With under a month to go I figure why not start a thread. ⚽ We can use this for general discussion throughout the tournament but I thought I'd throw in this predictions game for anyone interested. It's basically similar to our Barca prediction game where we answer questions before the tournament begins and you receive various points for correct answers. I'll try to add up the scores and post running totals as the tournament progresses. 25 days until it begins so plenty of time to think over your answers but no more predictions will be allowed once Russia-Saudi Arabia kicks off on June 14. 1. Name the player who will score the first goal of World Cup 2018. (48 points) 2. Name the first player who will be shown a yellow or red card. (50 points) 3. Predict the results/scores for these eight opening round matches: A) Egypt - Uruguay B) Morocco - Iran C) Peru - Denmark D) Argentina - Iceland E) Costa Rica - Serbia F) Sweden - Korea Republic G) Tunisia - England H) Poland - Senegal 15 points each correct result (win/draw) 10 additional points for exact scoreline 25 total points possible for each match (200 total points available) * Helpful link for the next few predictions: * https://bracketchallenge.fifa.com/bracket/prediction 4. List in order the two teams that will finish first and second from each first round group: Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Group H 10 points for each team selected that advances. 10 additional points for each correct group winner 10 additional points each correct runner-up (320 total points possible) 5. Name the eight teams that will reach the Quarterfinals. (25 points each / 200 total points possible) 6. Name the four teams that will reach the Semi-finals. (75 points each / 300 total points possible) 7. Name the two countries that will contest the 2018 World Cup Final. (200 points each) 8. What will be the score in the Final after 90 minutes? (Just post a score without listing any teams) (200 points) 9. Which player will end up as the tournament's leading goal scorer? (200 points) 10. What will be the goal tally of the tournament's leading scorer? (100 points) TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 2018
But Higuain makes the team. Re Icardi, anyone believe his stealing of Maxi Lopez's wife plays a part in his not being selected? Only four appearances since 2013.
It could be, it certainly was controversial, but I think the woman in question made clear that Barca legend Maxi Lopez was cheating on her and she called it quits as a result and only then got together with his teammate (at Sampdoria). Wanda Nara told the following story: Maxi Lopez? He cheated and I got tired of it. It’s not true that Mauro was very good friends with Maxi. They were teammates and had a good relationship, but his best friends are in Argentina. Maxi and Mauro met several times and it was all very calm. The story, in fact, was noisier outside than inside. We won’t forget, for the good of the children, to try keeping our relationships as calm as possible. https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/wanda-nara-reveals-left-maxi-lopez-mauro-icardi/
Deschamps on Dembele's injury: “Right now we’re not ruling out having him available for Monday [a friendly against Ireland], based on the reports I have and his sensations,” ”I can’t hide the fact I feared the worst when I saw the tackle but I was able to talk with him and a serious injury was ruled out. ”It’s just a bit of bruising now after the sprain, but it’s not serious. It’s a small injury, he won’t miss the World Cup, no way.”
Ciao! 😃👋🏻 My @DFB_Team World Cup journey starts today💪🏻🇩🇪 #DesireToWin #BestNeverRest pic.twitter.com/GG1GqnTvFP— Marc ter Stegen (@mterstegen1) May 25, 2018
What a great idea. This will be a really fun game. Here are all of my predictions: ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name the player who will score the first goal of World Cup 2018. Fyodor Smolov (Russia) (48 points) 2. Name the first player who will be shown a yellow or red card. Osama Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia) (this is a really tough one to predict) (50 points) 3. Predict the results/scores for these eight opening round matches: A) Egypt - Uruguay Egypt 0-2 Uruguay B) Morocco - Iran Morocco 0-0 Iran C) Peru - Denmark Peru 2-2 Denmark D) Argentina - Iceland Argentina 3-1 Iceland E) Costa Rica - Serbia Costa Rica 1-2 Serbia F) Sweden - Korea Republic Sweden 2-0 South Korea G) Tunisia - England Tunisia 0-1 England H) Poland - Senegal Poland 2-3 Senegal 15 points each correct result (win/draw) 10 additional points for exact scoreline 25 total points possible for each match (200 total points available) * Helpful link for the next few predictions: * https://bracketchallenge.fifa.com/bracket/prediction 4. List in order the two teams that will finish first and second from each first round group: Group A: Uruguay, Russia Group B: Spain, Portugal Group C: France, Denmark Group D: Argentina, Croatia Group E: Brazil, Serbia Group F: Germany, Mexico Group G: Belgium, England Group H: Colombia, Senegal 10 points for each team selected that advances. 10 additional points for each correct group winner 10 additional points each correct runner-up (320 total points possible) 5. Name the eight teams that will reach the Quarterfinals. Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Croatia, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, England (25 points each / 200 total points possible) 6. Name the four teams that will reach the Semi-finals. Spain, Croatia, Brazil, Germany (75 points each / 300 total points possible) 7. Name the two countries that will contest the 2018 World Cup Final. Brazil vs Germany (200 points each) 8. What will be the score in the Final after 90 minutes? (Just post a score without listing any teams) 2-2 (200 points) 9. Which player will end up as the tournament's leading goal scorer? (200 points) 10. What will be the goal tally of the tournament's leading scorer? (100 points) TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 2018
Just an FYI, you didn't answer the last two questions. And YES this game is open to anyone, not just Barca fans. Hell, even @janos audron and his flawless predictions are welcome to have a go at this.
