Official 2018 FIFA World Cup Thread.

[TripleThreat]

The most popular tournament in the world has finally come to a reality after 4 long years. 32 teams battle it out for the once every four year tournament known as the FIFA World Cup.

USA Eliminated from the World Cup, and did not qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1986. USA plans and vows to be back as a power house for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

USA, Mexico, and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with USA hosting 60 of the 80 matches. Below is a link for the 2026 possible venues for play, Arrowhead being one of the possibility's as a venue for the cup.

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/wor...da-going-to-be

Below are the 32 teams that qualified this year for the 2018 World Cup, and will fight for a chance at the title.

Eliminated:

Group A: Saudia Arabia, Egypt

Group B: Iran, Morocco

Group C: Peru, Australia

Group D: Iceland, Nigeria

Group E: Costa Rica, serbia

Group F: Germany, Korea Republic

Group G: Panama Tunisia

Group H: Poland, Senegal

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

That kind of game is the one reason I can't ever really get into it... a free kick, penalty kick, and the ridiculousness of watching goalies randomly dive one way or the other with almost no chance... going from 10 shots on goal in 120+ minutes to having a 90% chance (or whatever) of scoring.

The game yesterday was worth watching though, a few goals while actually playing soccer.

Remember in american football, where whatever team got the ball in OT usually won cause of field goal = game over?

Its a crappy way to decide a game, but most casual fans enjoy the PK's and the excitement that comes with it.

Generally speaking the reason most Americans dont like watching soccer is because half the time they have no idea what they are even watching. All they see is a ball being kicked around and wondering why its not going into the net... Its hard for anyone to enjoy watching a sport when you dont even understand the basics of the game (not saying that you dont, just others who have a negative view on watching soccer). The build up of the game, the possession, the moves, the chances, the suspense, the simple beauty of the game is why its hands down the most popular sport bar-none in the world.

Also, its a harder sport for casuals to follow along and get into with the multiple leagues they have around the world, where here in america, its pretty simple with one league to rule the entire sport like MLB/NFL/NBA (best players all play here)... There are a lot more leagues world-wide for soccer where the best players are spread throughout all the regions.

TBH most people outside of the U.S. find our sports very boring, MLB/NFL in particular. To them, NFL is a constant stoppage fest. the game is 60minutes, but it takes 3 hours to finish the game, including commercials etc, and to them they dont understand why they are standing on the line for 30seconds trying to force a offside, which is similar to why a lot of Americans dont understand what is happening in a soccer game to soften a defense or to find a opening etc... You could say WOW look at that through ball, and half the people watching the soccer game complaining about the sport dont/wont even know what a through ball is..

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Remember in american football, where whatever team got the ball in OT usually won cause of field goal = game over?

Its a crappy way to decide a game, but most casual fans enjoy the PK's and the excitement that comes with it.

Generally speaking the reason most Americans dont like watching soccer is because half the time they have no idea what they are even watching. All they see is a ball being kicked around and wondering why its not going into the net... Its hard for anyone to enjoy watching a sport when you dont even understand the basics of the game (not saying that you dont, just others who have a negative view on watching soccer). The build up of the game, the possession, the moves, the chances, the suspense, the simple beauty of the game is why its hands down the most popular sport bar-none in the world.

Also, its a harder sport for casuals to follow along and get into with the multiple leagues they have around the world, where here in america, its pretty simple with one league to rule the entire sport like MLB/NFL/NBA (best players all play here)... There are a lot more leagues world-wide for soccer where the best players are spread throughout all the regions.

TBH most people outside of the U.S. find our sports very boring, MLB/NFL in particular. To them, NFL is a constant stoppage fest. the game is 60minutes, but it takes 3 hours to finish the game, including commercials etc, and to them they dont understand why they are standing on the line for 30seconds trying to force a offside, which is similar to why a lot of Americans dont understand what is happening in a soccer game to soften a defense or to find a opening etc... You could say WOW look at that through ball, and half the people watching the soccer game complaining about the sport dont/wont even know what a through ball is..

Good take. I can certainly see why it turns some people off but to me, matches like Russia v Spain are akin to watching a game of chess played out on a pitch. It is interesting in a different way.

[NJChiefsFan]

I really enjoy watching international soccer but it is very hard to deal with the diving. Twice today players dove instead of playing the ball in what would have been a very dangerous spot. Ramos did it before PK's and just before in this game.

Would really like to see tournaments give heavy fines and yellow/reds post-match to try to curb it. Hell use VAR too.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Turtle Turtle

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Remember in american football, where whatever team got the ball in OT usually won cause of field goal = game over?

Its a crappy way to decide a game, but most casual fans enjoy the PK's and the excitement that comes with it.

Generally speaking the reason most Americans dont like watching soccer is because half the time they have no idea what they are even watching. All they see is a ball being kicked around and wondering why its not going into the net... Its hard for anyone to enjoy watching a sport when you dont even understand the basics of the game (not saying that you dont, just others who have a negative view on watching soccer). The build up of the game, the possession, the moves, the chances, the suspense, the simple beauty of the game is why its hands down the most popular sport bar-none in the world.

Also, its a harder sport for casuals to follow along and get into with the multiple leagues they have around the world, where here in america, its pretty simple with one league to rule the entire sport like MLB/NFL/NBA (best players all play here)... There are a lot more leagues world-wide for soccer where the best players are spread throughout all the regions.

TBH most people outside of the U.S. find our sports very boring, MLB/NFL in particular. To them, NFL is a constant stoppage fest. the game is 60minutes, but it takes 3 hours to finish the game, including commercials etc, and to them they dont understand why they are standing on the line for 30seconds trying to force a offside, which is similar to why a lot of Americans dont understand what is happening in a soccer game to soften a defense or to find a opening etc... You could say WOW look at that through ball, and half the people watching the soccer game complaining about the sport dont/wont even know what a through ball is..

I agree to some extent as far as why people don't like it or find it boring... most people are casual fans and they aren't going to put any effort into understanding the game. I think people who watch and appreciate other sports will at least put the effort into understanding what they're watching. I can appreciate the skill and passing, set plays, etc.... it's just very strange that a game that's not offensive and has rules like offsides to keep teams from scoring, goes to the extreme opposite to decide games. It would be like CFB rules for OT, but you only get 3 players on defense.

Playing it yourself definitely helps, and soccer is inexpensive... I didn't appreciate hockey nearly as much until I started playing roller hockey.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I really enjoy watching international soccer but it is very hard to deal with the diving. Twice today players dove instead of playing the ball in what would have been a very dangerous spot. Ramos did it before PK's and just before in this game.

Would really like to see tournaments give heavy fines and yellow/reds post-match to try to curb it. Hell use VAR too.

But then there's this bit of fun

Neymar is on a roll from r/funny

[MMXcalibur]

This boring ass game is going to penalties.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Tuuuuuuuuuuurtle

[New World Order]

I love the penalty kicks.

One of the better reasons to watch.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Where is the red card?

[Why Not?]

Amazing save!

[MMXcalibur]

That should have been a red card, but that was one hell of a save!
That last gasp tackle reminds me of the Suarez hand ball on the line vs Ghana in South Africa. Deny the opponent an easy goal in order to give your goalie a shot.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

The Croatian player still should have been able to get the shot off.

[Bearcat]

That was exciting.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Carr4MVP

The Croatian player still should have been able to get the shot off.

That's what I was thinking... looked like an extra step.