2018 FIFA World Cup Megathread

[The Blaatschapen]

So, because Belgium doesn't play against England in the semi it is certain that belgium will not split in the next three decades?

I'm convinced that some Belgians don't like that idea

With this unusual long world cup for Belgium, we have the very strange fact that the streets are full of belgian flags at the Flemish national holiday (july 11).
Even the president of the local division of the separatist NVA in my home-town has a belgian flag on his house these days....

https://scontent-frt3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BD73A0C

[Baltenstein]

So, because Belgium doesn't play against England in the semi it is certain that belgium will not split in the next three decades?

I'm convinced that some Belgians don't like that idea

With this unusual long world cup for Belgium, we have the very strange fact that the streets are full of belgian flags at the Flemish national holiday (july 11).
Even the president of the local division of the separatist NVA in my home-town has a belgian flag on his house these days....

This makes me wonder if Wallonians identify with France and the Flemish identify with the Netherlands. Are Wallonian's loyalties in question in regards to the upcoming match against France?

[The Blaatschapen]

So, because Belgium doesn't play against England in the semi it is certain that belgium will not split in the next three decades?

I'm convinced that some Belgians don't like that idea

With this unusual long world cup for Belgium, we have the very strange fact that the streets are full of belgian flags at the Flemish national holiday (july 11).
Even the president of the local division of the separatist NVA in my home-town has a belgian flag on his house these days....

This makes me wonder if Wallonians identify with France and the Flemish identify with the Netherlands. Are Wallonian's loyalties in question in regards to the upcoming match against France?

The wallonians I know ( Liegeois) see France as the invader that made them lose their independence. Rattachism isn't particularly huge.

So for Belgium it is.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattachism

[Rio Cana]

Seems the French could win FIFA. The French also seem to be doing fine in other sports. For example, in FIBA (International Basketball Federation) in the sub-17 year olds. The other day in FIBA sub-17 France took the silver while the US took gold. And Canada was crushed by Puerto Rico which took third place for the Bronze.

Photo of the third place winners who were not expected to get this far -
https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/bal ... o-2433720/

Edit - We beat the Canadians so its time to celebrate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUqqS4U8qnM

[The Archregimancy]

So, because Belgium doesn't play against England in the semi it is certain that belgium will not split in the next three decades?

I'm convinced that some Belgians don't like that idea

With this unusual long world cup for Belgium, we have the very strange fact that the streets are full of belgian flags at the Flemish national holiday (july 11).
Even the president of the local division of the separatist NVA in my home-town has a belgian flag on his house these days....

This makes me wonder if Wallonians identify with France and the Flemish identify with the Netherlands. Are Wallonian's loyalties in question in regards to the upcoming match against France?

God no.

I grew up in Wallonia; there are, of course, exceptions - not to mention a range of nuanced opinions on the issue in both of Belgium's main communities - but Walloons on balance tend to be far more committed to the concept of Belgium as an ongoing concern than Flemings. One of the things that makes Belgian politics slightly odd by European standards is that separatist politics are more popular in the majority community than they are in the minority community.

Though it's worth pointing out that even in Flanders separatism is a minority concern.

[The Archregimancy]

England's last semi final was 1990 though.

Sorry, my fault.

Still no fifa membership though, and given that this is a fifa tournament. Point stands.

Well, you could have written 'the last time England reached a semifinal, Croatia hadn't achieved independence, and had no FIFA-affiliated national team'. That would have been accurate.

Instead you wrote that England's opponents on Wednesday 'didn't exist' in 1990. Which was clearly inaccurate.

[The Blaatschapen]

Sorry, my fault.

Still no fifa membership though, and given that this is a fifa tournament. Point stands.

Well, you could have written 'the last time England reached a semifinal, Croatia hadn't achieved independence, and had no FIFA-affiliated national team'. That would have been accurate.

Instead you wrote that England's opponents on Wednesday 'didn't exist' in 1990. Which was clearly inaccurate.

You're no fun.

[Riemstagrad]

Well, you could have written 'the last time England reached a semifinal, Croatia hadn't achieved independence, and had no FIFA-affiliated national team'. That would have been accurate.

Instead you wrote that England's opponents on Wednesday 'didn't exist' in 1990. Which was clearly inaccurate.

You're no fun.

That's not true blaat. In some way, Arch IS funny. You could have stated that in a more accurate way.

[The Archregimancy]

You're no fun.

That's not true blaat. In some way, Arch IS funny.

That's technically inaccurate.

