OT: Soccer World Cup 2018 with spoilers

[wc1934]

So - you have one pick - who is going to lift the wc trophy?
I am rooting for Belgium.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by cadence90

Too late.

The NBA Finals just ended.


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golf clap

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

So - you have one pick - who is going to lift the wc trophy?
I am rooting for Belgium.

who's gonna play wingback for them?

Is Meunier fast enough?

edit: more like, is Carrasco defensively minded enough to play wingback?

[andeww]

Originally Posted by wc1934

So - you have one pick - who is going to lift the wc trophy?
I am rooting for Belgium.

I would like Argentina to win
I think Germany or Brazil take it

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by echappist

who's gonna play wingback for them?

Is Meunier fast enough?

edit: more like, is Carrasco defensively minded enough to play wingback?

I think Belgium is going to surprise a few people. They will be entertaining to watch and should score goals, while Courtois will hopefully have some clean sheets.
I like Meunier - he is serviceable - he is a big strong kid - He is somewhat creative - I like his passing.
To me, Carrasco is more offensive minded but I think overall Meunier is better.

[galgal]

Originally Posted by andeww

Doing a bracket at work, and i somehow have brazil- germany for the final. Would love to see brazil get some sweet revenge

Would be sweet revenge and a distinct possibility. But it won't heal the wound of 7-1 at home in a semi in "your" world cup. Brazil still hasn't forgotten the loss to Uruguay at home in the final, despite having won more than any other team since. I can sort of emphasize.

Btw, somehow? Aren't those the 2 top favorites

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

I think Belgium is going to surprise a few people. They will be entertaining to watch and should score goals, while Courtois will hopefully have some clean sheets.
I like Meunier - he is serviceable - he is a big strong kid - He is somewhat creative - I like his passing.
To me, Carrasco is more offensive minded but I think overall Meunier is better.

but those two are the wingbacks/fullbacks on the opposite sides of the field.

Surprisingly, they don't have anyone else for that position

edit: they left Lukaku's brother (a natural left back) off the roster. a bit confounding, really

[cadence90]

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[wc1934]

Originally Posted by echappist

but those two are the wingbacks/fullbacks on the opposite sides of the field.

Surprisingly, they don't have anyone else for that position

edit: they left Lukaku's brother (a natural left back) off the roster. a bit confounding, really

I just looked up their starting lineup - You are absolutely correct - I did not think Carrasco was starting - I just assumed that the left footed Dembele would play there - my bad!

[R3awak3n]

starting in 1 hour....

I am at work so why not watch the inaugural game

[andeww]

Originally Posted by galgal

Btw, somehow? Aren't those the 2 top favorites

Hah, yes .. poor use of words there

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

I just looked up their starting lineup - You are absolutely correct - I did not think Carrasco was starting - I just assumed that the left footed Dembele would play there - my bad!

s'aul good, man

btw, here are the top teams are their deficiencies (assuming no one gets injured)

Germany: striker, left back to a lesser extent
Portugal: entire back line. They got lucky two years ago by finishing third in their group.
Spain: uncertainties with the head honcho; otherwise as spotless a team
France: really can't think of any. Mendy lacking game time and a bit rusty?
Argentina: GK and outside backs; none of their GKs have more than 10 caps
Brazil: right back, as in Danilo not seeing enough game time
Belgium: outside backs
England: centerback(s); Walker isn't a centerback; Cahill doesn't have game time; and Stones. Well, the wittiest banter I heard all year was following the Liverpool - City league match: the Fab Four may have disbanded, but Firmino was rolling Stones. Come to think of it, Liverpool has a new fab four

Sorry, fans of El Tri, Colombia, Uruguay and Poland :P

So I guess Brazil, Germany, Spain, and France appears the strongest. So, the semifinalists. No idea whom to pick from the four

[JACKS]

my choices are Belgium/Brazil/France/Argentina

i would like to see Messi lift the cup before he rides into the sunset as the greatest of all time. But those Brazilian are super strong this year. and it being in Europe, it usually means an European nation will win it. so we shall see.

[galgal]

Originally Posted by echappist

s'aul good, man

btw, here are the top teams are their deficiencies (assuming no one gets injured)

Germany: striker, left back to a lesser extent
Portugal: entire back line. They got lucky two years ago by finishing third in their group.
Spain: uncertainties with the head honcho; otherwise as spotless a team
France: really can't think of any. Mendy lacking game time and a bit rusty?
Argentina: GK and outside backs; none of their GKs have more than 10 caps
Brazil: right back, as in Danilo not seeing enough game time
Belgium: outside backs
England: centerback(s); Walker isn't a centerback; Cahill doesn't have game time; and Stones. Well, the wittiest banter I heard all year was following the Liverpool - City league match: the Fab Four may have disbanded, but Firmino was rolling Stones. Come to think of it, Liverpool has a new fab four

Sorry, fans of El Tri, Colombia, Uruguay and Poland :P

So I guess Brazil, Germany, Spain, and France appears the strongest. So, the semifinalists. No idea whom to pick from the four

If your semifinals come true, they should be epic: France vs Brazil; Germany vs Spain
Don't have a prediction, but want/need/hope: France

Btw, with all the Spain/Real Madrid fuss, it would be really funny if in Portugal/Spain tomorrow, Ramos were to foul RM teammate Ronaldo who would then convert penalty to win the game...imagine the Spanish media/fan reaction

[cadence90]

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