2017/18 (Soccer) Football Thread

shade

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Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt.
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark.
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, England, Panama, Tunisia
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

here we go lads
 
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt.
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark.
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia.
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, England, Panama, Tunisia
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

here we go lads
This Group Stage does not look interesting IMO, many groups have at least one team that is practically guaranteed to get to the knockout rounds...

Group A: Uruguay will most likely be first. Russia should be second but their lack of quality makes me think they can actually disappoint against Egypt.
Group B: A fight between Portugal and Spain to see who ends first and who ends second. Spain will most likely end up first. Iran and Morocco are filler.
Group C: France comes up with the easiest group in the entire World Cup. The second place will be rather hard-fought, though. Without Guerrero, Peru loses a lot of chances.
Group D: The only group in which nothing is certain. Argentina's terrible performances during the whole road to Russia, as well as Sampaoli and Messi being present, makes its future full of doubts. I can see Iceland qualifying without much issue.
Group E: Much like Group C. Brazil has a very easy group (though not as easy as France's) while the fight for the second place is going to be great. I can't pick a favourite for second.
Group F: Germany could even field a U-17 team and would still come out as first here. Mexico will probably go on second.
Group G: See Group B. I can't pick a favourite for first place, though. Both teams play at a noticeably lower level than their players would suggest.
Group H: Colombia goes to first place. Poland should be second placed but I can see Senegal being a pain to beat.
 
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Group A: Egypt, Uruguay, Russia, Saudi Arabia. I think Egypt will be one of the surprise teams of the tournament. Uruguay will be the favorite of course because this is the current generation's last world cup most likely. Russia and Saudi Arabia are probably the two weakest sides in the tournament; Saudi Arabia being the worst of course.

Group B: Spain, Portugal, Iran, Morocco. Something about Portugal and World Cups lately doesn't bring the best out of them but who knows what the Euro win will do for them. Spain definitely look revived from the last two tournament failures. Would have picked Iran as a dark horse but this group isn't quite the one they would want for that. Same goes for Morocco.

Group C: France, Denmark, Australia, Peru. France is of course one of the favorites for the tournament and should have few problems. Denmark's form in qualifying was not the greatest but look a strong side. Australia could definitely sneak second spot as can Peru but Peru never should have been in Pot 2 in the first place; by far the weakest team from that pot.

Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria. Messi will carry the team to the top of the group just like the last world cup. How far he can take them past that on his own is a mystery. Croatia beat Iceland twice in the qualifiers but they have not exactly performed consistently at tournaments since 1998 so it is hard to trust them, especially against Iceland's team fighting spirit. Poor Nigeria, always getting Argentina in the group stages lol just like 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014. But maybe they can not lose to them this time.

Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia. Brazil easily favorites in this group and maybe the tournament. Second place is open but Switzerland should be good enough at grinding out results to get it, though it will not be easy.

Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic. Germany have about 100 players to choose from; defending champions for a reason and the best national side in the world. Mexico always do enough to get out of the group stages before falling in the round of 16; seems like a realistic expectation again though Sweden are strong this time around. Korea don't score enough goals to contest second spot.

Group G: Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama. If England can get their act together for once they can top the group; Belgium do not always play at their best. Not enough talent on Tunisia or Panama to threaten unless England or Belgium play poor and fail to beat both.

Group H: Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan. Balanced group. Lewandowski should fire Poland to the top, but anything can happen.
 

Rowan

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  • Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
  • Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
  • Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
  • Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
  • Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
  • Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea
  • Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
  • Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Nice group for England... and if we do get through, we have a decent round of 16 draw as well, facing one of Poland, Senegal, Colombia, or Japan, missing out on the real heavyweights - not that Colombia/Poland/Senegal would be a walkover, I'd say it'd be a 50/50 for England. Overall, the groups are pretty balanced, probably due to the seeding system being much better this time around, instead of pots being based on region.
Though, the world rankings definitely need changing, how the fuck Poland are top seeds, and Spain aren't, I don't know.
 
They allow too many nations to qualify, making the groups look weak. Not so sure about Argentina either; Messi is the only one who scored for them in over a year.
Just hope Spain smash Portugal's face in. 5-0 or something. Would love to see Ronaldo and his smug face crying after being eliminated in the group stages. No more bullshit in qualifying after winning none of the group matches.
 
  • Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
  • Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
  • Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
  • Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
  • Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
  • Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea
  • Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
  • Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
Nice group for England... and if we do get through, we have a decent round of 16 draw as well, facing one of Poland, Senegal, Colombia, or Japan, missing out on the real heavyweights - not that Colombia/Poland/Senegal would be a walkover, I'd say it'd be a 50/50 for England. Overall, the groups are pretty balanced, probably due to the seeding system being much better this time around, instead of pots being based on region.
Though, the world rankings definitely need changing, how the fuck Poland are top seeds, and Spain aren't, I don't know.
Poland only have played 1 friendly or something the past 2 years or year, idk. They're still a strong side though but definitely not pot 1 quality but pot 2.
 
Shoutout to all the haters (including me) who thought we couldn't advance with Chelsea and Atletico in the group. GUESS WHAT? WE TOPPED THE GROUP FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME IN CLUB HISTORY (the first time we did it was in 2008-09, also finishing above Chelsea).

Special thanks to Conte and Rudiger who let us back in the 3-3 game, gave us the 3-0 win, and not just letting Atletico win the last game.
 
