Arena The *Official* 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread

Welcome to the FIFA World Cup 2018 thread.

This thread is for discussion of tournament events only. Any other football discussion, whether it be Manchester United, Liverpool, Benfica, Real Madrid or Accrington Stanley (who are they?) related should still go in The Beautiful Game thread.

The qualified teams:

Some useful links:
Football
FIFA World Cup
FIFA Official Website
Guardian guide to all 736 players.

Previous official world cup threads:
2002
2006
2010
2014

To conclude a FAQ:

I couldn't help but notice that this is called the WORLD cup but the greatest country in the world isn't participating, why?
Sadly enough the Netherlands couldn't qualify from their tough group which included France and Sweden.

Actually I was talking about USA! USA! USA!
Oh right... They lost to Trinidad & Tobago in the last match round which meant missing out on qualification.

 

The world cup will confuse most muricans as it involves places outside the US as in the world.


As opposed to the world series where the name is clearly a lie.



Anyway. I'll be content if England get out of the group stage. Pleased if we get passed the first knock out round.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

Enjoy a contented World Cup, Burty!

 

hopefully the aussies can beat peru but yeah no chance we make it out of the group.

 

Argentina to win the whole thing.

England to be sent packing in the group stages. Tradition must be maintained, boys.

 

Let's go Iceland!

 

That is so two years ago.

Look to Poland.

 

My money is on Belgium

 

In the past I've pulled for the USA and England (one is where I'm from and one is where I live). Guess it's just England this time around. At least this World Cup is fairly time-zone friendly for viewing in the UK and Europe.

 

I will probably add Iceland in lieu of the US. I was pretty impressed by them the last time.

 

Will be supporting England and Australia

I picked Germany to win because it’s Germany and you never pick against anyone but Germany in a World Cup. But yeh I hope Argentina win or maybe even France or Belgium. Someone different.

England should make it to the quarters really. They’ve got beatable teams until then. Out on penalties.

 

I hope Spain get thrashed in every group game, or just get knocked out thanks to a Sergio Ramos own goal. And then he cries.

 

Australia and England to get knocked out in first stage please. Argentina for the CUP!

 

I'm looking forward to this one, since the stench of American disappointment has already occurred, and won't taint the tournament proper.

I find myself in an odd position. With the Yanks not qualified, my only natural rooting interest is "whoever is playing Mexico." My favorite players on my two favorite club teams are from nations that didn't qalify, so I can't look there. And, too many of the bandwagons are either too full for my hipsterness to take (Iceland), too stacked to feel like it's not cheating to root for them (Germany, France), or don't have actual appeal (Panama). I think I'm just going to root for minimal upsets in the group stages, giving us the best teams and the best matches come knockout round. And for Mexico to go out in the cruelest, most painful way possible.

 

England & Egypt are my top-2.

 

You know there’s only one choice

INGERLUND

 

Tiago!!!! Hey buddy. I'm more excited to see you than the first couple World Cup matches.

 

I'd expect either Germany, Brazil, Spain or France will win it.

Belgium could come good, they're more than capable given the players they have.
But I don't see it happening.

Argentina might do well, but the team minus the front 3 isn't that great.

 

FIFA's fantasy football league is up, as always I've created a league:

JCC League
IVJAZFO4

Yeah the group stage matches will be dreadful.

 

Although I'm looking forward to seeing Iceland play anyone.