GENERAL World Cup Thread

It'll be much easier bully little nations with only a few athletes but much harder to bully the likes of Somalia.

The US are gonna hoover up medals which isn't gonna leave much for the rest of us.

England really lacking a ball playing CM.

A touch of Arsenal about the style of play FH. Very boring to watch.

ps Awful dive by Gordon.

I give Portugal a big chance to win the World Cup. Their biggest weakness imo is the coach. They'll score goals, have some top class defenders, keepers alright and have a lot of creativity in the side, especially if Vitinha stays fit.

Ronaldo still getting plenty of stick but he always scores. He'll start every game for sure, maybe 70 minutes with Ramos on as replacement. I'm a big fan of Leao and on his day Joao Felix is as good as any midfielder in the world

Stick Harry Kane up front for them and they would be very hard to beat

Another lad who consistently gets unwarranted stick. Best striker in the world. I'm not having that claptrap that Dembele is a better player.

Kane should go down as Englands greatest ever striker. Bloke is world class. Has been for years

He scored one goal in the last world cup, against Ghana, and no goals in the last Euros. He might well score one or two in the group stage. But in the last couple of tournaments, at the business end of the tournament, while trying to accommodate him, it was like Portugal were playing with a man down at times. They are not contenders while he starts every game.

It might be OK having him there as a bit part player, if he is on board with that. But he shouldn't be starting games. Especially once the group stage is done with. Martinez doesn't have the balls to make that decision though. And even if he did, a pissed off Ronaldo around the place, could be toxic in the camp. We all saw the way his second spell at United ended.

Do people really think they are fooling anyone with out of context stats. He is playing down in a joke league.

Ya he scored against Hungary but this team should be beating them not drawing and they should be beating Ireland too but we're useless until he got sent off.

I watch Leao almost every week and he is poor or disappointing way more often than good. He looks exciting on the wing but it goes nowhere far too often.

It's hard to think that this is even starting tonight due to the lack of coverage or atmosphere around it. No one seems too bothered with it this year and not sure if its due to America and it's issues or what is causing it. All I know is I got South Africa in the sweepstake so that's my team for the group stages.

A few lesser known players to watch out for

Ibrahim Mazza, Algeria

Only 20 years old, Played over 30 games for Bayer Leverkusen last season, Really nice close control and dribbling, Technically good on the ball, will be a key man for Algeria despite his young age.

Johan Manzambi, Switzerland

Also only 20, really good energetic, player, covers the ground really well, box to box midfielder, Has a goal in him as well, was key in Freiburg’s run to the Europa League final. Will add real legs in midfield for Switzerland. Switzerland is a team I expect to go pretty far this year.

Luka Vušković

Croatian CB only 19, outstanding season at Hamburg on loan from Spurs, looks destined for the very top, A danger from set pieces as well. If Gvardiol is fit Croatia have a seriously strong pairing of young CB’s.

Ayase Ueda

Had a fantastic season at Feyenoord and finished top scorer in the Dutch League, With Mitoma and Minimino injured his importance to Japan only increases.

Joel Ordóñez

22 years old, part of an outstanding Ecuador defence, Versatile defender who can play CB or RB, don’t expect him to stay at Club Brugge for much longer. Ecuador on paper has a top 5 defence in the competition, unfortunately very limited up front.

Kane this season has been the best striker on the planet bar none… some of the goals he scored for Bayern were class, regardless of who the opposition were…

Ronaldo does hold Portugal back, as when he plays everything must go through him and when he can't be that creative outlet, and things start going against him, he starts throwing toys and Portugal's attack mindedness collapses, however…….. he can still be the man for the big moment if it comes, like a penalty or free kick, but will he?

Either way whichever version of Ronaldo we get, it'll be an entertaining watch..

Interesting show this morning on LBC - James O Brien. They are discussing this - no enthusiasm in England around this WC in US, at least for now

Maybe it will all change when it gets going, they are discussing the very low interest, no excitement in England for THIS World Cup in the US on LBC at the moment, many England fans arent going. And england are in it.

https://www.globalplayer.com/live/lbc/uk/

I haven't seen much if any of "it's coming home" nonsense. Anyway, they left any real chance of winning it back in England. Although, they could potentially be that Greece side who bored everyone to death

That all usually starts once they've fumbled their way through the group stages, and then had an impressive knockout win against a poor team that was just lucky enough to be there….. then it'll be full on "It's Coming Home" time..

I havent gone though possible routes but if England win their group doesn anyone know "expected" route they would have?

I know that i they don't win their group, the route gets extremely difficult. They win their group and it becomes easier as i believe the first KO game would be a 3rd place finisher. But it's all if me auntie had bollocks at the moment. who knows how it will roll. There will be shock for sure