[StrikeBack]

Love seeing the gap between the traditional powerhouses and the little teams closed more and more every World Cup.

[Labienus]

(06-17-2018 06:51 PM)John Silva Wrote:  

Funny... Of all of that teams 'Powerhouses'... Portugal has never been a World Champion, maybe this is it... Let's see...

With Ronaldo they definitely have a chance. They are an average team without him but with him you always have a chance.

[Pancho]

(06-17-2018 03:55 PM)mulatto Wrote:  

Mexico will win the tournament

[Dodgy]

Casual American soccer fan here, but wondering why England is not talked about as an actual threat to win? I do follow the Premier League and Harry Kane has crushed it over the past two seasons and is arguably one of the best at the position after Ronaldo. And if fellas are now giving Portugal a shot, why is England written off when they have (on paper at least) a squad of better players?

And I hope for something out of the ordinary like a Belgium-Mexico final, or some other country that may win it for the first time.

[rudebwoy]

(06-17-2018 06:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I think Ronaldo will carry on longer than Messi, despite being 2 years older. He's a genetic freak of nature who would have excelled in a range of sports, but he chose football. He'd have been an all time great tennis player, for example, in my opinion, due to said genetics and his obsessive regime. Regarding Maradona, Pele, I'm with Mike Tyson - I think it's unfair to compare eras and as he said "athletes get better in time", meaning players/boxers now have better science, better nutrition etc. Would Pele be amazing if he was born in 1986? Most likely, but we'll never know. So, therefore I put Messi and Ronaldo as the best ever.

It is obvious you are too young to have seen Maradona play.

You cannot be the best of all time if you haven't won a World Cup for your country. Maradona has and Messi hasn't, in fact Messi lost in the finals of the World Cup last time out.

Pele won against all odds.

Maradona did the same.

Muhammad Ali beat Liston, when the odds were against him.

Federer has won all the majors and is number 1 in his mid 30s.

Senna won races in a inferior car. In one race he beat his teammate Prost by almost a minute, driving the same car.

Jordan took an average Chicago Bulls team and won 5 championships with them.

Marcelo who has won may Champions League titles with Real Madrid, stated that since he was a boy his dream was to win a World Cup for Brazil.

Look at England, how many times do they talk about 1966 and Geoff Hurst. That was half a century ago, but they still cling onto that. What do you think it would mean to Harry Kane to lift that trophy.

Neymar is well aware of the history of Brazilian football, he knows for him to be considered one of the greats he has to lift that trophy.

Do you think Romario is at home crying over not winning a Champions League, he has won the World Cup.

Messi is a great player when playing for Barcelona, for his country he sucks. Argentina barely made the World Cup, despite having quality players.

[Roardog]

(06-17-2018 06:08 AM)StrikeBack Wrote:  

Australia almost tripped France up, as I predicted... That was one lucky goal for them right at the end. France not gonna get very far playing like that.

Might see England and Brazil choke again as usual.

Did you see France's B team almost lose to Russia's Under 19 team yesterday?
They played a mid-week friendly and only won 3-2 with a late goal.
France is seriously bad form.

[superschalk]

(06-17-2018 11:18 PM)Dodgy Wrote:  

Casual American soccer fan here, but wondering why England is not talked about as an actual threat to win? I do follow the Premier League and Harry Kane has crushed it over the past two seasons and is arguably one of the best at the position after Ronaldo. And if fellas are now giving Portugal a shot, why is England written off when they have (on paper at least) a squad of better players?

On paper England has a strong team indeed. The problem with England however is that they have mental issues once it comes to the knock out stages.

At some point they will mess it up like they did in the Euros two years ago when they lost to Iceland. Furthermore in the history of World Cups England played three penalty shoot outs and they lost all of them. So when it comes to penalty shoot outs it is very likely they lose again.

And finally as usual England does not have a proper goalkeeper. Pickford is decent but he is not world class. And to win the World Cup you need a world class goalkeeper like Neuer, Navas or Becker.

[Teedub]

(06-17-2018 11:18 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 06:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I think Ronaldo will carry on longer than Messi, despite being 2 years older. He's a genetic freak of nature who would have excelled in a range of sports, but he chose football. He'd have been an all time great tennis player, for example, in my opinion, due to said genetics and his obsessive regime. Regarding Maradona, Pele, I'm with Mike Tyson - I think it's unfair to compare eras and as he said "athletes get better in time", meaning players/boxers now have better science, better nutrition etc. Would Pele be amazing if he was born in 1986? Most likely, but we'll never know. So, therefore I put Messi and Ronaldo as the best ever.

