World Cup 2018

⚽️ Football, futebol, futbol, fotbal, Fußball, voetbal, calcio, futabol, footy, футбол, soccer, zúqiú, chuggu, bol, sakar etc ⚽️
 

Every four years… this World Cup takes place between the 14th June & 15th July.

The 32 countries that qualified for the 2018 World Cup have been drawn into 8 groups of 4 teams.

Each team played the other 3 teams in their group once (3 Group Stage games in total), and the top 2 teams from each of the 8 groups qualified to go through to the ‘Last 16’ Knockout Stage…
 

FIFA’s official World Cup page (and social media links) - Website : Twitter : Facebook : Youtube : Instagram

 
A Wikipedia page for the 2018 World Cup - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup

23-Man Playing Squads - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_squads

A guide to all 736 players - https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/jun/05/world-cup-2018-complete-guide-players-ratings-goals-caps

Venues - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup#Venues
 

Useful ‘fixtures, live scores, results, standings & info’ sites - FlashScores : LiveScore : BBC : ESPN : FoxSports
 

TV stations around the world covering the World Cup matches live : Wikipedia Link & LiveSoccer Link

UK TV Coverage - http://www.live-footballontv.com/live-world-cup-football-on-tv.html (BBC & ITV)
US TV Coverage - https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup (Fox) : Telemundo - link)
 

Fixtures & Results (UK dates & times):-

Thursday, 14 June
Russia 5 - 0 Saudi Arabia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDY1N-IJOA8 - 2 minute FIFA highlights

Friday, 15 June
Egypt 0 - 1 Uruguay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPzZa-Btx6I - 2 minute FIFA highlights
Morocco 0 - 1 Iran : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG6hK0eZ_Ys - "
Portugal 3 - 3 Spain : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rp2aLQl7vg - "

Saturday, 16 June
France 2 - 1 Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4_SXeQdIJo - "
Argentina 1 - 1 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvarnwv6hRk - "
Denmark 1 - 0 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4odLCih0Os - "
Croatia 2 - 0 Nigeria : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-V5h0wKr8 - "

Sunday, 17 June
Costa Rica 0 - 1 Serbia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA6_7wFvG0E - "
Germany 0 - 1 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BSeFs40QOI - "
Brazil 1 - 1 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dWrKNrWbWQ - "

Monday, 18 June
Sweden 1 - 0 South Korea : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlE-hUl5UU - "
Belgium 3 - 0 Panama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCr1xpwEuZQ - "
Tunisia 1 - 2 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3wfrhjoIJg - "

Tuesday, 19 June
Colombia 1 - 2 Japan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4SeAfCg7-o - "
Poland 1 - 2 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXkg_12ukOk - "
Russia 3 - 1 Egypt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AygUlfmQgBs - "

Wednesday, 20 June
Portugal 1 - 0 Morocco : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEtVNlzYAqQ - "
Uruguay 1 - 0 Saudi Arabia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEMQTAGYzI - "
Iran 0 - 1 Spain : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3C6DK8n0mQ - "

Thursday, 21 June
Denmark 1 - 1 Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24m_D5EFb-A - "
France 1 - 0 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-QIE-xaueo - "
Argentina 0 - 3 Croatia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcM5n71XmBo - "

Friday, 22 June
Brazil 2 - 0 Costa Rica : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2v_mb5Xx00 - "
Nigeria 2 - 0 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIk9avLQSds - "
Serbia 1 - 2 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3CbugZtTg - "

Saturday, 23 June
Belgium 5 - 2 Tunisia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKuQ8zDo0Lw - "
South Korea 1 - 2 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSg165xRTw - "
Germany 2 - 1 Sweden : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9a3KptfC0 - "

Sunday, 24 June
England 6 - 1 Panama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1gw5sc2JlY - "
Japan 2 - 2 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLS1JQ7qtpI - "
Poland 0 - 3 Colombia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa974tOozEI - "

Monday, 25 June
Saudi Arabia 2 - 1 Egypt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzuFPeSBcA - "
Uruguay 3 - 0 Russia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_YrTEiOVGo - "
Iran 1 - 1 Portugal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlPIrEKFCeo - "
Spain 2 - 2 Morocco : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOqidBVnO4 - "

Tuesday, 26 June
Denmark 0 - 0 France : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvFP1ITZ7To - "
Australia 0 - 2 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-txBJG-B4 - "
Nigeria 1 - 2 Argentina : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmlkAOwJ1gI - "
Croatia 2 - 1 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfy1ojdPyzA - "

Wednesday, 27 June
South Korea 2 - 0 Germany : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKjV2SQfKrw - "
Mexico 0 - 3 Sweden : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHT6V1SpmNA - "
Serbia 0 - 2 Brazil : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dusyi-4pMs - "
Switzerland 2 - 2 Costa Rica : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izvscMabH8o - "

Thursday, 28 June
Japan 1 - 0 Poland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7pVlD8Q660 - "
Colombia 1 - 0 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CRmHuN-O84 - "
Panama 1 - 2 Tunisia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc9zirKrT0Q - "
England 0 - 1 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5F1hqWW_5w - "

 
The final Group Standings…

The ‘Last 16’ Knockout Stage, and beyond…

Saturday, 30 June : Last 16
France 4 - 3 Argentina : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6oOcDFmLY - 2 minute highlights
Uruguay 2 - 1 Portugal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auqyXFLZ_zw - "

Sunday, 1 July : Last 16
Spain 1 - 1 aet Russia (Russia win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHPke43iqNg - "
Croatia 1 - 1 aet Denmark (Croatia win 3-2 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_iIW2DZ8nc - "

