https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

So, the first match of FIFA World Cup will be starting in around 2 hours.

I'm guessing the absence of U!S!A! will lessen the overall enthusiasm for it on this board, but anybody else looking forward to it?

[Edited 6/14/18 6:36am]

EmmaMcG said:

I don't really watch club football but I always watch the internationals. Unfortunately Ireland are useless so we didn't qualify but I'll still be watching. Unfortunately, my second team, Italy, also failed to qualify so I think I'll be cheering for Argentina this year.

Cool. I'm not a massive football fan, but do really like the international tournaments. Scotland, of course, didn't qualify either, but I have a selection of teams to cheer for:

Iceland - closest cultural match for me from the participating countries, tiny nation and underdogs.
Brazil - went to see them in the 1998 world cup, and have always liked them.
Germany - England hate them.
Argentina - England hate them.
Anybody who plays against England.

Other fixtures will provide a team to root for on a game by game basis through a complicated framework of irrational reasons in a process which all sports fans will be familiar with.

Use to be a big football fan as a kid. I was ten in 1990 so that was my first World Cup and I have great memories of it.

The last decade though I've fallen out of love with the game in a big way. I don't follow it any more and this is the first tournament where I don't have any knowledge of the players in the England team. I don't actually know who half of them are!

The game has changed, especially in England. All the professional diving, shirt pulling, moaning to the ref ... all this is apparently now "part of the game". Other sports aren't perfect, but football really is a game that's played with zero honour or respect (and lets not mention the corruption off the pitch). Its NFL for me all the way now and has been for some years.

This and the fact the England team have served up absolute dogsh*t at the last few tournaments. The last time they played decent football and could hold their heads high after a tournament was 1996! I've given them too much of my time and I won't do it this time around.

Having said all that, I love the atmosphere of the World Cup, especially the opening rounds, and I get as much enjoyment out of watching the likes of Iran vs Panama as I would out of a game like Italy vs Germany. So yes, I'll be soaking up the tournament for this reason. I won't give England my time until they prove they give a shit and they're playing at a level that their horrendously high wages suggests they should be.

Lianachan said:

EmmaMcG said:

I don't really watch club football but I always watch the internationals. Unfortunately Ireland are useless so we didn't qualify but I'll still be watching. Unfortunately, my second team, Italy, also failed to qualify so I think I'll be cheering for Argentina this year.

Cool. I'm not a massive football fan, but do really like the international tournaments. Scotland, of course, didn't qualify either, but I have a selection of teams to cheer for:

Iceland - closest cultural match for me from the participating countries, tiny nation and underdogs.
Brazil - went to see them in the 1998 world cup, and have always liked them.
Germany - England hate them.
Argentina - England hate them.
Anybody who plays against England.

Other fixtures will provide a team to root for on a game by game basis through a complicated framework of irrational reasons in a process which all sports fans will be familiar with.

I use to adore Brazil when I was young for the spirit they played with and their style. I absolutely can't stand them now though.

The change happened in 2002 ... I think it was Rivaldo, had the ball kicked to him when he was waiting to take a corner ... it hit him in the stomach and he fell down crying holding his face like a little b*tch just to get the player sent off. Cheating plain and simple.

You don't expect this BS from the Brazil side but its stayed with them ever since. They did the same stuff during the last World Cup and stole the opening game against a good Croatia side through diving and cheating. Seeing them hammered 7-1 by the Germans in the semi-final is one of my happiest sports memories! The great Brazil sides of the past would be embarrassed by some of the stuff the recent players get up to.

Just finished watching the Opening Ceremonies etc.

Waiting for the game to start. I'll root for Russia

luv4u said:

Just finished watching the Opening Ceremonies etc.

Waiting for the game to start. I'll root for Russia

Russia are playing Saudi Arabia in the opening match right now. Normally these games don't matter much but in this case the winner gets to set US foreign policy for the next year.

Lianachan said:

On to the important stuff; who has the hottest players???

CynicKill said:

Lianachan said:

Finally getting to watch a live game. Diving ponce Cristiano Ronaldo up to his old tricks after just a couple of minutes, Portugal 1-0 up after the resulting penalty.

I'm watching that one too. 1-1 now, 28th minute. Loving it!

LMAO, that diving ponce Ronaldo just scored again.

EmmaMcG said:

What a great match! 3-2 Spain!

And remember - Spain's manager is on his second day on the job, LOL.

Lianachan said:

Great game. Diving Cheat 3 - Riot Police 3.

France and Australia are next. Check your tv for start times.

Lianachan said:

EmmaMcG said:

Lianachan said:

EmmaMcG said:

CynicKill said:

Croatia v. Nigeria

So far Croatia hs scored the 1st point!

luv4u said:

Croatia v. Nigeria

So far Croatia hs scored the 1st point!

And the second!

A weekend of strange results - Croatia beating Nigeria 2-0 was the only one I got right.

Lianachan said: