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#Post#: 16740--------------------------------------------------
FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 17, 2017, 9:02 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(Very sing-songy) Oh-la-la!
The dust has settled on all of the qualifiers. 31 nations plus
the host. Here is a non-expert fan's understanding of the
qualified nations and a key :P for any interested:
HF: Heavy Favourite
C: Contender
DH: Dark Horse
TFC: Thanks For Coming (Doubtful) but I could be all wrong.
I don't mean to disparage any nation's team by the TFC. I could
be wrong by my designation. It's a long, tough process to
qualify and I think that all teams should get a round of
applause just for making it to Russia.
The (C:) means Coach:. I've not included whole team rosters,
just some notables from the top of my head for each team. I have
missed several for each team. Full rosters can be found on the
net.
CONCACAF (North America, South America, and Caribbean) (35
member nations):
Mexico (El Tri) C (C: Juan Carlos Osorio/Colombia), Javier
"Chicharito" Hernandez (West Ham United), Andres Guardado (Real
Betis), Hector Herrera (Porto), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad)
The strongest of the CONCACAF qualified. Can get to the semi's
at least. I'm pulling for them since no teams of CONCACAF have
won a World Cup. Can play beautifully.
Costa Rica (La Sele/Ticos) DH (C: Oscar Ramirez/Costa Rica),
Keylor Navas (Real Madrid starting keeper), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting
Lisbon), Joel Campbell (Real Betis), David Ramirez (Saprissa)
Four times to the World Cup. A thorn in most CONCACAF sides.
When they're good they can be very good. Could be a thorn in
some big sides.
Panama (Los Canaleros) TFC (C: Hernan Gomez/Colombia), Armando
Cooper (Toronto FC), Felipe Badoy (Municipal), Rom�n Torres
(Seattle Sounders)
First time to World Cup. The most physical of CONCACAF teams but
team needs more than that.
Disappointments:
Canada - Perennial losers who have been to this tournament once
with no goals and no wins. Speaks for itself. It's all to do.
Behind the 8-ball globally even though it wants to be a global
leader otherwise. Mine fury has been tempered somewhat by new
coach and improved performances. I'm not sorry, hockey is not
the global game, soccer is.
USA - Been to World Cup about nine times. Debacle in final game
v minnow Trinidad and Tobago. (See Bruuuuuuuuuuce thread). Team
needs invigoration. At least they understand the sporting
import. They have to play less like dour MLS pros and more like
teenagers thrown the keys to Dad's car. Invaluable experience
for Christian Pulisic and other youngsters gone missing. One of
two strongest CONCACAF members.
Jamaica - A physical and fast team. Did not gel enough. No Andre
Blake - keeper, Kevon Lambert, Dane Kelly this time around. been
once to World Cup.
CONMEBOL (South America) (10 member nations):
Brazil (La Selecao/The Selection), HF (C: Adenor "Tite"
Bucci/Brazil), Neymar Jr. (PSG), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Paulinho
(FC Barcelona), Dani Alves (PSG), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester
City), Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Flamboyant, attacking football of the highest order. They will
be looking to avenge their disastrous Rio campaign when they
were humiliated by the Germans. Weakness: Get carded somewhat
much I think. Have to stay focused. Brazil is a must-see team
for neutrals and fans alike. 5X WC winners.
Argentina (La Albiceleste/Sky Blue), C (C: Jorge
Sampaoli/Argentina) Angel Di Maria (PSG), Paolo Dybala
(Juventus), Sergio Romero (Man U), Javier Mascherano (FC
Barcelona), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero
(Manchester City), Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
2x WC winners who were in the final match v Germany last WC and
lost by a goal. They were easily Germany's match. They have
failed to gel and are too Messi-dependent in their qualifiers,
so I have downgraded them to contender. This team owes Lionel
Messi their best performances since he is hugely responsible for
their entry to Russia. If they play as they are capable of
playing as a team, they would be heavy favourites to win it. The
team I would like most to see win this time around. On paper,
the talent is overwhelming but football is played on the pitch.