Monday, 2 July : Last 16
Brazil 2 - 0 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYIf8I1dvdo - "
Belgium 3 - 2 Japan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJeJuc27ggE - "

Tuesday, 3 July : Last 16
Sweden 1 - 0 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012FkPcI1uE - "
Colombia 1 - 1 aet England (England win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmaLT320hw - "
 

Friday, 6 July : Quarter-Finals
France 2 - 0 Uruguay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YK4o-Gbppg - "
Brazil 1 - 2 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8IK0ZqfxNI - "

Saturday, 7 July : Quarter-Finals
Sweden 0 - 2 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr7-HtVlAdI - "
Russia 2 - 2 aet Croatia (Croatia win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjU8j2bj3RY - "
 

Tuesday, 10 July : Semi-Finals
France 1 - 0 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntQsMSuEbyg - "

Wednesday, 11 July : Semi-Finals
England 1 - 2 Croatia (after extra-time) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_2GELMwfY - "
 

Saturday, 14 July : 3rd Place Play-Off
Belgium 2 - 0 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_5SJPKMHAA - "
 

Sunday, 15 July : The World Cup Final

France 4 - 2 Croatia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrsEAvRerTg - " & more reddit/footballhighlights links

France win the 2018 World Cup.
 

Current odds of each country winning this World Cup (according to the ‘experts’) - Bookmakers’ Odds

In Dec '17: Ger 5/1, Bra 5/1, Fra 6/1, Spa 8-1, Arg 9-1, Bel 12-1, Eng 16-1, Por 28-1, Rus 40-1, Cro 40-1, Col 40/1, Uru 40-1, Den 100-1, Swi 100-1, Swe 100-1, Mex 125-1, Ser 200-1, Ice 500-1, Aus 750-1, Pan 2000-1, Sau A. 5000-1.

A Wikipedia page on the history of World Cup competitions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup

A Wikipedia list of previous WC winning sides - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_winners

A Youtube channel with almost every WC goal since 1966 - https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDrobisha/videos

Previous OriginalTrilogy•com World Cup threads - 2014 : 2010 : 2006

Or just sit back and enjoy the games - Summer will be here, beers in the fridge, and footy on the telly 😃

Turned out to be a cracking & enjoyable tournament…

I’ll be likely routing for Iceland - fantastic achievements in footy of late, and superb rapport / togetherness with their supporters too. They are also the smallest nation to ever make it to a World Cup Finals. You?
 

^ Ha! 😃

This is a football thread, my friend 😉

Warbler said:

Football? They’re finally going to hold a world tournament for football?

Every four years mate - for a long time now 😃

Say what now? footsocc? I think you can get some cream for that mate 😉

29 days to go till this kicks off…

The sun is out, it actually feels like Summer too, and football-mania is soon to begin (until England get knocked out in the Group stage or in the Last-16) 😉

The official World Cup song (another slice of Europop cringe) - though fair play if this is your thing; it does have a very Eurovision-esque vibe to it:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXpHdTk2cY

ITV’s World Cup promo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojXEFDFMw8

BBC’s World Cup trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxwX1myxqc

Fox Sport’s World Cup promo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC3LwDEVyzE

^ I saw a bit of France vs Ireland (towards the end - when it was really lashing down with rain! 😃) - the depth of the French squad looks superb, and easily brushed aside Ireland who only really offered the occasional counter-attack and set-pieces -though a good warm-up vs a defencive minded side.
 

Am off to se Brazil vs Croatia this Sunday in a pre-World Cup match - may be worth putting a couple of £ on Croatia to do well in Russia - and they plays some decent attractive footy with some quality players.

The bookies odds for winning the World Cup (as of today)…

Brazil & Germany both at 9/2, Spain & France at 6/1, Argentina 10/1, Belgium 12/1, England 16/1 (likely because of the amount of bets the English put on them rather than odds of actually winning it), Portugal 28/1, Croatia 33/1, Uruguay & Colombia at 33/1, Russia at 40/1, Poland 80/1, Denmark 100/1, Egypt, Senegal & Serbia at 250/1, Iceland 400/1, Australia at 750/1, with Saudi Arabia at 2000/1.

Spain sack their manager one day before the World Cup starts:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44467548

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/jun/13/world-cup-2018-news-spain-reaction-lopetegui-real-madrid-live
 

Spain vs Portugal is on Friday…

Stocksy said:

oojason said:

Spain sack their manager one day before the World Cup starts:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44467548

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/jun/13/world-cup-2018-news-spain-reaction-lopetegui-real-madrid-live
 

Spain vs Portugal is on Friday…

 

I kinda think Spain didn’t have a choice - what were Madrid and the manager thinking? Timing of statement was stupid!

Not sure I understand why they announced it. I guess for transfer targets to know who the manager was for but you’d think they would have given Spain FA more than 5 mins notice

Good point - seems there may have been a leak or possibly some politics involved. Real Madrid, eh?

Hierro as manager too… experienced and respected as a player, serving his time and earning his dues coming up as a coach - though that’s a big ask, and in far from ideal circumstances!

Wonder if Spanish FA will sue Real for tapping up their manager? And how Real will try and manage the PR side - I imagine a lot of Spain fans won’t be happy with what’s gone on there…

Wasn’t expecting that scoreline from the Russians - fair play to them, 5-0!

2 min highlights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDY1N-IJOA8
 

Thought that was harsh on Saudi’s - yet for all the neat technical play and quick feet in the middle of the park they did struggle in both final thirds.

Cheryshev’s 2nd goal and the free-kick after it were really well-taken 😃