2018 World Cup Build Up Thread

paulie21

Draw taking place at 3pm today live on RTE, BBC and Sky Sports News.

Mr.Nice Guy

Looking forward to this despite feeling like an envious, disgruntled ex perusing Facebook.

Here are the pots for the draw:

Pot 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France.

Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.

Pot 3: Denmark (:(), Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran.

Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia.

Apparently Match of the Day's own Gary Lineker will be there to provide the top bantz as host of proceedings.

GavRedKing

Calling it now, England to get Poland, Iran and Panama.

Harry Palmr

The weather looks appalling.

keith_sixteen

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The weather looks appalling.

Yeah, those Russian winters are normally so mild.

GreNoLi

I wish it was a completely open draw.

Harry Palmr

keith_sixteen wrote: »

Yeah, those Russian winters are normally so mild.

It's only November. The real winter only kicks in after Christmas.

Mr.Nice Guy

Russia get Uruguay.

Portugal get Spain. Tasty.

France get Peru. They'll love that.

Argentina face Croatia.

Brazil play Switzerland.

Germany play Mexico.

Belgium get England.

And so Poland will play Colombia.

Harry Palmr

Group G

Belgium
England
Tunisia
Panama

Mr.Nice Guy

Egypt in with Russia and Uruguay.

Denmark in with France and Peru.

Iran join Portugal and Spain. Carlos Queiroz facing his home nation.

Iceland alongside Argentina and Croatia.

Costa Rica with Brazil and Switzerland.

Sweden join Germany and Mexico.

Tunisia join Belgium and England. The first game for England will be Tunisia.

Senegal join Poland and Colombia.

dfx-

some decent groups there

Mr.Nice Guy

Final groups...

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. First 2018 World Cup game will be Russia vs Saudi Arabia. What a match.

Group B: Portugual, Spain, Morocco, Iran.

Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark.

Group Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria.

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea.

Group G: Belgium, England, Panama, Tunisia. Handy draw for the English.

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan.

ArmaniJeanss

GreNoLi wrote: »

I wish it was a completely open draw.

Qualifying for the world cup just to end up playing 3 teams in your own confederation wouldn't be a whole lot of fun. An open draw could end up with 4 African teams in the one group.

I was quite disappointed when we ended up with England and Holland in 1990, it was kind of samey-samey really.

Harry Palmr

No genuine Group of Death though F is tricky enough.

callaway92

Lack of USA and Italy really shows

Father Hernandez

No outstanding group of death which is disappointing.

Saudi & Russia is a poor enough opening too.

Hypothetically speaking, we'd have got France, Australia, Peru. Could have been interesting

paulie21

No really exciting groups. B will be tough with neighbours Portugal and Spain actually think Morocco is only seperarted from them by a bit of sea

Kerrydude1981

The Merse and Co will be happy with that group

GavRedKing

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Final groups...

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay.

Group B: Portugual, Spain, Morocco, Iran.

Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark.

Group Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria.

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea.

Group G: Belgium, England, Panama, Tunisia.

Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan.

Thats who I reckon will get through the groups.

Rikand

D, F and H the groups where any of the 4 could make it out

GavRedKing

While theres no group of death, I reckon Group D is the most evenly matched.

Argentina have been s**t for a while now and the other 3 teams arent vastly different in ability.

So for me, Group D is probably the most difficult to get out of.

JPA

Nothing standing out there apart from Spain-Portugal.

Poor stuff.

Mr.Nice Guy

I agree there's no obvious Group of Death. Group H looks like one that could go right to the wire. Poland and Colombia would be favourites to progress but Senegal and Japan could be interesting wildcards. Hard to know how good they will be as their qualification campaigns were far less challenging than what Poland and Colombia had to go through.

Portugal vs Spain looks like the most exciting group game.

Rekop dog

Group B definitely the group of death. Spain and Portugal speak for themselves, Morocco finished above Ivory's in their qualifying group, Iran were miles the best in Asian qualifying.

dd972

The EPL's star studded line up have been drawn in their group against...England.

2ndcoming

Russia could hardly have got an easier draw but I actually think it's not enough. They have been putrid now for years and Egypt have good recent tournament experience , expect them and Uruguay to do them.

