2018 FIFA World Cup

[Bruce]

Going to split this from the soccer thread, because the world's top sporting event deserves top billing.

FOX just released their broadcast schedule for the World Cup, which includes 38 matches on the over-the-air FOX and 26 matches on FS1, plus online coverage on FOX Sports GO.

The schedule:

Date / Time (ET) / Match / Network

Thu 06/14/2018 11:00 AM Russia vs Saudi Arabia (FOX)
Fri 06/15/2018 08:00 AM Egypt vs Uruguay (FS1)
Fri 06/15/2018 11:00 AM Morocco vs Iran (FOX)
Fri 06/15/2018 02:00 PM Portugal vs Spain (FOX)
Sat 06/16/2018 06:00 AM France vs Australia (FS1)
Sat 06/16/2018 09:00 AM Argentina vs Iceland (FOX)
Sat 06/16/2018 12:00 PM Peru vs Denmark (FS1)
Sat 06/16/2018 03:00 PM Croatia vs Nigeria (FS1)
Sun 06/17/2018 08:00 AM Costa Rica vs Serbia (FOX)
Sun 06/17/2018 11:00 AM Germany vs Mexico (FS1)
Sun 06/17/2018 02:00 PM Brazil vs Switzerland (FS1)
Mon 06/18/2018 08:00 AM Sweden vs Korea Republic (FS1)
Mon 06/18/2018 11:00 AM Belgium vs Panama (FS1)
Mon 06/18/2018 02:00 PM Tunisia vs England (FS1)
Tue 06/19/2018 08:00 AM Colombia vs Japan (FS1)
Tue 06/19/2018 11:00 AM Poland vs Senegal (FOX)
Tue 06/19/2018 02:00 PM Russia vs Egypt (FOX)
Wed 06/20/2018 08:00 AM Portugal vs Morocco (FS1)
Wed 06/20/2018 11:00 AM Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (FOX)
Wed 06/20/2018 02:00 PM Iran vs Spain (FOX)
Thu 06/21/2018 08:00 AM Denmark vs Australia (FS1)
Thu 06/21/2018 11:00 AM France vs Peru (FOX)
Thu 06/21/2018 02:00 PM Argentina vs Croatia (FOX)
Fri 06/22/2018 08:00 AM Brazil vs Costa Rica (FS1)
Fri 06/22/2018 11:00 AM Nigeria vs Iceland (FOX)
Fri 06/22/2018 02:00 PM Serbia vs Switzerland (FOX)
Sat 06/23/2018 08:00 AM Belgium vs Tunisia (FOX)
Sat 06/23/2018 11:00 AM Korea Republic vs Mexico (FOX)
Sat 06/23/2018 02:00 PM Germany vs Sweden (FOX)
Sun 06/24/2018 08:00 AM England vs Panama (FS1)
Sun 06/24/2018 11:00 AM Japan vs Senegal (FOX)
Sun 06/24/2018 02:00 PM Poland vs Colombia (FOX)
Mon 06/25/2018 10:00 AM Uruguay vs Russia (FOX)
Mon 06/25/2018 10:00 AM Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (FS1)
Mon 06/25/2018 02:00 PM Iran vs Portugal (FOX)
Mon 06/25/2018 02:00 PM Spain vs Morocco (FS1)
Tue 06/26/2018 10:00 AM Denmark vs France (FOX)
Tue 06/26/2018 10:00 AM Australia vs Peru (FS1)
Tue 06/26/2018 02:00 PM Nigeria vs Argentina (FOX)
Tue 06/26/2018 02:00 PM Iceland vs Croatia (FS1)
Wed 06/27/2018 10:00 AM Mexico vs Sweden (FOX)
Wed 06/27/2018 10:00 AM Korea Republic vs Germany (FS1)
Wed 06/27/2018 02:00 PM Serbia vs Brazil (FOX)
Wed 06/27/2018 02:00 PM Switzerland vs Costa Rica (FS1)
Thu 06/28/2018 10:00 AM Senegal vs Colombia (FOX)
Thu 06/28/2018 10:00 AM Japan vs Poland (FS1)
Thu 06/28/2018 02:00 PM England vs Belgium (FOX)
Thu 06/28/2018 02:00 PM Panama vs Tunisia (FS1)

(Matches after June 25 are subject to change, probably based on knockout round qualification scenarios)

Knockout stage:

