World Cup. Anyway, you have to go all the way to Post 6 to see why I want France today. While I’m sure a few of you will disagree, I invested in the 2 best sides in the tournament, although Croatia and Belgium also make good arguments. Just didn’t work out for Brazil. In any case, my financial interest in France is secondary to wanting a great game. And I really wouldn’t mind seeing either side win in a fast-paced attacking style game. These prestigious Finals, whether World Cup, Champions League, Copa America, Euro, etc. tend to be boring affairs due to the resources applied to defending. (Wishful)Prediction: Croatia score an early goal on a Modric direct free kick. And France evens up before the half on a Varane header off a corner. A bit of early 2nd half magic from Mbappe gives France the early lead, which they hold until the very end, when Griezmann gets his goal in Garbage time. France 3 Croatia 1 ETA: Kante wins Golden Ball [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=97) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-cup-2018/815615.md?page=99)