2018 FIFA World Cup

[DalilaD]

I understand how it hurts to see the Habs out of the playoffs. Soccer is the national sport in Italia and Italy is also out of the next World Cup.
A World Cup without Italy is it a World Cup ? Your opinions and pronostics ?

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

Italy has an amazing team but their coach made some tactical errors during the qualifications and unfortunately they are not in the World Cup.

But still World Cup is World Cup. Brazil, Germany, France, Spain and Argentina have such a strong team that I doubt Italy had any chance of winning it this time. It would be still disappointing to not see some of my favourite players like Buffonn and Verratti at the World Cup.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Not just Italy.

No Dutch ... no Chile ... no USA, too.

But Italy will be missed, especially here in Montreal. In 2006, when Italy won the WC, and Portugal went to the semi's, the cops closed portions of the Main and elsewhere so that after victories fans could claim the streets as their own ....

Another reason to love this city.

I became a footy fan that summer regularly watching the games on the terraces of Montreal.

It would be hard at this time to predict anything but a Brazil/Germany final, notwithstanding the Neymar injury .... Argentina are too lopsided and their forwards will likely be burned-out again ... France have depth but look like chokers to me .... Spain, hmmm don't think so ... Belgium are hugely talented individually but haven't convinced as a team in the '14 & '16 tournies ... and England, lol, likely the same old story.

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

France has probably the best team. Right from Mbappe to Umtiti and all the best stars but all are young. Spain has been playing very well recently and has a very strong team and more than half their team consists of Real Madrid and Barcelona players who have been playing together since a long time.

Like what happened in Champions Leauge between PSG vs Madrid and Tottenham vs Juventus, experience becomes so important in these kind of tournaments. Havig said that I feel Germany are the favourites because they have an amazing coach and amazing players

 

[Meta not Meta]

Yeah, but the problem with experience is that you gotta be relatively old to have it. These guys play a lot of games and many will likely be tired when a summer tournament comes along, one of the reasons recent world cups have been a disappointment ...

Germany are fairly young, too. Hard to look past them and a rejuvenated Brazil, who will want revenge for the debacle last time.

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

Wth Spain, when we say the old and experienced players, they are Ramos 29(Real Madrid Captain), Iniesta 33(Barcelon Captain) and Busquets 29, Jordi alba. Even though these players play through out the year, they are too good to be replaced and still play better than most of the youngsters.

Germany has a combination of both young and experienced. Ozil and Draxler are experienced and compliment each other well.

Brazil is definitely a strong contender. Neymar is keen to win the world cup especially because of Balon dOr.

These 5 or 6 teams are so strong that its difficult to predict who the winner will be. But its a good year to be a football fan as the World Cup begins right after Champion Leauge.

 

[Versaute]

Belgium is my dark horse to win it all this summer. They are loaded. Thibault Courtois (Chelsea) at GK, Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) and Eden Hazard (Chelsea) are world class, and Lukaku (Man U) is a physical presence at striker. A few years ago, they were ranked #1 by FIFA and I think their youth and lack of experience kept them from going deep at the last WC. But this time they could well go all the way.

Germany has to be the favorite but it's so hard to repeat. The big question mark will be whether Manuel Neuer, the world's best GK will be 100% fit and ready to go. He's been injured and has not played for Bayern this season. In defense, Hummels and Boateng are veteran studs. The best players on the German squad are IMHO Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) and Josh Kimmich (Bayern).

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

Neuer hasn't played since a while now and I am not sure if you noticed but his replacemwnt is Ter Stegen and at present he is rated the best Goalkeeper in the world along with Dea Gea. So even if Neuer comes back in time ot will be Ter Stegen and he is as good as Neuer. Check his stats for this year. Barcelona have let in the least goals and he and Umtiti have been the main reason behnind it.

But as you mentioned other players in Germany squad, they are experienced and really good and they haev probably the best coach amongst all others.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Spain were not great at the Euros and last WC; and it's not clear to me why they would be any better this time. Yes, they're not going to give-up a lot of goals; but probably won't score many either. Costa hasn't done it for the NT and Morata's confidence may be shot after year under Conte. Traditionally Spain is strong in the midfield, the basis of the success from '08 to '12, but Xavi is long gone and Busquets and Iniesta, especially, are in decline ... though Silva is having a good year, with limited minutes, at Man City (but he's old, too). Semi's at best, I think.