Sat 06/30/2018 10:00 AM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Sat 06/30/2018 02:00 PM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Sun 07/01/2018 10:00 AM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Sun 07/01/2018 02:00 PM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Mon 07/02/2018 10:00 AM ROUND OF 16 (FS1)
Mon 07/02/2018 02:00 PM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Tue 07/03/2018 10:00 AM ROUND OF 16 (FS1)
Tue 07/03/2018 02:00 PM ROUND OF 16 (FOX)
Fri 07/06/2018 10:00 AM QUARTERFINAL (FS1)
Fri 07/06/2018 02:00 PM QUARTERFINAL (FS1)
Sat 07/07/2018 10:00 AM QUARTERFINAL (FOX)
Sat 07/07/2018 02:00 PM QUARTERFINAL (FOX)
Tue 07/10/2018 02:00 PM SEMIFINAL (FOX)
Wed 07/11/2018 02:00 PM SEMIFINAL (FOX)
Sat 07/14/2018 10:00 AM 3rd PLACE MATCH (FOX)
Sun 07/15/2018 11:00 AM FINAL (FOX)

[MisterSG1]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

[Bruce]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

Even without the US, people are still going to watch. Either you choose the team representing your ancestral home (El Tri, the Mexican national team, has a huge following stateside) or choose an exciting underdog like Iceland to root for. And of course, you watch the final like any good sports fan.

It's a bit like the Super Bowl or Champions League final, where you're watching for the spectacle, rather than out of attachment for either finalist.

[formulanone]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

At least Ghana can't kick us out again.

[ilpt4u]

Has Telemundo released its broadcast schedule?

Really, Soccer is better in Spanish vs English. Spanish broadcast is exciting. English broadcast is a funeral.

[MisterSG1]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

At least Ghana can't kick us out again.

Now you'll get to see how we feel, we've only been to the World Cup once, in 1986. I always used to watch the USMNT games in the World Cup, but with them gone I don't have any interest in watching at all.

[Takumi]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

At least Ghana can't kick us out again.

*vuvuzela intensifies*

[Road Hog]

I've been a fan of Germany since the 1990 World Cup, so winning the 2014 title was very fun. I'll watch England with some interest also.

[NWI_Irish96]

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

I will definitely pay less attention than in past cups due the US not being there.  Since the majority of my ancestry is German, I'll be rooting for Germany, but I won't watch nearly as many games as I usually do.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

As always, I'll be rooting for my country (Spain). I still remember the 2010 title, our only one so far. I'll be also rooting for Iceland .

Since the US didn't make it, I'm sure most here would rather say back to you "Who gives a shit?"

At least Ghana can't kick us out again.

I remember a headline saying 'Ghana' África, pierde EEUU, Ghana being homophone with gana (it wins), so it could be translated to "Africa wins, USA loses".

[english si]

Well, at least you've qualified for 8 years time! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44464913

[ET21]

Ireland and US aren't in, only Poland for me. So unless it's a Poland game, yup I really won't give a shit 

[nexus73]

Two WC's ago I sure enjoyed watching Paraguay's tremendous D and Uruguay's superb strikers.  In the last one, a fine Brazilian team was dismantled by Germany, who played exceptionally well.  I'll watch a bit of the action along with the College World Series since OSU is in the field as well as favored. 

Then when the WC is over, another 3 weeks or so pass, then we get back to the US brand of football!

Rick

[kurumi]

Has Telemundo released its broadcast schedule?

Really, Soccer is better in Spanish vs English. Spanish broadcast is exciting. English broadcast is a funeral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ

There are plenty of teams to root for (or against). Find the right bar and you'll have a great time.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Okay, I've set my World Cup mock-up. I've replaced all national teams with the 32 teams that made it to the Second Round in the March Madness (thus doing it the other way, as in the March Madness I replaced basketball teams with association football ones), and matched the highest FIFA ranking team to the highest overall seed, the second highest FIFA ranking team to the second highest overall seed and so on. Normally Germany would have become Virginia, but as we know Virginia got the largest owned in the history of the March Madness, and thus Germany becomes Villanova instead, while Russia becomes Maryland-Baltimore County. This doesn't mean Germany is going to win the World Cup, though .

[Bruce]

The opening game of the World Cup was the 2nd biggest win for a host in their opener, behind Italy's 7-1 defeat of the United States way back in 1934.

The fourth goal was especially nice.

[english si]

Ha ha ha - your biggest rivals beat our biggest rivals.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Fun fact: Every group has exactly one Spanish-speaking team . Even the only group that is devoid of teams from the Americas has one (Spain, obviously). This has happened thanks to the USA failing to qualify.

