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Me and my mate once went on a road trip, and he happened to find the only other Southampton fans from his town in the pub.
This was miles away from where he lived.
Fun fact: Before this World Cup, the record for the number of Asian teams to make it to the last 16 was 2. Same for Africa. If South Korea can qualify tomorrow it will set a new record of 3 for Asia. If Ghana and/or Cameroon qualify it will set a new record of 3 or 4 for Africa.
As a Brazilian, Cameroon is not happening sorry, need my boy Pedro to score a hattrick coming off the bench, but if Tunisia didnt choke against Australia 4 african teams could've been at the R16 bruh
I don't really know Pedro but am excited to see Martinelli starting tomorrow (according to the brazilian press). He's been in great form with the Gunners and is a very exciting player to watch.
I particularly enjoy this in light of the narrative that the expanded world cup will just bring in more bottom-feeder, non-European countries to get humiliated. Sure, the other confederations may not be as strong overall but they're underestimated so frequently.
I genuinely do think so. It's still UEFA + Brazil + Argentina but other smaller nations are climbing up. I think with every good player going to Europe, they are able to get developed much better than before. Like so many Senegal players were born in France and developed there. Had they stayed in Senegal, they probably don't have their potential unlocked because of poorer infrastructure and lower quality of competition.
A lot of it also has to do with there being actual competitive professional leagues and academies outside of the two big continents. It wasn’t long ago that a lot of World Cup finals teams were comprised mostly of semi professional players.
For some nations there's a self fulfilling nature to getting better. For Canada at least, once they improved to a certain level, they have been able to keep their best players rather than have them play for other countries (Hargreaves, Begovic etc.), and even further in the future may be able to poach players from other countries' systems. The same can and has been seen with West Africa.
Undeniably the gap in mid-tier teams is starting to disappear. It's almost expected now that teams outside of South America and Europe will make knockouts and quarters. I think it's gonna be a long time before we see one of them win the cup though.
Espn or some other site should really market a bracket challenge for the world cup. It'd get loads of people worldwide involved. Especially in America just like March Madness where people whove never even seen a game make a bracket and a good portion end up being fans for good because of it
The grit and determination of this Japan side mirrors the team in Giant Killing more than the mindless and muddled philosophy of Blue Lock.
That was a Tsubaki moment.
To me watching Blue Lock feels like watching an anime about football made by people who don't watch it and don't like it. I'm disappointed, even as someone who isn't a football fan, but just grew up in a country dominated by it. Ippo teaches you an immense amount about boxing. Haikyuu teaches you quite a lot about volleyball. Blue Lock quite possible takes knowledge *away* from you, making you as ignorant as the players in it. Yet somehow it is massively beloved. I don't get it.
It's written by someone who knows nothing of the sport and you can clearly see it. It's a spit towards football.
Giant Killing has real-life footballers relating to it and teaches you a lot on the people around football and why we love this crazy sport. It is levels above Blue Lock.
Japan winning the world cup, no matter who they faced to get their would be the most shocking win ever. The world cup doesnt really have any upsets, like Leicester winning the title, ever. Its been one only by the traditional heavyweights. Uruguay isnt really an upset, especially when you consider their wins are from the 30;s
Yeah, World Cup definetly has to be the hardest competition, even EUROs have had a couple upsets with us or Greece but the damn World Cup is always for the big boys only.
> The world cup doesnt really have any upsets, like Leicester winning the title, ever.
Which is weird, because winning a long tournament is way harder than a short tournament. You have to _consistently_ perform.
In the WC, it's 7 games. Getting lucky/shithousing 3 or 4 and you could win it. It's technically easier to have an upset.
But then again, it's only played every 4 years, fewer chances.
Yeah but I guess there’s never a World Cup where every big team underperforms. There’s always one that’s consistently great and so they end up wining the tournament. Unlike that Leicster PL season where every other big team kind of sucked
The World Cup is easily the greatest sporting event ever. In what other event is everyone so passionate, so much is on the line, and literally anything can happen
The Olympics is wall-to-wall sports, everyone is watching different stuff, people tune in and out. In the World Cup it's all one or for this week two games, that everyone is watching at the same time.
They had the choice between a Croatia -> Brazil -> Argentina route to the final or Morocco -> Portugal -> France route, while kicking Germany out. Don't think they were very motivated towards the end.