Group F: Man City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli, Feyenoord. Honestly think Shakhtar Donetsk will be the surprise of the group stage here having missed out last season but obviously Napoli will be favored. For once Man City is the highest quality side in a champions league group lol, and Feyenoord aren't ready to compete at this level.
Even though I got the rest of the group stage predictions wrong lol
 
Champions League

Group winners: Manchester United, PSG, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Besiktas, Tottenham
Runners up: Basel, Bayern, Chelsea, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

As usual, teams from the same association/group in the group stage cannot be drawn against each other. Give me Bayern vs City, Roma vs Porto, United vs Madrid (though United will probably get Porto instead and Roma ends up with Madrid). Besiktas will draw Basel for the annual match up that nobody cares about.

Europa League
Seeded: AC Milan (ITA), Arsenal (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Athletic Club (ESP), Atlético Madrid* (ESP), Braga (POR), CSKA Moskva* (RUS), Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig* (GER), Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS), Plzeň (CZE), Salzburg (AUT), Sporting CP* (POR), Villarreal (ESP), Zenit (RUS)

Unseeded: AEK Athens (GRE), Astana (KAZ), Celtic* (SCO), Crvena zvezda (SRB), Dortmund* (GER), FCSB (ROU), København (DEN), Ludogorets (BUL), Lyon (FRA), Marseille (FRA), Napoli* (ITA), Nice (FRA), Östersund (SWE), Partizan (SRB), Real Sociedad (ESP), Spartak Moskva* (RUS)

Some potential in there for decent games.
 
Champions League

Group winners: Manchester United, PSG, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Besiktas, Tottenham
Runners up: Basel, Bayern, Chelsea, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

As usual, teams from the same association/group in the group stage cannot be drawn against each other. Give me Bayern vs City, Roma vs Porto, United vs Madrid (though United will probably get Porto instead and Roma ends up with Madrid). Besiktas will draw Basel for the annual match up that nobody cares about.

Europa League
Seeded: AC Milan (ITA), Arsenal (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Athletic Club (ESP), Atlético Madrid* (ESP), Braga (POR), CSKA Moskva* (RUS), Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), Lazio (ITA), Leipzig* (GER), Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS), Plzeň (CZE), Salzburg (AUT), Sporting CP* (POR), Villarreal (ESP), Zenit (RUS)

Unseeded: AEK Athens (GRE), Astana (KAZ), Celtic* (SCO), Crvena zvezda (SRB), Dortmund* (GER), FCSB (ROU), København (DEN), Ludogorets (BUL), Lyon (FRA), Marseille (FRA), Napoli* (ITA), Nice (FRA), Östersund (SWE), Partizan (SRB), Real Sociedad (ESP), Spartak Moskva* (RUS)

Some potential in there for decent games.
Beşiktaş J.K. is very strong this season, anyone that decides not to care of them does it at their own peril #ComeToBesiktas
 
Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur: Not all that much between the teams. Spurs have less chance of doing a spurs against good sides so I'd back them to win especially against a Juventus side that isn't nearly as strong as last season despite it still being good.

Basel v Man City: Even if Man City have not hit 5/6 past the non-big teams lately, they should not have too many issues here. Maybe Basel can sneak in a goal or two from the likes of Lang or Oberlin but anything more than that is asking a lot.

Porto v Liverpool: Two entertaining sides with strong attacking players. Felipe is suspended for Porto in the first leg so that might give Liverpool's attack even more to go at. Liverpool have more attacking power than Porto so they will progress but it will be exciting to see.

Sevilla v Man United: Sevilla are very up and down; they might be able to frustrate Man United for a period but it will be followed by a period of them looking lost out there, or have that happen before they figure out how to play. Man Utd only need to avoid errors and lapses (and maybe be a little bit more ambitious than they have against the premier league's strong sides) and they will be good to go. Also need to be aware of Ben Yedder.

Real Madrid v Paris: Even if Paris look stronger in form than Real Madrid, it can always be counted on that Real Madrid will find a way no matter what. It would be huge for Paris if they can eliminate the holders as this might be their best chance to get to the semi-finals at least.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma: Not too much between these sides; can see this going to extra time or be decided on away goals. Still, Roma have shown they can perform well and I think they will manage.

Chelsea v Barcelona: Either Messi carries Barcelona through or Hazard shows up and demonstrates that he belongs with the best in the world; that will decide this one. The former would require Messi to score against Barcelona for the first time, but he got his first goals v Buffon this season so no reason to think he won't get his first goals against Chelsea here.

Bayern v Besiktas: The second leg being in Istanbul will make this tricky. Bayern will be favored obviously but Besiktas are stronger than they seem and have several creative players that can pounce at any moment.
 
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma: Not too much between these sides; can see this going to extra time or be decided on away goals. Still, Roma have shown they can perform well and I think they will manage.
You place too much faith in us, just look at the way we drew 0-0 vs one of the worst defensive sides in Serie A this weekend. We also have the fewest goals scored in the top 6 (by a margin of 3 goals). Somehow, Dzeko took a dive off the cliff this season.
 
You place too much faith in us, just look at the way we drew 0-0 vs one of the worst defensive sides in Serie A this weekend. We also have the fewest goals scored in the top 6 (by a margin of 3 goals). Somehow, Dzeko took a dive off the cliff this season.
good thing league form is not always an indication of how a team performs in europe
 

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