NationStates

Arcoto wrote:Lets see who I'll go with...
Groups
A - Russia and Uruguay
B - The Iberian Peninsula
C - France and Aussie
D - Argentina and Iceland (Only slightly biased, he says with a Iceland kit in his closet)
E - Brazil and Switzerland
F - Deutchland and Mexico
G - England and Belguim
H - Colombia and Senegal

Skipping a few games, final four I have Deutchland, France, England, Argentina, with Germany repeating. Let's see how wrong I am.

Fartsniffage wrote:

Nazis in Space wrote:Speaking of which, do we have any data points on how good Egypt is without Salah?

I'm usually skeptical about one-man teams (unless I want to insult the Welsh, at any rate), by which I mean that I sincerely doubt it's just that one man. Else, you'd think that Finland would have qualified for, well, something when Jari Litmanen was around in the 1990s, so I'm less than convinced that Egypt is ded without him, but, you know...

Hard data would be neat.

The whole of their current squad combined has scored fewer international goals than Salah has individually.

Fartsniffage wrote:

Arcoto wrote:Lets see who I'll go with...
Groups
A - Russia and Uruguay
B - The Iberian Peninsula
C - France and Aussie
D - Argentina and Iceland (Only slightly biased, he says with a Iceland kit in his closet)
E - Brazil and Switzerland
F - Deutchland and Mexico
G - England and Belguim
H - Colombia and Senegal

Skipping a few games, final four I have Deutchland, France, England, Argentina, with Germany repeating. Let's see how wrong I am.

I'm English and we're never getting to the last 4.

Shofercia wrote:

Fartsniffage wrote:The moment I saw it I thought it was intentional.

I say it should be a 3-5 UEFA game ban. It was a shitty thing to do but not really any worse than a studs up over the ball challenge or a stamp.

I agree, it was definitely intentional, but here's my issue with a 3 game UEFA ban. It doesn't really punish Ramos. You're playing 6 group stage games, and Real Madrid is good enough to withstand even a 6 game UEFA ban on Ramos. And then, when the final comes again, Ramos can just take out another star. Such a ban would essentially encourage the same thing to happen all over again. If you're doing a UEFA ban, it should be for at least 8 games, so that Real Madrid can feel the impact. Otherwise, you're just giving him a free ride.

Fartsniffage wrote:

Nazis in Space wrote:Speaking of which, do we have any data points on how good Egypt is without Salah?

I'm usually skeptical about one-man teams (unless I want to insult the Welsh, at any rate), by which I mean that I sincerely doubt it's just that one man. Else, you'd think that Finland would have qualified for, well, something when Jari Litmanen was around in the 1990s, so I'm less than convinced that Egypt is ded without him, but, you know...

Hard data would be neat.

The whole of their current squad combined has scored fewer international goals than Salah has individually.

For Alexander Agapov, 35, head of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation, the government has not always been an enthusiastic defender of LGBT rights.

He recalls being beaten by football fans as he waited for a bus – and how no proper investigation followed. He recalls the pressures organising LGBT football games in regional cities, only to see them cancelled at the last minute. He recalls the phone calls from security services, and numerous other such incidents.

But, according to Mr Agapov, the authorities have seemingly undergone a total conversion in time for this summer’s World Cup. Under the watchful eye of Fifa, Russia’s bureaucrats are, apparently, now fully signed up to the principles of tolerance and non-discrimination. For one month at least, Russia’s “traditional values” are being put to one side, and the most pernicious interpretations of a 2013 law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors” forgotten.

Official statements have been bold enough. The Russian Football Union’s Alexei Smertin, a World Cup ambassador, said there would be no bans on rainbow flags or same-sex partners showing affection. “You can kiss all you like, and hug one another, within the bounds of normal reason,” he has said. Similar assurances have come from the organising committee.

The prospect of a gay-friendly competition taking place in Russia would usually provoke howls of derision from its ultraconservative voices. But not this time.

Russia’s most prominent anti-gay campaigner, Vitaly Milonov, the outspoken deputy of the State Duma, has built a career on homophobic remarks. But in comments to The Independent, he was strangely non-committal. He claimed that Russian supporters would never do such things as show rainbow flags in stadia. But it was not up to him to tell officials like Mr Smertin what the Russian policy should be. And he would not be staging any personal protest either.

