Russia 2018 World Cup

I’m really enjoying this tournament. That’s all.

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Originally Posted by halo se7en

I’m really enjoying this tournament. That’s all.

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+ 1

I was under the impression the rule was if all outfield players left the field of play regardless of which half, the other team could kickoff. And I was led to believe it was because no player would be offside, so play could restart.

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Originally Posted by Macca

Nah. Just misinterpretation by Ladbible and I guess by Southgate / whomever instructed players that that was the case. As I said, would only be if they ran from where they scored to the other half and did their celebrations there - then you want a player just chilling inside the opponent half.

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Cheers Macca.

on the plus side, much better showing from the AFC teams this time around (compared to last couple of cups).

Prob not quite as good as the African teams, but i reackon better than Concacaf and Oceania teams.

By the time America rolls around the idea of a 48 team comp may not be as diluted as previously thought.

If Asia gets 2? more spots you'd hope China are finally realising their potential, and one more of the Uzbeks/Qatar/Nth Korea type teams.

Europe will want 6-8 of those spots min, and if you count up the 'good' teams that missed out (Dutch, Greece, Italy, Ukraine some of those Balkan ones), it might be ok.

Add in the USA and errrrrr, well OK concacaf is canon fodder so that will suck.

Africa gets a couple, Sth America gets Chile, Bolivia, Equador, Venezuela.

But we get MORE football. Yeah ill put up with that.

Football is ALWAYS the winner

I don’t have a problem with the extra teams. I think in the groups of 3 teams will only play 2 games before knockouts so any cannon fodder will be gone quicker than they are now. We still get Saudi v Egypt & Tunisia v Panama dead rubbers now, so it’s not like it’s perfect with 32 either. The new format should actually eliminate dead rubbers if I’m not mistaken?

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Originally Posted by plague

on the plus side, much better showing from the AFC teams this time around (compared to last couple of cups).

Prob not quite as good as the African teams, but i reackon better than Concacaf and Oceania teams.

By the time America rolls around the idea of a 48 team comp may not be as diluted as previously thought.

If Asia gets 2? more spots you'd hope China are finally realising their potential, and one more of the Uzbeks/Qatar/Nth Korea type teams.

Europe will want 6-8 of those spots min, and if you count up the 'good' teams that missed out (Dutch, Greece, Italy, Ukraine some of those Balkan ones), it might be ok.

Add in the USA and errrrrr, well OK concacaf is canon fodder so that will suck.

Africa gets a couple, Sth America gets Chile, Bolivia, Equador, Venezuela.

But we get MORE football. Yeah ill put up with that.

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Holland
Italy
Greece
Turkey
USA
Chile
Paraguay
Ecuador
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Algeria

That is 12 recent qualifiers not there most of whom have got into the KO phase

So thge current line up plus there is 75% of the increse already

I dont think the 48 team thing will be much of a problem



Being that how big a cash cow the thing is i surprised FIFA havent tried bringing it into a 2 year cycle rather than 4

Sure would upset the status quo if they did but it would actually work

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Originally Posted by MFKS

Holland
Italy
Greece
Turkey
USA
Chile
Paraguay
Ecuador
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Algeria

That is 12 recent qualifiers not there most of whom have got into the KO phase

So thge current line up plus there is 75% of the increse already

I dont think the 48 team thing will be much of a problem



Being that how big a cash cow the thing is i surprised FIFA havent tried bringing it into a 2 year cycle rather than 4

Sure would upset the status quo if they did but it would actually work

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I would highly doubt it would work.... maybe for the first time... but future planning not at all... This might not mean much but look at ICE Hockey they host a World Cup basically every year.. This year the NHL the best league players where mostly not involved... It might be a cash cow for Fifa, but who would host?... there is a whole lot of problems if they would try and have it more often....

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Originally Posted by goaliepersempre

I would highly doubt it would work.... maybe for the first time... but future planning not at all... This might not mean much but look at ICE Hockey they host a World Cup basically every year.. This year the NHL the best league players where mostly not involved... It might be a cash cow for Fifa, but who would host?... there is a whole lot of problems if they would try and have it more often....

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I dont think it would be that hard a problem to worry about the who would host

England Germany France could host it in an instant and reap the financial windfall

To do that you’d have to abolish continental cups surely.

I like the 4 year World Cup, feel like it would lose its exclusiveness and appeal if it was more frequent.
I think players would drop out, fans would drop out and the title won’t mean as much imo.

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Originally Posted by MFKS

I dont think it would be that hard a problem to worry about the who would host

England Germany France could host it in an instant and reap the financial windfall

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Ofcourse they can, they can even play it like the Euro 2020 campaign... all throughout europe... lets see how that goes......

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Originally Posted by Bremsstrahlung

To do that you’d have to abolish continental cups surely.

I like the 4 year World Cup, feel like it would lose its exclusiveness and appeal if it was more frequent.
I think players would drop out, fans would drop out and the title won’t mean as much imo.

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Exactly like the Ice hockey champs....

Keep it to 4 years lets see what Qatar and the Americas bring....

Dont mess with a proven winner....

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Originally Posted by Bremsstrahlung

To do that you’d have to abolish continental cups surely.

I like the 4 year World Cup, feel like it would lose its exclusiveness and appeal if it was more frequent.
I think players would drop out, fans would drop out and the title won’t mean as much imo.

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Other than the Euros the rest of them would barely be breaking even

So i dont think it be that hard to convince the other confeds to do it every 2 years


Plus these Fifa guys

Think of how many extra hookers coke and brown paper bags they can do if this every 2 years not 4 years??


Everyone wins

with Australia and my second favourite team Iceland now out, I'm moving on to support my third favourite team, England

good thing they won't disappoint

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Originally Posted by boz-monaut

with Australia and my second favourite team Iceland now out, I'm moving on to support my third favourite team, England

good thing they won't disappoint

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I’m splitting my fanfare between Belgium & Croatia. I feel like one of them might just do it.

I just want good football and a nation who hasn't won it from 1970 onwards to win

I don't think either of those things will happen though

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Originally Posted by boz-monaut

I just want good football and a nation who hasn't won it from 1970 onwards to win

I don't think either of those things will happen though

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Belgium will win if KDB and Hazard keep this form

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Originally Posted by StannyCFCJET

Belgium will win if KDB and Hazard keep this form

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And they learn how to defend.

Just looking at the draw and how it shaping up

Think Spain should get an easy run to final

There going to be no one of note on their side of the draw

Will get smokies like Croatia Mexico Begium.but none of the big boys

It looks inevitable the top half will have France Argies Brazil Germany Portugal Uruguay all in it

Make for some cracking Rd16 games

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Originally Posted by MFKS

Just looking at the draw and how it shaping up

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if it all goes to plan England will get Germany in the quarters.

oh glory days.

im here for all of that nonsense.