Which round will England reach in the FIFA World Cup 2018??

JonH · All-time great

Which round will England reach in the FIFA World Cup 2018??

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

I think will go further than Saudi Arabia - Alan Shearer not being too complimentary about them at the moment!

brendan · Strong Club Player

A131 wrote:
I think will go further than Saudi Arabia - Alan Shearer not being too complimentary about them at the moment!

I don't blame him, it's ridiculous that teams that weak can qualify when there are probably at least 10 European teams who didn't qualify that could have won just as easily as Russia did.

-- Edited by brendan on Thursday 14th of June 2018 06:15:20 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

I rather like the representations and variety as it is. Generally to me it adds to the World Cup though this appears to have been an unusually very poor Saudi Arabia side even for a lesser conference ( I only saw the very early stages ).

14 Europeans, 5 South Americans and 13 others ( 5 African, 5 Asian and 3 Central/North American ), as it is here after the play-offs, works for me. Some real jeopardy that some 'big' European and South American nations might not make it ( as happens ) and that's fine too. Adds to qualifying.

I don't though like the sound of the increase to 48 apparently coming next time, since first of all 32 works just fine without complications plus it sounds as if the 'others' will increase disproportionately to Europe and South America and then I might more agree that it's a bit much. But OK now.

JonH · All-time great

I think the thing about the World Cup is that it isnt supposed to be top 32 teams, more a representative selection of the top teams from each geography in the world. There have always been weak teams, who remembers Honduras losing 10-0 to Spain in 86 (? not sure), or Zaire (as it was then) in 74, losing 9-0 to Brazil. But they add to the interest and exotic nature of a world cup, playing different countries and cultures. I like it. The increase to 48 I am not sure about, it seems to add 2 places to Europe which isnt great and more to other places, Africa and Asia gain the most. Oceania get one guaranteed place - NZ can pretty much book their tickets now it seems, given Australia play in Asia these days. I guess Israel playing in Europe makes that space available!

brendan · Strong Club Player

I'm all for plucky underdogs but what was so annoying was that SA didn't even try to compete so why even bother turning up?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Overall I thought we were superb in the 1st half apart from the finishing and a bit more laboured in the 2nd half, although that may have been down to a much more defensive approach from Tunisia. So glad we sneaked it at the death because it means we can have a good moan about the ref/VAR system without it sounding like sour grapes. How we didn't get two penalties, I will never know.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Watching in a hotel in Budapest with a big screen and a handful of English people and many other nationalities. Should have been well ahead at half time. Second half was woeful.

indiana · Tennis legend

That was a pretty decent performance from England, well certainly for England

Very good in first half hour with pace and just some bad misses. And while clearly not so good in the second half, indeed after the Tunisian goal ( though I certainly wouldn't have said woeful ) against decent organisation, they got the win they deserved.

Yep good all in wresting on Kane in the penalty box. Had the VAR folk nodded off? I assume they have the authority to get into the ref's ear, something to consider here?

indiana · Tennis legend

I've taken the liberty of putting a closing day on the poll ( I have applied the shortest available of "one day", which I assume goes from now, and with the second round of group matches starting tomorrow that's all together more than enough info ).

There have been at least 2 votes since England won their opening match - one for QF and one for L16. Cheers folk

It was earlier 15 votes : 7 for QF, 6 for L16, 1 for 3rd in group, 1 for overall worst.

Edit: and yet another now for L16.

JonH · All-time great

indiana wrote:
I've taken the liberty of putting a closing day on the poll ( I have applied the shortest available of "one day", which I assume goes from now, and with the second round of group matches starting tomorrow that's all together more than enough info ).

There have been at least 2 votes since England won their opening match - one for QF and one for L16. Cheers folk

It was earlier 15 votes : 7 for QF, 6 for L16, 1 for 3rd in group, 1 for overall worst.

Edit: and yet another now for L16.

Thanks Indy - I had the joy of following on BBC live text on the train from Kings Cross and then catching the last goal at home. Long day, but England seemed to play well on the whole, despite the second half downturn in energy - which seemed to be happening in the warm ups as well.

Next match Sunday, good enough start

For those interested, this little prediction tool seems best I have found, albeit you will need to manually enter the results of matches already played

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2018-predict-tool-14723385

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

brendan wrote:
A131 wrote:
I think will go further than Saudi Arabia - Alan Shearer not being too complimentary about them at the moment!
I don't blame him, it's ridiculous that teams that weak can qualify when there are probably at least 10 European teams who didn't qualify that could have won just as easily as Russia did.

-- Edited by brendan on Thursday 14th of June 2018 06:15:20 PM

Plenty of people will agree with that I think - when you consider that the likes of Italy and Holland aren't there. Not great teams but surely better than Saudi Arabia/Panama. I can't believe that Poland are supposedly the 8th best team in the world looking at current fifa rankings. But I'm told they are not always a true representative.

-- Edited by A131 on Tuesday 26th of June 2018 10:23:28 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

So much for all this speculation about "England are better off losing to Belgium so as to avoid Germany in the QF".

Bye bye Germany. Delighted for the Mexicans.

brendan · Strong Club Player

Bob in Spain wrote:
So much for all this speculation about "England are better off losing to Belgium so as to avoid Germany in the QF".

Bye bye Germany. Delighted for the Mexicans.

unless Poland suddenly decide to act like the 8th best team in the world then the prize for losing would be to play Japan in the 2nd round which is surely worth whatever comes after that

indiana · Tennis legend

Much could change around in Groups E, Grade G and H yet re 1st and 2nd. But the Poles are out anyway as are of course Germany for a possible QF.

Auf Wiedersehen !

And even if it ends up looking an easier route by finishing 2nd ( and England and Belgium will know before their match ) it is clearly very arguable playing for 2nd ( which if they remain better off for fair play would mean losing ). That can come back to bite you ( many folk cheered when they got Iceland in the Euros ). There is certainly an argument for momentum and taking what comes. Many teams are not playing to a script that suggests that they can be relied upon to be good or bad.