2018 World Cup discussion and information thread

[CarlesPuyol]

Memphis Depay's first-half goal for the Netherlands sent Scotland to defeat 1-0.
Netherlands are close to the world cup tournament in Russia.

[cicciobtc]

Memphis Depay's first-half goal for the Netherlands sent Scotland to defeat 1-0.
Netherlands are close to the world cup tournament in Russia.

this was just a friendly match, unfortunately the Netherlands was eliminated by coming third in his group behind France and Sweden

[tomahawk9]

Croatia has demolished Greece 4-1(Modric,Kalinic,Perisic,Kramaric) and is very close to qualifying.

Switzerland also proved to be significantly stronger in Ireland by winning 1-0  (63% possession of the ball).
Now it will be a draw at home next week to qualify.

Tomorrow we will see if Italy will also respect the role of a favorite team.

Good for Croatia, they have a sweet team and i would like to see Modric, Rakitic, and Mandzukic in the next world cup.

Switzerland scored a goal thanks to the unbelievable call from the ref, that was not a penalty. Yes, Switzerland deserved the win, but not like this. And poor performance from Northern Ireland, they didn't have a single shot on target.

And i'm looking forward to the Sweden-Italy match tomorrow. Italy are the big favorites, but the fact that they are playing in the playoff says a lot about the team, and let's not forget that Sweden beat France in the same stadium back in June.

[steveabrahams]

Croatia has demolished Greece 4-1(Modric,Kalinic,Perisic,Kramaric) and is very close to qualifying.

Switzerland also proved to be significantly stronger in Ireland by winning 1-0  (63% possession of the ball).
Now it will be a draw at home next week to qualify.

Tomorrow we will see if Italy will also respect the role of a favorite team.

Good for Croatia, they have a sweet team and i would like to see Modric, Rakitic, and Mandzukic in the next world cup.

Switzerland scored a goal thanks to the unbelievable call from the ref, that was not a penalty. Yes, Switzerland deserved the win, but not like this. And poor performance from Northern Ireland, they didn't have a single shot on target.

And i'm looking forward to the Sweden-Italy match tomorrow. Italy are the big favorites, but the fact that they are playing in the playoff says a lot about the team, and let's not forget that Sweden beat France in the same stadium back in June.

Win is a win though, an important away match for Switzerland. So Switzerland only need draw on the 2nd leg match at Switzerland home. Tbh, i have a bet on Northern Ireland but they are really bad and deserve lose. Meanwhile as i expected Croatia win with many goals, many star players on Croatia team make it, a good start on their 1st leg match.

[siti25]

Croatia has demolished Greece 4-1(Modric,Kalinic,Perisic,Kramaric) and is very close to qualifying.

Switzerland also proved to be significantly stronger in Ireland by winning 1-0  (63% possession of the ball).
Now it will be a draw at home next week to qualify.

Tomorrow we will see if Italy will also respect the role of a favorite team.

Good for Croatia, they have a sweet team and i would like to see Modric, Rakitic, and Mandzukic in the next world cup.

Switzerland scored a goal thanks to the unbelievable call from the ref, that was not a penalty. Yes, Switzerland deserved the win, but not like this. And poor performance from Northern Ireland, they didn't have a single shot on target.

And i'm looking forward to the Sweden-Italy match tomorrow. Italy are the big favorites, but the fact that they are playing in the playoff says a lot about the team, and let's not forget that Sweden beat France in the same stadium back in June.

Win is a win though, an important away match for Switzerland. So Switzerland only need draw on the 2nd leg match at Switzerland home. Tbh, i have a bet on Northern Ireland but they are really bad and deserve lose. Meanwhile as i expected Croatia win with many goals, many star players on Croatia team make it, a good start on their 1st leg match.

That is it, win is win. Such mistakes are not supposed to happen, but that's what happens because the referee is also human. Human is the place where mistakes happen, and the referees have to make quick decisions, so if there is a wrong decision-making it is not unusual. It is a drama in football, winning is a win.

[cicciobtc]

Croatia has demolished Greece 4-1(Modric,Kalinic,Perisic,Kramaric) and is very close to qualifying.

Switzerland also proved to be significantly stronger in Ireland by winning 1-0  (63% possession of the ball).
Now it will be a draw at home next week to qualify.

Tomorrow we will see if Italy will also respect the role of a favorite team.

Good for Croatia, they have a sweet team and i would like to see Modric, Rakitic, and Mandzukic in the next world cup.

Switzerland scored a goal thanks to the unbelievable call from the ref, that was not a penalty. Yes, Switzerland deserved the win, but not like this. And poor performance from Northern Ireland, they didn't have a single shot on target.

And i'm looking forward to the Sweden-Italy match tomorrow. Italy are the big favorites, but the fact that they are playing in the playoff says a lot about the team, and let's not forget that Sweden beat France in the same stadium back in June.

Win is a win though, an important away match for Switzerland. So Switzerland only need draw on the 2nd leg match at Switzerland home. Tbh, i have a bet on Northern Ireland but they are really bad and deserve lose. Meanwhile as i expected Croatia win with many goals, many star players on Croatia team make it, a good start on their 1st leg match.