Reverting to his usual discriminatory language, almost as an afterthought, Mr Milonov added: “We have never persecuted people on account of their Satanic sexual perversions.”

Piara Powar, director of the Football Against Racism in Euope (FARE) network, an equality pressure group working with Fifa, said the Russian guarantees for LGBT appear serious enough.

“We have been given forceful assurances that people’s safety in and out of stadia will be taken care of,” he told The Independent. “We are treating the assurances with caution, given past history, but Russia is in the spotlight and it does understand what is at stake.”

Nonetheless, Mr Powar said LGBT supporters would be wise to avoid displays of affection in public given the danger of random attacks.

Russia remains a difficult and dangerous place for sexual minorities. A vibrant gay scene exists in many of its major cities, and its younger generation is more tolerant. But several years of state-sponsored homophobia have had an effect on the general population. Since the controversial 2013 anti-gay law was passed, the number of recorded hate crimes has doubled. Polls also indicate a growing intolerance of LGBT communities.

In more lawless corners of the Russian Federation, the situation is uglier. Last year, credible reports emerged from the largely Muslim republic of Chechnya suggesting more than 100 men were tortured on account of their sexuality. At least three died; many are still missing.

Alexander Kondakov, a researcher at St Petersburg’s Centre for Independent Social Research, said the tournament has the makings of a toxic cocktail.

“You have a tournament celebrating hyper-masculinity taking place in a country where the government is actively supporting hatred with rhetoric and legislation,” he said. “Then you add alcohol into the mix.”

Violence against LGBT supporters was not only possible but likely, he added.

According to Mr Kondakov, Russian activists have welcomed the Kremlin’s discovery of LGBT rights. But there are few illusions that it will lead to a change in direction, or a new inclusive or positive agenda. “The rare positive steps we see usually end with the most ordinary of homophobia,” he said.

Indeed, far from providing a springboard for local LGBT rights, the World Cup has arguably played into anti-gay propaganda, said Mr Agapov.

“By emphasising the safety of foreign LGBT fans, authorities have managed to present homosexuality as something foreign, un-Russian,” he said. “Clearly, they will do everything to make sure the World Cup passes trouble-free, but when it does the discrimination, the homophobia, and the laws will remain.”

Sharania wrote:Some food for thought for all of you who plan to "enjoy" this World Cup taking place in Russia.

The dark reality behind Russia's promise of an LGBT-friendly World Cup
‘The authorities will do everything to make sure the World Cup passes trouble-free, but when it does the discrimination, the homophobia and the laws will remain,’ says LGBT Sport Federation

For Alexander Agapov, 35, head of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation, the government has not always been an enthusiastic defender of LGBT rights.

He recalls being beaten by football fans as he waited for a bus – and how no proper investigation followed. He recalls the pressures organising LGBT football games in regional cities, only to see them cancelled at the last minute. He recalls the phone calls from security services, and numerous other such incidents.

But, according to Mr Agapov, the authorities have seemingly undergone a total conversion in time for this summer’s World Cup. Under the watchful eye of Fifa, Russia’s bureaucrats are, apparently, now fully signed up to the principles of tolerance and non-discrimination. For one month at least, Russia’s “traditional values” are being put to one side, and the most pernicious interpretations of a 2013 law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors” forgotten.

Official statements have been bold enough. The Russian Football Union’s Alexei Smertin, a World Cup ambassador, said there would be no bans on rainbow flags or same-sex partners showing affection. “You can kiss all you like, and hug one another, within the bounds of normal reason,” he has said. Similar assurances have come from the organising committee.

The prospect of a gay-friendly competition taking place in Russia would usually provoke howls of derision from its ultraconservative voices. But not this time.

Russia’s most prominent anti-gay campaigner, Vitaly Milonov, the outspoken deputy of the State Duma, has built a career on homophobic remarks. But in comments to The Independent, he was strangely non-committal. He claimed that Russian supporters would never do such things as show rainbow flags in stadia. But it was not up to him to tell officials like Mr Smertin what the Russian policy should be. And he would not be staging any personal protest either.