Colombia (Los Cafeteros/The Coffee Growers) C (C: Jose
Pekerman/Colombia), David Ospina - K (Arsenal), Radamel Falcao
(Monaco), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Juan Cuadrado
(Juventus), Gustavo Cu�llar (Flamengo, Luis Muriel (Sevilla)
A solid, decent attacking team that could go the distance.
Falcao is in form and dangerous in the box. So is James who left
Real Madrid for more playing time at Bayern. Six World Cup
appearances.
Uruguay (Los Charruas/Indigenous Peoples) C (C: Oscar
Tabarez/Uruguay), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Luis Suarez (FC
Barcelona), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Pereiro (PSV)
2X WC winners. Maybe Luis Suarez will be in form then. They'll
make a decent run. Maybe all the way to the final. They're tough
footballers. Cavani is poison to keepers most times. Suarez
tricky in the box.
Peru (Los Incas) DH (C: Ricardo Gareca/Argentina), Paolo
Guerrero (Flamengo), Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv Moscow), Andre
Carillo (Watford)
This team plays the beautiful game. Small and speedy. Great
skill. A must-see for neutrals and fans. They can run rings
around opponents and run for miles. Played the very last
qualifying game of all qualifiers v New Zealand to punch their
ticket to Russia. When they won their last game to advance, the
next day was declared a national holiday. Soccer mad fans. Five
World Cup appearances.
Disappointments:
Chile - Plays the beautiful game. Unbelievable that they aren't
in Russia but CONMEBOL is so tough, it could have been Argentina
out as well. A big bummer for me because they are so great to
watch, win or lose. Tears of misery for me. They were my pick to
pretty much go to the final since they won the last two Copa
America(s) v Argentina and they did very well in the
Confederations Cup last summer. Nine World Cup appearances. No
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Fabi�n Orellana (Valencia), Arturo
Vidal (Bayern Munich), Claudio Bravo (Manchester City via FC
Barcelona) among other notables this time around.
Any other South American team.
UEFA (Europe) (55 member nations):
Portugal (A Selecao) HF (C: Fernando Santos/Portugal), Ricardo
Quaresma (Besiktas), Nani (Lazio), Cedric Soares (Southampton),
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Bernardo Silva (Manchester
City)
Euro 2016 winners. I bumped them up to heavy favourites since
when they are in form, they can do some heavy damage, especially
if Cristiano is in the groove. So talented the entire team. It
could be their time.
France (Les Bleues) HF (C: Didier Deschamps/France), Antoine
Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Adrian Rabiot
(PSG), Paul Pogba (Man United), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal),
Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
1X WC winners. An incredible array of talent. Wonderful to
watch. It just might be their time. I would not be surprised if
they were finalists.
Poland (The White and Red), DH, (C: Adam Nawalka/Poland) Lukasz
Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus - keeper),
Roberty Lewandowki (Bayern Munich), Grzegorz Krychowiak (West
Bromwich-Albion), Arkadiusz Milik (Juventus)
I really don't know what to make of this team. They're
physically strong and Lewandowski is a striker supreme. They
always come out strong but then seem to fade. They could push on
through to the semi's. Eight World Cup appearances.
England (The Three Lions) C (C: Gareth Southgate/England), Joe
Hart (West Ham United - keeper), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City),
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Raheem Sterling (Manchester
City), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Dele Alli (Tottenham
Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester
United)
1X World Cup winners So much talent. A sentimental favourite of
mine. A nation where my Dad picked up his tea habit. Pitchers of
it. Tears of joy if they go all the way.
Denmark (The Red-White) TFC, (C: �ge Hareide/Norway), Kasper
Schmeichel (Leicester City), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham
Hotspur)
Ya, a spoiler team. Eriksen a good through-baller. Five World
Cup appearances. That's all I can say for now.
Serbia (The Eagles) TFC (C: Mladen Krstajić
(caretaker)/Serbia), Dusan Tadic (Southampton), Nemanja Matic
(Manchester United), Alexander Kolarov (Roma), Nemanja Radoja
(Celta de Vigo)
A tough, talented, physical team. Sometimes too physical.
Possible downfall: Too many cards against them. Hoping they've
learned. Finished top of their group in qualifiers. Twelve World
Cup appearances.