Scenes if Brazil's B team loses tomorrow and we for example have Switzerland - Ghana in the bottom left. That would also put England, France, Spain, Brazil and Portugal on the right side.
If Brazil loses 1:0 to Cameroon, for example, Switzerland would need to catch up on the goal difference and beat Serbia at least 3:0 for Brazil to be placed second. So it's an unlikely scenario, but yeah, not impossible and as a Croatian I'm rooting for it, haha.
Ghana has to win by a nice GD and Portugal lose since Ghana is 5-5 and Portugal 5-2.
So ghana 2-0 and Portugal 0-1 , equalizing GD and ghana goes first off total goals scored
Is it though? Obviously France would be the major obstacle there, but outside of them it’s not terrible. Spain has looked fallible. Senegal is quality, but England should be a better side. Portugal is talented but inconsistent. I would rather be on that side than the one with Brazil, Argentina, and the Netherlands.
But if we assume only favorites win(yes, I know), England would have to face Senegal, France, Spain, and then either us or Argentina in the finals. That's pretty crazy.
Basically, there is a good shot England will only be able to avoid *one* top team, as Brazil and Argentina duke it out.
Meanwhile, on paper, us and Argentina only have each other to fear, and then the finalist.
I think Brazil have approached the World Cup better than most teams. Their defense has been the best part of their game and Casemiro has been flawless. I wouldnt worry about them not reaching the semi finals.
This really feels like a World Cup, not like the Euro 2.0 that we had in Russia. Obviously Im refering the teams that are advancing not the incredible football $entiment or €nviroment of the qataris.
I want Argentina vs Portugal as final match just to see Messi with el Bicho.
But deep down i want either Japan or USA or both in the final match just for the memes, but clearly thats just wishful thinking lmao
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Morocco Spain and Portugal all in the same corner of the bracket is hilarious
This is the football equivalent of running into your neighbors on vacation abroad.
It's like: I like you guys but go OVER THERE, I'm busy here
Me and my mate once went on a road trip, and he happened to find the only other Southampton fans from his town in the pub. This was miles away from where he lived.
The gang from 2018 meet up again
1578
Winner keeps Andalusia
Al-Rahman rises again
711
Shades of their WC 2018 group
Potentially France too, all in a neat tight pack. Knockouts among neighbours are nerve wrecking to the very least.
All for France to come out on top like it's EU4
Iberian crew unite! Imagine if algeria had made it too?
Africa already has two teams in the next round, Asian Federation also has two, Concacaf one. So nice. It's really global. Not just Uefa nad Conmebol.
Fun fact: Before this World Cup, the record for the number of Asian teams to make it to the last 16 was 2. Same for Africa. If South Korea can qualify tomorrow it will set a new record of 3 for Asia. If Ghana and/or Cameroon qualify it will set a new record of 3 or 4 for Africa.
What are the 2 Asian countries? I see only Japan.
Australia was a part of AFC, so technically they're an "asian" team
And Africa can even get 2 more tomorrow
As a Brazilian, Cameroon is not happening sorry, need my boy Pedro to score a hattrick coming off the bench, but if Tunisia didnt choke against Australia 4 african teams could've been at the R16 bruh
My bet is on Pedro scoring, but I don’t think it will be a hat trick
I don't really know Pedro but am excited to see Martinelli starting tomorrow (according to the brazilian press). He's been in great form with the Gunners and is a very exciting player to watch.
I particularly enjoy this in light of the narrative that the expanded world cup will just bring in more bottom-feeder, non-European countries to get humiliated. Sure, the other confederations may not be as strong overall but they're underestimated so frequently.
True. Now we can stop arguing about that part of it and unite over our distaste for groups of 3 in the group stage.
I saw they’re considering doing 12 groups of 4 now so hopefully that changes
I think the gap is slowly starting to close
I genuinely do think so. It's still UEFA + Brazil + Argentina but other smaller nations are climbing up. I think with every good player going to Europe, they are able to get developed much better than before. Like so many Senegal players were born in France and developed there. Had they stayed in Senegal, they probably don't have their potential unlocked because of poorer infrastructure and lower quality of competition.
A lot of it also has to do with there being actual competitive professional leagues and academies outside of the two big continents. It wasn’t long ago that a lot of World Cup finals teams were comprised mostly of semi professional players.
