2018 FIFA World Cup Megathread

[Pope Joan]

Meanwhile, where are jolly old England's leaders? Way to show your support,Ms.May.

Your team may feel disMayed.

Something something muh Russian nerve gas.

Your nose-in-the-air snit will not make your country any more secure, England. I guess it is cheaper to make this gesture than to actually spend money on counterespionage.

[Risottia]

And so it's just an EU internal affair now.

We can't even immediately Leave because losing next means we still have to do the third place match.

DAMN YOU EUROS!!!

Aren't we just diabolically devilish?

[United City States of Oceania]

Great game, hats off to both Russia and Croatia

[The South Falls]

Great game, hats off to both Russia and Croatia

Playing for 120 is hard.

[Eglaecia]

Anyone who voted Japan in that poll is a Belgian, or they're heartless.

Anyway, Russia v Croatia was an exciting game. As someone who's been rooting on the Russians, I'll admit I was disappointed, but nevertheless I congratulate Croatia, since they have the better chance of knocking England out.

[Yaana Noore]

We were really strong at the set pieces again - Allan Russell you legend - and a bit meh from open play. Nice to see Dele Alli have his first good game in about 2 years though! I thought he, Pickford, Lingard and Lingard were pretty good. Unlucky Sweden, Pickford made some really good saves in the second half and you can be proud of how you did. First game of the tournament for us if you ignore the non-event that was Belgium where we weren't just playing a bunch of dirty players that liked to purely sit back (Tunisia, Panama) and cheat (Colombia). They were ok, have a lot more respect for them than any of our other opponents but just lacked some moments of quality.

Only watched ET of Croatia-Russia but it is has surely helped us that they have had to go through 120 minutes for both of the past two games, Modric looked knackered. Russia's players were most likely doped up but that still can't improve your technical ability and penalty taking fortunately, Croatia deserved to win that for me. Should be another challenging game on Wednesday which I think that England will lose. Despite how poor we have still been in open play we are in the semi-finals and guaranteed a game next weekend so you can't say it was not a success. I'm pretty happy with how we have done even if I don't at all rate our coach still. Well done Southgate and England.

Something people will be looking for when Russia plays Croatia an hour from now.

even if they drugged, I would still support them as my second team

Really? Regardless of whether or not Russia's team really is doped up (probably was) or not this sort of comment is embarrassing. You would seriously support a team that you knew were violating the rules and taking performance enhancing drugs?

[United City States of Oceania]

Anyone who voted Japan in that poll is a Belgian, or they're heartless.

Anyway, Russia v Croatia was an exciting game. As someone who's been rooting on the Russians, I'll admit I was disappointed, but nevertheless I congratulate Croatia, since they have the better chance of knocking England out.

I was rooting for Russia because they would be the easier opponent

[Jerzylvania]

even if they drugged, I would still support them as my second team

Really? Regardless of whether or not Russia's team really is doped up (probably was) or not this sort of comment is embarrassing. You would seriously support a team that you knew were violating the rules and taking performance enhancing drugs?

Listen, have you read many of her posts? ...No?
She's immensely entertaining if you can allow yourself the pleasure of these things. For me it's fun just to see what she's gonna say next. And no, I am not her puppet.

[Fartsniffage]

Really? Regardless of whether or not Russia's team really is doped up (probably was) or not this sort of comment is embarrassing. You would seriously support a team that you knew were violating the rules and taking performance enhancing drugs?

Listen, have you read many of her posts? ...No?
She's immensely entertaining if you can allow yourself the pleasure of these things. For me it's fun just to see what she's gonna say next. And no, I am not her puppet.

Fungus is a she?

[Jerzylvania]

Listen, have you read many of her posts? ...No?
She's immensely entertaining if you can allow yourself the pleasure of these things. For me it's fun just to see what she's gonna say next. And no, I am not her puppet.

Fungus is a she?

Gender neutral over here. Whichever.