Spain (La Furia Roja/The Red Fury) HF, (C: Julen
Lopetegui/Spain), David De Gea (Manchester United - keeper),
David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona),
Alvaro Morata (Chelsea via Real Madrid), Iker Casillas (Porto -
Keeper), Isco (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona),
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona), Jordi
Alba (FC Barcelona), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
An embarrassment of riches. Should be finalists. Play the
beautiful game. Another team I'd like to see win. If Lionel
Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo were on this team, just hand the cup
to Spain. 1X World Cup winner.
Iceland (Str�karnir okkar/Our Boys), TFC (C: Heimir
Hallgr�msson/Iceland), Gylfi Sigur�sson (Everton via Swansea)
A spoiler and overachiever as a soccer nation. All hail Iceland!
It would be wonderful if they got to the semis at least. That
the spirit, Icelanders! Canada, land of permafrost, you hear?
First time appearance in World Cup. How exciting :)! You've got
all the sporting hipsters pulling for you!
Belgium (De Rode Duivels/The Red Devils), C (C: Roberto
Martinez/Spain), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thibaut Courtois -
keeper (Chelsea), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur), Romelu
Lukaku (Manchester United), Radja Nainggolan (Roma), Yannick
Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City),
Thomas Vermaelen (FC Barcelona), Thomas Meunier (PSG), Mousa
Demb�l� (Tottenham)
A team loaded with talent, especially Hazard, Carrasco and
Lukaku. Almost had them at HF. Might surprise me. Thirteen World
Cup appearances)
Croatia (Vatreni/The Fire Blazers) C, (C: Zlatko
Dalić/Croatia), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (FC
Barcelona), Ivan Peri�ić (Inter-Milan), Marcelo
Brozović (Inter-Milan), Nikola Kalinić (AC Milan),
Mario Mand�ukić (Juventus), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)
Another team loaded with midfield talent. Up-and-coming. Can
threaten all. Fearless. Five World Cup appearances.
Germany (Die Mannschaft/The Team), HF, (C: Joachim L�w/Germany),
Manuel Neuer-Keeper (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre Ter
Stegen-Keeper (FC Barcelona), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich),
Thomas M�ller (Bayern Munich), Mario G�mez (Wolfsburg), Andr�
Sch�rrle (Borussia Dortmund), Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal), Tony
Kroos (Real Madrid), mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Emre Can (Liverpool)
Current reigning World Cup Champions 2014-2018, 4X World Cup
winners. Technical. Talented. Tactical. Like watching eleven
university soccer coaches/instructors teaching how each position
ought to be played. Tough physically. No nonsense. Make few
errors with and without the ball. The total better than its
parts. Could win again. I thought that they might be weaker than
at Rio in '14 but they won the Confederations Cup this year with
an experimental side. Ruthless at times. The team to be reckoned
with.
Switzerland (Schweizer Nati /Swiss nationals), TFC, (C: Vladimir
Petkovic/SFR Yugoslavia), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Granit
Xhaka (Arsenal), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkeusen), Ricardo
Rodr�guez (AC Milan), Haris Seferović (Benfica)
Energetic, speedy. Entertaining to watch. Goals don't come easy.
Play hard. Ten World Cup appearances.
Sweden (The Blue-Yellow) TFC (C: Janne Andersson/Sweden),
Alexander Isak (Borussia Dortmund), Victor Lindel�f (Manchester
United), John Guidetti (Celta de Vigo)
Defensive, tactical. Big-size players. Have to hand it to coach
for putting out Italy tactically. Twelve World Cup appearances.
Russia (The National Team) TFC (C: Stanislav Cherchesov/Russia),
Igor Akinfeev-Keeper (CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit-St.
Petersburg), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar), Aleksandr Kokorin
(Zenit-St. Petersburg)
Will play energetically for home crowds and give most teams a
run. Could make it out of group stage. A super keeper. Fyodor
Smolov hell on wheels. Needs to be marked carefully.
Disappointments:
Italy: 4X World Cup winners. The shock of the qualifiers.
