Ultimate Football/Soccer Thread 2017-2018

[Val Halla]

So... who could end up surprising people next year? I think Japan could have a good run.

I'm preparing for the amusement of us losing to a "lesser" team again, our expectations are always ridiculous.

I'm curious to see if Iceland can keep riding the hype train and make it past the group stage. I think they'll be able to pull off some more surprises.

And I'm hazarding a guess that Poland will do quite well.

I doubt it. Iceland's Euro 16 campaign success was mostly due to less competitive teams playing, and going up against England in the knockout stage.

Also, let's be honest, Euro 16 was terrible. How Portugal managed to underwhelmed their way to winning is beyond me

[MERIZoC]

I'm curious to see if Iceland can keep riding the hype train and make it past the group stage. I think they'll be able to pull off some more surprises.

And I'm hazarding a guess that Poland will do quite well.

I doubt it. Iceland's Euro 16 campaign success was mostly due to less competitive teams playing, and going up against England in the knockout stage.

Also, let's be honest, Euro 16 was terrible. How Portugal managed to underwhelmed their way to winning is beyond me

We'll see. My guess is this won't be an extremely predictable year. Exciting whatever happens. (unless the krauts win)

[The Tooth Fairy]

I hope Switzerland gets far, but I believe France or Germany will most likely win.
As for surprises, I believe Costa Rica and Denmark will surprise.

[Arotania]

With Australia and Peru the list of participants is now complete and we know how the pots for the draw look like:

Russia (65) (hosts) Germany (1) Brazil (2) Portugal (3) Argentina (4) Belgium (5) Poland (6) France (7)

Spain (8) Peru (10) Switzerland (11) England (12) Colombia (13) Mexico (16) Uruguay (17) Croatia (18)

Denmark (19) Iceland (21) Costa Rica (22) Sweden (25) Tunisia (28) Egypt (30) Senegal (32) Iran (34)

Serbia (38) Nigeria (41) Australia (43) Japan (44) Morocco (48) Panama (49) South Korea (62) Saudi Arabia (63)

(Shamelesly copied from Wikipedia, FIFA rank in parentheses)

There can be no more than one team per federation in a group with the exception of UEFA which can have two per group.
Russia is the lowest ranked participant but lack of qualification games generally can tank your FIFA coefficient. Pots one and two are nearly exclusively UEFA and CONMEBOL with the exception of Mexico.
In any case with all (qualified) former world champions in pots 1 and 2 we won't have anything resembling group D from '14 OTOH this means that Costa Rica will have an even easier group stage and advance far into the tournament. Costa Rica 2018 Football World Champion! You heard it here first!

[Eastfield Lodge]

With Australia and Peru the list of participants is now complete and we know how the pots for the draw look like:

Russia (65) (hosts) Germany (1) Brazil (2) Portugal (3) Argentina (4) Belgium (5) Poland (6) France (7)

Spain (8) Peru (10) Switzerland (11) England (12) Colombia (13) Mexico (16) Uruguay (17) Croatia (18)

Denmark (19) Iceland (21) Costa Rica (22) Sweden (25) Tunisia (28) Egypt (30) Senegal (32) Iran (34)

Serbia (38) Nigeria (41) Australia (43) Japan (44) Morocco (48) Panama (49) South Korea (62) Saudi Arabia (63)

(Shamelesly copied from Wikipedia, FIFA rank in parentheses)

There can be no more than one team per federation in a group with the exception of UEFA which can have two per group.
Russia is the lowest ranked participant but lack of qualification games generally can tank your FIFA coefficient. Pots one and two are nearly exclusively UEFA and CONMEBOL with the exception of Mexico.
In any case with all (qualified) former world champions in pots 1 and 2 we won't have anything resembling group D from '14 OTOH this means that Costa Rica will have an even easier group stage and advance far into the tournament. Costa Rica 2018 Football World Champion! You heard it here first!

*inb4 Germany, Spain, Costa Rica and Japan*

[The Blaatschapen]

Brazil, Spain, Denmark, Nigeria.

Make it so.

[Val Halla]

Argentina, England, Iceland... idk, Australia?

Also, I look at this list, I wonder "why the hell do they wanna expand the World Cup?"

[Eastfield Lodge]

Argentina, England, Iceland... idk, Australia?

Also, I look at this list, I wonder "why the hell do they wanna expand the World Cup?"

So that Italy, Netherlands, Chile and the USA are more likely to qualify?

[The Blaatschapen]

Argentina, England, Iceland... idk, Australia?

Also, I look at this list, I wonder "why the hell do they wanna expand the World Cup?"

Money.

Argentina, England, Iceland... idk, Australia?

Also, I look at this list, I wonder "why the hell do they wanna expand the World Cup?"

So that Italy, Netherlands, Chile and the USA are more likely to qualify?

Which means money

[New New Serrland]

Argentina, England, Iceland... idk, Australia?

Also, I look at this list, I wonder "why the hell do they wanna expand the World Cup?"

Money.

So that Italy, Netherlands, Chile and the USA are more likely to qualify?

Which means money

They'll just keep expanding it until China qualifies for maximum $$$

I'm generally opposed to the expansion, but it could be interesting in the same way the group stages of the Europa League are interesting. There'll be a lot of teams you don't usually get to see play in it, I'd imagine. Whether they'll be worth watching, on the other hand...

[Arotania]

I'm generally opposed to the expansion, but it could be interesting in the same way the group stages of the Europa League are interesting. There'll be a lot of teams you don't usually get to see play in it, I'd imagine. Whether they'll be worth watching, on the other hand...