That is it, win is win. Such mistakes are not supposed to happen, but that's what happens because the referee is also human. Human is the place where mistakes happen, and the referees have to make quick decisions, so if there is a wrong decision-making it is not unusual. It is a drama in football, winning is a win.

Croatia has a lot of talented players, has a midfield (Modric-Rakitic) and an attack (Perisic-Kalinic-Mandzukic) really very strong.
if Croatia qualifies it may be the revelation of the tournament

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Sweden vs Italy - Under 2.5 goals - Italy are the masters of defending & as this this is ghe 1st leg I think they will keep it tight & try to grab an away goal.

[Lucius]

Croatia played a great match and practically ensured the participation in the World Cup.There is one more game to be played in Greece,but just do not see how can Greece score 3 and not receive nothing.They play very bad game,their defense was leaky and their attack did not even exist,the defeat could have been even bigger.

Switzerland was better team and they have few good chances to score,but at the end they get penalty kick for which most agree that it did not exist,the ball is actually hit player of Northern Ireland in the back.Northern Ireland failed to score in this game although they score in every game at home in this qualifications.

Tonight game is Sweden vs. Italy and this should be a very hard match considering how Italian team can play.Maybe we can see game similar to Northern Ireland vs. Switzerland.For Italy there is doubts for few players for tonight game, Andrea Belotti-Ciro Immobile are questionable,and Simone Zaza is injured but he will be with team.There is no report about injured players in host team,but six of them may miss next match if they get yellow card tonight.

[buwaytress]

Good for Croatia, they have a sweet team and i would like to see Modric, Rakitic, and Mandzukic in the next world cup.

Switzerland scored a goal thanks to the unbelievable call from the ref, that was not a penalty. Yes, Switzerland deserved the win, but not like this. And poor performance from Northern Ireland, they didn't have a single shot on target.

And i'm looking forward to the Sweden-Italy match tomorrow. Italy are the big favorites, but the fact that they are playing in the playoff says a lot about the team, and let's not forget that Sweden beat France in the same stadium back in June.

There goes Greece's dream to qualify and progress in the World Cup the way they did in Euros before: defend like Spartans and reach penalties (I'm not sure I'm even joking anymore) but indeed, we would all welcome any team that has Modric weaving his wand. Reminds me of good old Tottenham Hotspurs days...

Switzerland more or less deserved the win, but I think N Ireland just as equally deserved the draw. Going to be hard for them to score across the sea but let's see. I still think one of the Irish teams should go through.

Italy had better go through tomorrow! No Zlatan, no excuse.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Memphis Depay's first-half goal for the Netherlands sent Scotland to defeat 1-0.
Netherlands are close to the world cup tournament in Russia.

this was just a friendly match, unfortunately the Netherlands was eliminated by coming third in his group behind France and Sweden

I don’t know what happened to Netherlands (I prefer to call them Holland). They used to always have a conveyor belt of top talent over the years. It seems that has now stopped & they are a shadow of their former selves.

[bering]

Sweden vs Italy - Under 2.5 goals - Italy are the masters of defending & as this this is ghe 1st leg I think they will keep it tight & try to grab an away goal.

probably Sweden will attempts to make goals first to secure their positions because home match will be so important for them but Italy also will pushing to get the winning results so this match will so tight but i do agree with your predictions that under 2.5 goals looks good and both of team will playing carefully and try not to concede goal first

[DeathAngel]

Honduras vs Australia, surely the Ozzie’s will take the victory here. I know they’re not a football super power but they should have too much quality for Honduras surely.

[DIA7]

Denmark started off their world cup qualifications not on the right foot as they lost two of their 3 starting games but at the end they changed the outcome nad managed to get in second place behind Poland and today they are at home and that will be their adavantage gainst the vsitors Ireland whom have been not at their best shape true they managed to turn the table over Wales and stealing third place from them but they hae problems in away games especialy in attack managing to score only 4 goals in 4 games and with Denmark being on a good run from 9 games without a lose in this period and Ireland with 3 wins from last 9 games so a home win would be much expected.

[ralle14]

Honduras vs Australia, surely the Ozzie’s will take the victory here. I know they’re not a football super power but they should have too much quality for Honduras surely.

I don't think Australia can win this match but at least getting a draw or a goal is already a win for them and if that happened they're halfway from qualifying plus it'll be a hard task to win on Australia's home field. The odds for Honduras was at +100 last time I checked. I have a bet for Australia to qualify which is a good option to go for if you want to bet with less risk on both leg.

[tomahawk9]

So Italy lost.
What an embarrassing, dreadful, abysmal performance from Italy. The gameplan? defend the draw, play long balls, and pass the ball to candreva/darmian then wait for a cross and hope for the best, good job Ventura, great tactics. And then Insinge replaces Verrati in the last 20 min? and Parolo played the whole game? again, good job Ventura.
Sweden on the other hand, they played their hearts out today, you could see that this was THE game where they had to play their best and they did so.
1-0 isn't the worst result for Italy, but after their display today, no Verrati in the next game (he didn't do anything today but still), and urgency to score a goal the I can see Italy leaving some spaces and if Sweden manages to score a goal, then I dare to say 'game over Italy'.

