The world cup has exceeded my expectations so far.
From politics to sport.
Fifa said to forget the politics and focus on the football.
I don't really care about the politics so did exactly that.
Now that we are entering the last matches of the round of 16 we can look back and realize that it's been a great world cup in terms of the football itself.
Brazil are being sexy, france are on fire. England are hanging in there. There were a few surprizes that got out of the groups but we are seeing them fall one by one in the last round.
Now we are getting to the good stuff.
The big boys going head to head.
England V France.
Netherlands V Argentina
Brazil V Croatia
Then Maybe Portugal V Morocco??? TBD
These are the matches that we have been waiting for. No offence to teams like Japan that gave it everything and give their best effort but it's the the big names that bring the excitment.
Mbappe, Neymar, Kane, Messi ect...
The group stages were good though.
A lot of people said that a winter world cup wouldn't work and while the time and location has killed the atmospere compared to other editions.
The games themselves have been the best that i can remember.
The timing for me is great as the evenings are short and we are inside watching tv anyway. This is a much better option than love island.
The GAA is over for the year, The champions league is normayy on a winter break and the international rubgy is over until february. It's actually great to have matches on every day.
It's mainly the fans that are impacted. An expensive country that you need to be very careful in. With no beer and no craic.
That is the biggest letdown of an otherwise very interesting world cup.
The best part has been the upsets in the group stages.
Smaller teams with no fear of the big boys.
Asian and arab coutries that attacked the traditional teams and made things very uncomfortable for them.
It's been exciting with lots more to come. I'm still thinking that France ar eth ebest team in it and with the way that Brazil are improving it could be those two in the final which would make for a great spectacle.
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I think we have seen such a mixed bag of results that this tournament is still wide open. Still can't believe how bad some of the bigger teams were this time around as they were seriously bad and looked undercooked.
I think that's what has made it so much fun.
The unpredictability of the whole tournament.
Some of the big teams just never turned up for this one and some of the smaller ones came out flying.
Seeing Argentina face Portugal in the finals would be very entertaining.😎
But for now it, seems the chances of them meeting is low.
Fairly unlikely but you never know.
Yes, that the world cup of surprises and I hope Morocco will beat Portugal, that would be more crazy 😃
They have a chance.
Unlikely but Portugal are beatable.
Of course, yes we'll see it tomorow 😃
Popopoooooooo morocco is there,, thry bite Portugal ahahah wooooooooooooo so happy 👐💖
Actually I think this shows us that alcohol isn't really necessary to enjoy a good game. I, like you think this has been a great World Cup, I think Brazil will take it, but actually any of the eight teams can do it, yes, even Morocco, even though I am a Portugal fan so I really want Morocco out.
Luckily I can still drink while watching it at home so it's not a huge problem but the matches are definitely lacking atmosphere compared to other world cups.
It does seem to be a poor experience for the fans on the ground with the exception of a few countries.
Well, I had to quit drinking 17 years ago, that is probably why I don't see an alcohol ban as a big deal.
Morocco has surprised me a lot. I bet a $$ amount on Spain (Match-time winner: Spain) and I thought it's gonna work out like I expected to be but when I saw Morocco counter the traditional Spain style: Tiki-taka/Possession based football, the approach was simple:
That was the same method used by Jupp Heynckes, who was the first manager to expose Guardiola's famous Tiki-Taka. The idea is a full, aggressive counter attacking play due to the reason that some defenders over-extend to help aide the attack. In return, it gave holes to the defense and with an aggressive counter attacking style, they won't be able to make it in time to cover their defensive areas.
I think that most people would have bet your way. Spain were looking impressive in the group stages but there is always one big upset along the way.
It's very hard to breakdown a solid defense with slow build up play in any sport. It only works if the team isn't organized and then it's very effective.
Looks like morocco had their number and then got a bit of luck to go with it.
I totally agree. With 11-men defending, it's very hard to dig it in with just simple passes.
Champions League could use some excitement like this. I've watched many games at this WC (at least partially), but I rarely watch CL games anymore.
It has been one hell of a journey in the world cup and took us by surprise what we expected was not what we got. This has to be the best world cup tournament in the history of the world cup.
Ya was thinking about this actually. If Ireland had qualified, I'd have gone. It would have been pure expensive and a disaster trying to get drink and have the craic.
It's been an entertaining world cup for sure and it's still hard to call who's going to win it. I can see England beating France. Just have a feeling they do a job on them.