World Cup 2018 - Rossiya

[Dr Markus]

No need to be sorry, your respective countries are hardly setting the world alight with their football with better or the same level of talent as ours. Just banter, its cool.

[Goat Boy]

I like seeing other teams being reduced to our level.

I'm shallow like that

[mentalist (slight return)]

Get in! That is all.

[Penk!]

Anyone else watching the draw? That song was awesome in that lunatic, taste-free, completely un-self-aware Eurovision style. That it climaxed with Miroslav Klose stood in the middle of the stage was just the icing on the cake.

Apparently the longhaired ”Portugal” shredmeister was the guitarist from Extreme.

[Penk!]

Bit harsh making Cannavaro do the draw when Italy won’t be there.

[fange]

Anyone else watching the draw? That song was awesome in that lunatic, taste-free, completely un-self-aware Eurovision style. That it climaxed with Miroslav Klose stood in the middle of the stage was just the icing on the cake.

Apparently the longhaired ”Portugal” shredmeister was the guitarist from Extreme.

fantastic!

[fange]

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, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

[KeithPratt]

There's no excuse qualifying from this group for England. And then a team from Group H in the 2nd round, none of whom are that frightening.

[The Modernist]

England have got lucky there.
Group of death is between E & F.

[KeithPratt]

I'd say H is the group of death - Germany shouldn't have any problems qualifying from F. B and D are intriguing too.

[The Modernist]

H? That looks like one of the weaker groups to me

[Penk!]

There's no excuse qualifying from this group for England. And then a team from Group H in the 2nd round, none of whom are that frightening.

Brazil or Germany potentially in the quarters though, so that would be that. Based on the draw that’s what I’d hope for. But yeah, happy with the draw in general. Russia-Saudi Arabia isn’t the most glamorous opener!

Is it me or are Argentina and Nigeria always in the same group? I actually commented that just before Nigeria got pyulled out. No real group of death (H maybe but there are no ”big names” there) but that one is certainly tough for Argentina.

[KeithPratt]

H? That looks like one of the weaker groups to me

It may be weak, but I'd say that the quality of the teams is relatively similar. Japan aren't what they were, but they're capable of upsets and Colombia, Senegal and Poland all have world-class players.

[KeithPratt]

Brazil or Germany potentially in the quarters though, so that would be that.

I have no expectations of England making it past the Quarters.

[Penk!]

I have no expectations of them making it out of the group!

[The Modernist]

H? That looks like one of the weaker groups to me

It may be weak, but I'd say that the quality of the teams is relatively similar. Japan aren't what they were, but they're capable of upsets and Colombia, Senegal and Poland all have world-class players.

We have a different interpretation of 'group of death' then. I take it to mean the group with the strongest teams.

[KeithPratt]

A group of death would be where at least 3 sides feel they have a good chance of qualifying and doing well in the tournament.

I don't think Mexico, Sweden or South Korea are strong teams. Colombia, Senegal and Poland are all better than them.

Perhaps in Russia they could call it "the group of meth".

[Diamond Dog]

A Group Of Death is where a really fancied team (to progress far into the tournament) is certain to be knocked out at the group stage, surely?

[Rayge]

A Group Of Death is where a really fancied team (to progress far into the tournament) gets is certain to be knocked out at the group stage, surely?

I'd say so.

[KeithPratt]

The Cambridge Dictionary (I realise this isn't Chambers etc) definition

"in the first stage of a football cup competition, a group containing several of the best teams in the competition, not all of whom can move onto the next stage:"

So, in reality there are no groups of death in this tournament.