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Oh, those Brazilians, you know? Circa 1970? Broke the mould. Theory out the window. Free expression of football. Uncategorisable. Is that a word? It is now! You know? Far cry from small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts, rush goalie. Two at the back, three in the middle, four up front, one's gone home for his tea. Beans on toast? Possibly, don't quote me on that. Marvellous.
Watched the France vs Italy match last night, quite an entertaining game, got me in the mood for the world cup. I might avoid watching England this year, enjoy the football rather than getting emotionally invested in the results.
Cant wait, utterly love the World Cup . Cycling, summer ,cricket and and a WC summer what more is there. I actually really like the England team on paper. But then I usually do.
My adopted homeland of Sweden are in too so will be football madness for the next 6 weeks, although their group is pretty tough. Iceland will be watched as well as the big teams. The opening game doesn't exactly fill me with excitement but, dear God I love it
Lots of strong teams this year: Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, France and Spain. But it will probably be Germany.
Well, after that stunning display in the friendly I can see how England can win the world cup. Get rid of the second half 😉
Some decent football from England there but Sterling just seems to be missing something there
We all need one of these,
Hoping Belgium can finally get it together and win - some beautiful footballers, plus Feli, be a travesty if this generation of players doesn't win a major tournament.
That being said, I'm not optimistic. They've been the most talented squad for a while now and done nothing, e.g. getting shelled out by Wales in the last Euros. Clearly they're missing some leadership / psychological components and I'm certain that Roberto Martinez is bringing nothing in this regard. If Kompany is match fit that will be massive.
Counter argument to this is that the players are used to psychopaths like Mourinho and Conte screaming bollox at them all season, so having an actual nice bloke like Martinez telling them they're all awesome might actually be a good thing. We shall see.
I watched Belgium verse Portugal last night, started off quite well but went downhill after 15 mins, for all the technical quality of both teams there was little quality on offer for most of the game. Hazard needs to lean to be a team player rather than just playing for personal glory (despite his recent comments about himself).
Not there yet ..Im sure I will warm to it once it starts ..
I live a sheltered life. There was a sweepstake being organised at work last week and I had no idea it was on!
Interesting stat of the day: the Nigeria kit is a replica of their 1994 World Cup kit where they reached the last 16. Three million of them were pre-ordered. Kerching for Nike
Does anyone fancy a fantasy football league?
Just created a telegraph league if you want
https://fantasyfootball.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/leagues/view/8148957
Passcode the imaginative 1234
Well my fantasy team has its first casualty, can't believe that Germany havn't named Sane in their 23 man squad. They may have an abundance of riches, but he is one of the best, there has got to be more to that decision than meets the eye.
Unlimited transfers until the first kick off 🙂 Sane Out of mine now
Stirring start so far...
Confident we should get out of the group like this...
Any FF swaps yet?
Anyone follow the Athletico Mince podcast?, Now the gangs of the EPL have met up at St George's Pk, Bob has a spy in the camp and seems it's not all roses between Vardy and Kane's respective crews. Will be interesting to see how that develops.
As it’s aproaching the actual business end of international football i’m Breaking my golden rule about wasting 90 minutes of my life watching Engerland friendlies.
The one thing that is absolutely apparent so far is that the FA need to snatch that blokes bloody hand off who wants to buy Wemberley! And never ever host an Engerland game there ever again! Play American football there, and host Rolling Stones concerts.
Let the squad go back on the road again again and play at Anfield, Turf Moor, Old Trafford, St James’s Park, Goodson... proper grounds..... and have them play in a proper atmosphere in front of proper fans
....and spare us all the frankly embarrassing sight of all the best seats in the house being left empty for the first 10-15 minutes of the second half while their corporate occupants decide whether they can be arsed forsaking their lavish hospitality to bother themselves to re-take the seats that a lot of football-loving kids would give their right arm for.
On the footy front... I wish Jose would give Rashford the freedom to play like this! This is what he can do. He’s having a blinder!