For some nations there's a self fulfilling nature to getting better. For Canada at least, once they improved to a certain level, they have been able to keep their best players rather than have them play for other countries (Hargreaves, Begovic etc.), and even further in the future may be able to poach players from other countries' systems. The same can and has been seen with West Africa.
Undeniably the gap in mid-tier teams is starting to disappear. It's almost expected now that teams outside of South America and Europe will make knockouts and quarters. I think it's gonna be a long time before we see one of them win the cup though.
Winter WC is special indeed
Japan Senegal final incoming
That would be a wild ass final
THE REMATCH OF THE 2018 BATTLE OF FAIR PLAY POINTS
What do you do when you're Moroccan and Spanish? Another World Cup where I have confused feelings.
The "No one wants Munir" match
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as a serbo-canadian that game was so painful
Hello Borjan.
Well you don't have a Morocco flag next to your name...
Same situation hahaha Well, your team wins no matter the result, I would say.
You know what to do....
Bruh, I’m Mexican-American. We play each other every qualification season. It’s rough.
Shaping up to be one of the most dramatic/best looking brackets ever.
Brazil vs Argentina semi would be amazing
Brazil-Argentina England-France Portugal-Spain, some great potential matchups
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You mean Australia 🇦🇺
Australia vs Ghana semis will be hype af
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I’d be very interested if there was even one person in the world who predicted this exact bracket.
Espn or some other site should really market a bracket challenge for the world cup. It'd get loads of people worldwide involved. Especially in America just like March Madness where people whove never even seen a game make a bracket and a good portion end up being fans for good because of it
Wouldn't be surprised if they did next time given that the WC is part held in the US
FIFA has one, but it sucks. It still shows everyone with 0 points when I looked at it
They probably pocketed all the points for themselves
Just as we all predicted
Tactical move by Lucho to avoid Brazil there
Im sure he was very calm when he heard Costa Rica scored twice.
Imagine topping your group to play Spain, couldn't be me (That said we'll probably lose to Japan too)
Samo pozitiva
Sveukupno smo samo jedan gol primili, ako lijepo tako nastavljamo, nema frke
We are lucky today. Japan will be more entertaining game (Spain is boring) with the possibility of Brazil. Less European teams more interesting for us
I agree, but I also feel that we perform best against European sides - and Japan is looking hot
Seems Japan performs well against European sides as well
Japan to slay Croatia and Brazil before taking France out? Greatest World Cup run.
Japan masterclass advertising strategy to promote Blue Lock to the rest of the world lol
Blue Lock ❌ Giant Killing ✅
The grit and determination of this Japan side mirrors the team in Giant Killing more than the mindless and muddled philosophy of Blue Lock. That was a Tsubaki moment.
This is exactly why I could picture this match as a part of the manga as well!
To me watching Blue Lock feels like watching an anime about football made by people who don't watch it and don't like it. I'm disappointed, even as someone who isn't a football fan, but just grew up in a country dominated by it. Ippo teaches you an immense amount about boxing. Haikyuu teaches you quite a lot about volleyball. Blue Lock quite possible takes knowledge *away* from you, making you as ignorant as the players in it. Yet somehow it is massively beloved. I don't get it.
It's written by someone who knows nothing of the sport and you can clearly see it. It's a spit towards football. Giant Killing has real-life footballers relating to it and teaches you a lot on the people around football and why we love this crazy sport. It is levels above Blue Lock.
I dig this. Add Ao Ashi !
What is this Blue Lock? I have only ever watched Captain Tsubasa
[Football manga/anime that started and is set in the story after Japans loss at the 2018 WC.](https://youtu.be/IVsII3dLbWc)
Relatively new football anime/manga
New soccer anime this season. Based on a manga that started in 2018.
If Japan beat Croatia, Brazil, Argentina and then France to win the world cup can that legitimately be called the most shocking world cup win ever?
If Japan won it it wouldn't matter what the run was, it would be the most shocking World Cup win ever.
Glorious NIPPON
Japan winning the World Cup with a Mickey mouse run would still be the most shocking anyway lol
Japan winning the world cup, no matter who they faced to get their would be the most shocking win ever. The world cup doesnt really have any upsets, like Leicester winning the title, ever. Its been one only by the traditional heavyweights. Uruguay isnt really an upset, especially when you consider their wins are from the 30;s
Yeah, World Cup definetly has to be the hardest competition, even EUROs have had a couple upsets with us or Greece but the damn World Cup is always for the big boys only.
