2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (Maidenfans WC Pool inside)

[Black Wizard]

Well I think 5-0 certainly flatters Russia, but Saudia Arabia have been poor. Some of those goals were really good too. Russia will need that goal difference. I'm certain that Uruguay will be very difficult opponents for them and possibly Egypt too, especially is Salah is available.

 

[matic22]

Uruguay will spank SA 10-0.

 

[Forostar]

Russia is better than Peru, Panama and Straya, probably.

Nah. The Russians are ranked last from all the nations in this tournament. 70 on the FIFA ranking. I truly had not thought SA would be worse.

 

[Night Prowler]

Russia is ranked last because they automatically qualified for the tournament, therefore they didn't play any competitive games for 2 years and got less points because of that.

 

[Forostar]

Not winning one of the last seven (or so) friendly matches doesn't help either.

 

[LooseCannon]

Maidenfans FIFA World Cup 2018 Day 1 Update

Russia won! Only Forostar selected a Saudi Arabian victory (I wonder how he made a choice between two autocratic regimes that are oppressing other countries, presumably a coin flip), but NP and Wiz picked a draw.

Standings:

1 - Ariana (T1)
1 - LooseCannon (T1)
1 - Niall Kielt (T1)
1 - Perun (T1)
1 - Saapanael (T1)
1 - Shadow (T1)
1 - The Flash (T1)
0 - Black Wizard (T8)
0 - Forostar (T8)
0 - Night Prowler (T8)

 

[Black Bart]

Russia is ranked last because they automatically qualified for the tournament, therefore they didn't play any competitive games for 2 years and got less points because of that.

Fewer!

 

[Night Prowler]

Fewer!

 

[Deleted member 7164]

 

[Ariana]

Oops!
Bloody Balkan nations! So difficult to tell one from the other!

 

[Black Wizard]

Bloody Balkan nations! So difficult to tell one from the other!

Indeed. It would be a great idea for some of them to join forces as one larger nation.

 

[Shadow]

It's Shakira or bust, clearly.

Ricky Martin FTW.

 

[Black Wizard]

 

[Forostar]

5-0, the biggest victory in the opening match:

1966 Engeland-Uruguay 0-0
1970 Mexico-Sovjet-Unie 0-0
1974 Brazilië-Joegoslavië 0-0
1978 West-Duitsland-Polen 0-0
1982 Argentinië-België 0-1
1986 Italië-Bulgarije 1-1
1990 Argentinië-Kameroen 0-1
1994 Duitsland-Bolivia 1-0
1998 Brazilië-Schotland 2-1
2002 Frankrijk-Senegal 0-1
2006 Duitsland-Costa Rica 4-2
2010 Zuid-Afrika-Mexico 1-1
2014 Brazilië-Kroatië 3-1
2018 Rusland-Saudi-Arabië 5-0

 

[LooseCannon]

Were there no matches before 1966?

 

[Black Wizard]

They started at the second match before 1966.

 

[LooseCannon]

They started at the second match before 1966.

Bloody English, making them play the first match.

 

[Forostar]

Were there no matches before 1966?

I don't get it either yet. The article I have this overview from says they started with "the opening duel" in 1966.

EDIT:

Found it. In 1966 the FIFA officially introduced the opening duel. One match on the first day. Before that there were more matches on the first day.

E.g. in 1954: four duels on opening day. Brazil won with 5-0 from Mexico. In 1934: eight matches on a day. Italy - USA: 7-1

 

[Forostar]

I'll join!

@Perun
@Ariana
@Night Prowler

Don't forget to fill in the Qualifying Teams (scroll down and pick 2 teams per group that will survive the group phase). I guess this should be done before the first match starts!

Attention to @Night Prowler, attention to Night Prowler, you have not selected Qualifying Teams. Your results will be gazed upon accordingly!

 

[Confeos]

5-0, the biggest victory in the opening match:

1966 Engeland-Uruguay 0-0
1970 Mexico-Sovjet-Unie 0-0
1974 Brazilië-Joegoslavië 0-0
1978 West-Duitsland-Polen 0-0
1982 Argentinië-België 0-1
1986 Italië-Bulgarije 1-1
1990 Argentinië-Kameroen 0-1
1994 Duitsland-Bolivia 1-0
1998 Brazilië-Schotland 2-1
2002 Frankrijk-Senegal 0-1
2006 Duitsland-Costa Rica 4-2
2010 Zuid-Afrika-Mexico 1-1
2014 Brazilië-Kroatië 3-1
2018 Rusland-Saudi-Arabië 5-0

Some dull opening matches from 1966-1978

This was the first one I missed since 2002 with France and Senegal - too bad when looking at the score, but seems like there weren't any real contest.