I predict England will do terribly as usual, because they seem to be s**t at football compared to just about everyone else on planet earth !!

I also predict that Russian "Ultras" will kick f**k out of English fans wherever and whenever !!

[ I want to shout, but I can hardly speak ]

the world cup will have no hooliganism at all.

officially.

all the blood shed will take place well away from the stadiums and be hushed up by all concerned.

i heard that anyone whos english and isnt with a partner or kid is getting done in.

I'm proud of the Netherlands and Italy for boycotting the World Cup in authoritarian Russia

Personally, I have never understood hooliganism. You don't see that in ice-hockey (or almost any other sport). I think England has done well to undo most of it since the horrible 80's and 90's.
It would be more than stupid to go back there again. Hooliganism is for criminals.

Slewan: Boycotting! Ha, ha, ha....

its good that we have countries like germany, britain, france and usa who are not authoritarian then.

what did russia ever do to get a bad reputation in recent years.

It's a joke, I guess?, Buttons. Both Holland and Italy failed to qualify.

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buttons67
its good that we have countries like germany, britain, france and usa who are not authoritarian then.

what did russia ever do to get a bad reputation in recent years.

read the news…

Go Mexico!

Of course Putin Russia is an authoritarian state, Slewan. Everyone knows that. But that's not the reason to why Italy and Holland aren't participating. They didn't qualify. Simple as that.

Who are your dark horses for the tournament? Mine is Peru.

Ireland, Iceland ???? I do not even know, if they qualified, but loved their performance and their fans the last time

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Stoneage
Of course Putin Russia is an authoritarian state, Slewan. Everyone knows that. But that's not the reason to why Italy and Holland aren't participating. They didn't qualify. Simple as that.

did you ever hear of irony or sarcasm ?

Sure, I do. Read my first comment. But since you followed it up with Buttons67 I thought you were serious about it ... But, let it slide...

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Silver Dagger
Who are your dark horses for the tournament? Mine is Peru.

Egypt..

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DandelionPowderman

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Silver Dagger
Who are your dark horses for the tournament? Mine is Peru.

Egypt..

Mo Salah and El-Shaarawy.

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slewan
I'm proud of the Netherlands and Italy for boycotting the World Cup in authoritarian Russia

LOL

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Keep On Rolling

Germany, Spain and Brazil seem to be the front runners.
Brazil has completely rebuilt their prograM AFTER that terrible showing in '14.
Spain is still strong.
Germany is the big favorite because their team is so deep! They can outfit two world class teams easily; maybe even three. But being the big favorite is a tough place to be in.

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DandelionPowderman

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Silver Dagger
Who are your dark horses for the tournament? Mine is Peru.

Egypt..

Iceland

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Palace Revolution 2000
Germany, Spain and Brazil seem to be the front runners.
Brazil has completely rebuilt their prograM AFTER that terrible showing in '14.
Spain is still strong.
Germany is the big favorite because their team is so deep! They can outfit two world class teams easily; maybe even three. But being the big favorite is a tough place to be in.

I fully agree with your list

I`d add France - they have a great team.

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"A smile relieves a heart that grieves..."

Yup, my money is on Les Bleus.

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slewan
I'm proud of the Netherlands and Italy for boycotting the World Cup in authoritarian Russia

Scotland have ‘boycotted’ every World Cup and Euros for 20 years .Absolutely shameful for a country which played a huge part in the early development of the beautiful game. But history, quite rightly entitles you to nothing. Hard work and skill is needed. Scottish Football is controlled and ruined by 2 clubs, very badly run and rotten to the core and until that changes, I cannot see us qualifying for anything, nor do we deserve to.

Italy and the Netherlands will be fine longer term. Good solid football infrastructure in those countries and their failure to qualify this time will be a mere temporary blip. You’ll both be back .

As for winning it this time around, Either France or Germany. There’s usually a surprise package who come in from nowhere and do very well. Egypt could be that team.

I always go for the underdogs
would love to see Iceland & Japan pull off some upsets

I love Iceland's team, like everyone else. I would love to see a smaller nation win for once.

This actually applies more to Club football. There is absolutely no parity in European Football. all about money; and the same teams win over and over again.
I wonder if that is what gzregorz meant, when he spoke of two teams ruining Scottish ball.

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TornFrayedSue

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DandelionPowderman

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Silver Dagger
Who are your dark horses for the tournament? Mine is Peru.

Egypt..

Iceland

Iceland will beat England...

i disagree grzegorz67 that scottish football is controlled and ruined by 2 clubs.

remember one of those clubs liquidated after being found to have knowingly broken rules for over a decade under the watchfull eye of a corrupt sfa who did nothing other than welcome a new club into the league with no accounts or history.

celtic on the other hand play by the rules.

the problem with scottish football are 2 fold.

1. like other leagues money talks, its the way of the modern game. its why leagues are so uninteresting, and why the champions league is a bore.

2. scotland simply do not create the type of players they need to, to compete at the level it thinks it should be competing at.

saying that though, we will eventually qualify for tournaments, although world cups will be harder as there are fewer european entrants.

I'm not remotely interested in the game, but I will be paying attention to all those punch-ups between one set of idiots and another set of idiots - that will no doubt feature on our TV screens in due course !!??

What IS it with these morons ? Too many Smarties for breakfast ?

[ I want to shout, but I can hardly speak ]

OK everybody - just a quick update. We have 11 players so far with still 5 weeks to go.

I think the record number of players we ever had was about 23 so I'm sure we can beat that this time.

Good luck to everybody.

You're an early bird, Dagger. I'm busy predicting the Ice-Hockey World Cup at the moment. Go Tre Kronor!

Was waiting for this, thanks Silver Dagger for creating it!
It will be funny to play it again!
Cheers!


My dark horse: Uruguay