Reverting to his usual discriminatory language, almost as an afterthought, Mr Milonov added: “We have never persecuted people on account of their Satanic sexual perversions.”

Piara Powar, director of the Football Against Racism in Euope (FARE) network, an equality pressure group working with Fifa, said the Russian guarantees for LGBT appear serious enough.

“We have been given forceful assurances that people’s safety in and out of stadia will be taken care of,” he told The Independent. “We are treating the assurances with caution, given past history, but Russia is in the spotlight and it does understand what is at stake.”

Nonetheless, Mr Powar said LGBT supporters would be wise to avoid displays of affection in public given the danger of random attacks.

Russia remains a difficult and dangerous place for sexual minorities. A vibrant gay scene exists in many of its major cities, and its younger generation is more tolerant. But several years of state-sponsored homophobia have had an effect on the general population. Since the controversial 2013 anti-gay law was passed, the number of recorded hate crimes has doubled. Polls also indicate a growing intolerance of LGBT communities.

In more lawless corners of the Russian Federation, the situation is uglier. Last year, credible reports emerged from the largely Muslim republic of Chechnya suggesting more than 100 men were tortured on account of their sexuality. At least three died; many are still missing.

Alexander Kondakov, a researcher at St Petersburg’s Centre for Independent Social Research, said the tournament has the makings of a toxic cocktail.

“You have a tournament celebrating hyper-masculinity taking place in a country where the government is actively supporting hatred with rhetoric and legislation,” he said. “Then you add alcohol into the mix.”

Violence against LGBT supporters was not only possible but likely, he added.

According to Mr Kondakov, Russian activists have welcomed the Kremlin’s discovery of LGBT rights. But there are few illusions that it will lead to a change in direction, or a new inclusive or positive agenda. “The rare positive steps we see usually end with the most ordinary of homophobia,” he said.

Indeed, far from providing a springboard for local LGBT rights, the World Cup has arguably played into anti-gay propaganda, said Mr Agapov.

“By emphasising the safety of foreign LGBT fans, authorities have managed to present homosexuality as something foreign, un-Russian,” he said. “Clearly, they will do everything to make sure the World Cup passes trouble-free, but when it does the discrimination, the homophobia, and the laws will remain.”

And locals confirmed that, in the video obtained by the Daily Mirror, police officers spoke to one suspect in Russian rather than Ukrainian.

Kiev has a population of around 13% Russian and has its own firms – such as the Trouble Company, from CSKA kiev, and the White Boys Club, who follow Dynamo.

But it raises fears that ultra firms from across the border travelled to Ukraine for a warm-up attack on British fans before the World Cup which kicks off in Moscow, 500 miles away, on June 14.

Sharania wrote:If someone thinks: "Hey, I'm safe - I'm not gay!", well, think again. Because Russian football fans do not differentiate when they beat up foreigners:

Feared 'Trouble Company' hooligan gang claim responsibility for cowardly attack on Liverpool fans - and threaten more to come
A terrifying attack by marauding masked thugs in the shadow of Kiev’s Olympic stadium has made Liverpool and Real Madrid fans wary

And locals confirmed that, in the video obtained by the Daily Mirror, police officers spoke to one suspect in Russian rather than Ukrainian.

Kiev has a population of around 13% Russian and has its own firms – such as the Trouble Company, from CSKA kiev, and the White Boys Club, who follow Dynamo.

But it raises fears that ultra firms from across the border travelled to Ukraine for a warm-up attack on British fans before the World Cup which kicks off in Moscow, 500 miles away, on June 14.

Sharania wrote:If someone thinks: "Hey, I'm safe - I'm not gay!", well, think again. Because Russian football fans do not differentiate when they beat up foreigners:

Feared 'Trouble Company' hooligan gang claim responsibility for cowardly attack on Liverpool fans - and threaten more to come
A terrifying attack by marauding masked thugs in the shadow of Kiev’s Olympic stadium has made Liverpool and Real Madrid fans wary

And locals confirmed that, in the video obtained by the Daily Mirror, police officers spoke to one suspect in Russian rather than Ukrainian.

