Who will win World Cup Soccer in Russia?

[OftenWrong]

13 hours ago, bcsapper said:

That goal by Kroos in the 95th minute was heartbreaking.

 

For you maybe. Pretty sure there was an earthquake in every German "wirtschaft" in the world.

Edited June 24, 2018 by OftenWrong

[CITIZEN_2015]

5 hours ago, OftenWrong said:

Really, against Spain??? Don't be ridiculous. They never had a chance, but they played very well.
 

They played better than Spain in second half and missed lots of chances as well with one disallowed goal. Iran players are under a lot of pressure both internally (the regime hates win and subsequent national celebrations sometimes resulting in slogans and renewed sense of nationalism) and externally (not sure where they got their shoes as Nike boycotted players. Hopefully in the next world cup with a new regime in Iran and high moral they will make it to semi finals. They are as good as any other team in the group 8 which will qualify for semi finals. Best defense but issues in scoring.

[OftenWrong]

48 minutes ago, CITIZEN_2015 said:

They played better than Spain in second half and missed lots of chances as well with one disallowed goal. Iran players are under a lot of pressure both internally (the regime hates win and subsequent national celebrations sometimes resulting in slogans and renewed sense of nationalism) and externally (not sure where they got their shoes as Nike boycotted players. Hopefully in the next world cup with a new regime in Iran and high moral they will make it to semi finals. They are as good as any other team in the group 8 which will qualify for semi finals. Best defense but issues in scoring.

I'd be happy to see them win (except for where the Ayatollahs take credit, of course). A winner plays hard to the very end, and I think Iran did that as a team. Credit to Panama for fighting to get at least one goal.  Argentina gave up before the game was over, and they are out now.

England played a wonderful game, they look to be a strong team this year. But then, it was only against Panama, so. Look forward to watching them in the next round.

Edited June 24, 2018 by OftenWrong
added exception

[-TSS-]

It's an eternal worry for FIFA that Americans don't like soccer. That was certainly a factor which prompted the organisation to award the 2026 competition to three North-American countries to be co-hosted.

What baffles me is why did they even include Canada. I can understand Mexico because Mexicans just love the game but Canada?

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, -TSS- said:

It's an eternal worry for FIFA that Americans don't like soccer. That was certainly a factor which prompted the organisation to award the 2026 competition to three North-American countries to be co-hosted.

What baffles me is why did they even include Canada. I can understand Mexico because Mexicans just love the game but Canada?

Americans like soccer.  It's just not number one.  They are like the Aussies or the Kiwis.  They just prefer other sports.

The US did hold the WC back in the nineties, if I remember correctly.  It was a fairly successful tournament.

[kactus]

5 hours ago, bcsapper said:

Americans like soccer.  It's just not number one.  They are like the Aussies or the Kiwis.  They just prefer other sports.

The US did hold the WC back in the nineties, if I remember correctly.  It was a fairly successful tournament.

1994

[CITIZEN_2015]

Team e Meli of Iran is going to battle the European champion with low moral having in the back of their minds that their families and friends are out on streets of Iran battling the regime mercenaries back home in order to liberate Iran from occupying regime. Good luck to Iran soccer player in their mission impossible to defeat Portugal.

Edited June 25, 2018 by CITIZEN_2015

[SpankyMcFarland]

On 6/24/2018 at 10:15 AM, OftenWrong said:

Really, against Spain??? Don't be ridiculous. They never had a chance, but they played very well.
 

In a World Cup scenario, where the top players are trying to readjust after big club seasons, you always have a chance. Spain are not quite the great team they were and will be thanking their lucky stars they don't have to face Uruguay next. Too many geezers. They scraped a draw today. Well done Morocco and Iran for giving it everything. 

Edited June 25, 2018 by SpankyMcFarland

[CITIZEN_2015]

Iran 1 Portugal 1

Very sad game. Iran did not deserve elimination. Best defense. Best goalkeeper who stopped a penalty by best soccer player in the world. Team e Meli almost defeated European champion. Congratulations to Team e Meli and their supporters. But it is sad they were eliminated. Very sad. In 2022 Iranians will massively celebrate for two reasons. Going to semi final and second and much more important for monarchy back to power by then and with lion and sun flags.

Edited June 25, 2018 by CITIZEN_2015

[-TSS-]

The VAR-system is supposed to eradicate obvious errors but it has become something of farce as it has gone to that thatevery unclear situation is later reviewed, which disrupts the game totally. However, if that is what it takes to prevent any more "hand of God"-goals then so be it.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, -TSS- said:

The VAR-system is supposed to eradicate obvious errors but it has become something of farce as it has gone to that thatevery unclear situation is later reviewed, which disrupts the game totally. However, if that is what it takes to prevent any more "hand of God"-goals then so be it.

My inner jury is still out on VAR.  I think it needs refining.

[CITIZEN_2015]

Iranian female soccer fans threw away the forced hijab into garbage bags and breathed freedom for a short while while passionately supporting their team.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/712121/iran-hottest-fan-hijab-viral-photo-world-cup-portugal

Soon they all will be free again to dress based on their choice under a free Iran like their mothers used to do when progressive Pahlavi dynasty was in power.

