2018 World Cup discussion and information thread

[ralle14]

I want to take Sweden to qualify but after looking their all time record against their opponent later today i'm going to take Italy to qualify @1.9 odds on nitrogen. The all time record of Sweden against Italy is here : 24 matches played with 7 wins 6 draws and 11losses the win percentage is 29% source is from wikipedia.  Italy only need at least one goal lead to take this to extra time and win or get a 2 goal lead to seal this. I'll edit this later and add my betslip.

[bering]

I want to take Sweden to qualify but after looking their all time record against their opponent later today i'm going to take Italy to qualify @1.9 odds on nitrogen. The all time record of Sweden against Italy is here : 24 matches played with 7 wins 6 draws and 11losses the win percentage is 29% source is from wikipedia.  Italy only need at least one goal lead to take this to extra time and win or get a 2 goal lead to seal this. I'll edit this later and add my betslip.

past statistics looks makes Italy will be the favourite to win the match regardless the results of previous match this is might be different that currently Italy will playing for home match and during qualifications matches Italy home ground matches are more better than away matches that's why i do agree with you that Italy have good advantages to win the match and the odds @1.9 is pretty good for me

[Nibeloss]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

[szpalata]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

They better up their game because  a world cup without Italy will be worse than anything and the Swedish with their first leg advantage will like to hang on to their hopes of going to Russia. Not going to be easy but i think Italy will do their homework well.

[StonedWolf]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

If I bet with my feelings and my belongings I will surely say that Italy will pass, but after the first leg in Sweden I doubt that the Niratzouri will go to the World Cup, and this in my opinion due mainly to the coach who can never control such an effective or lead such a national team.
But, while the case concerns Italy we just have to wait because all is possible.

[siti25]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

If I bet with my feelings and my belongings I will surely say that Italy will pass, but after the first leg in Sweden I doubt that the Niratzouri will go to the World Cup, and this in my opinion due mainly to the coach who can never control such an effective or lead such a national team.
But, while the case concerns Italy we just have to wait because all is possible.

I want Italy to qualify but the greatest likelihood is the Sweden who qualify. Whatever the outcome later, I want this to be a great match. Italy are a great team, world cup winners, so Italy should qualify. There is no reason for them to hold back. I want Italy to play football and Sweden defend with all their might.

[grermezter]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

They better up their game because  a world cup without Italy will be worse than anything and the Swedish with their first leg advantage will like to hang on to their hopes of going to Russia. Not going to be easy but i think Italy will do their homework well.

The swedes can just go on the defensive when they face the Azzuris today. If their defence is formidable then I fear that they are going to have a hard time breaking through. And now their team is not having any prolific striker to score their much needed goals at the moment.

[BitcoinSupremo]

I think Italy who have taken place in every world cup in the last 59 years will also qualify today. It is also my main tip in my thread. The coach has made some radical changes to the attack as after seeing the game in Sweden the attacking part was the one with the worst game play. Now the coach have put 2 different forwarders and I think these has better performance compared to Immobile and Belloti. You will see an easy win from Italy tonight.

[Lucius]

Switzerland and Croatia won their place on Wold Cup completely deserved,they are better in first game and they defended the result in second game.Some may say that Switzerland is get undeservedly penalty kick and that is true,but overall they were a better team.Croatia is play smart last night and Greece despite a little better performance did not had some real chances.Statistic say that there is only one shot on traget in whole game.

In tonight game Italy will try to qualify and it is very likely that they will succeed despite minimal defeat in first match.They simply know how to play these games and I think they are capable to score once or twice and keep a clean sheet.Marco Verratti is out for tonight game due suspension for Italy,and Leonardo Bonucci have broken nose but is expected to play.

[tyz]

Wow, I can not believe that Italy will not attend the World Cup. I watched the match on TV. It just ended 0 - 0. Sweden goes to the World Championship and Italy stays at home. They have had many many chances and missed to make a goal. Glad that I did not bet because I would have been definitely bet on a win of Italy, espcially after the performance in the first half.

[Pab]

Adios Italia,surprise even not Italy is simply playing very poor football,now thay have to think a lot to make comeback

[LTU_btc]

Adios Italia,surprise even not Italy is simply playing very poor football,now thay have to think a lot to make comeback

Agree, Italy played poor football tonight and to be honest, Sweden deserved to play in World Cup. Italy have amazing defence line and goalkeeper, but with lack of high class forwards and midfielders they didn't had many chances against Sweden bus. For me it looked strange that Insigne was left on a bench. I'm very sad for Buffon - it's worst way to retire from national team. Now it's interesting who will become new coach of Italy - it's obvious that Italy was too high level for Ventura and Italy need something more than no name manager. And maybe with new manager we will see Balotelli in Italy squad - I'm missing him a bit.
P.S. Today it was several questionable 11m penalty moments, but referee didn't saw nothing wrong.

[Pettuh4]

Adios Italia,surprise even not Italy is simply playing very poor football,now thay have to think a lot to make comeback

I'm really surprised Italy couldn't make it to the world cup..what must have gone wrong? i guess this is strange and their FA need to sit up because it is unbefitting of Italian football and i'm sad  for them really.

[yoseph]

It will be interesting to see whether the Italians will be able to break the defense of the Swedish national team in today's game. Football is a very unpredictable sport. I'll bet on the pass of the Italians.

They better up their game because  a world cup without Italy will be worse than anything and the Swedish with their first leg advantage will like to hang on to their hopes of going to Russia. Not going to be easy but i think Italy will do their homework well.

The swedes can just go on the defensive when they face the Azzuris today. If their defence is formidable then I fear that they are going to have a hard time breaking through. And now their team is not having any prolific striker to score their much needed goals at the moment.

