Watching the preview on FS1. The camerawork is horrible. Winners: Brazil Surprises: Argentina out in the group stage. Biggest VAR losers: England
Fox are going to be awful. Terrible pundits and production. They will ruin the experience. But. England to win the lot.
I'm actually very excited for the tournament but yeah have that void without the US in it. Winners: Spain. Mostly because everyone is now writing them off Quietly Good: Belgium Out in PKs: England Met a guy at the bar last night who was flying over this morning. This was going to be my "away" World Cup and I'm really wishing I still would have gone. Let the games begin!
Saudi Arabia is bad. I'm not sure that Russia is that good, but there were some pretty goals today....
Didn't know this. Rafa Marquez is under sanctions from the US for alleged money laundering for a drug kingpin. So team sponsors don't want him wearing their brand name. See the picture of him in plain gear while the others have Coke logos. http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-rafael-marquez-20180615-story.html
Is the Fox broadcast of Morocco vs. Iran sketchy for anyone else? Pausing and interference. I am on DirecTV. Nonetheless, I blame Lalas. The highlight shows have been awful, a mere ghost of ESPN's work. To state the obvious: MLS would announce both of today's games as sellouts... unless they were being played in Columbus. Either way, it's nice to actually watch the Beautiful Game. Haven't watched MLS since the Toronto conference final last season. Watched the two recent Nats friendlies and the Champions League Final, and that's been it save for a quick EPL game or Championship tilt. Dong Arber: ruining soccer for Americans with a conscience.
Ronaldo was spectacular and todays match up was a beautiful gm. De Gea tho should have stopped the 2nd gol
Nothing like hearing a game called by JP Delacrap: "Half the stadium is now in shade. The other half is in the sun."
Everything on Fox is horrible. I found a highlight show last night on FS2 that didn't have any of the Fox clowns on. Just highlights.
This morning we put this WC on for the first time. Gave Markus a disclaimer that the US did not make it so we can pick individual teams to follow like Iceland and individual player’s like the guy coming on for Argentina right now. Markus is doing the Higuaín chant. So odd to have soccer on right now. We have been avoiding all soccer except Crew games. I think I am turning a corner and not letting my hate/hurt to guide my viewing. Cheers..?
I see what you guys mean by these Fox announcers... Now I need to have my kids unlearn that you do not necessarily beat someone when you tie 1-1.
More pouting? More: if we aren't there I don't care? Look, I can certainly understand some reservations against Russia/Putin. Or dampened enthusiasm since we are not in it. Or general anti-FIFA sentiment. But this WC is loaded. Ronaldo & Messi. Neymar. Sanchez & Cavani. Spain plays beautifully. Brazil is not a one man show with Jesus. Germany are Germany. France are loaded. Belgium as well. Iceland as underdogs. That Portugal v Spain game was fantastic. I really do not get the WC apathy if the US is not there. I mean, we only play 3 or 4 out of 64 (?) games. And we are not a threat to win.