The biggest sporting event in the world deserves a goddamn post in GD.
We're already 2 days down.
The host country lost the opening game for the first time ever.

England spanked Iran and is gonna be hella annoying until they get brought back down to Earth.

Everyone was rooting for Senegal but The Netherlands, got the W in a game decided by just a few moments.

The young, inexperienced US team blew a 1-0 leads to Wales, who's playing their first World Cup in 50 years in a frenetic, somewhat sloppy game.

I can’t wait for this game on Friday.

my yardie homie was highly animated lol.

His first World Cup and probably his past due to age. Excited for him.

>The young, inexperienced US team blew a 1-0 leads to Wales,
>who's playing their first World Cup in 50 years in a frenetic,
>somewhat sloppy game.
>
>
>
>

i love that they looked like an African team too

It seemed that Argentina would walk stroll into first place, Mexico and Poland would duke it out for 2nd.
Saudi's said NOPE!
Mexico/Argentina on Saturday is gonna be exciting


sidenote, officiating is feeling a little suspect so far starting with the opening game and that ridiculous offside call against Ecuador.

That was a shocking upset. Mexico probably needs the win today because I doubt Argentina let's them get a tie. Who knows though. Wish the games weren't so early. Going to have a meeting when the Mexico game starts so I'll miss the first half for sure.

I'm a little mad. I gotta get up on game.

Me,

USA - Of course
Mexico - Sentimental reasons
Ghana - BEST uniform design.

That's ALWAYS my squad. Who you wit?

My whole family roots for them, grew up rooting for them. That's my heritage. In other events/spots I'll root for USA but yeah can't really for this.

I do have a soft spot for Argentina, or did growing up. It's kind of faded. Obviously not rooting for them in the group stage. Not sure I will if they advance and Mexico doesn't. 100% rooting for Mexico on Saturday.

Brazil is kind of the Patriots of soccer so yeah not rooting for them.

Yeah I think that's it for teams in this cup.

>My whole family roots for them, grew up rooting for them.
>That's my heritage. In other events/spots I'll root for USA
>but yeah can't really for this.

Got hooked on the Mexican National team living with my wife's family. Now it's just a given.
>
>I do have a soft spot for Argentina, or did growing up. It's
>kind of faded. Obviously not rooting for them in the group
>stage. Not sure I will if they advance and Mexico doesn't.
>100% rooting for Mexico on Saturday.
>
>Brazil is kind of the Patriots of soccer so yeah not rooting
>for them.

For real. It feels dumb rooting for them.
>
>Yeah I think that's it for teams in this cup.
>

also England is fun to root for/with as well as clown on when they lose

Senegal
Ghana
Cameroon
France
and now Saudi Arabia as well

>Senegal African
>Ghana African
>Cameroon african


>France
>and now Saudi Arabia as well
^^Mark^^

Probably need to add everyone south of Mexico minus Argentina.

that was so ill

There were no shenanigans?

they just came out in the second half playing a different game than they did in the first.

I'm not sure that Ronaldo penalty call was good but it sure opened up the game.

It was a few days ago, but it looks like we were all gon for the holidays, so I just wanna say GODDDDDDDDAMN that goal against Serbia was so crazy.

Let's see what he does today.

How we feeling about our chances?

I honestly never have high hopes about the American Men's team, but holding England to zero with SEVERAL shots on goal got me feeling like we better than I though we were.

Round of 16 is tough but this cup has been somewhat unpredictable so anything is possible.

They are not the Dutch of old or even of the late 00s. These mfs is mid as hell.

still will be tough to beat the big dogs, we have good players but not great attackers. Netherlands will be tough to beat, but it's certainly doable.

Argentina vs Poland
Mexico vs Saudi Arabia

Poland 4
Argentina 3
Saudi Arabia 3
Mexico 1

Most likely outcome is Poland and Argentina advance but no reason to think Saudi Arabia can't beat Mexico. Mexico needs to win big to advance.

I was thinking Mexico wouldn't make it to the round of 16 but for them to finish last??

I'm nervous to watch.

Already missed some good opportunities though

and just couldn't fucking do it.

It was exciting to see them actually go for the win and have so many chances but it's so frustrating seeing them miss clear ones. Saudi Arabia did make some good blocks. That last second goal by them was kind of heart breaking. I think even without it Mexico was out but it basically ended their chances.

I cheered Messi missing the penalty earlier but that would had put Mexico forward, assuming they didn't give up the last second goal lol

>and just couldn't fucking do it.

This must be the mirrorverse.

just kept them out lol Mexico won 2-1 but it felt like a loss since it wasn't enough to move on.

Watching the game did make me wonder how Argentina lost to SA. Mexico very much dominated the game and if they knew how to convert it would have been an ugly blow out.

Match ups for round of 16

Backet 1
Netherlands vs US
Argentina vs Australia

Japan vs Croatia
Brazil vs South Korea


Bracket 2
France vs Poland
England vs Senegal

Morocco vs Spain
Portugal vs Switzerland

I'm going with US and Argentina. Would be surprised by Australia but not shocked.
I think Japan and Brazil advance.
Going with France and Senegal.
Morocco and Portugal.