Doesn't seem like a World Cup without the Azzurri but no nation
has the divine right for entry. They are at their best when
they're there. No one wants to play them in the WC. I celebrated
with them in Little Italy's streets in Toronto when they won in
1982. Amazing.
The Netherlands (The Orange/Clockwork Orange): The British
invented the game but the Dutch made it beautiful. Incredible
that they have done so poorly the last years. No Arjen Robben
(Bayern Munich) for one. Amazing to watch when in form and
playing the short-pass.
Ireland: The Boys in Green/Green Army try so hard and so does
their coach, Martin O'Neill. Notably missing will be Shane Long
(Southampton), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), S�amus Coleman
(Everton). Three World Cup appearances. Great fans.
Slovenia: Minnows yes but for sentimental reasons since my Mum
was born in a Ljubljana neighbourhood. Their parts appear to be
better than their total. They have two of the better keepers in
world football in Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) and Samir
Handanovic (Inter-Milan). Next time, Slovence. Two World Cup
appearances.
Austria: Seven World Cup appearances. Again, for sentimental
reasons. My Mum's adopted nation and last known Euro residence
(W�rthersee-Carinthia). A real Austrian "Heidi". She tried to
teach me German, Momma tried :) . . . .
(Continued next page)
para . . . .
#Post#: 16751--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 19, 2017, 12:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
CAF (Africa) (56 member nations)
Tunisia (The Eagles of Carthage), ? (C: Nabil Ma�loul/Tunisia),
Bassem Srarfi (Nice), Oussama Haddadi (Dijon), Aymen Abdennour
(Marseille)
Can't say that I've seen this team play but they've won some
African Championships and were tough on Germany and Mexico. I
think this is their fourth WC tournament. Good luck, Tunisia! On
second thought, I could have seen this team play. I watch so
much soccer that's available to me, sometimes I get things mixed
up (players, clubs, nations, etc.)
Morocco (The Lions of Atlas) TFC, (C: Herv� Renard/France),
Yassine Bounou (Girona), Medhi Benatia (Juventus), Achraf Hakimi
(Real Madrid), Youn�s Belhanda (Galatasaray), Nordin Amrabat
(Leganes), Sofiane Boufal (Southampton), Oussama Tannane (Las
Palmas)
Some very talented players, especially Sofiane Boufal who I
think needs to start more at Southampton. A tactical, stingy,
defensive team. Sort of like Costa Rica. Their coach has them in
very good form last game I watched. I could be very wrong with
my rating here and I hope I am. They could be contenders and
surprise me. Go, Morocco!
Egypt (The Pharaohs), TFC, (C: H�ctor C�per/Argentina), Ahmed
Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mohamed
Salah (Liverpool), Ahmed El Sheikh (Al Ahly), Ahmed Hegazi (West
Bromwich-Albion)
Okay, some talented players, no doubt. Who would not want
Mohamed Salah on their team? One of the better African teams. I
give them more of a chance of advancing than Tunisia but
contenders? I can't say. Surprise me, Egypt! Go, Mo! So much joy
watching you play in Serie A, EPL, and your nation. Imagine how
your country will celebrate if you win it all. Dancing in the
streets! Sweets for all! A national holiday declared!
Nigeria (Super Eagles), C, (C: Salisu Yusuf/Nigeria), Victor
Moses (Chelsea), Isaac Success (Watford), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal),
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Ahmed Musa (Leicester City)
A physical and quick team with talented players. Have been to
the World Cup six times. Victor Moses speedy and great on the
ball. So too Iheanacho. I think that they're the strongest of
the African competitors. Could get into semis at least.
Senegal (The Lions of Teranga), C (C: Aliou Ciss�/Senegal),
Cl�ment Diop - keeper (LA Galaxy), Kara Mbodji (Anderlecht),
Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Cheikhou Kouyat� (Napoli), Diafra
Sakho (West Ham United), Sadio Man� (Liverpool), Keita Bald�
(Monaco)
I've upgraded this group from TFC to C only because I think that
next to Nigeria they can do some damage with their great talent.
I hope they contend. They are super fast and great to watch.
Disappointments:
Ivory Coast: They were so tough in the last decade but appear to
have faded. I watched their last qualifier and others and the
speed's just not there. They were physical and tough to play
against.
