2018 FIFA World Cup thread

Discussion in 'England' started by BarryfromEastenders, Nov 16, 2017.

  1. BarryfromEastenders

    Staff Member

    Jul 6, 2008
    W.A.S.P. and Marcho Gamgee repped this.
  2. W.A.S.P.

    W.A.S.P. Member+

    Leeds United
    England
    Sep 20, 2012
    St. Louis
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Most likely we'll get a manageable group by the looks of the pots.

    I'd like to get drawn with Belgium or Germany in pot 1. We've given Germany plenty of trouble in the past three fixtures and I think we'd do the same to Belgium.
     
  3. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Damn, my first attempt gave us Argentina, Senegal and Serbia. Wouldn't fancy that draw.
     
  4. W.A.S.P.

    W.A.S.P. Member+

    Leeds United
    England
    Sep 20, 2012
    St. Louis
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    My draw simulator has us in Group D with Poland, Egypt, and Japan.

    Despite our seed I gurantee you the media would favor us to top the group despite all the low expectations.
     
  5. W.A.S.P.

    W.A.S.P. Member+

    Leeds United
    England
    Sep 20, 2012
    St. Louis
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Argentina with Messi will be very tough, but I fancy our chances against Senegal and Serbia.
     
  6. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    The problem I have and it's kind of a 'No shit Sherlock moment ' is that I just can't be that confident until I see what our Squad/team is likely to be nearer the time. Obviously form and injuries will have a huge impact on the quality of Squad we could take, for instance my primary concern is that midfield area, if we take players that we should be taking, is: Winks, Wilshire, Lallana, RLC etc then I would feel much better but if we end up with Henderson, Livermore and Cork then I can't see us getting out of the group whatever is thrown our way.
     
  7. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    #7 Marcho Gamgee, Nov 16, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2017
    I certainly wouldn't want Germany in our group, different gravy in a competitive game than playing in a friendly. I think they would beat us quite comfortably if I'm honest. Belgium would be also tough, personally think our best hope from pot 1 is Russia ( despite bring hosts ) and Poland.
     
  8. Rabbi Keane

    Rabbi Keane Member

    Aug 13, 2003
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Russia from pot 1 for sure, and one of Panama or Saudi Arabia in pot 4 seem the easiest draw possible. Then Costa Rica or Iran?
     
  9. W.A.S.P.

    W.A.S.P. Member+

    Leeds United
    England
    Sep 20, 2012
    St. Louis
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I just have a bad feeling that we'll shite ourselves playing against Russia like we almost did against Ukraine in 2012.
     
  10. Jenks

    Jenks Member+

    Feb 16, 2013
    Club:
    --other--
    We already know what's going to happen. We're going to go there with the right system but the wrong personnel, play badly as a result, and then go out against the first top team we meet.
     
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  11. Rabbi Keane

    Rabbi Keane Member

    Aug 13, 2003
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Im more positive, but it do depend on fitness of key personnel.
     
  12. dbs235

    dbs235 Member

    Mar 30, 2013
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Looks like we're in for a tough group. Then again our problem has been breaking down weaker teams that just park the bus against us.
     
  13. ChristianSur

    ChristianSur Member+

    May 5, 2015
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    If anyone's interested, the Elo ratings (not infallible, but far better than the FIFA rankings at predicting results) suggest that the best group we could get would be:

    Russia (even allowing for home advantage)
    England
    Tunisia
    Saudi Arabia

    And the worst:

    Brazil
    England
    Denmark
    Serbia

    My first random draw gave us Brazil, Denmark, and Japan, but hopefully the universe has got that out of its system now. If we draw Belgium, Poland, or Russia, then Elo will have us as favourites to win our group. Otherwise, second favourites.
     
  14. thebigman

    thebigman Member+

    May 25, 2006
    Birmingham
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    We need a good side in our group imo

    Euro 96 we had Holland who we were nervous of but conquored

    In 98 we had Romania who beat us

    04 France beat us

    Sweden were decent in 02

    These torments we played well in imo and should’ve won 96 and done better in the others bar 02
     
  15. ChristianSur

    ChristianSur Member+

    May 5, 2015
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    We had some good sides in our group in 2014...
     
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  16. The Potter

    The Potter Member+

    Aug 26, 2004
    England
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I think Russia may have the refs on their side, I would not fancy drawing them.
     
  17. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Hmmm, could have sworn I heard the other day that there can only be two European teams max per group, must have heard wrong.
     
  18. thebigman

    thebigman Member+

    May 25, 2006
    Birmingham
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    True lol
     
  19. lanman

    lanman BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 30, 2002
    Denmark are the one team I would be worried about from the lower pools, mainly because of Eriksen. I'd take our chance against the others, regardless of the top seed. That said, if you offered us Poland, Iran and Australia, I'd take that in a heartbeat.
     
  20. ChristianSur

    ChristianSur Member+

    May 5, 2015
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    You may be right, in which case my one random draw was literally as bad as it could be.
     
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  21. The Potter

    The Potter Member+

    Aug 26, 2004
    England
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    What do people think Southgate's first 11 in a 3-5-2 (which seems to be his preferred formation), could he fit Alli and Lallana in the team?
     
  22. ChristianSur

    ChristianSur Member+

    May 5, 2015
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    According to the papers, something like this:

    Hart

    Stones Dier Jones

    Walker Lallana Henderson Winks Rose

    Alli

    Kane​
     
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  23. The Potter

    The Potter Member+

    Aug 26, 2004
    England
    Club:
    Stoke City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I'd really worry if Dier isn't in midfield, or at least some sort of dm, that midfield would get over run, I can live with Henderson as a box to box but as an anchor I'd be concerned. A mint back three though.
     
  24. ChristianSur

    ChristianSur Member+

    May 5, 2015
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    I'd prefer Dier in midfield too (not least because we have tons of good centre-back options and rather less genuinely good midfielders) but when two non-cooperative papers are reporting the same thing, I tend to think that there's probably something behind it. Really can't understand the apparent determination to fit Henderson into the team. Nothing that he's done for Liverpool this season or England ever has warranted it.
     
  25. LiftYourGame

    LiftYourGame New Member

    Manchester United
    Nov 17, 2017
    Anyone looking for a match up with Australia? It's been far too long since we've had an "Ashes" game in a proper tournament (at least 20 years IIRC).
     

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