1. Is Antone Griezman, to start you off
Watched the first st hour with the sound off. Like watching them at wemberlee withth sound on.
got the sound on now, ER crowd doing a good job by the sound of it. Well done everyone, MOT
3. Andrés Iniesta
RM.
6 Lionel Messi
10 Luca Modric
13 Sadie Mane
22 Luis Suarez
14. Christian Erikson
18. Robert Lewandowski
23. Gylfi Sigurdsson ( spelling )
8.black pig chocolate bar ...never heard of him ..is he any good ?
good work so far. 9 and 17 are my favourites oh and 24.
Ball hog bar.... Paul....
20. Angel Di Maria
11. Date Vid Silver
20. Angel Die Mary Ear
And I went for Pool Pig Bar
24.ilkey Gundogan ..( man .city & Germany )
21. Thibaut Courtois.
RM.
Has anyone had got a bet on Spain? They've just sacked their manager the day before the competition starts.
Like you do
And Rafa is someone they are said to be considering ...
WAKE UP ASHLEY YOU BELL END !!!
Has anyone had got a bet on Spain? They’ve just sacked their manager the day before the competition starts.
Like you do
I have them in the office sweepstake 🙁
To be fair they had little choice really – I mean, WTF, who* in their right minds announces their new manager in this fashion just days before the World Cup – couldn't they have embargoed the announcement until after the tournament?
*Real Madrid evidently.
4. Ronaldo
17. Ozil
19. Tim Cahill
Canada, USA and Mexico have just won joint bid for 2026 World Cup.
Should make for interesting times with Trump's view of the co-hosts.
@eddiebaby - Trump won't be in charge in 2026, he might not be alive and if he is he'll be in a "Retirement Centre for Fectards"
What the hell is this?!
So the day is finally upon us....not sure I'll bother to watch much of the game though as I've got a few things to do. I'm hoping we can avoid the usual disappointing opening England match, where we snatch a draw from the jaws of a nervous win. If and its a big IF, we can put away Tunisia with some panache, I have hopes for getting some way into the comp.......maybe as far as the KO stages even! 🙂
That opening ceremony was so bad.
Boris: “We got everything ready?”
Alexandra: “Da”
B: “Great the opening ceremony is?”
A:”Ah! Errr Wait We don’t have one”
B: “What about Robbie Williams he is the icon of football”
A: “Good call comrade and maybe some dancing clowns”
This is disgusting to watch, on several levels.
Great to have the proxy war in Syria proxied again!
All the dignitaries look like Bond villains.
FIFA couldn't give a toss about football.
VAR, jesus wept.
Ad breaks - BET BET BET BET BET BET BET
Scotland would gub both these teams.
On top of all that, Robbie Williams!
Ad breaks – BET BET BET BET BET BET BET
Scotland would gub both these teams.
On top of all that, Robbie Williams!
Effin glad I'm missing it. 1st and last are 2 of my most hated things 😆
2 very poor teams
Neither of the two teams are going to win it ..but I thought it's been ok ..
the pitch is pretty bad too
Yeah no interest in this match at all, however Spain vs Portugal could be tasty tomorrow, and on Saturday the smiting begins.
https://twitter.com/rvkgrapevine/status/1007270783922659328
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Neither of the two teams are going to win it ..but I thought it’s been ok ..
yip, was a decent start to the tourney. imo. Better than I expected considering the 2 teams, could have much more drab!
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Didn’t see it, as I was on a print deadline, but listened to it. Sounded a belter.
Mrs Binners first bet of the tournament- that Saudi Arabia would concede 3 or more - came in, so we’ve started as she’ll probably go on.
We’re both off for the next week. Do you lot want me to keep you posted on her bets?
Two absolutely cracking goals from Cherywhatshisfaceski. Almost distracts from the buying of the referee by Russia
I assumed Putin had threatened all the players with a long holiday in Siberia.
bbc 6 the now, Gideon Coe, playing music for the 32 competing nations, tis brilliant. 🙂
I assumed Putin had threatened all the players with a long holiday in Siberia.