Burkina Faso: The team that impressed me most in the qualifiers
at least with their energetic play. I'd have liked to see them
finally there.
Ghana: Reached the quarter finals last World Cup. Strong in
Africa. No Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid), Andr� Ayew (West Ham
United), Jonathan Mensah (Colombus Crew)
Cameroon: Seven World Cup appearances (more than any other
African nation). They are won of the top African sides. Don't
know what happened here. Africa Cup of Nations Champion 2017.
AFC (Asia) (47 member nations)
Japan (Samurai Blue), TFC, (C: Vahid Halilhod�ić/Bosnia
and Herzegovina), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Shinji
Okazaki (Leicester City), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Yūto
Nagatomo (Inter-Milan)
I've only see this team play about two or three times over the
years. I think it's been to the WC about four or five times.
They hosted one year with South Korea. I watch their players in
Euro clubs. They work hard.
Iran (Team Melli), ?, (C: Carlos Queiroz/Portugal), . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Beats me. I don't know this team and I've never seen them play.
Hey, it's like I'm watching the WC back when I watched it the
very first time. All these strange players I thought just
appeared every four years. I thought that they just played
solely for their national teams and hibernated or practised
together between World Cups. Anyway, they've been to the World
Cup five times but failed to get out of their group each time.
Could be a TFC but, entertain me, Iran! Let's have some fun!
South Korea (Taegeuk Warriors), TFC, (C: Shin Tae-yong/South
Korea), Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Son Heung-min (Tottenham
Hotspur), Park Joo-ho (Borussia Dortmund), Lee Chung-yong
(Crystal Palace)
I've seen them play several times over the years. Speedy. Been
to the WC lots of times. Best in Asia. Should be moving up to C
soon.
Saudi Arabia (Green Falcons), ? (C: Edgardo Bauza/Argentina), .
. . . . . . . . . .
Likely TFC. Been to the WC four times in a row. An improving
nation. One of the best in Asia. Bauza couldn't do much with
Argentina lately, so interesting to see what happens here. I
think I've seen them play two times. I think they wore white
each time and pretty individually talented. Almost every player
plays in Saudi Arabia with one on the Virginia Cavaliers in the
USA. So, exotic to me.
Australia (The Socceroos), C, (C: Ange
Postecoglou/Australia-Greece), Mathew Ryan - keeper (Brighton
and Hove Albion), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town), Mile Jedinak
(Aston Villa), Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers), Tom Rogic
(Celtic), Brad Smith (Bournemouth)
A tough, entertaining team that will give many a really hard
time. I bumped them up to C because all that hard work's gotta
pay off sooner or later. Been to the WC five times. Strong in
OFC. Left OFC for AFC in 2006.
OFC (Oceania) (11 member nations)
None Qualified TFC. They are alloted 0.5 spots to qualify which
means it's a playoff spot for one team to advance. New Zealand
were put out by Peru. NZ (The All-Whites) has two World Cup
appearances. They only have semi-professional leagues. Their top
players play abroad notably, Winston Reid (West Ham United),
Chris Wood (Burnley), James Musa (Sporting Kansas City).
Come on, Oceania! Nice weather all year around in the South
Pacific. Good luck next time New Zealand.
para . . . .
#Post#: 16760--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 20, 2017, 1:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Next: The draw for the eight groups of four at the State Palace
in the Kremlin (December 1, 2017):
https://www.rusalia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Mapa-del-Kremlin-en-Ingl%C3%…
https://s.inyourpocket.com/gallery/59481.jpg
http://budgettravelrussia.com/Technicals/images/state%20kremlin%20palace.jpg
The pots:
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
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=pots-announced-for-final-dra…
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=pots-announced-for-final-dra…
para . . . .