I believe you really got your prediction spot on in this game because as you said the Azzuris lack any capable striker to score the goals that they needed so much, players who were on fire last seasons like Belotti are not playing like the waythey should be playing. Balotelli with all his stubbornness would have been able to score goals for the country and they would have qualified.

[tomahawk9]

Unbelievable, after 60 years Italy won't be competing in a World Cup.A few thoughts on Italy today:

- Italy failed to score in 180 minutes.
- Ventura is shite. A 3-1-6 formation from the beginning, does he actually thinks that having more forwards is gonna make the team score more goals? pathetic. Having no midfield was the key.
- Gabbiadini over El Shaarawy?  Parolo over Insigne!? seriously, who is Parolo and what was he doing in the starting 11? Insigne is the best attacking player on the team, and he didn't see a single minute today. C'mon Ventura.
- The fact that the 3 defenders (Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini) were the ones pushing the team forward says a lot about the team today.
- The FIGC should fired Ventura, and also the guys reponsible for choosing him as the coach.

Congrats to Sweden, they were solid defensively. The beat France, Netherlands, and Italy to make it to the World Cup. Incredible.

And did anyone see Buffon in the interview after match? the guy was devastated, crying, it was hard to watch. He retired from the national team today, great career with the 'Azzurri', an absolute legend.

[joebrook]

Unbelievable, after 60 years Italy won't be competing in a World Cup.A few thoughts on Italy today:

- Italy failed to score in 180 minutes.
- Ventura is shite. A 3-1-6 formation from the beginning, does he actually thinks that having more forwards is gonna make the team score more goals? pathetic. Having no midfield was the key.
- Gabbiadini over El Shaarawy?  Parolo over Insigne!? seriously, who is Parolo and what was he doing in the starting 11? Insigne is the best attacking player on the team, and he didn't see a single minute today. C'mon Ventura.
- The fact that the 3 defenders (Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini) were the ones pushing the team forward says a lot about the team today.
- The FIGC should fired Ventura, and also the guys reponsible for choosing him as the coach.

Congrats to Sweden, they were solid defensively. The beat France, Netherlands, and Italy to make it to the World Cup. Incredible.

And did anyone see Buffon in the interview after match? the guy was devastated, crying, it was hard to watch. He retired from the national team today, great career with the 'Azzurri', an absolute legend.

The blame in my opinion should be put squarely on the Italian FA for hiring an incompetent manager as Ventura and not having the balls to give him the boot when he wasn't doing anything better for the team.

[siti25]

Unbelievable, after 60 years Italy won't be competing in a World Cup.A few thoughts on Italy today:

- Italy failed to score in 180 minutes.
- Ventura is shite. A 3-1-6 formation from the beginning, does he actually thinks that having more forwards is gonna make the team score more goals? pathetic. Having no midfield was the key.
- Gabbiadini over El Shaarawy?  Parolo over Insigne!? seriously, who is Parolo and what was he doing in the starting 11? Insigne is the best attacking player on the team, and he didn't see a single minute today. C'mon Ventura.
- The fact that the 3 defenders (Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini) were the ones pushing the team forward says a lot about the team today.
- The FIGC should fired Ventura, and also the guys reponsible for choosing him as the coach.

Congrats to Sweden, they were solid defensively. The beat France, Netherlands, and Italy to make it to the World Cup. Incredible.

And did anyone see Buffon in the interview after match? the guy was devastated, crying, it was hard to watch. He retired from the national team today, great career with the 'Azzurri', an absolute legend.

When I saw the starting eleven Italy last night, I did not feel any creeps at all. I do not like this no-nonsense Italian squad. Italian football seems to have changed, the Italian squad filled with players medioker. Seeing the squad like last night, it's not worth them. I want Italy to qualify, but the Italians play the players as if they do not intend to qualify for the World Cup.

[bering]

the statistic match between Italy vs Sweden is very interesting that 73% ball possesion with 14 shot on goals can't makes Italy even at least makes 1 goals to pushing extra time and no Holland and Italy from this world cup seems pretty weird for me and also this is the biggest failure since 1958

[buwaytress]

Adios Italia,surprise even not Italy is simply playing very poor football,now thay have to think a lot to make comeback

Agree, Italy played poor football tonight and to be honest, Sweden deserved to play in World Cup. Italy have amazing defence line and goalkeeper, but with lack of high class forwards and midfielders they didn't had many chances against Sweden bus. For me it looked strange that Insigne was left on a bench. I'm very sad for Buffon - it's worst way to retire from national team. Now it's interesting who will become new coach of Italy - it's obvious that Italy was too high level for Ventura and Italy need something more than no name manager. And maybe with new manager we will see Balotelli in Italy squad - I'm missing him a bit.
P.S. Today it was several questionable 11m penalty moments, but referee didn't saw nothing wrong.

The prudent betting man would have stood to gain a lot from Sweden over the two legs. Sentimentalism will make me wish Italy did a bit better to qualify, of course we want them to be in Russia next year. That anguish from Buffon will also probably be the last I'll see from him at this stage - he is my age too, so I grew up watching him from his teenage years, so imagine all my boyhood heroes one by one retiring.

But I think if we're being objective, Sweden earned the right to progress. And we want a World Cup worth watching, so Italy simply didn't make the cut.

Ventura can't bear the weight of this failure, even if he will. There just haven't been enough in the new crop of players to take over from the old guard. And I'm not saying Italy's mindset of playing with veterans isn't good either. I think players can play well into their 30s and even 40s if they are fit and have the right mentality. But you can't expect the veterans to keep lifting the team.

[AgonyPaid]

Sixty years, the Italian team without a break, got to the World Championships. And yesterday, failed to score a single goal the Swedish national team and thereby not going to the world Cup in 2018. It's just a shame for all Italians.