[Pab]

Heart attacks in Italy,if Italy will not qualify it will be national tragedy,but lets see maybe penalties like again Germany during Euro

[buwaytress]

So Italy lost.
What an embarrassing, dreadful, abysmal performance from Italy. The gameplan? defend the draw, play long balls, and pass the ball to candreva/darmian then wait for a cross and hope for the best, good job Ventura, great tactics. And then Insinge replaces Verrati in the last 20 min? and Parolo played the whole game? again, good job Ventura.
Sweden on the other hand, they played their hearts out today, you could see that this was THE game where they had to play their best and they did so.
1-0 isn't the worst result for Italy, but after their display today, no Verrati in the next game (he didn't do anything today but still), and urgency to score a goal the I can see Italy leaving some spaces and if Sweden manages to score a goal, then I dare to say 'game over Italy'.

No Italia, no siesta, so I guess their exclusion from the World Cup should mean better entertainment for everyone - given the way they performed last night. I get that Italy has to play defence, it's part of their psyche and national identity. But the long balls punting up field in the hopes of some miracle isn't pretty, isn't exciting, isn't world standard.

But agree, if Sweden scores just one goal, that'll be the end of it. So maybe we get the chance to see Zlatan one more time on the big stage next year, huh?

P.S. Welcome back, Senegal!

[Lucius]

Denmark started off their world cup qualifications not on the right foot as they lost two of their 3 starting games but at the end they changed the outcome nad managed to get in second place behind Poland and today they are at home and that will be their adavantage gainst the vsitors Ireland whom have been not at their best shape true they managed to turn the table over Wales and stealing third place from them but they hae problems in away games especialy in attack managing to score only 4 goals in 4 games and with Denmark being on a good run from 9 games without a lose in this period and Ireland with 3 wins from last 9 games so a home win would be much expected.

Very interesting match between two teams which for a long time have not been defeated,Denmark from October 2016 when they lost from Montenegro at home and Ireland who remain undefeated when play away in group for this qualifications.First game will be for sure on the side of Denmark just because the advantages of a home field and a their great player Christian Eriksen from Tottenham who score in six games in the row.Henrik Dalsgaard,Riza Durmisi,Kasper Dolberg,Daniel Wass are out for tonight game.

On the other side Ireland is proved to be a very tough nut when play away,but their coach Martin O’Neill have some problems with injured players James McCarthy,Richard Keogh,Seamus Coleman and Jonathan Walters in addition to David Meyler who is suspended for this game.Since Meyler is very important for Ireland,some even say he is key player, this will certainly weaken Ireland in this game.

I do not expect anything else than to Denmark go strong from the first minute and try to score as soon as possible.

[tomahawk9]

So Italy lost.
What an embarrassing, dreadful, abysmal performance from Italy. The gameplan? defend the draw, play long balls, and pass the ball to candreva/darmian then wait for a cross and hope for the best, good job Ventura, great tactics. And then Insinge replaces Verrati in the last 20 min? and Parolo played the whole game? again, good job Ventura.
Sweden on the other hand, they played their hearts out today, you could see that this was THE game where they had to play their best and they did so.
1-0 isn't the worst result for Italy, but after their display today, no Verrati in the next game (he didn't do anything today but still), and urgency to score a goal the I can see Italy leaving some spaces and if Sweden manages to score a goal, then I dare to say 'game over Italy'.

No Italia, no siesta, so I guess their exclusion from the World Cup should mean better entertainment for everyone - given the way they performed last night. I get that Italy has to play defence, it's part of their psyche and national identity. But the long balls punting up field in the hopes of some miracle isn't pretty, isn't exciting, isn't world standard.

But agree, if Sweden scores just one goal, that'll be the end of it. So maybe we get the chance to see Zlatan one more time on the big stage next year, huh?

P.S. Welcome back, Senegal!

a world cup without Italy is going be...strange (?), if they don't qualify they will be the only World Cup-winning squad not to participate in Russia 2018, and honestly, who doesn't wanna see the best teams in the World Cup? I do hope they qualify, but the team doesn't inspire confidence right now, and if they do end up qualifying we know Ventura will keep being the coach until next year, which is probably bad news for Italy but they simply can't fire him months before the world cup.

We have another playoff match today: Denmark - Republic of Ireland.

And in the inter-confederation play-offs, New Zealand managed to draw 0-0 against Perú. Next match is going to be interesting, I wonder if the New Zealand squad will be able to adapt fast in South America.

[jjacob]

We have another playoff match today: Denmark - Republic of Ireland.

And in the inter-confederation play-offs, New Zealand managed to draw 0-0 against Perú. Next match is going to be interesting, I wonder if the New Zealand squad will be able to adapt fast in South America.

Denmark vs Republic of Ireland will be interesting. Denmark are ranked 19th in the world, while Ireland are ranked 25th. Denmark also have a very strong record at home, so it is not going to be easy for Ireland to pull a surprise. Ireland will also miss David Meyler, who has been banned.