#Post#: 16764--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: Kerry Date: November 21, 2017, 5:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
So what are the odds? I found this list. Judging by these
odds, it's likely to be Brazil, Germany, France, Spain or
Argentina.
https://www.skybet.com/football/world-cup-2018/event/16742642
Brazil 5/1
Germany 5/1
France 11/2
Spain 13/2
Argentina 8/1
Belgium 14/1
England 20/1
Portugal 25/1
Croatia 33/1
Russia 33/1
Uruguay 40/1
Colombia 50/1
Switzerland 50/1
Poland 66/1
Mexico 80/1
Sweden 80/1
Denmark 100/1
Japan 100/1
Serbia 100/1
Nigeria 150/1
Iran 150/1
Senegal 200/1
Morocco 200/1
Iceland 200/1
Costa Rica 250/1
Peru 250/1
South Korea 250/1
Egypt 300/1
Australia 300/1
Tunisia 500/1
Saudi Arabia 1000/1
Panama 1000/1
I found a list of the odds before Italy dropped out.
http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/20991480/soccer-odds-win-2018-fifa-world-c…
They had Italy's odds at 15/1 and Sweden's at 150/1.
#Post#: 16770--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 21, 2017, 11:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Kerry -
Ya, the odds pretty much go by way of the pots with the better
ranked nations (excluding the host) seeded in POT 1. I think
some of them depend also on the group draw. There's usually a
"group of death" where some heavy favourites or contenders come
together to knock one another out. Here are some scenarios:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2744172-ranking-possible-world-cup-groups-of…
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2744172-ranking-possible-world-cup-groups-of…
Sometimes there are twists and turns, after all,
unpredictability can be entertainment as well.
I don't get to see all the games, just those I can that are
available for me. It's entertainment after all and I'd probably
feel that way if my native land were in it as well even though I
get to see other nations' flags waved out of car windows again
this summer. I have a nice Austria ball-cap I wore during the
Euros last year but they got knocked out of that one early
enough. I won't be waving any other nation's flag or wearing
their kit for the World Cup. The Euro was a kind of heritage
thing since Canada doesn't participate in that one. Who knows? I
just might get a Mexico cap for fun.
para . . . .
#Post#: 16774--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 21, 2017, 12:23 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The Refs:
http://refereeingworld.blogspot.ca/2017/11/fifa-world-cup-2018-referees.html
http://refereeingworld.blogspot.ca/2017/11/fifa-world-cup-2018-referees.html
Unbelievable that Mark Clattenburg:
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/480/mcs/media/images/63776000/jpg/_6377697…
and other EPL Refs aren't there. They're usually of the
no-nonsense mode.
*Addendum: I just discovered that Clattenburg quit the EPL for
Saudi Arabia and they have a ref shortlisted already.
I like Milorad Mazic of Serbia:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Milorad_Ma%C5%BEi%C4%…
and Damir Skomina of Slovenia:
http://sport.bt.com/images/europa-league-final-ref-skomina-has-previous-with-un…
as refs. They're usually pretty fair.
They're meeting November 25-29 to discuss things.
para . . . .
#Post#: 16777--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: Kerry Date: November 22, 2017, 6:34 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I have questions about how the teams will be picked; but first I
have questions about the qualifiers. It seems that European and
South American countries have some advantages.
There are 54 countries in EUFA, divided into 9 groups of 6 teams
each. At any rate, there are 9 teams which won inside their
group and 4 which are called "play-off winners." I'm not
counting Russia the host country. That gives each team within
EUFA a 24.1% chance of going to the World Cup.
South America really has it made with 10 teams. Four winners go
to the World Cup, and one plays against the best team from
Oceania. Call that 4 1/2 teams. That's a 45% rate. Oceania
has 11 teams, none of whom go automatically to the World Cup --
no, they have to play against the team that came in 5th in South
America. So that's 1/2 out of 20. That's a mere 5%.
North America has 35 teams, only 3 go to the World Cup -- with
another 1/2 if the 4th ranked country wins against an Asian in
that play-off. That means the odds are 10%. Africa with
its 53 countries gets 5 spots at the World Cup -- a 9.4%
chance. Asia is similarly hard to qualify in with 46 members
and 4 slots at the World Cup or 5 if an Asian beats a North
American team -- a 9.8% chance.
So let me arrange them by percentage:
South America 45%
Europe 24.1%
North America 10%
Asia 9.8%
Africa 9.4%
Oceania 5%
If you're from Oceania, the odds of going to the World Cup is
one ninth that of a South American country. I suppose these
differences might be quality of the players from the countries
as well as economic factors. Still the discrepancies seem
really big to me.