It is obvious you are too young to have seen Maradona play.

You cannot be the best of all time if you haven't won a World Cup for your country.

I disagree. International football is no longer regarded as being of a higher standard than the Champions League.

[StrikeBack]

But it holds a much more special meaning. You can literally buy your way to CL success. You can't really do that with your national team.

[Barron]

(06-18-2018 04:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I disagree. International football is no longer regarded as being of a higher standard than the Champions League.

[kuqezi]

The worse disease in football looks to have infected all Germany...SELF COMPLACENCY!
What was that scheme they were playing...1-1-10? Kimich is a right back and he's constantly passing Mueller and actually doing the diagonal to go to the center-forward? Ugly game by the germans. Yogi Low has some serious explaining to do about that. Beside Kroos and Reus everyone else was to be kicked in the balls to wake the fuck up!
Kudos to Mexico! Chapeau! If Carlos Vela who plays in the MLS that is a sort of friendly tournament for over 40 looks like KAKA then that Mexico coach is a genius!

Brazil is doing Brazil...they're just an OK team. Neymar proved again that he's just a clown. They should start Firmino if they wanna win the next one.

[casa-nostra]

Hope TUNISIA win Today .

Pronostics Tunisia 2 - England 1

[kuqezi]

(06-18-2018 08:37 AM)casa-nostra Wrote:  

Hope TUNISIA win Today .

Pronostics Tunisia 2 - England 1

Looking at how this WC is going I would not be surprised.
All seem to be too much based on what they see on paper...instead the pitch says something else and that is the only judge.

[kuqezi]

(06-18-2018 02:32 AM)superschalk Wrote:  

(06-17-2018 11:18 PM)Dodgy Wrote:  

Casual American soccer fan here, but wondering why England is not talked about as an actual threat to win? I do follow the Premier League and Harry Kane has crushed it over the past two seasons and is arguably one of the best at the position after Ronaldo. And if fellas are now giving Portugal a shot, why is England written off when they have (on paper at least) a squad of better players?

On paper England has a strong team indeed. The problem with England however is that they have mental issues once it comes to the knock out stages.

At some point they will mess it up like they did in the Euros two years ago when they lost to Iceland. Furthermore in the history of World Cups England played three penalty shoot outs and they lost all of them. So when it comes to penalty shoot outs it is very likely they lose again.

And finally as usual England does not have a proper goalkeeper. Pickford is decent but he is not world class. And to win the World Cup you need a world class goalkeeper like Neuer, Navas or Becker.

Agreed. If I can add something here I'd say England is just not a "team". They all seem to play by themselves. You'd think this is the gap that should be filled by a good coach and then you look at their coaches and they do nothing. It's weird I know but it's what happens all the time to them.

[casa-nostra]

(06-18-2018 08:40 AM)kuqezi Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 08:37 AM)casa-nostra Wrote:  

Hope TUNISIA win Today .

Pronostics Tunisia 2 - England 1

Looking at how this WC is going I would not be surprised.
All seem to be too much based on what they see on paper...instead the pitch says something else and that is the only judge.

Even on paper is not a surprise , Tunisia have very strong team. they did good results.

Only thing , is that the best player got inujury which can make their offensive bit less strong.

Tunisia have same Italian system (both country are close by chance 60 km between Italy and Tunisia) , they have good defense and they know when to score.

But I agree , England have their strongest team since many years. they weren't used to do those results before

[kuqezi]

(06-18-2018 08:45 AM)casa-nostra Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 08:40 AM)kuqezi Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 08:37 AM)casa-nostra Wrote:  

Hope TUNISIA win Today .

Pronostics Tunisia 2 - England 1

Looking at how this WC is going I would not be surprised.
All seem to be too much based on what they see on paper...instead the pitch says something else and that is the only judge.

Even on paper is not a surprise , Tunisia have very strong team. they did good results.

Only thing , is that the best player got inujury which can make their offensive bit less strong.

Tunisia have same Italian system (both country are close by chance 60 km between Italy and Tunisia) , they have good defense and they know when to score.