Blaat didn't say I wasn't funny; he said I was no fun. The latter doesn't automatically preclude the former.

[Riemstagrad]

Careful with your snappy comments.... If you continue like that this thread will be abandoned by next week.

[Jerzylvania]

That's not true blaat. In some way, Arch IS funny.

That's technically inaccurate.

Blaat didn't say I wasn't funny; he said I was no fun. The latter doesn't automatically preclude the former.

Does that mean we'll still find you in the kitchen at parties?

[Soviet-mongol]

It is true that FIFA and UEFA hold that Serbia is the sole successor of the Yugoslav national football team, but representative non FIFA-affiliated Croatian national sides played intermittently from 1918 through the 1950s - at one point even beating Yugoslavia. And while this example will be a little more controversial, Croatia was a full member of FIFA from 1941-1945, playing 19 friendlies during the period. Croatia also helps provide a modern example that FIFA membership isn't the sole qualifier in determining what constitutes a full international. While it took place a few months after the 1990 World Cup, Croatia's first full modern official international is considered to be their October 1990 match against the USA - a year before Croatia declared independence, and two years before they joined FIFA.

FIFA considers the pre-independence matches as official matches of Croatia, whereas the Croatian FA and vast majority of supporters only thoose after 1990. There was even a wikipedia dispute over which was the the first official match of Croatia (the one against Switzerland in 1940. vs the match against USA in 1990).

Now, the truth is that the Croatian membership in FIFA never expired after World War II, it was just never renewed. The Croatian FA in the 1990 had therefore two option: to apply as a new country which was not possible due to the veto of Serbian FA and which would take years before the croatian FA would be admitted to FIFA or to renew the memebership of the former "Croatian" teams which was more faster. So the Croatian FA decided for the second option. So as a result all games from the 1940s and the one from 1956. are officially atributed to the modern Croatian team.

Now, there is also an unofficial succession dispute. Thr first Croatian FA was founded in 1913. After Yugoslavia was created in 1918 the croatian FA renamed itself to the Yugoslav football association and become the governing body of Yugoslavia as at that moment there was no other administrative body available. So techincally speaking the modern day Serbian FA is actually the direct descendant of the original croatian FA from 1913. The Yugoslav FA had its first headquarters in Zagreb until 1930. when due to politics the government (well in fact it was King Alexander as at that moment the country was directly ruled by him) decided to ship it to Belgrade.

[Starblaydia]

Careful with your snappy comments.... If you continue like that this thread will be abandoned by next week.

In that case everyone should sign up for the 81st NationStates World Cup so the smack talk and political intrigue can continue forever, only with our own nations and not these pesky RL teams.

Right?

[Relikai]

Although France possesses a team of youths and energy, their youngsters might lose out to Belgium's Hazardous Trio in a match for physicality in the final third.

France to retain more possession and passing, but Belgium would be waiting to pounce on the coutnerattack like how they played against Brazil with a medium pressing game.

[The Blaatschapen]

One question regarding the word 'footbally'. Shouldn't it be 'footballly'? Since the adverb ends on a - ly suffix and the root is football?

[United City States of Oceania]

One question regarding the word 'footbally'. Shouldn't it be 'footballly'? Since the adverb ends on a - ly suffix and the root is football?

No.

[Infected Mushroom]

Go France!

Take the Win!

[Riemstagrad]

Moussa Dembélé will play for Belgium.
Martinez had to replace Meunier (2 yellow cards) so Chadli goes to the right. Not clear who will take care of the left side. Probably Hazard, backed with Vertongen.
Fellaini still in the team, that means De Bruyne keeps his role as the lynchpin up front.

Looks good.

[Adab]

Not sure who to support here. I want to see France win just in order to set up an England-France final (which hopefully they'll lose), but at the same time I also want to see Belgium win because imo they're the slightly weaker team and that gives England a bigger chance of winning the final. But anyway it's coming home.

Of course, assuming England wins their semi...

[Dumb Ideologies]

One question regarding the word 'footbally'. Shouldn't it be 'footballly'? Since the adverb ends on a - ly suffix and the root is football?

Yes. Players on the same team are also or footballallies.

[United City States of Oceania]

Regardless of who wins today, it's coming home to England.

[DesAnges]

One question regarding the word 'footbally'. Shouldn't it be 'footballly'? Since the adverb ends on a - ly suffix and the root is football?

It's football-y. It's an adjective, not an adverb.

[San Regada]

Such an amazing start by Hugo Lloris.

[The Transhuman Union]

That was close.

[Suryak]

what a head