sycasey said:Cal88 said:
Look for Austria to tie Algeria, and the most boring 2nd half in history since the infamous West Germany-Austria 1982 game in Gijon, would be surprised if a tie isn't the outcome, as it suits both teams. Algeria is better off with a tie than with a win, but both would be eliminated by a loss in this game.
It was indeed a tie, but actually not boring at all!
sluggo said:sycasey said:Cal88 said:
Look for Austria to tie Algeria, and the most boring 2nd half in history since the infamous West Germany-Austria 1982 game in Gijon, would be surprised if a tie isn't the outcome, as it suits both teams. Algeria is better off with a tie than with a win, but both would be eliminated by a loss in this game.
It was indeed a tie, but actually not boring at all!
Bob Bradley lost his European job partly because he said "tie" instead of "draw." Be careful out there.
sycasey said:sluggo said:sycasey said:Cal88 said:
Look for Austria to tie Algeria, and the most boring 2nd half in history since the infamous West Germany-Austria 1982 game in Gijon, would be surprised if a tie isn't the outcome, as it suits both teams. Algeria is better off with a tie than with a win, but both would be eliminated by a loss in this game.
It was indeed a tie, but actually not boring at all!
Bob Bradley lost his European job partly because he said "tie" instead of "draw." Be careful out there.
I was following Cal88's lead, blame him!
oski003 said:sycasey said:
Great tournament for Africa, very poor for Asia (especially since one of the "Asian" teams that made it was Australia). Average for CONCACAF, really only the host countries were any good.Here's the group stage wrapup.
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) June 28, 2026
Africa had 10 teams in the tournament, and 9 made it through! Incredible performance. pic.twitter.com/TrFSIVRbVn
Curacao should be part of South America. It is so weird that for some purposes it is considered part of North America yet is 37 miles from Venezuela.
Cal88 said:
sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
sycasey said:sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
Yeah the left side of that bracket seems pretty loaded. Argentina looks to have a relatively easier path.
Cavan Sullivan with a Goalazo against the Dynamo in a friendly 👀 pic.twitter.com/eFo2aKqlLv
— Youth Soccer Central (@yscentral) June 27, 2026
That is a silly ball by Neil Pierre. For those who have not been tracking him since he was a U15 like me, passing used to be a weakness of his. It is now a major strength. He has put in so much work to get to this point. https://t.co/f7GdvAtLCE
— Marcus Chairez | US/SC (@USSoccerColl) June 27, 2026
Anarchistbear said:
Man. Iran is the unluckiest team
sitting next to Ian Darke, Landon Donovan said "nil" instead of zero, and "zed" instead of zee before correcting himself critically.sluggo said:sycasey said:Cal88 said:
Look for Austria to tie Algeria, and the most boring 2nd half in history since the infamous West Germany-Austria 1982 game in Gijon, would be surprised if a tie isn't the outcome, as it suits both teams. Algeria is better off with a tie than with a win, but both would be eliminated by a loss in this game.
It was indeed a tie, but actually not boring at all!
Bob Bradley lost his European job partly because he said "tie" instead of "draw." Be careful out there.
sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
sluggo said:
I hope when I tell people we will be in a different place in 2030 they will start to believe me. Should be at the Belgium/Netherlands/Colombia level. I don't know how we get higher.
sluggo said:sycasey said:sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
Yeah the left side of that bracket seems pretty loaded. Argentina looks to have a relatively easier path.
Left side harder but this is the strongest world cup I have ever seen and plenty good on the right.
Cal88 said:
Argentina still has the easiest path to the semis by far, and an easier potential semi.
concordtom said:
UPDATED RANKING NUMBERS OFF FIFA COCA-COLA WEBSITE:
Great now that I have your exact 32 teams and your official FIFA rankings, here is the fully rebuilt bracket using your rankings only, organized into the same four quadrants you confirmed earlier.
This is now 100% aligned with the rankings you pasted.
---
QUADRANT 1 TopLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Germany 12
Paraguay 37
France 2
Sweden 36
South Africa 54
Canada 32
Netherlands 7
Morocco 6
Mean: 23.25
Median: 24.5
---
QUADRANT 2 BottomLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Portugal 8
Croatia 13
Spain 3
Austria 22
USA 15
Bosnia & Herzegovina 61
Belgium 10
Senegal 18
Mean: 18.75
Median: 16.5
---
QUADRANT 3 TopRight
Team FIFA Rank
Brazil 5
Japan 17
Cte d'Ivoire 30
Norway 23
Mexico 9
Ecuador 24
England 4
DR Congo 41
Mean: 19.125
Median: 20.0
---
QUADRANT 4 BottomRight
Team FIFA Rank
Argentina 1
Cape Verde 64
Australia 28
Egypt 26
Switzerland 16
Algeria 29
Colombia 11
Ghana 65
Mean: 30.0
Median: 27.5
Big C said:
Every day I have at least one Dumb Semi-Beginners Soccer Question. Usually, I don't post them, as I try to hide my ignorance.
Today, what the heck!
China and India each have over a billion people. Do they play soccer over there, or what? (no AI, please)
Here is their difference pic.twitter.com/6S3SdJiAG9
— Unique Wallpaper (@just_unique0) June 28, 2026
Big C said:
Every day I have at least one Dumb Semi-Beginners Soccer Question. Usually, I don't post them, as I try to hide my ignorance.
Today, what the heck!
China and India each have over a billion people. Do they play soccer over there, or what? (no AI, please)
Cal88 said:concordtom said:
UPDATED RANKING NUMBERS OFF FIFA COCA-COLA WEBSITE:
Great now that I have your exact 32 teams and your official FIFA rankings, here is the fully rebuilt bracket using your rankings only, organized into the same four quadrants you confirmed earlier.
