Denmark should be lower tbh
― Le Bateau Ivre, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:30 (six years ago) link
Sweden about right, though ;)
― Frederik B, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:30 (six years ago) link
England as 9th favourites, bless you
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:31 (six years ago) link
I think I'd quite like us to get the same draw as in 2002
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:32 (six years ago) link
quite a few teams below England there who they'd at least struggle to beat
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
but never underestimate the effect that the absence of a lumbering, out of position white Pele will have
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 14:34 (six years ago) link
eriksen alone puts denmark above most other teams. international football is so bad that even one good player is disproportionately effective.
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Friday, 1 December 2017 14:36 (six years ago) link
might be underrating switzerland bc i hate them
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:36 (six years ago) link
Croatia are surely too low there? South Korea might be too high as well.
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:38 (six years ago) link
Australia are the worst team to qualify imo.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Friday, 1 December 2017 14:39 (six years ago) link
seen a few people saying Morocco are a dark horse shout
― Number None, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:45 (six years ago) link
Saïss certainly having a good season for the Wolves
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 14:46 (six years ago) link
I think just under half of the teams have a world class attacking/creative player who could make the difference, but you often get well-drilled teams overperforming in tournaments, and I would hope for at least one surprisingly strong run from morocco or someone. I've controversially decided to cast aside the customary despair wrt England, there seems to be less of a funk surrounding the team, but they're def one of the less predictable teams. my enthusiasm for son has lead to SK's somewhat optimistic placement, but they are a good tournie team and I hope they get out of their group. croatia have been struggling against some dross lately, hard to tell how much they'll improve
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:47 (six years ago) link
love south korea but their recent results have been baddddxps think morocco qualified without conceding a goal
― nxd, Friday, 1 December 2017 14:48 (six years ago) link
jesus those bags under Shearer's eyes. lol i couldn't even begin to tell you why i'm watching this
doesnt seem to many people backing Spain this time? think they've got a much better chance than Argentina and France, also would back them in a knockout game against Brazil
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link
france are always underperforming and the argentine defence is shaky, spain have been pretty consistent
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:12 (six years ago) link
Shearer saying he doesn't think the travelling times are that important - how far is it from St. Petersburg from Ekaterinaburg?
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:13 (six years ago) link
Does he know Russia is the biggest country in the world?
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:14 (six years ago) link
shearers fully lost it
― nxd, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:15 (six years ago) link
apparently the worst draw we could get would be Poland, Panama and Iran because getting a couple of big teams will allow us to focus. England famously being a team that turns up for big games in tournaments, of course. cheers Alan
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:18 (six years ago) link
that's what the Beeb pays the big bucks for
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:23 (six years ago) link
agree that england want as hard a group as possible for as dignified a round 1 exit as possible
― Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:24 (six years ago) link
Loving Maradona's yellow bow tie
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:35 (six years ago) link
Not understanding why they're doing two draws for each team tbh
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:37 (six years ago) link
the 1-4 spots within each group are randomly determined too
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:37 (six years ago) link
tbfttl it's about half the distance of Porto Alegre to Manaus.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:39 (six years ago) link
Hold on, Peru are second seeded?
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:40 (six years ago) link
England are so getting Poland.
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:42 (six years ago) link
spain and portugal in the same group is delicious
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:43 (six years ago) link
lol a timely reminder that Belgium are managed by Bobby Martinez, no sweat lads
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:44 (six years ago) link
Oh good we get to watch England play all the dudes we literally see every week.
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:45 (six years ago) link
I'm sure the commentators won't mention that.
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:46 (six years ago) link
I hope egypt progress at russia's expense
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:47 (six years ago) link
mental note to stick a tenner on Iceland to turn Argentina over in the first game
― Windsor Davies, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:48 (six years ago) link
Group D is pure hipster shit.
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
France, Peru, could be worse. Poor Sweden.
― Frederik B, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link
Not much death on show yet.
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:50 (six years ago) link
Apart from the group with Spain and Portugal in you mean?
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:52 (six years ago) link
You need at least three teams in contention for a proper Group of Death.
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:53 (six years ago) link
Yes!
― Frederik B, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:53 (six years ago) link
Fred will be happy.
― Action of Boyle Man Prompts Visitor to Stay (Tom D.), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:54 (six years ago) link
lol (xp)
small nation mentality
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:55 (six years ago) link
ok now Group D is pure hipster
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:56 (six years ago) link
Russia vs Saudi Arabia as the first game of the tournament. #getthispartystarted
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:57 (six years ago) link
Overall a pretty good draw, no? Denmark lucky, but apart from Morocco and Iran nobody can be that upset.
― Frederik B, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link
group d not quite a group of death, more a group of sustained peril
― ogmor, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link
great group for england
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link
Group H could be interesting, all DARK HORSES all the time.
― Matt DC, Friday, 1 December 2017 15:59 (six years ago) link
when did England last get out of a group? they may have a shot
― Illegal Ethiopian Dance Music (Noodle Vague), Friday, 1 December 2017 15:59 (six years ago) link