Controversial, but Brazil might actually be stronger without Neymar .... I mean, Coutinho is amazing and a lot less selfish than Neymar ... but if anyone can get the best of Neymar as a team guy it's probably Tite, so who knows, really. All those guys are just too good and peaking at the right time to be mere supporting players to Neymar. It can't be all about him as it was last time or '18 could easily be another disaster.

 

[Versaute]

Ter Stegen is good but he's not Neuer who has the reputation as an aggressive offensive-minded GK. Neuer's performance against Algeria in the knockout round at the last WC in Brazil. is forever etched in my mind. Germany is the land of GK and there have been some great ones. Coach Low will have a good problem to have, going with Neuer or Ter Stegen as the staring GK. I think that we'll see both in action depending on the opponent.

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

Spain were playing really good recently for some friendly matches and they won 3-0 against Italy. The best player on the field was Isco at that time. Isco in the midfield has been playing really well with the national team and he plays well with Morata, Silva and Iniesta. Iniesta definitely is in abit of decline but Busquets still is highly rated and is the one of the best holding mid fielders.

I totaly agree with the Neymar part. Unai Emery was sometimes helpless in getting the best out of him as he is too selfish and probably they are better off without him, but Tite will get the best out of him. I just hope that that they put other better defenders than Thiago Silva and David Luiz.

 

[EagerBeaver]

France and Argentina

 

[Doc Holliday]

Hard to pick a winner in one of the most corrupt sports on the planet.

I'll pick whomever Vladimir Putin decides should win.

 

[Meta not Meta]

France and Argentina

Argentina?

Maybe ... if it were a WC with nothing but forwards ...

... I like the coach, though; and it may be Messi's last chance to win one.

France?

Pogba's way too flakey; and not enough leaders/character-guys generally ... long way from Zidane/Thuram/Viera-era brains & cojones.

... and losing at home in the Euro final to Portugal? C'mon, they aren't serious ...

 

[Jonathankeeves2]

France?

Pogba's way too flakey; and not enough leaders/character guys generally ... long way from Zidane/Thuram/Viera-era brains & cojones..

France has gotten much better after their loss and actually has one of the best teams.

Forwards: Mbappe, Griezman, Osumane Dembele, Lacazette, Giroud, Martial

Mid: Pogba, Ngolo Kante, Blaise Matuidi

Winger: Lemar Defence: Umtiti, Varane and Koscienly and Goalkeeper: Hugo Loris. All are starters at the top clubs

 

[EagerBeaver]

France is very good and I feel that Messi is going to pick up Argentina and carry them. He hasn’t been good in international play for Argentina and this is overdue to happen. It would not surprise me if he gets the Golden Ball.

 

[Meta not Meta]

The French fowards are overrated, Mbappe is exciting but still a teenager, let's not get carried away, and he hasn't been that great for PSG this year. Not sure he'll even start. Griez is having an off year at AM, isn't he? Dembele's been on a longterm injury and almost as young as Mbappe, I think. Laca just had surgery and has been terrible at Arsenal; and Giroud & Martial are mostly bench players at their clubs.

Kante is great, notwithstanding the mysterious fainting episodes--hopefully Conte hasn't fucked with his head. Not crazy about Matuidi but he's about the only leader they've got. Pogba will have no defensive responsibilities in that MF so he might flourish ...

Mendy should be back in time ... but Kos looks like he's devoid of confidence and is having a shitty year with the Arse. I like the other CFs ... but Lhoris, too, is overrated.

And Deschamps ain't exactly a great tactician, is he?

They got lucky against the Germans at the Euros. Won't happen this year.

 

[Meta not Meta]

The problem with Messi is twofold:

He's what, 30 now? Not ancient but he plays a shitload of games for Barca. Worse, with the NT, he has no reliable MF to win back and feed him the ball, so without a Barca-quality MF with reliable possesion he has to track back all the time to get it, tiring him out further.

The guy is heroic, obviously, and the only reason Argentina made it out of the qualifiers ... but there's only so much he (and a healthy Aguero and the other forwards) can do ....

 

[EagerBeaver]

Bet against France and Argentina at your peril.....

 

[Meta not Meta]

Spain's David Silva is looking completely world class today, for Man City ...

If he runs Spain's midfield as well as he does Man City's, look out ..... guy's amazing! Belgium's De Bruyne, too! Stoke City could barely get a touch ....