FIFA World Cup 2018 chat thread

[Durhamfootman]

It's started, then

so much for my prediction of 0-0. Start as you mean to go on, I say

[The Professor]

This could be the most toothless debut loss for Saudia Arabia since their 2004 ACC Trophy loss to Kuwait #TenuousCricketLink

[sussexpob]

Saudi look like a stag do group who got the wrong transfer from the airport and ended on the pitch

[yuppie]

Saudi are better than this.

With all the money Putin throws arounds, i wonder if Russia can do a South Korea at their own tournament?

[sussexpob]

Saudi are better than this.

With all the money Putin throws arounds, i wonder if Russia can do a South Korea at their own tournament?

Does this not show how badly Japan, Korea and other Asian qualifiers have dropped, because even before this game you'd say the best teams in Asia are at their worst since 2000s began.

Saudi looked abysmal. Left their two centre backs ounltnumbered all game despite not really attacking. Terrible performance.

Defo getting a few notes on them to concede 5 in all games now. If Russia had salah or Suarez a record score was on.

Russia wasted opportunities

[yuppie]

Saudi have done ok in their warm up matches. Certainly nothing to suggest a 5-0 thrashing to a team that has not won in its last 7 matches.

Asia is a long way behind Europe, but the manner of this result is surprising. Talk of Ramadan possibly having an effect. The parts i watched, Saudi just did not seem interested. Disappointing opening match.

[GGAS]

Convincing win for Russia in the so called 'El Gasico'.

[Durhamfootman]

I only saw a bit of the game. it was so awful that I switched to a pre-recorded Springwatch

let's hope it doesn't continue in this vein

[Durhamfootman]

I suppose that this is how all world cups will look once they have 48 teams in the finals

jeepers there's a lot of dross with 32 teams qualifying.... imagine just how much 48 teams will reduce the quality of the competition overall

thank goodness FIFA and the corporates will make more money out of a reduced quality product.

The ECB will be watching closely in the hope of doing something similar. There must be an awful lot of satisfaction that can be derived making obscene amounts of money from slowly destroying your game

[The Professor]

Uruguay taking a tip from the Ashley Giles school of negative attacking against the Tendulkar of Egypt. #TenuousCricketLink

[mikesiva]

A last minute goal gave Uruguay all three points.

[The Professor]

Iran showing Yuvraj Singh-like levels of aggression out there. #TenuousCricketLink

[andy]

0-0 at half time, wasn't looking forward to this game, but it's been ok, both sides are strong in defence, but still looking to score, should be a decent 2nd half

[mikesiva]

Iran scores a last minute winner too.

[Durhamfootman]

ooh

proper game!