#Post#: 16778--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 22, 2017, 8:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Kerry -
This is entertainment, not a world of soccer equals. The South
Americans and UEFA have better coefficient rankings and are
simply better to watch than some other regions. When these
regions improve, things will look less lop-sided hopefully. A
greater number of Oceania teams probably don't want to be
humiliated at this tournament. Still, I think Sepp called for
more Asian spots and the tournament will expand to 48 in 2026.
Some have complained of a water-down effect if so. It appears to
be a balancing act between entertaining and opportunity.
para . . . .
#Post#: 16781--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 22, 2017, 4:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The draw assistants for the groups have been announced by FIFA.
The draw conductor is Gary Lineker, England's World Cup top
scorer (striker). Helping him are:
Laurent Blanc: Coach of PSG before Unai Emery. World Cup winner
with France 1998 (defender).
Gordon Banks: Six times FIFA keeper of the year, World Cup
winner (England) 1966.
Cafu: Defender; World Cup Winner with Brazil 1994, 2002
Fabio Cannavaro: 2006 FIFA World Cup winner with Italy
(center-back)
Diego Forlan: FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2010; FIFA World Cup
Top Scorer: 2010 (Uruguay); Golden Ball Award best player 2010
World Cup.
Diego Maradona : FIFA Player of the 20th Century with Pel�; FIFA
World Cup 1986 (Argentina); Other awards too numerous to
mention. Attacking midfielder. A football legend.
*In 2018, a documentary film titled Maradona is to be released
by Academy Award and BAFTA Award winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia,
director of Amy (on singer Amy Winehouse) and Senna (on motor
racing driver Ayrton Senna). Kapadia states, "Maradona is the
third part of a trilogy about child geniuses and fame." He
added, "I was fascinated by his journey, wherever he went there
were moments of incredible brilliance and drama. He was a
leader, taking his teams to the very top, but also many lows in
his career. He was always the little guy fighting against the
system... and he was willing to do anything, to use all of his
cunning and intelligence to win.":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Maradona
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Maradona
Carles Puyol: World Cup winner 2010 with Spain; FC Barcelona
right-back legend (1999-2014)
Nikita Simonyan: Armenian by heritage; played in old Soviet
Union; Spartak Moscow - Soviet Top League (4): 1952, 1953, 1956,
1958; Soviet Cup (2): 1950, 1958; Soviet Top League Top
Goalscorer (3): 1949 (26 goals), 1950 (34 goals), 1953 (14
goals) 233 matches, 133 goals; Manager: Spartak Moscow: Soviet
Top League (2): 1962, 1969; Soviet Cup (3): 1963, 1965, 1971
Draw co-hosted by Russian journalist, Maria Komandnaya:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4934207/world-cup-2018-draw-maria-komandnaya/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4934207/world-cup-2018-draw-maria-komandnaya/
para . . . .
#Post#: 16787--------------------------------------------------
Re: FIFA World Cup (Men) Russia 2018
By: paralambano Date: November 23, 2017, 12:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
World Cup Prize Money (USD):
Winner 2014 - 35,000,000
Winner 2018 - 38,000,000
Runner-up 2014 - 25,000,000
Runner-up 2018 - 28,000,000
Third 2014 - 22,000,000
Third 2018 - 24,000,000
Fourth 2014 - 20,000,000
Fourth 2018 - 22,000,000
5th-8th 2014 - 14,000,000 per team - Total - 56,000,000
(Quarter-finals)
5th-8th 2018 - 16,000,000 per team - Total - 64,000,000
(Quarter-finals)
9th-16th 2014 - 9,000,000 per team - Total - 72,000,000 (Group
of 16)
9th-16th 2018 - 12,000,000 per team - Total - 96,000,000 (Group
of 16)
17th-32nd 2014 - 8,000,000 per team - Total - 128,000,000 (Group
stage)
17th-32nd 2018 - 8,000,000 per team - Total - 128,000,000 (Group
stage)
TOTAL 2014: $358,000,000
TOTAL 2018: $400,000,000:
http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-council-confirms-cont…
http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=10/news=fifa-council-confirms-cont…
para . . . .
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