Edited June 25, 2018 by CITIZEN_2015

[OftenWrong]

6 minutes ago, CITIZEN_2015 said:

Iranian female soccer fans threw away the forced hijab into garbage bags and breathed freedom for a short while while passionately supporting their team.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/712121/iran-hottest-fan-hijab-viral-photo-world-cup-portugal

Soon they all will be free again to wear dress of their choice under a free Iran like their mother used to do when progressive Pahlavi dynasty was in power.

Why so? You make it sound like big changes are coming in Iran.

[CITIZEN_2015]

1 hour ago, OftenWrong said:

Why so? You make it sound like big changes are coming in Iran.

For the first time the regime is under pressure both internally by the nation demanding an end to islamic republic (and again for the first time it is the poor who started the protests against the regime who used to be their core supporters) and also under external pressure mainly by the US and the incoming severe sanctions. Unlike the idiot called Obama who slept with the mullahs, Trump is smart and he knows that removal of this cancerous regime is good for the whole world not just Iranian people and he knows just how to do it too. No compromise no handshakes with the devil this time until the devil is back on hell.

Edited June 25, 2018 by CITIZEN_2015

[CITIZEN_2015]

The title of this thread is who will win the world cup soccer. The games not ended yet but winner already established and the winner for world cup 2018 is:

Iranian women real winner in FIFA world cup soccer in 2018.

http://ifpnews.com/exclusive/iranian-women-real-winners-of-iran-spain-match-in-fifa-world-cup/

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/21/irans-female-football-supporters-make-history-at-world-cup-stadium-screening

[SpankyMcFarland]

I think VAR has been a big improvement and has delivered justice several times already e.g. Spain's second goal. Let's hope it will be used to catch a few of the rascals pretending to have been fouled. 

As to who will win - probably not the best team. So much depends on luck in this format. 

Edited June 25, 2018 by SpankyMcFarland

[OftenWrong]

56 minutes ago, CITIZEN_2015 said:

For the first time the regime is under pressure both internally (and again for the first time it is the poor who started the protests against the regime who used to be their core supporters) and also under external pressure mainly by the US and the incoming severe sanctions. Unlike the idiot called Obama who slept with the mullahs, Trump is smart and he knows that removal of this cancerous regime is good for the whole world not just Iranian people and he knows just how to do it too. No compromise no handshakes with the devil this time until the devil is back on hell.

Let's hope so. Otherwise, no World Cup!    

[kactus]

Well what a match between Iran and Portugal....

First, I will congratulate the players and their coach Carlos Queiroz who did a fantastic job to bring them to this stage against and play very tough opponents to qualify. 

Have to say though that Portugal's only goal against Iran was fantastic and nicely executed.

The second half was full of drama and I had some innate suspicion that the referee's decision to grant Ronaldo a bizarre penalty kick was wrong. That wasn't a penalty. And what makes it worse is that despite the introduction of VAR the referee took too long to refer to screen. Interestingly....Ronaldo undoubtedly one of the world's best football player's penalty kick was saved by the Iranian keeper. He also picked a yellow card for elbowing an Iranian player which IMO should have been red. In any case he will be on bench in Portugal's next match against Uruguay..(Karma works in mysterious ways :))

Now back to the point on VAR....As I have said I am a big fan of this into football games. However, last night's game between Iran and Portugal was very poorly managed by the Paraguayan referee. It looked as though we needed another referee just to referee him....I was also disappointed by the acrobatic shows of primarily Portuguese players taking every opportunity to dive on the pitch and making a scene to waste time and get referee's attention...This still happening despite the VAR in place. That was really lame and kills the spirit of the game.

I think despite the adversities that Iranian players faced pre world cup they performed remarkably. These shortfalls ranged from Nike boycotting the players and didn't give them trainers because of sanctions or Iran's friendly matches that were cancelled...It doesn't matter that on the score sheet the Iranians lost. They scored on penalty against Portugal when Portugal's undoubtedly best player Ronaldo failed to score a penalty...It was an honourable goal and many other opportunities for Iran especially in last minutes to score....

[CITIZEN_2015]

Two very interesting and exciting games this weekend. On Saturday Portugal takes on Uruguay and on Sunday Spain takes on Russia (Russia playing at home).

I predict Portugal and Spain as the winners.

[capricorn]

I know little about soccer and the talents of the World Cup teams. Going on gut instinct alone I select England and Spain for the final.

[-TSS-]

Maradona has become old... and fat. He also behaves like a donkey with giving the middle-finger to the fans of the other team.

[CITIZEN_2015]

Upset of the year!!!!!

Wow Asian team South Korea defeated and eliminated Germany!!!! Again all these happening in extra time.

South Korea 2 Germany 0.

The defending Champion eliminated as a result. Well done South Korea.

[Guest]

6 hours ago, CITIZEN_2015 said:

Upset of the year!!!!!

Wow Asian team South Korea defeated and eliminated Germany!!!! Again all these happening in extra time.

South Korea 2 Germany 0.

The defending Champion eliminated as a result. Well done South Korea.

There's probably something very wrong with how happy that makes me feel.

Meh, I'll see the Psychiatrist tomorrow...

[capricorn]

Amusing video on types of fake dives in soccer. They are the platoon, the finish line and the belly flop.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.3991918

[-TSS-]

Even canada has appeared once in the world cup final tournament. That was 32 years ago in 1986. They did not proceed from their group. Must have passed largely unnoticed in Canada at the time as even if soccer is gaining popularity these days even in North-America that was certainly not the case in the 80's.