Nerdlingr

Its started already...

Chris Waddle on the BBC :" If England finish second you probably get Poland - if we got Poland, no disrespect to them, we could beat them quite easily on our day."

Skylinehead

Group D is the most interesting to me.

Rekop dog

Uruguay definitely the the dark horses. Almost as easy a group as they could have imagined so should enter the knockout stages without having exerted themselves too much.

Jimbob1977

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Its started already...

Chris Waddle on the BBC :" If England finish second you probably get Poland - if we got Poland, no disrespect to them, we could beat them quite easily on our day."

That statement should be pinned to the wall of the Polish dressing room if they meet in the 2nd round

citytillidie

World Cup 2018
Fixtures
14th June
Group A
Russia V Saudi Arabia 4pm

15th June
Group A
Egypt V Uruguay 1pm

Group B
Morocco V Iran 4pm
Portugal V Spain 7pm

16th June
Group C
France V Australia 11am
Peru V Denmark 5pm

Group D
Argentina V Iceland 2pm
Croatia V Nigeria 7pm

17th June
Group E
Costa Rica V Serbia 2pm
Brazil V Switzerland 7pm

Group F
Germany V Mexico 4pm

18th June
Group F
Sweden V South Korea 1pm

Group G
Belgium V Panama 4pm
Tunisia V England 7pm

19th June
Group H
Poland V Senegal 1pm
Colombia V Japan 4pm

Group A
Russia V Egypt 7pm

20th June
Group A
Uruguay V Saudi Arabia 4pm

Group B
Portugal V Morocco 1pm
Iran V Spain 7pm

21st June
Group C
France V Peru 1pm
Denmark V Australia 4pm

Group D
Argentina V Croatia 7pm

22nd June
Group D
Nigeria V Iceland 4pm

Group E
Brazil V Costa Rica 1pm
Serbia V Switzerland 7pm

23rd June
Group F
Germany V Sweden 4pm
South Korea V Mexico 7pm

Group G
Belgium V Tunisia 1pm

24th June
Group G
England V Panama 1pm

Group H
Japan V Senegal 4pm
Poland V Colombia 7pm

25th June
Group A
Uruguay V Russia 3pm
Saudi Arabia V Egypt 3pm

Group B
Iran V Portugal 7pm
Spain V Morocco 7pm

26th June
Group C
Denmark V France 3pm
Australia V Peru 3pm

Group D
Nigeria V Argentina 7pm
Iceland V Croatia 7pm

27th June
Group E
Serbia V Brazil 7pm
Switzerland V Costa Rica 7pm

Group F
South Korea V Germany 3pm
Mexico V Sweden 3pm

28th June
Group G
England V Belgium 7pm
Panama V Tunisia 7pm

Group H
Japan V Poland 3pm
Senegal V Colombia 3pm

2nd Round
30th June
M1 - 1st C V 2nd D - 3pm
M2 - 1st A V 2nd B - 7pm

1st July
M3 - 1st B V 2nd A - 3pm
M4 - 1st D V 2nd C - 7pm

2nd July
M5 - 1st E V 2nd F - 3pm
M6 - 1st G V 2nd H - 7pm

3rd July
M7 - 1st F V 2nd E - 3pm
M8 - 1st H V 2nd G - 7pm

Quarter-Finals
6th July
QF 1 - Winner M2 V Winner M1 - 3pm
QF 2 - Winner M5 V Winner M6 - 7pm

7th July
QF 3 - Winner M7 V Winner M8 - 3pm
QF 4 - Winner M3 V Winner M4 - 7pm

Semi-Finals
10th July
SF 1 - Winner QF 1 V Winner QF 2 - 7pm

11th July
SF 2 - Winner QF 3 V Winner QF 4 - 7pm

Third Place play-off
14th July
Loser SF 1 V Loser SF 2 - 3pm

Final
15th July
Winner SF 1 V Winner SF 2 - 4pm

citytillidie

It is official VAR will be used at the World Cup

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/974739162225135617

Harry Palmr

Oh god "we'll find out that VAR decision after the break"

Say Your Number

This will probably be the last World Cup I'll pay proper attention to, once this one is over, it's just going to be a complete farce.

eagle eye

This is the first World Cup in my life that I'll have to work during. I'll still catch most of the games but I've been lucky enough to have watched a hell of a lot of games since the first one I clearly remember in Argentina 1978.