Oh thanks for letting me know. Here you go: Here are all of my predictions: ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name the player who will score the first goal of World Cup 2018. Fyodor Smolov (Russia) (48 points) 2. Name the first player who will be shown a yellow or red card. Osama Hawsawi (Saudi Arabia) (this is a really tough one to predict) (50 points) 3. Predict the results/scores for these eight opening round matches: A) Egypt - Uruguay Egypt 0-2 Uruguay B) Morocco - Iran Morocco 0-0 Iran C) Peru - Denmark Peru 2-2 Denmark D) Argentina - Iceland Argentina 3-1 Iceland E) Costa Rica - Serbia Costa Rica 1-2 Serbia F) Sweden - Korea Republic Sweden 2-0 South Korea G) Tunisia - England Tunisia 0-1 England H) Poland - Senegal Poland 2-3 Senegal 15 points each correct result (win/draw) 10 additional points for exact scoreline 25 total points possible for each match (200 total points available) * Helpful link for the next few predictions: * https://bracketchallenge.fifa.com/bracket/prediction 4. List in order the two teams that will finish first and second from each first round group: Group A: Uruguay, Russia Group B: Spain, Portugal Group C: France, Denmark Group D: Argentina, Croatia Group E: Brazil, Serbia Group F: Germany, Mexico Group G: Belgium, England Group H: Colombia, Senegal 10 points for each team selected that advances. 10 additional points for each correct group winner 10 additional points each correct runner-up (320 total points possible) 5. Name the eight teams that will reach the Quarterfinals. Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Croatia, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, England (25 points each / 200 total points possible) 6. Name the four teams that will reach the Semi-finals. Spain, Croatia, Brazil, Germany (75 points each / 300 total points possible) 7. Name the two countries that will contest the 2018 World Cup Final. Brazil vs Germany (200 points each) 8. What will be the score in the Final after 90 minutes? (Just post a score without listing any teams) 2-2 (200 points) 9. Which player will end up as the tournament's leading goal scorer? Neymar (200 points) 10. What will be the goal tally of the tournament's leading scorer? 5 goals (100 points) TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 2018
He will! The Swiss Supreme Court has lifted Guerrero's drug charge clearing him to play. (CAS/TAS recognize verdicts by the Swiss Supreme Court)
FIFA placed the ban... It was upheld by CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport)... The ban has temporarily been lifted by the Swiss Supreme Court so that they could look at the situation in full. Verdict won't be available until after the World Cup so Guerrero is cleared to play until then. The 14-month ban may still end up being upheld which means Guerrero could end up missing Copa America next year depending on when the Swiss Supreme Court renders its verdict. It should be noted that given the manner of how Guerrero ingested the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine (drinking a cup of coca tea, a common drink in South America) FIFA was not against him playing in the World Cup. They were simply following protocol of a positive test and CAS backed them up.
This proves that our only issue since Alves left is our RB position , even after all these years we still haven't found a replacment for him btw iniesta isn't playing in the world cup ?
He's in the squad of 23 and is vice-captain behind Sergio Ramos. (He was captain against Switzerland on Sunday. Ramos was still resting following UCL final. Captaincy is strictly based on number of Spain appearances.)