Kiev has a population of around 13% Russian and has its own firms – such as the Trouble Company, from CSKA kiev, and the White Boys Club, who follow Dynamo.

But it raises fears that ultra firms from across the border travelled to Ukraine for a warm-up attack on British fans before the World Cup which kicks off in Moscow, 500 miles away, on June 14.

Sharania wrote:Some food for thought for all of you who plan to "enjoy" this World Cup taking place in Russia.

Sharania wrote:Some food for thought for all of you who plan to "enjoy" this World Cup taking place in Russia.

Sharania wrote:Some food for thought for all of you who plan to "enjoy" this World Cup taking place in Russia.

Sharania wrote:If someone thinks: "Hey, I'm safe - I'm not gay!", well, think again. Because Russian football fans do not differentiate when they beat up foreigners:

Feared 'Trouble Company' hooligan gang claim responsibility for cowardly attack on Liverpool fans - and threaten more to come
A terrifying attack by marauding masked thugs in the shadow of Kiev’s Olympic stadium has made Liverpool and Real Madrid fans wary

And locals confirmed that, in the video obtained by the Daily Mirror, police officers spoke to one suspect in Russian rather than Ukrainian.

Kiev has a population of around 13% Russian and has its own firms – such as the Trouble Company, from CSKA kiev, and the White Boys Club, who follow Dynamo.

But it raises fears that ultra firms from across the border travelled to Ukraine for a warm-up attack on British fans before the World Cup which kicks off in Moscow, 500 miles away, on June 14.

The blAAtschApen wrote:

Fartsniffage wrote:
I'm English and we're never getting to the last 4.

I'm not English and you're still not getting to the last four.

Neu Leonstein wrote:Germany continues its shitty run in friendlies with a 2:1 loss to Austria. Result doesn't really matter, obviously, but a few things were learned:

1) Neuer is fit and will probably start.
2) Reus is also fit and didn't get horribly injured, so that's nice.
3) Germany has a lot of depth, but not enough to just sub out the defensive midfield and expect things to continue smoothly. When that happened with the start of the second half, a very energetic Austria was able to force errors and win balls in dangerous areas, and they were much the more dangerous team through the whole half.

Bombadil wrote:

Neu Leonstein wrote:Germany continues its shitty run in friendlies with a 2:1 loss to Austria. Result doesn't really matter, obviously, but a few things were learned:

1) Neuer is fit and will probably start.
2) Reus is also fit and didn't get horribly injured, so that's nice.
3) Germany has a lot of depth, but not enough to just sub out the defensive midfield and expect things to continue smoothly. When that happened with the start of the second half, a very energetic Austria was able to force errors and win balls in dangerous areas, and they were much the more dangerous team through the whole half.

I think Germany tend to do this in friendlies leading up to WCs, and England tend to do well in such things.. only for England to crash out in the group stages and Germany to win.. so fear not, it's par for the course.

Neu Leonstein wrote:Germany continues its shitty run in friendlies with a 2:1 loss to Austria. Result doesn't really matter, obviously, but a few things were learned:

1) Neuer is fit and will probably start.
2) Reus is also fit and didn't get horribly injured, so that's nice.
3) Germany has a lot of depth, but not enough to just sub out the defensive midfield and expect things to continue smoothly. When that happened with the start of the second half, a very energetic Austria was able to force errors and win balls in dangerous areas, and they were much the more dangerous team through the whole half.

Bombadil wrote:I think Germany tend to do this in friendlies leading up to WCs, and England tend to do well in such things.. only for England to crash out in the group stages and Germany to win.. so fear not, it's par for the course.

Shofercia wrote:I think you guys should start Loris Karius.

The Archregimancy wrote:And now for something a little light-hearted:

All the 2018 kits (home and away) ranked.

I rather like Uruguay's home kit; it's a timeless classic that they've been sensible enough not to muck around with much. And - slightly to my surprise given I'm a bit of a traditionalist - I rather like Croatia's away kit.

I really dislike that Nigerian home kit, though. And what were Belgium thinking with their home kit?