World Cup Russia 2018 Dates, Times, Groups, Matches and Discussion

[dara]

Finally, Colombia scores. Valderama is happy.

Currently, Colombia, Japan are in. ('75)

 

[ilan]

Columbia 1 - 0 over Senegal now.

 

[dara]

The Senegal Columbia match is really on a razors edge. Senegal has been closer more often than Colombia, but all it needs is just one touch.

 

[dara]

Senegal maybe has the 2nd spot , due to less yellow cards, but I dont know.

 

[dara]

Final...

Colombia and Japan are in.

 

[ilan]

Well, wrong on one (Poland over Japan, 1-0) and right on one (Columbia over Senegal, 1-0).

 

[dara]

Yeah, Senegal had more yellow cards. Eliminated by the FIFA Fair Play tiebreaker. If that was still even, it would have gone to a coin flip.

 

[dara]

Two yellow card difference. Fouls are subjective, I'd rather them get together to play into the knockout round, but that's too hard with the game only 4 days away.

 

[ilan]

Yeah, it would be hard to schedule anything ahead because you'd never know who'd be in contention until almost the last minute. I do agree with you: The subjective elements should be minimized as much as possible.

 

[dara]

Belgium just scored at '50, when I just turned on the game. If it ends in a tie, the same Fair Play rule will apply as well, but they won't eliminate anyone here.

 

[dara]

I did see a short clip where Japan just played 'hold the ball' and granted the win to Poland, as long as they didn't have to force a yellow card situation or score more against them. Maybe not fair play for Senegal, huh?

 

[ilan]

Yeah, I wasn't thinking enough about a play it safe strategy. I've never liked it much, but it is used quite often.

 

[dara]

So the group stage is over....

Belgium wins the group, gets Japan
England will get to play Colombia.

 

[dara]

Looking at the brackets, it looks like the loser of that last game got the better draw. If they both win, England will play the winner of Sweden/Switzerland, and Belgium will play the winner of Brazil/Mexico. Maybe that's why they didn't play all that hard.

 

[ilan]

Here is the KO bracket...

https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/bracket

 

[ilan]

Looking at the brackets, it looks like the loser of that last game got the better draw. If they both win, England will play the winner of Sweden/Switzerland, and Belgium will play the winner of Brazil/Mexico. Maybe that's why they didn't play all that hard.

Yeah, again, it's the play it safe strategy. England was probably looking ahead, taking the safest route.

 

[dara]

The Saturday games are real hard to pick, any of those could get to the semi final. Argentina wining over France would lead to either a border war, or MessiRonaldo.

Sunday Group, the clear favorite coming out of that would be Spain.

Monday Group: Brazil

Tuesday, it will be the winner of England/Columbia will be in the Semifinal.

My dream final: Argentina v. Spain.

 

[ilan]

At least from here on in, there's no more sitting on one's heels. Argentina / Spain would be a cool final. I definitely want to see Spain do a number on Russia on Sunday.

 

[dara]

Here are the odds per cbssports:

Brazil 3-1
Spain 4-1
Belgium 13-2
France 8-1
England 8-1
Croatia 12-1
Argentina 12-1
Uruguay 20-1
Portugal 25-1
Colombia 30-1
Mexico 30-1
Switzerland 40-1
Russia 60-1
Sweden 80-1
Denmark 80-1
Japan 250-1

 

[ilan]

Cool... It'll be interesting to see how those pan out. I have Brazil at the top, too, picking them in the poll here.