But I agree , England have their strongest team since many years. they weren't used to do those results before

Yeah, we've had this discussion in another thread.
I am not familiar with the Tunisian team so I will have to watch them play first. If they want to have a chance to pass the group they NEED to do their best against England. This is their chance. I think Belgium is on another level but freaking Panama is a joke. Doing a little math they should win against Panama but maybe loose against Belgium so this is their vital game!

I still think Belgium and England pass but oh well this is the "beautiful game" and that's why we all love it!

PS: Whoever said above that "this is why I hate soccer and sports etc..." should probably stay away from the games and the thread!

Cheers!

[kuqezi]

(06-17-2018 11:58 AM)Simeon_Strangelight Wrote:  

The Serbs won easily despite not stressing themselves and the Germans - they really played a shitty, too confident and tired game.

Mexico played well.

Ah well - they are cucks after all lying down to be gang-raped.

Reminds me why I don't watch soccer or any sport.

With all due respect...if you're not into soccer/football or any sport than why all this hate here?

[Labienus]

England lol. Their team is as mediocre as it gets, with the exception of Kane.

They don't come close to 1/10th of the talent they had in their golden generation (1998-2006) and even then they won nothing.

[Teedub]

(06-18-2018 05:51 AM)NomadofEU Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 04:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I disagree. International football is no longer regarded as being of a higher standard than the Champions League.

Not trolling at all. Anyone who's won the World Player of the Year award FIVE times has to be in the discussion.

[rudebwoy]

(06-18-2018 09:32 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 05:51 AM)NomadofEU Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 04:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I disagree. International football is no longer regarded as being of a higher standard than the Champions League.

Not trolling at all. Anyone who's won the World Player of the Year award FIVE times has to be in the discussion.

If International football is no longer at a high standard.

What does that say for Holland and Italy who didn't qualify!

Even good ole USA didn't qualify, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico finished ahead of them.

The gap between the top teams and the bottom teams is closing, this tournament has the makings of being a classic.

[casa-nostra]

video from Volgograd today , an England fan went to meet engish fans , and he found all the city full with Tunisians.

I like Tunisians atmosphere , Ultras mentality is so strong their. Some Tunisians girls are in the video too


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6l7slLgmrw

[kuqezi]

(06-18-2018 09:44 AM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 09:32 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 05:51 AM)NomadofEU Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 04:10 AM)Teedub Wrote:  

I disagree. International football is no longer regarded as being of a higher standard than the Champions League.

Not trolling at all. Anyone who's won the World Player of the Year award FIVE times has to be in the discussion.

If International football is no longer at a high standard.

What does that say for Holland and Italy who didn't qualify!

Even good ole USA didn't qualify, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico finished ahead of them.

The gap between the top teams and the bottom teams is closing, this tournament has the makings of being a classic.

I think it has all to do with the big combo of money-vs-motivation.

Obviously you make a lot more at your club rather than with your country's team. So the money incentive makes players break their legs to win a bigger contract or to join a top team. When it comes to games with your national team very very few tournaments have big money, World Cup being one of them and it can't be compared to say Champions League.

The qualifying round games are mostly mediocre at best. It's just the playoffs that become a bit interesting because they're an "in/out" situation and national teams give their best (look what Sweden did to Italy). So motivation for playing for your country is a bit low nowadays...plenty of examples out there, the most recent one the case of Rabiot and France (though I personally don't like Deschamps I think Rabiot is a little cunt). Players have little motivation to play well with their national teams.

[RedPillUK]

(06-18-2018 09:12 AM)Labienus Wrote:  

England lol. Their team is as mediocre as it gets, with the exception of Kane.

They don't come close to 1/10th of the talent they had in their golden generation (1998-2006) and even then they won nothing.

Where does that put Canada then?

[Labienus]

(06-18-2018 10:23 AM)RedPillUK Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 09:12 AM)Labienus Wrote:  

England lol. Their team is as mediocre as it gets, with the exception of Kane.

They don't come close to 1/10th of the talent they had in their golden generation (1998-2006) and even then they won nothing.

Where does that put Canada then?

Canada sucks at football but that's fine, everyone in Canada knows and says it.

The English media overrates English football and their national team constantly and always claims that they are favourite to win the tournament even when they have shitty teams.

[Teedub]

Just to clarify rudeboy... I'm not doubting Maradona was amazing etc. I'm just saying, in my opinion, it's no longer a requirement to win a WC to be considered the best ever. Not when you've won all the other team/individual prizes and have the insane statistics that Ronaldo. and Messi have. You are right though, I am younger than you and didn't see Maradona play.