Thunder18 said:

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Yea...they got SPANKED

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Yeah I'm bummed about that. How can a team with good players be so bad? I doubt that even Messi can turn that **it show around.

gambochaman said:

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Argentina
Spain

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In reverse order

Gotta go with Spain. La Liga all-star team (less the two LL all-stars...)

Underdogs go to the Croats, always scrappy.

Les Bleus

Germany. Family roots, plus I'm a pretty big fan of ruthless efficiency.

Dad's side of the family are all German. His ancestors were the pioneers who settled down in Comfort. Not sure if they played soccer, but I root for Germany just the same.

I've been told I have a Spanish soul.

Since there is no USA team in this world cup, Mexico all the way.

I always root for USA, Netherlands, and Germany in that order. Guess my decision is easy. I'd like to root for England, but they'd be horrible to deal with if they win.
I don't mind rooting for non Mexican Concacaf when we are in the world cup. This last qualifying cycle has removed that bone in my body, I want them all to fail

Spain (family ties; visited twice)
Germany (family ties; visited once)

Side note: F Argentina... Most obnoxious fans in Brazil '14. And Mexico can suck it.

AustinAg2012 said:

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Spain (family ties; visited twice)
Germany (family ties; visited once)

Side note: F Argentina... Most obnoxious fans in Brazil '14. And Mexico can suck it.

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Have you been to the temple while visiting the holy land and taken in a sacrament or two, bocadillo in hand?

PatAg said:

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I don't mind rooting for non Mexican Concacaf when we are in the world cup. This last qualifying cycle has removed that bone in my body, I want them all to fail

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Completely agree. I used to think it was fun that we were getting stronger as a region.

I no longer think it is fun.

AGC said:

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AustinAg2012 said:

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Spain (family ties; visited twice)
Germany (family ties; visited once)

Side note: F Argentina... Most obnoxious fans in Brazil '14. And Mexico can suck it.

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Have you been to the temple while visiting the holy land and taken in a sacrament or two, bocadillo in hand?

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gig them said:

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PatAg said:

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I don't mind rooting for non Mexican Concacaf when we are in the world cup. This last qualifying cycle has removed that bone in my body, I want them all to fail

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Completely agree. I used to think it was fun that we were getting stronger as a region.

I no longer think it is fun.

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Especially since they colluded to keep us out of the World Cup.

Unthought Known said:

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gig them said:

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PatAg said:

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I don't mind rooting for non Mexican Concacaf when we are in the world cup. This last qualifying cycle has removed that bone in my body, I want them all to fail

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Completely agree. I used to think it was fun that we were getting stronger as a region.

I no longer think it is fun.

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Especially since they colluded to keep us out of the World Cup.

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How?

Look at the timeline.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/oct/10/trinidad-and-tobago-v-usa-2018-world-cup-qualifier-live

Mexico and Costa Rica magically fell apart and lost.
After they knew the US would be out of they both
lost.

Unthought Known said:

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Look at the timeline.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/oct/10/trinidad-and-tobago-v-usa-2018-world-cup-qualifier-live

Mexico and Costa Rica magically fell apart and lost.
After they knew the US would be out of they both
lost.

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I'm not about to make myself relive that night

It took more than Mexico and CR falling apart. It took the phantom goal against CR. The one that got called for the ball deflecting outside the post and over the goal line. Ducking CONCACAF.

mathguy86 said:

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It took more than Mexico and CR falling apart. It took the phantom goal against CR. The one that got called for the ball deflecting outside the post and over the goal line. Ducking CONCACAF.

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Yeah. I couldn't remember which game that was so didn't include that.

The US should never have been in that situation. But they were and all of concacaf colluded to keep the US out.

And it's interesting that 4 years earlier we could've kept Mexico out if we tanker but played it fairly.

If the collusion plan was for Mexico to put up two goals and then, if the USA is losing later on, have Honduras shoot a laser off the cross bar which bounces like a gun shot back into Guillermo Ochoa's head and then back into the goal...

