World Cup 2018

With the greatest tournament on the planet to take place about 2 1/2 months from today in Russia, it's time to get a discussion going. As an American, my favorite national team is of course USA. Unfortunately, they failed to qualify for the first time in 28 years. Given that powerhouses such as Italy, Netherlands and Copa America winner Chile also failed to qualify and even Argentina barely made it on the final day of qualifying, it isn't that surprising. As a USA follower though, it's a disaster, especially because CONCACAF is a weak region relatively speaking and 4 teams have qualified.

So who is your favorite national team? For the purposes of this World Cup, mine is France.

Who do you believe will win the 2018 World Cup? IMO I believe it will come down to Brazil or Germany and I'm giving Germany a slight edge. And the latest is that Neymar's injury will not keep him out of the World Cup.

The oddsmakers have it this way for the top 8:

Germany 9/2
Brazil 5/1
France 6/1
Spain 7/1
Argentina 8/1
Belgium 11/1
England 16/1
Portugal 25/1

 

germany for the win...but I'll be cheering for Belgium...

 

Belgium has a relatively easy path to get to the 1/4 finals. Their group (G) consists of Panama, Tunisia and England. Their toughest opponent in the group is England. If they win or place second their next opponent in the knockout round of 16 will be either the first or second place team from Group H, which consists of Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan. They do have a talented squad so they should be able to go deep but I doubt they get beyond the 1/4 finals.

 

if tiny Denmark, Greece, portugal and Netherlands can win the Euro then I've faith Belgium can win the WC...a good base of talent, an astute manager and with a little bit of luck, it can be done...winning the WC isn't that much more difficult than the Euro, a couple of major sides aren't there(Brz/Arg) but the weaker teams in the euro are stronger than the weak teams in the WC...just my opinion of course

 

I'm not saying Belgium can't win the World Cup, I'm just saying their chances are slim. There are always surprises at the World Cup. Last World Cup Costa Rica won their group against 3 former World Cup winners and Brazil was humiliated 7-1 at home to Germany. And let's not forget the greatest upset ever in the World Cup when USA beat England 1-0 in 1950.

 

I don't disagree the odds are long but far from impossible...if thought there was no chance I wouldn't bother watching

 

There's always a chance unless and until a team is mathematically eliminated but I watch most of the significant World Cup matches regardless that for some teams I'm pretty certain there's no chance. I watched all 3 group games for the USA in 1990 despite that I was sure they had no chance to get out of the group.

 

Some friendlies ahead of the World Cup. Spain 6 Argentina 1 without Messi. This one exposes Argentina as a much weaker side than expected (with or without Messi) and Spain could be the powerhouse they were when they last won the World Cup. Brazil 1 Germany 0 but Germany did not play several of their starters. France 3 Colombia 1. England 1 Italy 1. Netherlands 3 Portugal 0 with Ronaldo and a bunch of 2nd stringers. Belgium 4 Saudi Arabia 0. Poland 2 South Korea 0. It is admittedly difficult to judge a team's World Cup chances based on friendlies as coaches tend to sort out who their starters and bench players may comprise their World Cup rosters.

 

aren't we suppose to boycott by not looking

 

I don't know who you mean by "we" but if you mean Americans the US would have sent the team if they qualified.

 

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

So, who do you think will win?

I say:

1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. Argentina

 

Bummer.

I didn't see your thread before starting mine.

Could you mods merge, and maybe sticky for the duration of the tournament, please?

 

You may ask, why Brazil?

Because, Neymar!

 

Thanks, mods.

 

their going to need more than Neymar...argentina had Messi and Portugal Ronaldo both better players than Neymar and they couldn't help their teams win the WC

 

I admit being biased in favor of Brazil, but they've got a great team who will want revenge against Germany, plus Neymar has been resting for a couple of months and will be in excellent condition.

So anyway, who do predict will be second and third best?

 

My predictions for teams advancing into the knockout rounds, by Group:

Group A: Russia, Uruguay
Group B: Spain, Portugal
Group C: France, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Croatia
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland
Group F: Germany, Mexico
Group G: Belgium, England
Group H: Colombia, Poland

Surprises: Egypt, Serbia, Australia

 

if russia goes out first round I'll be ple

as long as russia goes out in the first round I'll be pleased..

 

Only one host nation has ever failed to advance out of the group stage, that was South Africa. So don't bet against Russia.

 

This is going to be a great tournament.
My it is the first time Russians will host it.
I would love to see them beat England again.

 

The most recent rankings (top 10 only) to win the World Cup by one sportswriter:

1. Brazil
2. Spain
3. Germany
4. France
5. Belgium
6. Argentina
7. England
8. Uruguay
9. Colombia
10. Portugal

 

I heard positive stories about Brazil heading into a World Cup.

 

Spanish coach has just been sacked. Could change Spain's chances to win.

 

I have to agree with that, it will change the team's chemistry and psyche. It was a stupid move on the part of the Spanish federation.

 

Are you guys watching? Sorry haters, but I'm happy for Russia. They deserve to host the greatest tournament in the world, they're a great country!