The group stages of the last one were the best group stages I can remember. I hope this one can come close to that in the group stages.

Latter stages of the last World Cup was not so good and I've a feeling that this one could be similar.

I'm not sure about the VAR at all but we can make our mind up for certain after this one.

I'm going to miss the next one on purpose because it's a disgrace that Qatar got it and I don't think it should be played there. I really do hope that a lot of players make a stance and boycott it.

My pick for this one is a bit left field. I'm going for Belgium who have impressed me greatly since Martinez took over.

Agent Coulson

The whole England squad is getting tested for asthma.

Suddenly all England players will have asthma and get "Exemptions" for certain meds.


Team Sky influance now moving into the England football squad is it.

mickmackey1

Ramos wins his 150th cap for Spain tomorrow v Germany, aged 31. Pretty incredible.

The Floyd p

sugarman wrote: »

It is and it isnt. Its a great feat for anyone to be no.1 choice for 12 years

That's really the only relevant part, he shouldn't be penalised for being successful.

irishman86

The Floyd p wrote: »

That's really the only relevant part, he shouldn't be penalised for being successful.

I was thinking the same, is this guy taking away points for winning

mickmackey1

sugarman wrote: »

It is and it isnt. Its a great feat for anyone to be no.1 choice for 12 years odd alright, but he plays for Spain who have qualified for every major tournament in his time often reaching the later parts / if not winning them outright.

So for the 3 competitions they won in 2008, 2010 and 2012 he would have played 15+ games a year, same for 2009 and 2013 when they'd the confederations cup.

Where as with teams like ourselves, we only average 7-8 games a year.

The more top games you play, the more likely you are to be injured.
The fact Spain won everything proves how difficult it was to get into their squad.
All in addition to reaching the latter stages of everything with Real.

It's an amazing achievement.

Mr.Nice Guy

Some exciting games today. Russia vs Brazil (which kicked off at 4), Argentina vs Italy, France vs Colombia, Netherlands vs England and Germany vs Spain. The latter two games are on ITV and BT Sport 3 tonight respectively from 7.45.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Some exciting games today. Russia vs Brazil (which kicked off at 4), Argentina vs Italy, France vs Colombia, Netherlands vs England and Germany vs Spain. The latter two games are on ITV and BT Sport 3 tonight respectively from 7.45.

Turkey - Ireland too

ArmaniJeanss

SteelyDanJalapeno wrote: »

Turkey - Ireland too

Hw was limiting his list to potentially exciting games.

SteelyDanJalapeno

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Hw was limiting his list to potentially exciting games.

:pac::pac::pac:

Mr.Nice Guy

Ha, I was thinking more along the lines of keeping an eye on this summer's tournament. We might learn something about the strengths of those teams based on how they fare this evening. Still can't decide as yet which team I'll go for to win the whole thing.

Mr.Nice Guy

Not a great sign for Australia's hopes. They've been beaten 4-1 by Norway of all teams. Brazil beat Russia 3-0.

Team news for Germany vs Spain:

Germany XI: ter Stergen; Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Draxler, Ozil, Muller; Werner.

Spain XI: De Gea; Carvajal, Pique, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Koke, Thiago, Iniesta; Isco, Rodrigo, Silva.

Mr.Nice Guy

1-0 to Spain. Rodrigo Moreno finishes after a nice ball from Iniesta.

Mr.Nice Guy

Muller with a great strike from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.

Somewhat against the run of play as Spain have been bossing it, particularly Iniesta.

Half-Time: 1-1 at the break. Spanish midfield has been lovely to watch at times. Iniesta and Isco playing some eye-catching combinations.

DubDani

Watching Germany play Spain in a friendly is more interesting then many WC/EC Semi's or Finals. Two class teams, and I am sure both will be having a good shot at winning the WC in Russia.

jester77

Some fantastic saves in this game so far, top goal keeping

mickmackey1

Ronaldo!! 80 not out.