NFT: **World Cup Preview and Game 1 Thread**

You would assume that either Madrid or Lopetegui would inform the federation of their intent before it all transpired.

Spanish defender Pique compares the Spain coaching situation to Michigan hoops in March Madness 1989 ...

fire the coach at the start of the tournament - no problem! - ( New Window )

about the UofM Frieder/Fisher fiasco. Youd think I would have recalled that. And I agree RM are the Cowboys of LaLiga.

Maybe Hierro needs to call up Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson.

In comment 13990472 Kyle in NY said:

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In comment 13989794 Go Terps said: Quote: He's got all the talent in the world but if the game isn't completely built through him he is a negative force. Enough of trying to make him happy...there's more than enough talent on that team to win the tournament without him. This is a hot take. Not sure I agree, but I do think France needs to change how they setup and rely more heavily on N'Golo Kante. Kante is the type of player who could do all the dirty work to allow Pogba to shine. The kind of player he doesn't have next to him at United. Now if one of the most expensive footballers in the world needs the right players around him to succeed, then he's probably a bit overrated. I agree there. But he still brings a lot to the table. I'd try him and Kante together in a two man midfield, send Matuidi to the bench, and load up the attack up front.

I want to go back to this - it's not that much of a hot take. Pogba's best year at Juventus was with Pirlo sitting deep spraying passes and an all-world Arturo Vidal cleaning everything up. Not to mention the BBC behind that. The next year he wasn't as effective.

The problem at United is he's playing in 4-3-3 no real wide players to free up his runs and crappier players behind him than at 2014-15 Juve. For France the issue isn't that Pogba isn't useful, but that Griezmann is the focus and prefers to play off Giroud.

like it did for the Wolverines, and they go on to win the WC...

In comment 13990822 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:

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In comment 13990472 Kyle in NY said: Quote: In comment 13989794 Go Terps said: Quote: He's got all the talent in the world but if the game isn't completely built through him he is a negative force. Enough of trying to make him happy...there's more than enough talent on that team to win the tournament without him. This is a hot take. Not sure I agree, but I do think France needs to change how they setup and rely more heavily on N'Golo Kante. Kante is the type of player who could do all the dirty work to allow Pogba to shine. The kind of player he doesn't have next to him at United. Now if one of the most expensive footballers in the world needs the right players around him to succeed, then he's probably a bit overrated. I agree there. But he still brings a lot to the table. I'd try him and Kante together in a two man midfield, send Matuidi to the bench, and load up the attack up front. I want to go back to this - it's not that much of a hot take. Pogba's best year at Juventus was with Pirlo sitting deep spraying passes and an all-world Arturo Vidal cleaning everything up. Not to mention the BBC behind that. The next year he wasn't as effective. The problem at United is he's playing in 4-3-3 no real wide players to free up his runs and crappier players behind him than at 2014-15 Juve. For France the issue isn't that Pogba isn't useful, but that Griezmann is the focus and prefers to play off Giroud.

I think leaving him off the squad entirely is a bit overboard. But I agree with the general point that he’s underwhelmed at United relative to expectations due in large part because he downgraded in supporting casts. Although don’t underestimate the soul sucking powers of late career Mourinho.

But I think France has the talent to compliment him. There is no Pirlo as a deep lying playmaker, that’s true. But Kante for my money is the best CDM in the world right now. He can free up Pogba. I don’t think they entirely knew what they had in Kante during the Euros. He hadn’t yet moved to Chelsea and he wasn’t starting in the knockout rounds. Didn’t play in the final. Freakin Moussa Sissoko was playing instead. That midfield upgrade can’t be understated

I actually like France heading into the tournament because they’re better set up down the middle than at the Euros. Varane/Umtiti is a nice combination and then there’s Kante. Watching Kante week in week out, he truly is a difference maker. Not to mention others like Mendy, Mbappe, Lemar, Dembele that weren’t even invoked at Euros

Maybe Pogba just can’t function as a cog in the whole unit and it all blows up. But I’m bullish on the French

I hope the ruskies don’t score a single goal in the tourney. Hard to pull for the Saudis too. But let the games begin!

Even Morocco vs Iran should be interesting.

In comment 13990891 trueblueinpw said:

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I hope the ruskies don’t score a single goal in the tourney. Hard to pull for the Saudis too. But let the games begin!