Then have Panama put a sprinting volley nearly off the crossbar to score in the 88th minute...

I'd say well done CONCACAF, you can have it.

With Salah's health in doubt*, I have come to believe that this is the darkest timeline World Cup.


*There are rumors he'll be cleared sometime in the group stage, but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet.

I like deadbq03's tiered rankings so I'll go ahead and plagiarize it:

Tier 1 - Teams I want to win due to direct personal connections:
1) USMNT - Oh wait, gdammit. I would almost give up an Aggie Football NC for a WC trophy for the U.S., almost.
2) Chile - Love their all-offense approach but also sitting at home ffs
3) Mexico - Really enjoying this generation of players but, yes, their fanbase is hard to stomach

Tier 2 - Other teams I'd be happy to see win it all:
4) England - Visited jolly ol England, love their passion for the sport and EPL/Arsenal
5) (tie) Spain/Portugal - Family background

Tier 3 - Teams I really want to see advance out of group:
7) France - Like their colors/nickname and have a soft spot for them
8)Argentina - Normally I root against them but would like to see Messi have a good WC run
9) Australia - Haven't met an Aussie that wasn't fun to hang out with

Rest of Teams - Don't care either way

Bottom Rung - May they embarrass themselves with an early exit:
30/31) Costa Rica/Panama - Hate CONCACAF. Truly wish U.S. and Mexico would bolt to CONMEBOL
32) Russia - Hope they lose all their games and don't score a single goal. Oh yeah, eff Putin.

aarjon said:

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#notmyteam

England
Brazil
Germany
Iceland
Honorable Mention: Egypt

France, Belgium, and Brazil are loaded along with Germany. A couple of obvious others with great squads, but I see the Final being 2 of these 4.

I'd like to see England do well. The team I'm most interested in seeing play in big games is France.

Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, and Spain. I'd like to see at least one or two of these teams make it to the finals.

That SI cover can die in a fire

South Korea, for obvious reasons....


but i dont see them advancing out of the group stage....

Still gutted that USMNT didnt make the world cup. I can still barely bring myself to look anything about the WC. I was planning on going. My wife is Russian and we were going to stay with family there. It was going to be my 2 daughters introduction to soccer on the world stage. ug.

so i dont even know if i can bring myself to watch any of the WC now. but if i had to choose it would be
1) England. I lived there for awhile and met my wife there, so I have a special place in my heart for English football...plus as an aggie, i have huge sport fan calluses, so it doesnt hurt as much when i get my heart broken, as i will if i follow England
2) Russia. Yes I know all the trump stuff and whatnot. But i have spent a lot of time in Russia. My wife is Russian, my 2 daughters are bilingual. Lot of Russian culture in my house. And honestly, most of the people you meet over there are wonderful
3) Australia. My brother married an Aussie and lived there for years (in new zealand now). I have 3 Aussie nieces and all of them are pretty passionate about soccer (plus they call it soccer!)
4) anyone who is playing mexico. i hope they lose 5-0 in every game they have. every time they play. to me they and their fans are the baylor of soccer

Outside of those. I hope Iceland has a good showing. I love a good underdog story. I would rather brazil, germany and argentina not win. I would love to see some new blood win it.

I as a previous poster mentioned. i absolutely would give up a Aggie football NC for a USA WC Trophy, It's a close call though, but I sooooooo want both.

irishaggie97 said:

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i absolutely would give up a Aggie football NC for a USA WC Trophy

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I would, too. With zero hesitation.

Quote:

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Still gutted that USMNT didnt make the world cup. I can still barely bring myself to look anything about the WC. I was planning on going. My wife is Russian and we were going to stay with family there. It was going to be my 2 daughters introduction to soccer on the world stage. ug.

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If I had an excuse like that to get to a World Cup there is no way I'd miss it, US or not!!

wife is Colombian/Venezuelan. so, obviously be rooting for Colombia. rooting for Messi to finally get it done as well.