The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[The Bear]

Shearer loving VAR now after slagging it off.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

I wish they'd cut all this "never seen a worse German team" stuff. They were way worse in Euro 2000. Shearer even played and scored against them in that tournament.

Was just saying this.... on paper they have a more than decent team.

They have just played shite. I watched the Mexico game in Krakow a d couldn't believe how dirt they were.

 

[Jack Regan]

They should have brought the Confederation cup squad instead.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

They should have brought the Confederation cup squad instead.

Minus Leno and Wagner obviously...

 

[Parkins left foot]

Just need the Serbia/Brazil game to go the way no one expects to make this WC truly open

 

[Jack Regan]

Minus Leno and Wagner obviously...

Draxler as well, leaving Sane out has cost them as well. He'd walk into pretty much any team in the tournament let alone the squad.

 

[Dinowolf]

Still haven't seen Jiminez for Mexico.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Draxler as well, leaving Sane out has cost them as well. He'd walk into pretty much any team in the tournament let alone the squad.

As I said right on page one:

Germany have a few question marks hanging over them - is Werner going to get the goals on the big stage, they appear to be gambling on Neuer even though he hasn't played since September, Draxler, Özil and Müller have been short of form at club level for a while. They will of course challenge.

(We shall ignore the last five words)

He put his faith in players who simply weren't performing.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Still haven't seen Jiminez for Mexico.

He had a few mins against Germany I think, and thats been all. He didn't do great to be fair.

 

[Jack Regan]

Still haven't seen Jiminez for Mexico.

It was mentioned before the tournament that the coach doesn't really rate him.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Incomprehensible why teams give managers a new contract before a tournament. Löw is now signed up to 2022 but they need to sack him, surely?

And as we stand:

 

[Parkins left foot]

Incomprehensible why teams give managers a new contract before a tournament. Löw is now signed up to 2022 but they need to sack him, surely?

And as we stand:

Of what is there so far - Croatia are the best team for me

 

[Jack Regan]

Incomprehensible why teams give managers a new contract before a tournament. Löw is now signed up to 2022 but they need to sack him, surely?

Even the FA have stopped doing this now.

 

[Johnny75]

I think Croatia may make the final.

 

[darlowolf64]

I think Croatia may make the final.

Not if we're in their half of the draw... :run:

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think Croatia may make the final.

I thought this in Euro 2016. Then they broke my heart. They'll do the same to you.

 

[White Wolf]

I thought this in Euro 2016. Then they broke my heart. They'll do the same to you.

Their defeat to Portugal in that tournament made me eyes bleed.

 

[Freddeno]

Spain best for me in the longer run..Croatia has been good though

 

[Parkins left foot]

Spain best for me in the longer run..Croatia has been good though

Looking at the draw then a Spain v Croatia Q/F might prove decisive

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Interesting that in the last five World Cups, four times the holders have gone out in the group stage.

Teams hanging on to "winners" for far too long you'd probably say. Thinking back to France in 2002, they were still playing Petit and Leboeuf I think who were obviously miles past it - also stuck with Barthez despite him coming off a shocker of a season with United.

Boateng, Khedira, Özil, Müller and Gomez should consider themselves very lucky if they ever play for Germany again. I couldn't say it cost them any goals here but Neuer was not his normal self (how could he be, he'd not played for nine months) and Löw was stupid to go with him, if only for the message it sent.