The group draws would be a logistical rule nightmare.
In that vein here's a toy that simulates the group draws if anyone wants to see what weird combinations the RNG can up with: http://ultra.zone/2018-FIFA-World-Cup-Group-Stage-Draws

[Nazis in Space]

Money.



Which means money :p

They'll just keep expanding it until China qualifies for maximum $$$

I'm generally opposed to the expansion, but it could be interesting in the same way the group stages of the Europa League are interesting. There'll be a lot of teams you don't usually get to see play in it, I'd imagine. Whether they'll be worth watching, on the other hand...

Hm. FIFA has 211 national associations as members.

So... 211 team WC?

I'm generally opposed to the expansion, but it could be interesting in the same way the group stages of the Europa League are interesting. There'll be a lot of teams you don't usually get to see play in it, I'd imagine. Whether they'll be worth watching, on the other hand...

The group draws would be a logistical rule nightmare.
In that vein here's a toy that simulates the group draws if anyone wants to see what weird combinations the RNG can up with: http://ultra.zone/2018-FIFA-World-Cup-Group-Stage-Draws

That's neat.

And immediately amusing.

1st Simulation:

Group C: Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, Morocco.
Group D: Argentina, England, Sweden, Worst Korea.

The dozen simulations that followed weren't anywhere near as interesting, though.

[Stellonia]

I'm generally opposed to the expansion, but it could be interesting in the same way the group stages of the Europa League are interesting. There'll be a lot of teams you don't usually get to see play in it, I'd imagine. Whether they'll be worth watching, on the other hand...

The group draws would be a logistical rule nightmare.
In that vein here's a toy that simulates the group draws if anyone wants to see what weird combinations the RNG can up with: http://ultra.zone/2018-FIFA-World-Cup-Group-Stage-Draws

Guys, something's wrong with this simulator. Argentina didn't get drawn with either Nigeria or S. Korea.

[Fartsniffage]

Manchester United actually played like Manchester United today. Long may it continue.

[Val Halla]

During the game, I got an excited message from my grandmother, my grandparents are Newcastle fans. How their attitude must have changed xD

[New New Serrland]

Is this the season all 3 newly promoted Premier League clubs stay up? I can't remember it happening before in the modern PL era.

Also - poor, poor Pulis. I'm a big fan, mostly because I like my balls long and vertical, my tackles crunching, my free kicks direct, and my tracksuits black with a matching ball cap.

Wonder if West Ham are regretting not waiting a week or two (although I can't see neither Pulis nor Moyes living up the West Ham Way, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is pretty much just something that lives in the pages of history now, yeah?)

[Val Halla]

Is there any particular reason for the amount of Japanese players in German football compared to other non Asian countries?

[MERIZoC]

Is there any particular reason for the amount of Japanese players in German football compared to other non Asian countries?

Bundesliga and J-League have some historical ties, as do the countries themselves. I know there's an easy Axis joke in here, but it's not entirely untrue. Both countries had to rebuild after the war, and in some respects, I suppose, have shared cultures that make Japanese players a good fit in Germany. And I believe Germany does not have as strict restrictions on import of non-EU players as some other European leagues.

[Auremena]

This Club Makes Me Drink:
Ice
Whiskey (or any booze really, doesn't matter, have fun with it)
Kahlua
Coffee
Milk

Serve in a glass commemorating an unbeaten final season in White Hart Lane. Garnish the rim with tears of the "what could have been."

[Eastfield Lodge]

This Club Makes Me Drink:
Ice
Whiskey (or any booze really, doesn't matter, have fun with it)
Kahlua
Coffee
Milk

Serve in a glass commemorating an unbeaten final season in White Hart Lane. Garnish the rim with tears of the "what could have been."

Don't forget to put the pressure on.

[Auremena]

This Club Makes Me Drink:
Ice
Whiskey (or any booze really, doesn't matter, have fun with it)
Kahlua
Coffee
Milk

Serve in a glass commemorating an unbeaten final season in White Hart Lane. Garnish the rim with tears of the "what could have been."

Don't forget to put the pressure on.

Right. I almost forgot.
Serve with at least 2 Carlings (may substitute for the local swill)

[New New Serrland]

Group A: Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco

Group C: France, Peru, Denmark, Australia

Group D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Group G: Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama

Group H: Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan

---------

Group F looks brutal. Group H looks like it could be a lot of fun. France, Argentina (hard draw on paper, but I don't think it will be as difficult as it looks), and Brazil must be feeling pretty good.

Lucky draw for England, too.

[MERIZoC]

Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Should be fun to watch Mo Salah put a couple away in that match.

[HUElavia]

Group A: Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

Group B: Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco

Group C: France, Peru, Denmark, Australia

Group D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Group G: Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama

Group H: Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan

---------

Group F looks brutal. Group H looks like it could be a lot of fun. France, Argentina (hard draw on paper, but I don't think it will be as difficult as it looks), and Brazil must be feeling pretty good.

Lucky draw for England, too.

Group D isn't an easy group as well. Croatia and Nigeria are going to make life a living hell for Argentina.

[Nazis in Space]

First of all,

That's neat.

And immediately amusing.

1st Simulation:

Group C: Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, Morocco.

I'm a fucking God at group simulation.

Secondly, the actual draw - replace Costa Rica with Iran - is hilarious.

Thirdly, Group F is going to steal all the spotlights. Literally all of those teams are entertaining as fuck.

The only disadvantage is that I want all four to advance. Can't we, say, ban Group A's first and second from advancing in favour of Group F's 3rd and 4th placed?