**The World Cup 2018 Official Thread**

[hashmander]

i was really impressed with torreira, arsenal could definitely use someone like him at the base of the midfield.

 

[merklman]

Who was the last 37 year old to start as forward in a WC? Serious question.

Not sure if he was a starter but Uruguay had Forlan at the last WC and he was atleast 35

 

[African_brehda]

Who was that Portugese right back tho?
He was baaaaaadd. Shouldn't have left Semedo at home

 

[Givethanks]

Don't give a fukk, Mess and Ronaldo are gone

no fukking manners

 

[#1 pick]

Lol. Look at this fool
Let's all laugh at him

Out here being dumb as Kevin Malone from the Office

Sit yo dumbass down Cole before I smack the shyt outta you.

 

[GPBear]

Anyone else sticking around to watch this Cascadia Cup?

Portland

 

[broller]

Roger Milla had his best world cup performance at 40.

He was 38 but I hear your point

 

[Liu Kang]

I fukking despise Uruguay for what they did to Ghana in 2010, but I have to admit, they are a class side. They defend so well and they're so menacing on the counter, and they're not chokers. I'd expect them to do over France based on the strength of this performance, as long as Cavani is fully fit.

Cavani's first goal has been the best of the tournament for me, I love passing moves like that. Just perfect. The other great goal was Musa's first goal against Iceland, which again was something similar, a rapid counter-attack that he started by winning the ball and then sprinting the length of the field to score that wonderful volley

That was Suarez alone breh And it's not like that handball was unpunished, Gyan should have buried that pen

 

[TTT]

I'm quite happy for Cavani

Really like dude as a player : a proper dog on the field, presses and hustles from start to finish, goes helping his defenders, sacrifices himself for the team by playing wide so other 9s can shine, is humble and is simply just a dude you can really count on if he plays with you. The perfect teammate
Yes he's quite clumsy at times and has missed some incredible chances but all the upsides vastly overrides that dark side of him.

People forget that he has an insane scoring record for PSG even spending the first seasons playing out of position and once he got back to be a 9 his rate went up. His Napoli days have been forgotten but he was perfect in that system with Hamsik and Lavezzi. There is a meme about his movement being that good to get all those looks he wastes but he does move very well as a 9

 

[African_brehda]

I'm quite happy for Cavani

Really like dude as a player : a proper dog on the field, presses and hustles from start to finish, goes helping his defenders, sacrifices himself for the team by playing wide so other 9s can shine, is humble and is simply just a dude you can really count on if he plays with you. The perfect teammate
Yes he's quite clumsy at times and has missed some incredible chances but all the upsides vastly overrides that dark side of him.

I'm still of the opinion that if he played as a number 9 throughout his psg career he'd have much more goals than Ibra. Had to play on the wings and was still getting the work done. Moved to striker after Ibra left and he scored 41 in like 42 games

 

[#1 pick]

I fukking despise Uruguay for what they did to Ghana in 2010, but I have to admit, they are a class side. They defend so well and they're so menacing on the counter, and they're not chokers. I'd expect them to do over France based on the strength of this performance, as long as Cavani is fully fit.

Cavani's first goal has been the best of the tournament for me, I love passing moves like that. Just perfect. The other great goal was Musa's first goal against Iceland, which again was something similar, a rapid counter-attack that he started by winning the ball and then sprinting the length of the field to score that wonderful volley

That Musa goal was world class but man, I am pretty sure all of these African teams would give their left nut to have a clinical striker like Cavani. His goals this tournament are all of the goals I've seen Senegal, Egypt, and Nigeria blow time and time again in each game this tourney. There is a reason why Cavani is world class and Ighalo and Iheneacho are just specialty players usually coming in as subs for decent teams before Ighalo went to China.

 

[Sukairain]

International football is like that, coming into the tournament Muller had scored more than Messi/Ronaldo combined at the WC in 2 tournaments because he plays for a better team. NT cannot buy a LB if they are lacking they have to work with what they got. Portugal struggled to have a decent 9 in like years with the exception of Pauletta/Nuno Gomes in the early 2000s. Argentina stopped producing good central midfielders after Veron, Cambiasso,Riquelme. The lack of Ronaldo or Messi in the tournament isn't a big loss IMO, they haven't had exciting teams to watch for some time, the Germans have carried that load since 06

The European teams are always painfully boring to watch. Portugal are the exception because Ronaldo. Croatia are fun too. But other than that they're generally terrible. So defensive and risk-averse, it takes all the joy out of the sport You watch Brazil or any west African teams play and they're so much more entertaining, they play football in the right spirit. Spain winning the 2010 World Cup was an absolute travesty, I've never seen a more boring team. Watching European teams play is like watching a python strangling its prey; watching rest of the world teams is like watching a lion hunt.

UEFA stans always talk about how Europe is by far the best continent and how the European Championship is a better competition in the World Cup it's probably the worst international tournament in the world for watchability and entertainment.

 

[JayGatsby]

I never take international football seriously when measuring it up against a player

these guys come together like 8 times during the year, some nations find it hard to build cohesion ,especially if the manager has no footballing system

Messi n Ronaldo are def in my top 5.

 

[broller]

 

[shadowking]