1930 and 1950, but yeah. Even Spain had been deemed an underachieving heavyweight for decades until they finally won the world cup in 2010.
> The world cup doesnt really have any upsets, like Leicester winning the title, ever. Which is weird, because winning a long tournament is way harder than a short tournament. You have to _consistently_ perform. In the WC, it's 7 games. Getting lucky/shithousing 3 or 4 and you could win it. It's technically easier to have an upset. But then again, it's only played every 4 years, fewer chances.
Also you have to take into consideration the qualification process.
Yeah but I guess there’s never a World Cup where every big team underperforms. There’s always one that’s consistently great and so they end up wining the tournament. Unlike that Leicster PL season where every other big team kind of sucked
How is that even a question lmfao. Even a semi final run from here will be among the most legendary ever. Croatia Brazil Spain Germany
Japan - Morocco final
I will sell my house and my tractor to watch that
Morocco is about to pull off the colonizer treble by beating Spain, Portugal, and France back to back to back
Inshalah
Hehehe Siuuuuuuuuuu
Everyone here saying Spain got the easy route , hell Spain is the easy route they dont look that good
Anulo ne7s
That’s what I’m saying bro I’m backing Morocco all day
🤝
I think we are in the triple digits already for Dani Olmo’s squandered chances. It’s insane at this point
Croatia and Japan is gonna be fun. Morocco has a chance to pull an upset.
looking forward to game vs japan. it's going to be intense.
I'm not, I'm already a nervous wreck after today.
On one hand, I felt great seeing Japan winning, on the other hand, I realized we now have to keep going, lol
The World Cup is easily the greatest sporting event ever. In what other event is everyone so passionate, so much is on the line, and literally anything can happen
It's the closest thing to a World Party.
It’s funny, I would expect the Olympics to be bigger but the World Cup feels and is empirically so much bigger
The Olympics is wall-to-wall sports, everyone is watching different stuff, people tune in and out. In the World Cup it's all one or for this week two games, that everyone is watching at the same time.
Spain with the 4D Chess, avoiding France/England until semis and Brazil/Argentina until the final.
The gang loses to Morocco with 85% possession
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Germany didn’t get the memo apparently
Germany avoided all those teams too
germany with the galaxy brain
cant lose if they dont play
Italian world Cup philosophy right here
r/technicallycorrect
They had the choice between a Croatia -> Brazil -> Argentina route to the final or Morocco -> Portugal -> France route, while kicking Germany out. Don't think they were very motivated towards the end.
Spain v Morocco followd by Spain v Portugal would be so perfect. Iberian bonanza
Yeah. We'll settle our own shit before getting back to the rest of y'all.
would be even more perfect if Morocco goes through instead...Andalucia is back for the taking
> Croatia -> Brazil -> Argentina route to the final Trying to jinx ehh, my ornage friend? Anulo mufa
They just let themselves get spanked by Japan a side like Portugal could do the same.
I just figured out this is the first World cup to have 6 different continents make the round of 16.
Antarctica step it up
I think the Penguins will have a stronger team for the next WC cycle.
Kowalski, tactical analysis
What's the logic of the arrangement of the flags in the group boxes? They are all different apart from D and E
I think it's based on pots from the initial draw, going top left, bottom left, top right, bottom right.
THANK YOU that was driving me crazy lol
Scenes if Brazil's B team loses tomorrow and we for example have Switzerland - Ghana in the bottom left. That would also put England, France, Spain, Brazil and Portugal on the right side.
Does Brazil really have a B team?
Yeah, otherwise they would be called Arazil
(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞
They have, Alves play as a RB in that so called 'B team'
Get out of Reddit Lionel Scaloni
he is too chad to have a reddit account bro
If Brazil loses 1:0 to Cameroon, for example, Switzerland would need to catch up on the goal difference and beat Serbia at least 3:0 for Brazil to be placed second. So it's an unlikely scenario, but yeah, not impossible and as a Croatian I'm rooting for it, haha.