[nexus73]

The opening game of the World Cup was the 2nd biggest win for a host in their opener, behind Italy's 7-1 defeat of the United States way back in 1934.

The fourth goal was especially nice.

Mussolini knew how to make trains on time and soccer players score...LOL!

Rick

[7/8]

A driver hit a hydro pole in my neighbourhood around midnight and knocked out power to 1600 homes. It made me miss the England vs Panama game this morning, but at least England won 6-1 .

I watched the last 15 minutes of the Germany vs Sweden game yesterday and saw Kroos' goal at 90'+5'. Talk about a last minute victory!

[Bruce]

The opening game of the World Cup was the 2nd biggest win for a host in their opener, behind Italy's 7-1 defeat of the United States way back in 1934.

The fourth goal was especially nice.

Mussolini knew how to make trains on time and soccer players score...LOL!

Rick

Jokes aside, it's suspected that Mussolini had a hand in giving the Italian team enough advantages to win the 1934 and 1938 cups.

[nexus73]

The opening game of the World Cup was the 2nd biggest win for a host in their opener, behind Italy's 7-1 defeat of the United States way back in 1934.

The fourth goal was especially nice.

Mussolini knew how to make trains on time and soccer players score...LOL!

Rick

Jokes aside, it's suspected that Mussolini had a hand in giving the Italian team enough advantages to win the 1934 and 1938 cups.

That quality would have made Mussolini a great NASCAR guy back in their days when the operative phrase was "If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'!". 

Then again how much advantage does a team need to beat the USA men in soccer?  LOL! 

Rick

[Bruce]

The opening game of the World Cup was the 2nd biggest win for a host in their opener, behind Italy's 7-1 defeat of the United States way back in 1934.

The fourth goal was especially nice.

Mussolini knew how to make trains on time and soccer players score...LOL!

Rick

Jokes aside, it's suspected that Mussolini had a hand in giving the Italian team enough advantages to win the 1934 and 1938 cups.

That quality would have made Mussolini a great NASCAR guy back in their days when the operative phrase was "If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'!". 

Then again how much advantage does a team need to beat the USA men in soccer?  LOL! 

Rick

Back in the 1920s-30s, the United States were actually well on their way to becoming a very big soccer power. They had a big league that was poaching European stars, had attendances of 40,000 for league matches (often outpacing baseball teams in the same market), and of course made it to the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930 (partially because most European teams didn't bother to travel).

But then infighting between the league and FIFA, plus the Depression, put an end to that. The NASL came and went, and now we're stuck with MLS (which is a helluva lot better, but has a ways to go).

[english si]

A driver hit a hydro pole in my neighbourhood around midnight and knocked out power to 1600 homes. It made me miss the England vs Panama game this morning, but at least England won 6-1 .

I managed to listen to the second half of the first half on the train I was on (I then watched the second half). It seemed like whenever England would get the ball between Panama time-wasting, they'd score!



How did the US not qualify past Panama? OK, the US exposed Panama's lack of quality, but Mexico not running riot past their sloppy defence? Madness.

I watched the last 15 minutes of the Germany vs Sweden game yesterday and saw Kroos' goal at 90'+5'. Talk about a last minute victory!

Sweden were robbed a stonewall penalty - as someone said it was 'peak Germany': a lashing of luck and just enough to get all the points. That seems a bit harsh - Germany sometimes win massive. Portugal, for years, look as if they'll just scrape games, but still go far (they won Euro 2016 only beating Wales within the 90 minutes) - and it's the same here. They were just meh against Morocco.

However, if Sweden go out, they have a legit gripe about the VAR and Ref not giving them that penalty (and a red card for Boateng an hour before he was sent off) as being what ended their World Cup. I'd have loved it if they had won and knocked out Germany as well as Italy and the Netherlands.

---

And Russia were given a lesson that non-Arab teams might be a bit tougher. I'd be surprised if they get through the round of 16. 8-goals made them look decent, but really its about the lacklustre nature of their opponents in those games.

[NWI_Irish96]

How did the US not qualify past Panama? OK, the US exposed Panama's lack of quality, but Mexico not running riot past their sloppy defence? Madness.

Lost at home to both Mexico and Costa Rica and lost away to T&T.  All the US needed was a draw out of any of those 3 losses and they get in instead of Panama (who would have been pushed down to the playoff with Australia and presumably lost it).

Still, if you assume that the US would have gotten drawn into the same spot as Panama, I'm not sure the US manages any points against Belgium or England either, though  the US probably does manage quite a bit better than -8 goal differential.