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The World Cup is down to the final 8 teams, so seems like a good time for a poll.

Voted France.

Quote from: HVC on July 07, 2026, 07:26:37 PMVoted France.

Same here

Voted for the underdog, Vikings. But I know France is likely to win.

They'll give it to Argentina

Quote from: Zoupa on July 07, 2026, 08:41:40 PMThey'll give it to Argentina

Yeah my vote is contingent on Argentina accidently losing before the finals :P

Morocco or Belgium.

United states after intervention from the orange blob

France are the best team in play, no question.

The best team doesn't always win, but they're favorites.

Voted France, because I have not seen any better teams.

Fact: England has only won the World Cup under Labour governments.  :bowler:  :lol:

Fact: 3 out of 4 times Norway's qualified have been under the Labour party's minority governments (1938, 1994 and 2026).

A France vs. England final would be cool. We will probably get a 2022 rematch though, I hope for the opposite result.

Quote from: Norgy on July 08, 2026, 02:33:16 AMFact: England has only won the World Cup under Labour governments.  :bowler:  :lol:

Harold Wilson's line: "have you ever noticed that we only win the World Cup under a Labour government?"

A performative northern Prime Minister leading a Labour government strongly buttressed by a woman from the Labour left with a shock of red hair - and a World Cup too. Maybe we will have a Harold Wilson summer :lol:

I very much doubt it, but it'd be nice. And since Southgate came in (so 2018) England have won more knockout games in major tournaments than they had in the previous 70 years and dispelled a few curses too (like winning a penalty shoot out). I don't think he's a particularly good coach but I think he was a phenomenal manager who basically reset the entire culture of the team (which I think Tuchel has continued and evolved).

I think France. I've not seen anything from them that suggests many vulnerabilities. They look very strong, they're playing for Deschamps, there's a bit of (as Roberto Martinez always talks about) footballing arrogance that's irresistible about them.

France are the only team that are particularly good right now.
The other traditionally decent teams are all at a low ebb.

Was it on here that I read the theory Brazil is dead and never coming back now they've moved into a pay to play academy direction?

Quote from: Josquius on July 08, 2026, 08:39:00 AMWas it on here that I read the theory Brazil is dead and never coming back now they've moved into a pay to play academy direction?

Main thread. And necessarily dead, just not pretty.

Sheilbh blames protestants, which I can get on board with :lol:

I can honestly I hope the best team on the day wins.

Quote from: HVC on July 08, 2026, 08:40:08 AM

Quote from: Josquius on July 08, 2026, 08:39:00 AMWas it on here that I read the theory Brazil is dead and never coming back now they've moved into a pay to play academy direction?

Main thread. And necessarily dead, just not pretty.

Sheilbh blames protestants, which I can get on board with :lol:

I did read that fact today - only one majority  protestant country has ever won the world cup.

Calvin finds tiki taka an affront to God.

My big shocker prediction for the QFs is Belgium over Spain. I've found Spain very unimpressive. I did predict a Morocco win over Brazil for the same reason.

Quote from: Josephus on July 09, 2026, 10:14:02 AMMy big shocker prediction for the QFs is Belgium over Spain. I've found Spain very unimpressive. I did predict a Morocco win over Brazil for the same reason.

Spain managed a win.

First seminal set - France vs. Spain

Quote from: Sophie Scholl on July 07, 2026, 10:32:59 PMMorocco or Belgium.

Welp! My World Cup kiss of death continues.  :lol:

If England and Argentina win I'll be disappointed.

I'm ok with England winning ONLY if they end up losing to France :P

@HVC

What about the somewhat likely England - Argentina match?

Who will you want to win that one?

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 01:44:54 AM@HVC

What about the somewhat likely England - Argentina match?

Who will you want to win that one?

England would have to beat Argentina. It would add to drama of it all. If it wasn't for VAR a handball England goal would be storybook :D

*edit* or to quote myself from the main thread

Quote from: HVC on July 06, 2026, 04:13:49 PMMy preferred choice is Norway takes out England and argentina*. Second option, after some consideration, is that England takes out Argentina and then suffers a crushing heart wrenching defeat to France.

My love is gone, all that drives me now is spite. Sweet, sweet seething spite  :ultra:

Oh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 05:11:47 AMOh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

Sorry, nothing against you and sheilbh. I just can't let the "it's coming home" crowd to win :console: . As annoying as Messi fans are going to be if he wins again, once he retires they'll quiet down :lol:

Quote from: HVC on July 11, 2026, 05:13:49 AM

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 05:11:47 AMOh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

Sorry, nothing against you and sheilbh. I just can't let the "it's coming home" crowd to win :console: . As annoying as Messi fans are going to be if he wins again, once he retires they'll quiet down :lol:

+1

Quote from: HVC on July 11, 2026, 05:13:49 AM

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 05:11:47 AMOh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

Sorry, nothing against you and sheilbh. I just can't let the "it's coming home" crowd to win :console: . As annoying as Messi fans are going to be if he wins again, once he retires they'll quiet down :lol:

Totally understandable.

I dunno, I think fans of all teams I don't support are annoying, but for the Argies, even the players are unpleasant all the way through the TV camera lens.

For those teams still in the competition, these are my ratings:

Most entertaining line-up: France's attacking players
Most annoying line-up: Argentina, Spain a close second
Least entertaining side: Spain
Most overlooked side: The Albanian Swiss
Most offensively tall side: Norway
Most under pressure side: England (as has always been the case)
Least missed side: Italy

Dammit, Portugal is really in decline. :(  :P

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 05:11:47 AMOh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

I think Paraguay is up there. But of course, they've gone home by now.

Quote from: HVC on July 11, 2026, 05:13:49 AM

Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 11, 2026, 05:11:47 AMOh well, it would have been pretty bad to be more dislikeable than Argentina (as a footy team that is).

Sorry, nothing against you and sheilbh. I just can't let the "it's coming home" crowd to win :console: . As annoying as Messi fans are going to be if he wins again, once he retires they'll quiet down :lol:

See as an American I can go months or years without anybody ever mentioning soccer within 100 feet...or even meters...of me so English hooligans being happy is no big deal. Sheilbh being happy would warm the cockles of my heart as Winston Churchill would say :P  :bowler:

Having said that, this is Norway vs. England:

(https://static1.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/trolls-holding-bilbo.jpg)

(https://static1.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Lord-of-the-Rings-Frodo-Cave-Troll.jpg)