**The World Cup 2018 Official Thread**

[GhostBreh]

ok, thanks. and when does that season start? how do they pick the teams?

Depending on the strength of a particular league the top, say four teams of a league at the end of a season play in the following season's champions league. The format is similar to the world cup and is arguably just as hard or even harder to win.

 

[THEREALBRAND]

ok, thanks. and when does that season start? how do they pick the teams?

The top teams from each countries domestic league qualify. It runs concurrently during the normal league season, but the games are on weekdays.

The Group Stage starts on September 18th.

 

[African_brehda]

Nah, still play Carrasco. You are going to need someone dynamic against the weak right wing of Brazil.

Play Dembele though

Fagner is suspect af. Willian always seems to be doing his job

 

[Sukairain]

Absolutely gutted for Japan, they were amazing it started like Pearl Harbor and ended like Hiroshima

 

[Bboystyle]

only the international games are this good. i dont bother with these club soccer games. they're meaningless to me. but, after this, i think the next matches will have to be euro cup.

Not even true

 

[TheGreatShowtime]

 

[Pseudo]

ok, thanks. and when does that season start? how do they pick the teams?

The Champions League is kind of European Soccer's equivalent to the NBA finals. All the best teams from around Europe play against each other.

 

[EQ.]

But Belgium's system is a 343 and they been playing like this for too long. They can't just change your system overnight. It's actually their best balance because a guy like Meunier is too much a liability in defense so playing him higher as a wing back allows him to be a proper menace while letting him enough time to drop deep in defensive phase. It's too late to go back to a back 4.

Something has to give because being that tactically inflexible is to me. He fukked up the moment he didn't bring a recognized LB to help with the balance. Technically, the can have the deepest lying DM step back into a back 3 and allow Toby and Vert/kompany to push out wide and cover from there but I Imagine he'll go with the same team he put out today.

 

[Sukairain]

Not even true

It is in a way. I wouldn't give a fukk about some random club game between two teams I don't support. I would never watch PSG v Marseille and if I did I certainly wouldn't care about the outcome whatsoever. On the other hand I was so into this match and so deeply rooting for Japan. Neutral games in international tournaments are far more compelling than equivalent club matches

 

[Liu Kang]

Completely different circumstance. Pep had wrapped up the league and was basically bragging rights. This World Cup shyt is one and done. If you feel your team is inferior Park the bus and hold on for penalties. Hell Russia did that it 24 hours ago.

Nah, Pep has always been a ride or die dude. He'll never park the bus whether he's 5 up, or 3 down, this is not his philosophy.

You say Japan should have parked the bus because they felt inferior... but they were 2 up in the second half ! Belgium managed to tie the game but when Honda came on, Japan had chances to make it 3-2. And Honda even had a dangerous FK at the 92'. It's easy to rewrite things with hindsight but even though Japan was a bit naive, they definitely could have won this. The last 10 minutes was like 2 boxers swinging wild for the KO in the 12th round. So obviously both formation were very unbalanced because they were going for the kill (let's not forget the huge spaces behind Belgium's WBs). Japan just got Taylor-Cesar Chavez'd, this happens.

 

[Black Magisterialness]

Watch the premier league.

Don’t follow La Liga. You’re just better off watching highlights of R Madrid and Barcelona. There’s not much going on in that league. Just a highlight reel for the two GOATs.

Don’t follow Arsenal, they’re the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA

If you want to follow a team with a rich history, tons of silverware, best stadium, best players, best fan base, and best club in the world then follow ManUTD.

But if you like shytty follow then follow Man shytty

That's done jackshyt in a decade. Best players? Who? Alexis? Lingaard? Pogba? Lukaku?

Listen us Gunners know the side is trash...but ManU is just fukking BORING and delusional. No one wants to watch 1-0 games where the best player is hamstrung by being relegated to the halfway line and the best scoring threat besides Lukaku is a 20 year old meme-lord.

To be honest, Chelsea/Arsenal/City/Liverpool are ALL more interesting to follow.

Just for the love of god @Alexander The Great don't follow Man U that's like following the Yankees...and FOR SURE don't follow Tottenham Hotspur...that's like following the Timberwolves.

To answer your other questions. Europe has the best players...so wait for the "Champions League" matches when the best clubs from all over Europe play eachother to see who's the best club (i.e NON national) team is in the continent.

Lastly, Soccer has relegation. The best three teams from the "minor league" or the lower league get promoted. The worst three teams in the top league get relegated...meaning they drop down to a lower league...makes even the crap teams have something to play for.

 

[Rell Lauren]

please explain what a "dummy" is

Just like in any sport, he used himself as bait to suck in the defender leaving the attacker on the left wide open.

 

[Sukairain]

Nah, Pep has always been a ride or die dude. He'll never park the bus whether he's 5 up, or 3 down, this is not his philosophy.

You say Japan should have parked the bus because they felt inferior... but they were 2 up in the second half ! Belgium managed to tie the game but when Honda came on, Japan had chances to make it 3-2. And Honda even had a dangerous FK at the 92'. It's easy to rewrite things with hindsight but even though Japan was a bit naive, they definitely could have won this. The last 10 minutes was like 2 boxers swinging wild for the KO in the 12th round. So obviously both formation were very unbalanced because they were going for the kill (let's not forget the huge spaces behind Belgium's WBs). Japan just got Taylor-Cesar Chavez'd, this happens.

Also Japan knew they didn't have the stamina. If it went to extra time they'd lose because of fatigue

 

[EQ.]

Good points just don’t think he’s up to it. I’d bring in Dembele for coverage.

Nah man, you don't play one of the most press resistant CM's as a LB. An in form Dembele can do the work of 2 CM's. His passing range is but strength, dribbling,defensive output and technique more than make up for that. The amount of space he'd make for De Bruyne and Hazard to createhavoc would be if he started.

 

[So UnThotful]

man i feel bad for Japan. They went from Goku to Yamcha within 20 minutes

Ive said it before in this thread, this WC is special brehs. Might go down as One of the best ever