1-0 Russia

but winning the World Cup is about keeping clean sheets and I can't trust that guy in a midfield position with any defensive responsibility at all. France has way too much talent (maybe the most in the tournament) to just hand him the keys. And if he isn't handed the keys, is he going to be a good soldier and fulfill his defensive duties? Or more doubtful, be ok with a substitute role?

with Kante next to him, they don't need to trust him with as much defensive responsibility.

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That was a nice goal just now...though the Saudis are brutally bad.

Kyle - if he's in the midfield he has to do defensive work, especially considering it sounds like Deschamps is looking to play Griezmann as a #10 behind Giroud and Mbappe.

At this point we'll just have to wait and see. They're going to be a fascinating team to track. So much talent but can the pieces fit together? I'm more optimistic that they can.

Did you see Griezmann is going to do a Lebron style "The Decision" special to announce whether he's staying at Atletico or moving to Barcelona? I'm sure you love that

I don't really care one way or the other. I hope he stays at Atletico. That team is really good and can compete for both Liga and UCL.

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The guy that just scored that goal is huge.

What an opener for Russia.

5-0 to Russia. Wow.

Saudi Arabia might be the worst team I can recall watching in a World Cup. Wait til they add 16 more teams though....

48 teams will likely result in more matches like this opener.

Russia isn't all that great of a side, yet they just destroyed Saudi Arabia and now have a significant goal differential.

The loser of Egypt- Uruguay will be in a lot of trouble, especially if it is a 2-3 goal loss.

I'd expect them to lose similarily to all other group opponents.

In comment 13991342 Nitro said:

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I'd expect them to lose similarily to all other group opponents.

Unless you see the members of either or both teams driving around in brand new Bentleys.

actually not a surprise after rumors in recent days and AM spending big on Lemar.

In comment 13990686 Go Terps said:

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In comment 13990657 giantBCP said: Quote: Why couldn't he just assume the Madrid post after the tournament was over? I've been reading/listening to podcasts about this all day. The story from multiple sources has been, as far as I can tell, pretty consistent: 1. Florentino contacted Lopetegui on Friday 2. Lopetegui told Florentino he was interested, and to work it out with his agent (the ubiquitous Jorge Mendes) 3. On Monday Lopetegui agree to take the job 4. 5:40PM Moscow time Rubiales (FA President) is informed 5. 5:45PM Real Madrid publicly announced the hiring 6. Over an hour later the FA releases a statement that sounds positive, then changes it to sound less so 7. Rubiales (in Moscow for the FIFA congress) flies to Krasnodar 8. Wednesday morning Rubiales, Lopetegui, Hierro, and Ramos meet - they try to convince Rubiales to keep Lopetegui 9. Rubiales emerges from the meeting and announces Lopetegui is sacked Guillem Balague, Sid Lowe, Gab Marcotti, Marca, and AS all reported that, with varying opinions on whether or not Rubiales acted correctly. Personally I think Rubiales did the right thing. Given the history of Madrid/Barca, Spain could not have a situation where there was speculation that Lopetegui was favoring a Real Madrid player or slighting a Barca player. Even in the likely event that it would be bullshit, just the perception of such behavior could have huge consequences. The situation could be salvageable had Lopetegui taken a job in England or in Italy or something...but Real Madrid? No. The same would have applied had he taken a job at Barcelona. Further, and I can't say this strongly enough, fuck Florentino Perez and Real Madrid. Their gall and arrogance make Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder look like class acts. This was a move beyond the pale, even for their already pathetic standard. And they deserve the guy they got - I understand that managing Real Madrid could be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Lopetegui signed an extension to 2020 with Spain 3 weeks ago. You'd think Spain was some kind of joke job instead of a team that's legitimately within the 4 or 5 best teams at this World Cup. Scumbag move from a club that's been a scumbag since Franco was buying their European titles back in the '50s. Hopefully Hierro (another guy that got fucked by Real Madrid) does a good job and shoves it up their ass.

Because FIFA is so effing pure of principle

perception of most things, because he IS a man of principle, notwithstanding that I don't necessarily always agree with his take, and his fucktard assignations are sometimes arbitrarily awarded, but not too often, but any guy who watches as much Bundesliga matches in the host stadiums as he has, is ok and has my GoodHouseKeeping Seal of Approval.

This, of course, after my local margarita watering hole manned and womened by Hispanic soccer fanatics, and one Austrian, has put me in mode to offer commentary.........Brasil Germany Spain (yikes) Belgium? Will that work in the Group Stage brackets?