The World Cup Thread

[Saint Garrett]

Don’t think it’s poasible for us to play Germany in the semis!

 

Think we would end up playing them in the Quarters...or Brazil if we win the group...

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-44354369

 

Interesting story on the Beeb website about Mouez Hassen, our former loan goalkeeper under Puel, who is in the Tunisian World Cup squad. I was going to post this in tbe defectors thread but then I figured a loanee who returns to his parent side is more an escapee...

[LGTL]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental

[benjii]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental

 

I think he's a little over-rated, although it is surprising he's not in their squad.

 

Goetze, scorer of the winning goal in the last World Cup Final wasn't in the initial party either.

[SNSUN]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental

 

Shocker, and I very nearly put him in my Fantasy Football team! Surely one of the better players, or players that have had an exceptional season, to miss a World Cup not through injury? Gazza/Tiss '98? There must be others...

[bazza]

England have a decent chance of reaching the quarter finals. However their record of winning knockout games in recent tournaments is appalling.

[qwertyell]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental [emoji38]

You could say inSane...

 

He's not played very well for the national team yet. Unlike England, they have options and can afford to be choosy rather than just picking someone because they're on the staff of a big club.

 

Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

[Saint Pete]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental [emoji38]

Amazed he's been left out, but does put into perspective the huge gap between the likes of Germany and us that they can even consider not picking someone as good as Sane!

 

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Sane not picked by Germany! Mental

 

Great for Man City, never shown any form in an International Shirt. Remind you of anyone else?

[angelman]

England have a decent chance of reaching the quarter finals. However their record of winning knockout games in recent tournaments is appalling.

 

Really? I think we are a dreadfully poor side. Maybe that is a little harsh, borne out of the utterly tedious football served up by the national team both now and for the past 15-20 years. I would love to be proved wrong, but.....

[Saint Garrett]

Great for Man City, never shown any form in an International Shirt. Remind you of anyone else?

 

The England side?

[Matthew Le God]

England have a decent chance of reaching the quarter finals. However their record of winning knockout games in recent tournaments is appalling.

 

Really? I think we are a dreadfully poor side.

 

To reach the quarter finals requires being in the top 2 of a group with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia and then a last 16 match vs one from Poland, Senegal, Colombia & Japan. We are not so dreadfully poor that those set of results are unlikely.

[Saint Garrett]

Should end up something like...

 

 

You can have a play around on here...https://bracketchallenge.fifa.com/bracket/prediction

[derry]

I must admit this is the first World Cup or European Championships that I have been totally disinterested in. I do think that they are being held in the wrong country and I have the view that like the next one in 2022 they were bought and paid for rather than competed for. I really don't care who wins as long as it isn't Russia, Germany, France or Spain. I will say it would be nice to see Belgium play to the level that their players reach for their clubs which hasn't happened up to now.

[Cabrone]

Last time around we had this.

 

This time round his head might just blow off.

 

[Baird of the land]

I must admit this is the first World Cup or European Championships that I have been totally disinterested in. I do think that they are being held in the wrong country and I have the view that like the next one in 2022 they were bought and paid for rather than competed for. I really don't care who wins as long as it isn't Russia, Germany, France or Spain. I will say it would be nice to see Belgium play to the level that their players reach for their clubs which hasn't happened up to now.

 

I personally don’t have an issue with Russia hosting it. They are a large country with a strong football base that hadn’t hosted it whereas Spain had relatively recently, as had England somewhat less recently who had also relatively recently hosted the euros. All of Portugal/Netherlands and Belgium had relatively recently hosted euros.

 

Qatar, no history of ever even qualifying for wc, no stadiums, reports how dangerous the heat would be so that now they are going to rip up the football calendar to make it work. Yeah i’m Not going to be enthusiastic about that one.

[Batman]

Why is the narrative generally within the media that Sterling must start?

 

After him, it is mentioned rashford should come in.