[Bombadil]

Well some praise for Russia, they played above and beyond in this tournament and by all accounts it's a great deal of fun over there as well. They went out pretty respectably and, well, penalties are a bi-atch.

England - Croatia
France - Belgium

At this point I don't think predictions are worth much.. but I think it would be a neat denouement for England and Belgium to face each other with their strongest teams after their final group game. Strange to see a semi finals with not one of Germany, Brazil, Argentina - I wonder when the last time not one of those teams were in the semis.

[MERIZoC]

Well some praise for Russia, they played above and beyond in this tournament and by all accounts it's a great deal of fun over there as well. They went out pretty respectably and, well, penalties are a bi-atch.

England - Croatia
France - Belgium

At this point I don't think predictions are worth much.. but I think it would be a neat denouement for England and Belgium to face each other with their strongest teams after their final group game. Strange to see a semi finals with not one of Germany, Brazil, Argentina - I wonder when the last time not one of those teams were in the semis.

I think it was never

[Fartsniffage]

Well some praise for Russia, they played above and beyond in this tournament and by all accounts it's a great deal of fun over there as well. They went out pretty respectably and, well, penalties are a bi-atch.

England - Croatia
France - Belgium

At this point I don't think predictions are worth much.. but I think it would be a neat denouement for England and Belgium to face each other with their strongest teams after their final group game. Strange to see a semi finals with not one of Germany, Brazil, Argentina - I wonder when the last time not one of those teams were in the semis.

I think it was never

That's because Brazil didn't send on their giant canary instead of Neymar.

[Bombadil]

Given my Hung, Drawn and Quartered suggestion for the title last round was summarily ignored I now submit - England has a semi - for this round.

[Fartsniffage]

Given my Hung, Drawn and Quartered suggestion for the title last round was summarily ignored I now submit - England has a semi - for this round.

Oh I have more than a semi.....

[Bombadil]

Given my Hung, Drawn and Quartered suggestion for the title last round was summarily ignored I now submit - England has a semi - for this round.

Oh I have more than a semi.....

Well we haven't pulled this off yet..

[Fartsniffage]

Oh I have more than a semi.....

Well we haven't pulled this off yet..

All we need is one final effort to thrust this home.

[Bombadil]

Well we haven't pulled this off yet..

All we need is one final effort to thrust this home.

It's coming home..

[Fartsniffage]

All we need is one final effort to thrust this home.

It's coming home..

And you'll have to think of the face of Frank Skinner as it comes home all over you.....

[Fartsniffage]

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=443231&start=2675

[Farnhamia]

https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=443231&start=2675

And lo! an angel appeared and smacked the errant thread with her wand and it merged into the existing megathread!

[Bakery Hill]

France is playing sub par. I don't rate the other two very highly.

So you're expecting another ENGvBEL match in the final?

Sorry I was tired and forgot them haha. I would say so, and then an England win. But I'm backing Croatia now. Sorry Tito..

[Shofercia]

Disappointing game. At least we played well in all of our games, except against Uruguay, well at least as well as we could. Can't really blame the team, they did their best, but came up short in the end. Smolov's game was disappointing, as was Kudryashev's, and against such a good team as Croatia, that was enough. Would've been interesting to see what happened if the coach would've played Dzagoev from the start. Either way, it wasn't an embarrassing finish for us. On the other hand, Dzagoev, Fernandez, Cheryshev, Golovin, Akinfeev, Dzyba, etc, were brilliant. Everyone makes mistakes, we're all human, but it's nice to have more than three high quality players. And say what you will about Ignashevich, he's a rock.

Going to root for the French now. Maybe they'll win in Russia

[Geneviev]

I missed a week of the world cup and then I hear that Brasil isn't going to win.

What is happening this year?

[Bombadil]

I missed a week of the world cup and then I hear that Brasil isn't going to win.

What is happening this year?

If it's Brazil winning then same this year as the last 12..