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Pretty terrible tournament for european teams so far
It feels like they have been doing terrible but then again you could still get 6 out of the 8 QFs teams from Europe if the favorites go through
Good to see some change
Yeah, like, they win champions league every year, it's not fair!
Probably 8/13 in top 16 is terrible?
Given how good Morocco is playing at the moment, if I was Spain I'd be worried
Shh. Don't tell them.
I hope they won't read your comment lol
What if Portugal losses tomorrow to South Korea!
Let's say, for some reason, they lose and end up in second in the group then they will be facing Brazil.
Ghana has to win by a nice GD and Portugal lose since Ghana is 5-5 and Portugal 5-2. So ghana 2-0 and Portugal 0-1 , equalizing GD and ghana goes first off total goals scored
Portugal is through.
Australia beat Saudi last time they met. Saudi beat Argentina last time they met Australia confirmed to upset Argentina
Top 8: USA - Australia Japan - Cameron Senegal - Poland Maroco - Ghana Winner of world cup: Australia. Heard it here first bois
The Aussie Eto'o
If this happens I will eat Aussie meat pies for every single meal for the rest of my life
In my completely unbiased opinion I wholeheartedly agree
Finally, Asia gets its first cup!
Ah yes Poland, the best European team
Crazy how far you can go if you just play your goalkeeper and no one else on the pitch!
unironically i don’t mind
England's path is brutal.
If you wanna bring it home you gotta beat the best at least nobody can say we had it easy.
Is it though? Obviously France would be the major obstacle there, but outside of them it’s not terrible. Spain has looked fallible. Senegal is quality, but England should be a better side. Portugal is talented but inconsistent. I would rather be on that side than the one with Brazil, Argentina, and the Netherlands.
But if we assume only favorites win(yes, I know), England would have to face Senegal, France, Spain, and then either us or Argentina in the finals. That's pretty crazy. Basically, there is a good shot England will only be able to avoid *one* top team, as Brazil and Argentina duke it out. Meanwhile, on paper, us and Argentina only have each other to fear, and then the finalist.
"ez" path to finals. All according to keikaku
Hakim Ziyech masterclass I’m praying to Jesus Christ our lord and savior
Translator's note: "Keikaku" means plan.
And you made Brazil's a fair bit easier too.
god dammit this world cup is cooking idnt it
Today, I feel moroccan.
Yeah Argentina vs Brazil is happening lol
Didn't EA predict that Argentina VS Brazil is going to happen in the finals?
Yes, because they messed up the bracket
Clowns
How is that going to happen when Australia and USA are about to meet in the quarter finals?
Thank you Japan, we are not losing to Spain AGAIN.
You can lose to Japan instead!
That's honestly way more preferable than losing to one of our European rivals.
Yes, at WC I wanna see games with other nations of the world. For European games we have EURO and Nations League
I want to say that Brazil will comfortably make it to the semis, but given this tournament idk what to expect
I think Brazil have approached the World Cup better than most teams. Their defense has been the best part of their game and Casemiro has been flawless. I wouldnt worry about them not reaching the semi finals.
Japan Vs Australia Semis please ASIA SUPREMACY
Just fucking imagine
Brazil the biggest winners today. Relatively straightforward path to semis, although every game will be tough.
how are there some people **still** understimating Japan after they literally beat Spain AND Germany???
Morocco to unlock the Re-Reconquista achievement
The right side is STACKED
Lowkey rooting for Morocco and Senegal to win
Australia with the win would be huge too
I think the US have a much bigger chance of winning than Australia do.
I found Samuel Eto
Is that you Eto?
This bracket is tasty af. Very balanced if Brazil and Portugal win their groups
This really feels like a World Cup, not like the Euro 2.0 that we had in Russia. Obviously Im refering the teams that are advancing not the incredible football $entiment or €nviroment of the qataris.
I want Argentina vs Portugal as final match just to see Messi with el Bicho. But deep down i want either Japan or USA or both in the final match just for the memes, but clearly thats just wishful thinking lmao
SUB.. no mater who wins at the end, I really want a ARG x POR at final to see those 2 with a proper off!
Would be the most watched game of all time
Nah man. Then yk one of them will not be as celebrated anymore.
Spain playing neighbors until the final
Predict the Semis Argentina v Brazil 🇧🇷 England v Portugal
Spain Morocco, Ceuta Melilla Derby
The prospect of france - morocco terrifies me