 

Vardy is the man IMO

[Baird of the land]

Why is the narrative generally within the media that Sterling must start?

 

After him, it is mentioned rashford should come in.

 

Vardy is the man IMO

 

Well on paper at least a guy who plays regularly for title winning city is the obvious choice in a rather average England set up.

Really don’t see vardy as the man as he has excelled through the middle as an out an out striker & unless Kane gets injured he’s not likely to start up top.

[Pamplemousse]

Here's a quiz question for everyone:

 

Who can name the three England players from previous World Cup squads who were born in Southampton? And another four who were born elsewhere in Hampshire?

[Colinjb]

Here's a quiz question for everyone:

 

Who can name the three England players from previous World Cup squads who were born in Southampton? And another four who were born elsewhere in Hampshire?

 

Wayne Bridge (Southampton)

Darren Anderton (Southampton)

 

Terry Paine (Winchester)

 

Can anyone continue?

[Lets B Avenue]

Jimmy Dickinson played in the 1950 World Cup.

[aintforever]

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

[Lets B Avenue]

Steve Foster and his fecking headband.

[Pamplemousse]

You've got 6 of the 7.

 

The other is Peter Sillett, who was in the 1958 squad but didn't play. He started his career at Saints but was playing for Chelsea at the time.

[SuperSAINT]

Nice article on Morocco in the NY Times.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/sports/world-cup-morocco.html

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Last time around we had this.

 

This time round his head might just blow off.

 

 

Haha. Hadn't seen this before. This is exactly how I feel about the England team. Comes from decades of under-performing when it matters, with the exclusion of Le Tissier the pinnacle of yellow-bellied-chicken, safety first turgidity.

[dellboypete]

I reckon Mexico has some potential this year.

.......

 

Ha ha!! They certainly appear to be good at scoring!!

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2779731-report-mexico-squad-hosts-around-30-prostitutes-at-pre-world-cup-party?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=world-football

[van Hanegem]

Nice article on Morocco in the NY Times.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/05/sports/world-cup-morocco.html

 

Nice to see that the NY Times pays attention to Morocco but they should have also mentioned that the Dutch Moroccans - except for Ziyech - wouldn't be selected for the Dutch national team at this moment as they are not good enough. Of course Ziyech would have been more than welcome right now because of his passing abilities but he chose for Morocco because he didn't hear anything from the Dutch staff untill it was too late. Dutch coaches like Marco van Basten and Danny Blind didn't like his attitude and were not keen at all to make him feel special and welcome. It's a shame that Oranje misses out on his talent but Ziyech is indeed a liability when it comes to teambuilding. At each Dutch club (Heerenveen, Twente and Ajax) there are many supporters who don't like him either and wanted him to leave their club. If you think Boufal is a bit of a nuisance, you're in for a treat with Hakim... Well, that won't happen anyway.

 

However, I do hope for the Dutch Moroccans players that they rise to the occasion and make their countrymen proud. With Iran, Spain and Portugal as opponents it will be difficult to reach the next round but who knows...

Edited 7 June, 2018 by van Hanegem

[Saint Garrett]

Is the WC going to be on UHD?

[igsey]

Is the WC going to be on UHD?

 

BBC are streaming their matches in 4K :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44308154

[Batman]

I reckon this is another WC for Brazil.

[dellboypete]

Glad to see Mr Lovren hasn't lost his touch at unsettling his team!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/07/how-luka-modric-and-dejan-lovren-got-caught-up-in-croatian-corruption-world-cup-football

[dellboypete]

BBC are streaming their matches in 4K :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44308154

 

I've been watching the Paris open tennis in 4k on eurosport and its been quite impressive. As was the champions league final. Really looking forward to the WC but the BBC article says there will still limited access on a first come first served basis.

[Lets B Avenue]

WTF is Nivea Boy doing dressed like a substitute at Elland Road tonight?

 

Is he there as Henderson's shower buddy?

