The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[The Bear]

The Bear favourite Artem Dzyuba on! I'd forgotten all about him. He loved him more than Joselu at one point.

Only because I drafted him in PTG!

My picks always come good eventually.

 

[Alan]

The format as it is is fine. As Dan says there aren’t 32 good teams at international level. I like the fact that teams like Panama get to play at a World Cup once in a while but once we increase it there will be lots of that type of team and there won’t be any going back.

To be clear, I'm not a fan of the format starting in 2026. I agree it's fine as is. Problem is that what gets said here about the format comes off like there should be only European and South American teams involved at all. Which obviously rubs anyone not from those continents the wrong way.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

No-one has ever said that or anything even implying that.

The case is simply this. If Honduras, Panama, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Togo etc are the bottom of the barrel of what has qualified - why the fuck would we want WORSE teams than that?! It's absurd.

 

[Tony Towner]

https://twitter.com/prodnose/status/1007305812765806592?s=19

 

[b3h]

To answer the question above I don't think anyone thought Russia would paste them. In score line any way. They werent brilliant themselves. Imagine if it was a top team V Saudi today instead, might be 10-0

 

[White Wolf]

Maybe Italy should have played better in qualifying.

They had Spain in their group though. There isn't a single team in Africa or Asia that would have qualified ahead of them and I bet Sweden would have beaten them all too. Drop Italy in any non European/South American qualification group and they are there, providing genuine entertainment rather than shitting up the tournament.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

That list again of teams that made it to the final stage of AFC qualifying but didn't make the cut:

UAE, Iraq, Thailand, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar. Plus Syria who lost in a playoff to Australia.

How many extra spots do the AFC get in this expanded tournament, three? So pick me out three from them and tell me how they will enhance the World Cup.

 

[Parkins left foot]

That list again of teams that made it to the final stage of AFC qualifying but didn't make the cut:

UAE, Iraq, Thailand, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar. Plus Syria who lost in a playoff to Australia.

How many extra spots do the AFC get in this expanded tournament, three? So pick me out three from them and tell me how they will enhance the World Cup.

They won't, but a few more countries that FIFA can sell the TV rights to - and that's what its all about (for them ) really

 

[AndyWolves]

Do away with region based qualifying and use a global, seeded based system

Logistics aside, would that be fair?

 

[Lupo]

They had Spain in their group though. There isn't a single team in Africa or Asia that would have qualified ahead of them and I bet Sweden would have beaten them all too. Drop Italy in any non European/South American qualification group and they are there, providing genuine entertainment rather than shitting up the tournament.

I agree and not because I am biased. I say the same about the Netherlands not being there and likewise if any of Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Spain, France and the like weren't there. I like to see these teams at World Cups far more than minnows.

Qualifying is very much stacked against European sides when considering the quantity and quality of games in qualifying compared to other parts of the world. Worse this time around with only one side from each group going through automatically. As soon as Italy and Spain were drawn together we knew one of them would be in the play offs (probably Italy). Saying that, Italy were woeful in that play off and failing to score a single goal over 2 legs and with the 2nd leg in Italy too was unforgivable.

 

[Tredman]

I'd have current method with the top teams going through, but have the play offs be a free for all - irrespective of geography.

 

[AndyWolves]

Maybe Italy should have played better in qualifying.

Italy played better than Saudi Arabia did

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I'd have current method with the top teams going through, but have the play offs be a free for all - irrespective of geography.

This is the best solution, but will never happen as FIFA wants continental inclusivity*

*which means shit teams in because of where they are from

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

How shit are Saudi....
There is to be a better way than having this dross in

 

[jd1981]

Was hoping we wouldn’t have to have this debate and that most teams would at least hold their own, it might still pan out that way from now on. Saudi seemed incredibly niece today if anything.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that there’s better European and South American sides not there compared to Panama, Saudi, Iran, Australia and South Korea.

 

[White Wolf]

With the exception of Mexico how much quality would we really be missing out on if only South American and European sides were there.

 

[Lord Knows]

They won't, but a few more countries that FIFA can sell the TV rights to - and that's what its all about (for them ) really

You make their entry into World Cup finals easier and they give you their block of votes for important elections.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Let's not get carried away Saudi were awful. But Russia did well. Plenty of time for other smaller teams to make their mark and they will!

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The Guardian reckon Henderson, Maguire and Fucking Young have made the cut for Monday's game.

I don't like Ashley Young, I might not have made this clear.

 

[White Wolf]

He's a fucking clueless tosser if this is true. Fuck off Southgate.