Group A play starts today in the 2018 World Cup! Group A contains the hosts, Russia, as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, & Uruguay. This thread is for all the Group A matches

I personally think Uruguay and Russia advance, but if Mo Salah has recovered, then Egypt will have their say.

Group A Standings:
-----------------------Pld---W---D---L---GD----Pts
Russia----------------2----2---0---0___+7----6
Uruguay--------------2----2---0---0___+2----6
Egypt------------------2----0---0---2___-3----0
Saudi Arabia--------2----0---0---2___-6----0

Thursday, June 14th:

Russia vs. Saudi Arabia
10:00 am CT.
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
TV: Fox, Telemundo

Friday, June 15th:

Egypt vs. Uruguay
7:00 am CT.
Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
TV: FS1, Telemundo



*Extra Note: I'm pretty sure I made all the group threads for 2010 & 2014 and kept them updated, but I'm flying to Iceland at the beginning of next week and probably won't be able to stay as connected this year. I will get all the threads started today/weekend

Keep them coming. I am leaving for Norway today. Overseas World Cup watching with those huge outdoor screens and everyone are hammering the beer, it's great.

Salah cleared to play in Egypt's opener. Not sure if he'll start or see many minutes, but he's cleared at least.

It's on!

Was in Brazil in 2014. Amazing time. 2026 should be doable, too.

That is great news. Always want to see the best players at the Cup

Lineups for today:

Russia XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Dzagoev, Smolov.

Saudi Arabia XI: Al-Maiouf; Alburayk, Os.Hawsawi, Om.Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani; Otayf, Al-Dawsari, Al-Faraj, Al-Jassam; Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi.

The singer for the opening ceremony looks like a Russian mobster

Dafuq is this singer dude in the red leopard suit? That girl singer though...

wangus12 said:

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The singer for the opening ceremony looks like a Russian mobster

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Did I hear they say this is Robbie Williams? Who is he?

I did hear correct - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Williams

Wow...who is the blonde in the red dress?

At least Ronaldo has a real haircut now, not that 2002 do

gig them said:

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This might be the single worst match of the group stage and I can't wait

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Dude. Iran plays Morocco in a match

this anthem just makes me think of Rocky IV

watching on telemundo on my phone

boom

Did he just say "watch out for Jerk-off on the left"???

I gotta say, I love the American flavor to this broadcast, though I know many wont.

SA's keeper nearly screwed the pooch coming so far out

Where's the non American play by play?

I do like that the announcer backed off of trying to announce the "Zh" in Zhirkov and is going basically with just a "Z" sound.

Russia leads

1st goal of the coming asskicking...I think

we got goals

LOL, Damn at them watching this together like that.

Can we call this match the "Oil Bowl"?

well, that was offsides by a mile....lets see what other favorable calls they get

Sounds like they are basically gonna trust the VAR to make the offsides calls rather than having an AR raise his flag and call an offside wrongly? ie basically "let the play go on", NFL style like on fumbles vs down calls

bobinator said:

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I do like that the announcer backed off of trying to announce the "Zh" in Zhirkov and is going basically with just a "Z" sound.

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yep. pretty noticeable change. i'm guessing the producer got in his ear on that one.

Went full Altidore

Except when Kellen Mond comes anywhere close to a sideline. They automatically blow that play dead

man those hurt like hell...i've experienced that twice in my life...excruciating

wangus12 said:

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Except when Kellen Mond comes anywhere close to a sideline. They automatically blow that play dead

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Dos a cero

pretty goal