[simo]

Sounds like a great atmosphere at Elland rd already , Hope they do sell Wembley and go on the road again !

[Saint_clark]

Sounds like a great atmosphere at Elland rd already , Hope they do sell Wembley and go on the road again !

Absolutely.

 

Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk

[Batman]

That is why sterling should not be starting.

[Batman]

16 mins in and hoddle is lining up Rose for MoM already

[Batman]

Absolutely.

 

Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk

 

My starting line up for the first game...:

 

Pickford

 

Walker

Stones

Maguire

 

Trippier

Rose

 

Loftus-cheek

Henderson

Alli

 

Rashford

Kane

[davefoggy]

Sell Wembley and knock it down

[Batman]

Sell Wembley and knock it down

 

And ban the band

[Pamplemousse]

And ban the band

 

They really do ruin the atmosphere at every game. Thankfully FIFA have banned them from playing in Russia.

[John Boy Saint]

When the second half started Clive Tyldesley was banging on about Elland Road, then Spoke about the statue of Billy Bremner, I could have sworn the next bit of guff that fell out of his mouth was “he was a player who would deliver England a trophy”!!!!!!

Hang on Bremner was Scottish, he would more likely take great pleasure in denying England that chance.

[eelpie]

Why is the narrative generally within the media that Sterling must start?

 

After him, it is mentioned rashford should come in.

 

Vardy is the man IMO

 

Rashford for me in preference to Sterling after the two warm-up games. He is sharper and penetrates defences better. Sterling is underperforming.

[Saint Garrett]

Would go...

 

--------------------Butland

-----------Walker-Stones-Maguire----------

Tripper--------------------------------Rose

----Loftus-Cheek---Dier---Henderson-----

--------------Sterling---Kane---------------

[SNSUN]

------------------------Pickford------------------------

--------------Walker---Stones----Cahill--------------

Trippier-------------------------------------------Rose

-------------------------Dier---------------------------

---------Sterling--------Alli---------Rashford---------

-------------------------Kane--------------------------

 

For me as the starting line up, though I suspect it'll be Sterling OR Rashford with Lindgard getting a midfield spot. (Similar to the line up against Nigeria but with Rose, who looked impressive yesterday, in place of Young.

[Charlie Wayman]

------------------------Pickford------------------------

--------------Walker---Stones----Cahill--------------

Trippier-------------------------------------------Rose

-------------------------Dier---------------------------

---------Sterling--------Alli---------Rashford---------

-------------------------Kane--------------------------

 

For me as the starting line up, though I suspect it'll be Sterling OR Rashford with Lindgard getting a midfield spot. (Similar to the line up against Nigeria but with Rose, who looked impressive yesterday, in place of Young.

 

Yep! Agree, this is our best side.

[striker]

------------------------Pickford------------------------

--------------Walker---Stones----Cahill--------------

Trippier-------------------------------------------Rose

-------------------------Dier---------------------------

---------Sterling--------Alli---------Rashford---------

-------------------------Kane--------------------------

 

For me as the starting line up, though I suspect it'll be Sterling OR Rashford with Lindgard getting a midfield spot. (Similar to the line up against Nigeria but with Rose, who looked impressive yesterday, in place of Young.

 

Same for me please

[Saint Garrett]

1 in midfield? Not sure that'll work in the further stages...we'd get completely overrun, Dier isn't good enough to play there on his own IMO.

[LGTL]

------------------------Pickford------------------------

--------------Walker---Stones----Cahill--------------

Trippier-------------------------------------------Rose

-------------------------Dier---------------------------

---------Sterling--------Alli---------Rashford---------

-------------------------Kane--------------------------

 

For me as the starting line up, though I suspect it'll be Sterling OR Rashford with Lindgard getting a midfield spot. (Similar to the line up against Nigeria but with Rose, who looked impressive yesterday, in place of Young.

 

Great on paper but we’d get tonked playing 1 in midfield. We’d literally never have the bank. Henderson is a ***** but he’s nailed on to start.