He was clearly 6 hunnerbilliongajillion rubles up on the bets with yon saudi price guy at the end, sitting back like a cheshire cat! 😆
not sure about the saudi death metal mind! 😆
how can I get highlights of the game on the telly? not on the internet.
is there a red button on ITV?
doubt it!
Which team will have a worse goal keeper than KSA?
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Didn’t see it, as I was on a print deadline, but listened to it. Sounded a belter.
Mrs Binners first bet of the tournament- that Saudi Arabia would concede 3 or more – came in, so we’ve started as she’ll probably go on.
We’re both off for the next week. Do you lot want me to keep you posted on her bets?
I don't usually bet, stuck 20 quid in this year though, 2 quid trebles is the game I'm playing.
Gone for Uruguay, Morocco, Spain tomorrow, so don't anyone bet that, i'm a jinxy bastard at gambling! 😆
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Highlights on BBC 2 later.
Ludicrous having a team like Saudi in the WC when stronger teams are at home. I reckon Gianluigi Buffon was choking on his cornflakes watching this.
@caher - but that's the rules and that's how each team qualifies. That's like saying Malta and San Marino should not be allowed to compete in the qualifiers. They all should be allowed to take part.
I'd rather see no seeding system so that you could end up with Honduras or some such country fluking their merry way to the final.
So I didn't get to see much of the match, but am I the only one that is slightly suspicious of the scoreline? Surely they couldn't have bought that result could they but I wouldn't put anything past Putin?!
but am I the only one that is slightly suspicious of the scoreline?
Against Saudi Arabia? 😆 shoosh, leave yer politics at the door on this thread would ye all...
Saudi have a history of getting spanked at the world cup, I seem to remember the Germans beating them 8-0 in 2006 or 2010?
Against Saudi Arabia?
But Russia are the lowest seeded team in the tournament ????
When it comes to seeding/World Cup qualifications, Saudi are essentially the best looking guy in a burns unit...
Against Saudi Arabia?
But Russia are the lowest seeded team in the tournament ????
Fifa rankings aren't an absolute measure of a teams likely performance in a game. Russia also have home advantage and Saudi are the second lowest ranked team. I'd doubt very much you'd have many people betting against Russia and Uruguay to qualify from that group.
saying that, uruguay looking honking here!
silly Egypt why have Salah on the bench if he's not fit enough to play (as soon as Uruguay knew he wasn't coming on they stepped it up). And it looks like half the Uruguay players have been hitting the gym and dr fuentes magic juice !
Because Klunk, they didn’t want to risk him unless they were losing, however Uraguay were very sneaky and waited until the last minute to score!
I went for three draws in the opening three games, and it’s looking like I might finally get one right.....they’re definitely getting closer..........Noooooo! Iran just scored in the 95th minute!
edit. Quality OG
Iran robbed me! 😆
Ah well, onwards and upwards.
Increasing the odds, that's a sure fire way to beat the bookies.
tomorrows treble:
france +2.5
draw argentina
draw croatia
£2 returns £49! 😆
I ain’t watching all of them, and because I’m waiting for Blade Runner to come on Sky Movies I’ve got Spain/Portugal on.
What a bunch of miserable buggers they all are.
You'd be forgiven for thinking earning €bn’s and representing your country that you walk on like you’d been sucking down helium all day.
Are they all cross at having to get out of their mucky puddle sex ponds ??
Gimme a break B.B., they are focused and well up for it. This is potentially the biggest game of their lives!
two good reasons to support Portugal tonight, Costa and Ramos.....grrrrrr!
cracking game!
aye, beezer of a strike that was!
What a match. Meh betting, start a separate thread gambleboys, this is for the love of the game 😁🦄🖖
You couldn’t write the script could you..
Give that bloke a ball and he’ll score... 🤪
Somebody has been at the Liverpool GK school
Thats 2 poor mistakes by De Gea in 2 games
The world cup has started!
This feels like a quarter final or something. Enjoyable stuff!
Pepe's still a ****!