The MLS N&A 2018 World Cup Thread [Multiple R]

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by Sachsen, May 18, 2018.

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Prediction for Championship Match

Poll closed Jul 15, 2018.
  1. France by 2 or more

    6 vote(s)
    40.0%
  2. France by one in 90 minutes

    3 vote(s)
    20.0%
  3. France in extra time

    1 vote(s)
    6.7%
  4. France by PKs

    1 vote(s)
    6.7%
  5. Croatia by PKs

    2 vote(s)
    13.3%
  6. Croatia in extra time

    2 vote(s)
    13.3%
  7. Croatia by one in 90 minutes

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Croatia by 2 or more

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Sachsen

    Sachsen Member+

    Aug 8, 2003
    Broken Arrow, Okla.
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So, come on, we've got to have a World Cup thread in this forum. I know, I know, the USA won't be there. But IT'S THE FREAKING WORLD CUP, MAN. The World Cup in 1990 was the birth of my life as a soccer fan and I will never, ever forget it. If you can suspend your cynicism towards all things FIFA for one month, the magic of the Cup cannot be matched in any other event.

    Opening match is June 14 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, Russia vs Saudi Arabia.

    Complete schedule with TV info:
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/2018-world-cup/schedule

    # of MLS Players named to World Cup squads per team
    CLB - 1
    HOU - 1
    LAF - 4
    LAG - 2
    MNU - 1
    NYC - 2
    NYR - 2
    ORL - 2
    POR - 2
    SJE - 2
    SEA - 3
    VAN - 1
    ATL, CHI, COL, DCU, FCD, MON, NER, PHI, RSL, SKC, TOR - 0

    https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/05/14/mls-players-named-2018-fifa-world-cup-squads
     
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  2. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Let's all be nice this time.
     
  3. Sachsen

    Sachsen Member+

    Aug 8, 2003
    Broken Arrow, Okla.
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So... World Cup? Yay?

    ;)
     
  4. Namrog The Just

    Namrog The Just Member+

    L.A. Galaxy
    United States
    Jul 2, 2007
    Baltimore County, Maryland
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I hope everybody's favorite nation wins the World Cup. I'm like, totally inclusive and stuff.
     
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  5. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Rooting for Sweden, with or without Zlatan. Got to stick with my heritage.
     
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  6. PTFC in KCMO

    PTFC in KCMO Member+

    Aug 12, 2012
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Is it safe in here?
     
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  7. RafaLarios

    RafaLarios Member+

    Oct 2, 2009
    Medellín
    Club:
    Atletico Nacional
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    My allegiances lay with (in decreasing order):
    Colombia (of Course)
    Other SA teams
    Germany
    Brazil
    Argentina
    Any Asian Team
    Any African Team
    Any Concacaf team
    Any other European team
    Chernobyl
     
  8. Gamecock14

    Gamecock14 Member+

    May 27, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I had a good post in the other thread. :):):)
     
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  9. Formulaic

    Formulaic Member

    Jul 6, 2011
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So when the US failed, I started picking my other teams to pull for. And basically every one of them ended up in group D. Croatia is my wifes heritage, Argentina is my bandwagon, I flew with the Nigerian team to Brazil and have kinda followed them since...and obviously everyone in the world is going to cheer for Iceland.

    Other teams I have interest in: Switzerland (my heritage), and the CONCACAF teams, though I always have a tough time rooting for Mexico. I would love for Panama to keep England from going through for the luls.
     
  10. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I think I'm rooting for:

    Hasselhoff's unironic music stardom
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    Van Halen's 2nd biggest hit of 1984
     
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  11. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I dunno. Without the US, I'm kind of meh about the whole thing. Actually bummed MLS is taking the two week break (which translates into my Loons having a month between home games...thanks Don).

    Hope Panama goes out in the first round because of the Blas Perez phantom goal that never crossed the line. :)

    Hope Costs Rica goes out in the first round so we can get Calvo back into our lineup. :)

    Hope Mexico loses every match 7-0 because, well, it's Mexico. :)

    Really don't care who wins, but I'll probably enjoy what I watch more since I'm neutral...more or less... :)
     
  12. An Unpaved Road

    An Unpaved Road Member+

    Mar 22, 2006
    Club:
    --other--
    I'll be a neutral just hoping for entertainment value. In the past couple of years I've been feeling some soccer viewing fatigue aside from MLS and Champions League knockouts, so hopefully the spectacle draws me back.
     