This is now 100% aligned with the rankings you pasted.
---
QUADRANT 1 TopLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Germany 12
Paraguay 37
France 2
Sweden 36
South Africa 54
Canada 32
Netherlands 7
Morocco 6
Mean: 23.25
Median: 24.5
---
QUADRANT 2 BottomLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Portugal 8
Croatia 13
Spain 3
Austria 22
USA 15
Bosnia & Herzegovina 61
Belgium 10
Senegal 18
Mean: 18.75
Median: 16.5
---
QUADRANT 3 TopRight
Team FIFA Rank
Brazil 5
Japan 17
Cte d'Ivoire 30
Norway 23
Mexico 9
Ecuador 24
England 4
DR Congo 41
Mean: 19.125
Median: 20.0
---
QUADRANT 4 BottomRight
Team FIFA Rank
Argentina 1
Cape Verde 64
Australia 28
Egypt 26
Switzerland 16
Algeria 29
Colombia 11
Ghana 65
Mean: 30.0
Median: 27.5
Zero top 10 opponents in Argentina's bracket.
sycasey said:Big C said:
Every day I have at least one Dumb Semi-Beginners Soccer Question. Usually, I don't post them, as I try to hide my ignorance.
Today, what the heck!
China and India each have over a billion people. Do they play soccer over there, or what? (no AI, please)
China seems to have a policy of steering athletes towards more niche sports that they can dominate at the Olympics, hence ping-pong and whatnot. Sports that require a large team and where other countries are already super competitive are not good bang for your buck.
India only seems to take one sport seriously, and that's cricket. I dunno what's going on there. They should be better at athletics.
Cal88 said:sluggo said:sycasey said:sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
Yeah the left side of that bracket seems pretty loaded. Argentina looks to have a relatively easier path.
Left side harder but this is the strongest world cup I have ever seen and plenty good on the right.
Argentina still has the easiest path to the semis by far, and an easier potential semi. The US draw as well is very favorable until the QF, then it gets very hard.
👏👏👏
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) June 28, 2026
At the midway point of the tournament, Kansas City is the top local market for FOX Sports @FIFAWorldCup 2026 viewership. 🏆⚽️📺 pic.twitter.com/3Jhl5g21wf
sluggo said:Cal88 said:sluggo said:sycasey said:sluggo said:Cal88 said:
If I read this correctly, BH, then Belgium. then Spain, then France, then Argentina or England. If we win, we have earned it!
Yeah the left side of that bracket seems pretty loaded. Argentina looks to have a relatively easier path.
Left side harder but this is the strongest world cup I have ever seen and plenty good on the right.
Argentina still has the easiest path to the semis by far, and an easier potential semi. The US draw as well is very favorable until the QF, then it gets very hard.
Not much respect for Belgium. Sure BH is a favorable opponent, but I think Belgium is not. Unless Doku leaves as he has threatened to be with his first born. Just he, Trossard, DeBruyne and Courtois are a bit too much. They do have some holes.
sluggo said:Cal88 said:concordtom said:
UPDATED RANKING NUMBERS OFF FIFA COCA-COLA WEBSITE:
Great now that I have your exact 32 teams and your official FIFA rankings, here is the fully rebuilt bracket using your rankings only, organized into the same four quadrants you confirmed earlier.
This is now 100% aligned with the rankings you pasted.
---
QUADRANT 1 TopLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Germany 12
Paraguay 37
France 2
Sweden 36
South Africa 54
Canada 32
Netherlands 7
Morocco 6
Mean: 23.25
Median: 24.5
---
QUADRANT 2 BottomLeft
Team FIFA Rank
Portugal 8
Croatia 13
Spain 3
Austria 22
USA 15
Bosnia & Herzegovina 61
Belgium 10
Senegal 18
Mean: 18.75
Median: 16.5
---
QUADRANT 3 TopRight
Team FIFA Rank
Brazil 5
Japan 17
Cte d'Ivoire 30
Norway 23
Mexico 9
Ecuador 24
England 4
DR Congo 41
Mean: 19.125
Median: 20.0
---
QUADRANT 4 BottomRight
Team FIFA Rank
Argentina 1
Cape Verde 64
Australia 28
Egypt 26
Switzerland 16
Algeria 29
Colombia 11
Ghana 65
Mean: 30.0
Median: 27.5
Zero top 10 opponents in Argentina's bracket.
Switzerland ranked 16th is absurd. They have been good for awhile and clobbered us in friendly. Their players are all at top clubs, although I know this squad less than I have known previous ones. Colombia is strong and I think anyone should fear them. The rest of the teams are probably not so good.
sluggo said:
Nice first elimination match between Canada and South Africa. South Africa looked like a disaster against Mexico, but against Canada they showed some quality, just not quite enough.
Canada had some new players I had not seen before. They have lots and lots of speed, very modern. The ease with which South Africa beat them with line breaking passes is an indictment of their coaching. American coach Jesse Marsch is nuts. He thought he would get the USMNT job over Berhalter and had a public meltdown when he did not get it. Going to Canada is very Jesse Marsch and good for the rivalry. I see them going out next match either to the Netherlands or Morocco, which will be a good game.
Very excited to see the rest of the tournament.
sluggo said:
Nice first elimination match between Canada and South Africa. South Africa looked like a disaster against Mexico, but against Canada they showed some quality, just not quite enough.
Canada had some new players I had not seen before. They have lots and lots of speed, very modern. The ease with which South Africa beat them with line breaking passes is an indictment of their coaching. American coach Jesse Marsch is nuts. He thought he would get the USMNT job over Berhalter and had a public meltdown when he did not get it. Going to Canada is very Jesse Marsch and good for the rivalry. I see them going out next match either to the Netherlands or Morocco, which will be a good game.
Very excited to see the rest of the tournament.