>Match ups for round of 16
>
>Backet 1
>Netherlands vs US
>Argentina vs Australia

US v Argentina
>
>Japan vs Croatia
>Brazil vs South Korea

Japan v. Brazil
>
>
>Bracket 2
>France vs Poland
>England vs Senegal

France v. England
>
>Morocco vs Spain
>Portugal vs Switzerland

Spain v. Portugal
>
>I'm going with US and Argentina. Would be surprised by
>Australia but not shocked.
>I think Japan and Brazil advance.
>Going with France and Senegal.
>Morocco and Portugal.

Seems like the top seeds are taking care of business.

forget about USA Japan and Senegal I picked one right!! lol

As bad as Japan penalties were yesterday at least they made one. The Spanish keeper kept jumping in the wrong direction.

I guess England could potentially upset them, but not Morocco, Portugal, or Switzerland.

lol

France is favored but Portugal and England are top 5 nations and loaded all over

And you thought the US could beat the Netherlands.
The same English side struggled mightily against the US. They've got talent for sure, both sides do. But France is just on another level rn.

.

Who's making the semi-finals? To make it more interesting list the final scores.

Netherlands 1 - Argentina 2
Croatia 0 - Brazil 4

England 1 - France 3
Morocco 2 - Portugal 2 (Morocco 4-3 in PK!)

>Who's making the semi-finals? To make it more interesting
>list the final scores.
>
>Netherlands 2 - Argentina 1
>Croatia 1 - Brazil 2
>
>England 3 - France 2
>Morocco 1 - Portugal 3

Incredible predictions

My nerves were still firing long after the final whistle of game 2.

Both games decided in pens.
Tite shits the bed sending Rodrygo out there first. Like he didn't see England in the Euro final or something.

Then Emi and Lautaro (for once) come up huge.

What a day.

tell me why my 7 year-old was legit sad to see Brazil lose.... yesterday was a sports telenova...

I wanna say no way Morocco is beating Portugal, but there have been some strange results in this world cup. I was live at the Portugal v Switzerland game, great seats 4 rows behind the keepers net, The atmosphere was crazy.Wish I had tickets for tonight's game.

France is a favorite but UK can turn up the magic when they want to. Is Sterling back?

>I wanna say no way Morocco is beating Portugal, but there
>have been some strange results in this world cup. I was live
>at the Portugal v Switzerland game, great seats 4 rows behind
>the keepers net, The atmosphere was crazy.Wish I had tickets
>for tonight's game.
>
>France is a favorite but UK can turn up the magic when they
>want to. Is Sterling back?

They just can't catch a break.If they believed in African rituals they should have long gone to the river or ocean to wash their badluck.

I felt bad for them after Kane missed that penalty.

Would Tite have denied him? No one on Argentina was going to try and step in front of Messi. Huge L for the Selecao.

This has been SUCH a weird cup.

BUT Morocco is still getting that W!

Argentina staying alive today.

Godddddddamn!

So much for 0 goals conceded.

Against France?

That was always a fairytale?

The make up of the players on the French team allow me to believe that this is still a win for Africa.

It's been weird to have it during the winter months but I must truly say it's been exciting to see the perennial teams lose and have quite a few underdogs make their way through.
---------------------------------------
<< Seattle by moonlight...

Morocco is asked to step in for France due to illness and they beat Argentina 4-1!!

Okay no but I guess things are shaking up for Argentina to have a great 180 from their first game this cup.

If healthy France is very hard to beat.

I'm going to say Argentina wins it.

Morocco does win big against Croatia for 3rd place.

and i was cheering for France.... but happy Messi gets a well deserved farewell by finally winning the World Cup

and MBAPPE should not EVER pay for a drink in France for at least the next 4 years....

second half felt like it was a done deal until it wasn't lol France didn't seem to be fighting enough but then they would get a good ball and it felt like they could come back real quick. Then we the PK and the second goal real quick.

Both teams kept fight after that. Just knew it was over when Argentina went up in extra time but then France ties it up.

Very exciting.

saw Argentina go up 2-0 and figured it was a wrap, stepped out to get some food and one of my neighbors told me France had tied it. Got my food to go and made it make to see the last 10 minutes and the PK's.

My voice is still hoarse.

Messi's the GOAT. He's finished football. Won everything. I don't wanna hear that word next to Cristiano's name ever again.

Emi Martinez should be sainted in Argentina. He saved 3 penalties in the shootout with Colombia in the Copa America semi-finals. Saved 2 in the WC semi-finals against The Netherlands. And then saves one in the WC Final against France. Plus that stretch-save in the final minute of extra time against Muani. Goddamn.

Di Maria's inclusion was crucial. I doubt he was fully recovered so he deserves all the flowers.

But man, after all the criticism, the disappointing 2010 WC, the 2014 final that was in his grasp, the quitting the national team, coming back, winning the 2020 Copa America, and now finally winning the World Cup. This has been incredible.