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  13. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm actually looking forward to this.

    Of course, when the USMNT didn't qualify, I was crushed. And angry. And embarrassed. And naturally, I feel bad that I'm not going to get that live-or-die moment that comes every four years.

    But it's still a wonderful event, with soccer being the focal point of the world for a month. And we can watch it without the pressure of wondering how everything affects us.

    Plus, I've got a feeling that VAR is going to be a gigantic mess, and we don't have to worry about getting screwed by it.
     
  14. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ^^^^ This. So much this. Pass the popcorn.
     
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  15. KCbus

    KCbus Moderator
    Staff Member

    United States
    Nov 26, 2000
    Reynoldsburg, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm all for VAR. I think it's going to be a great addition for the game.

    But right now, it's still so new, and there are still so many competitions around the world that don't use it yet, that saying "there are kinks to iron out" would be the understatement of the year.

    I also don't understand this impulse FIFA has every four years that they have certain points of emphasis they want to stress, and they want to start those changes at the biggest tournament on the planet, as opposed to giving everyone a couple years to figure it out first.
     
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  16. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Like, maybe, qualifying?
     
  17. jayd8888

    jayd8888 Member+

    Aug 22, 2006
    Denver CO
    Group B is just missing Algeria. I think I'll be sure to watch how that one plays out.
     
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  18. Gamecock14

    Gamecock14 Member+

    May 27, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Geography wise, we may never have a closer World Cup group. The only way it could have been closer is if Saudi Arabia was involved instead of Iran.

    The only other close groups would be (if they all had qualified) - Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. I am pretty sure this group would cause wars.

    (I know there are other countries that could count and make it closer, but the chances of those teams qualifying are difficult.)
     
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  19. AeroNaught

    AeroNaught Member+

    Atlanta United
    Feb 14, 2007
    Birmingham, AL
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So Salah is out for sure? Man that's a bummer if true...hate seeing great players not play because of injury, and as a result I probably won't watch any Egypt games.
     
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  20. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  21. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am totally excited for the World Cup. The tournament I least enjoyed wasn't one of the ones I watched in which we didn't participate, but the one in 1998 when we were more or less pitiful - and I think things were shaping up for a pitiful tournament if we had managed to make it this time around, so I am less disappointed than I expected. Mostly just excitement.

    Who to root for though? I have some affiliation from living in Portugal for a year and a half, Spain half a year, Mexico for a summer, and Sweden for a summer. I studied the Argentine national team for my MA thesis. I knew a couple of players from the Super Eagles back in the day. I "fell in love" with the Beautiful Game watching Belgium play in 1986. I have a soft spot for underdogs and more especially for countries where this really matters to a populace, but where hooliganism is all but non-existent. I want CONCACAF to do well so we merit whatever spots we get in a given tournament's allocations. I prefer beautifully played soccer, and I prefer teams with heart (which are often competing preferences, but whatever). One of my favorite-ever moments was watching Colombia tie West Germany late in 1990, with the announcer screaming that it was "PROOF THAT GOD. IS. COLOMBIAN!" I like upsets. I have good friends in/from several of the competing countries. So who to root for?

    I am going to root for . . . Peru!
     
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  22. BalanceUT

    BalanceUT RSL and THFC!

    Oct 8, 2006
    Appalachia
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I will not be watching the World Cup. It is completely about Putin. He's at the level of a Bond villain in my mind. The attempt to reform FIFA didn't even get a chance to take two steps before Putin shut it down... http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/23714076/inside-battle-russian-influence-fifa

    I'm fortunate in that I don't have to be torn between the US team competing vs. my repulsion at the corruption of international soccer. I can just ignore it.

    I won't completely ignore it, of course. I'll read news reports and such. But, I won't watch it on TV. I've got a good bit of binge watching on Netflix I can do.
     
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  23. Sachsen

    Sachsen Member+

    Aug 8, 2003
    Broken Arrow, Okla.
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As a cord cutter, I'm going to enjoy watching nearly every game on free OTA Telemundo, even though my Spanish is worse than elementary.
     
  24. Knave

    Knave Member+

    May 25, 1999
    I'm rooting for this to be the worst World Cup ever.
     
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  25. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm almost certain VAR will see to that
     
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