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Post by Gods on Jun 14, 2018 9:02:07 GMT
Lawro giving it the big build up!
LAWRO'S PREDICTION 2-0
Russia are not a particularly good side, but then neither are Saudi Arabia, and I think home advantage will see them through this game.
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Post by JurgenVandeurzen on Jun 14, 2018 9:05:59 GMT
El Gassico  . Fancy 2-0 Russia myself, cue a 0-0. The home nation has never lost their opening game at a World Cup apparently, can't see that changing today. Just glad it's finally starting, I've missed football so much! |
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Post by FullerMagic on Jun 14, 2018 9:06:02 GMT
The Saudis have been trailed as potentially the worst team in the competition.
But I saw them in their friendly against Germany (in Germany) last week, and they were......really good!
Only lost 2-1, and really should have got a draw.
They only lost 2-1 to Italy just before that too.
Mind you, Russia are at home and playing in front of 80,000 Russians must have some effect, no matter how poor they look. And the tournament really needs them to get out of the group.
So....draw
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 9:06:44 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass.
That’s what I like about him to be fair....
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Post by philb on Jun 14, 2018 9:09:23 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass. That’s what I like about him to be fair.... Isn’t that how he always dresses??? 😂 |
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Post by toppercorner on Jun 14, 2018 9:15:25 GMT
I wonder how much the Saudi's paid FIFA to be the opponents in the opening fixture of the hosts?
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Post by Gods on Jun 14, 2018 9:35:44 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass. That’s what I like about him to be fair.... I like Lawro too, his air of mordant pessimism beats Robbie Savage’s banalities or Thierry Henry’s impersonation of a wry and laconic Frenchman. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 10:29:32 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass. That’s what I like about him to be fair.... I like Lawro too, his air of mordant pessimism beats Robbie Savage’s banalities or Thierry Henry’s impersonation of a wry and laconic Frenchman. Only just realised the blatant Bob Dylan reference in your profile  |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jun 14, 2018 10:55:45 GMT
I wonder how much the Saudi's paid FIFA to be the opponents in the opening fixture of the hosts? If it was fixed (and it probably was) it would not be because Saudi Arabia wanted it that way, it would be because Russia have dropped from 10th in the World to 70th since they were awarded the World Cup. Both the Russia and FIFA will have been desperate for an early win for the hosts to keep home grown interest alive. A game against Saudi Arabia is the best way to try to ensure that happens. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 11:13:12 GMT
Is Putin playing as centre forward?
3-1 to Russia , Lenin, Stalin and Marx to score with the Saudi goal being denied by Russian state TV.
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Post by agingerstokie on Jun 14, 2018 11:18:45 GMT
I wonder how much the Saudi's paid FIFA to be the opponents in the opening fixture of the hosts? If it was fixed (and it probably was) it would not be because Saudi Arabia wanted it that way, it would be because Russia have dropped from 10th in the World to 70th since they were awarded the World Cup. Both the Russia and FIFA will have been desperate for an early win for the hosts to keep home grown interest alive. A game against Saudi Arabia is the best way to try to ensure that happens. That's quite a drop in stature! When did they get awarded the WC again? |
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jun 14, 2018 11:26:54 GMT
If it was fixed (and it probably was) it would not be because Saudi Arabia wanted it that way, it would be because Russia have dropped from 10th in the World to 70th since they were awarded the World Cup. Both the Russia and FIFA will have been desperate for an early win for the hosts to keep home grown interest alive. A game against Saudi Arabia is the best way to try to ensure that happens. That's quite a drop in stature! When did they get awarded the WC again? I think it was 8 years ago but it may have been longer. They have just announced the 2026 tournament which is 8 years ahead. |
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Post by JoeinOz on Jun 14, 2018 11:31:55 GMT
That's quite a drop in stature! When did they get awarded the WC again? I think it was 8 years ago but it may have been longer. They have just announced the 2026 tournament which is 8 years ahead. In December 2010 2018 and 2022 were awarded. There's never been a feasible explanation as to why two were awarded simultaneously. But I can guess why. |
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Post by toppercorner on Jun 14, 2018 11:58:42 GMT
I wonder how much the Saudi's paid FIFA to be the opponents in the opening fixture of the hosts? If it was fixed (and it probably was) it would not be because Saudi Arabia wanted it that way, it would be because Russia have dropped from 10th in the World to 70th since they were awarded the World Cup. Both the Russia and FIFA will have been desperate for an early win for the hosts to keep home grown interest alive. A game against Saudi Arabia is the best way to try to ensure that happens. There is that aspect too ... But also the Saudi's need to get some positive press on the world stage (aside from misogyny, beaheadings and bombing the Yemen), and if their first game, for example, was against Eygpt on a different day, not many people would honestly be arsed about watching it/them. Behind the final, the opening day surely has to have one of the bigger tv shares of the tournament, and therefore worth forking out for? |
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Post by luke45 on Jun 14, 2018 12:17:10 GMT
A dour encounter with Russia edging it 1-0 for me. I'm predicting they'll lose their next two games against Egypt and Uruguay though and not qualify from their group.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 12:52:39 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass. That’s what I like about him to be fair.... Alas I think that's how he saw many of our fixtures. In this case I'm glad we're free from his bilious scrutiny 😬 |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 12:55:35 GMT
Lawrenson couldn’t even be arsed to hide his disdain for this fixture. If he was in the studio he would show it by wearing an ill fitting scruffy lumberjack shirt whilst having the dishevelled appearance of a man who’s slept in a city centre underpass. That’s what I like about him to be fair.... Alas I think that's how he saw many of our fixtures. In this case I'm glad we're free from his bilious scrutiny 😬 I thought he was always pretty fair with us though..... |
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Post by nsd on Jun 14, 2018 13:23:25 GMT
If it was fixed (and it probably was) it would not be because Saudi Arabia wanted it that way, it would be because Russia have dropped from 10th in the World to 70th since they were awarded the World Cup. Both the Russia and FIFA will have been desperate for an early win for the hosts to keep home grown interest alive. A game against Saudi Arabia is the best way to try to ensure that happens. That's quite a drop in stature! When did they get awarded the WC again? There's a reason they've dropped so far. As the host nation, they didn't take part in qualifiers, so they effectively haven't played a competitive game for 2 years. Friendlies count as a much smaller number of ranking points. It always happens to host nations before a major tournament, it has nothing to do with performances. |
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Post by BuzzB on Jun 14, 2018 13:29:38 GMT
A dour encounter with Russia edging it 1-0 for me. I'm predicting they'll lose their next two games against Egypt and Uruguay though and not qualify from their group. I too have a hunch that Russia will be the first team out, now Putin would not like that!! |
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Post by Veritas on Jun 14, 2018 13:30:24 GMT
Is Putin playing as centre forward? 3-1 to Russia , Lenin, Stalin and Marx to score with the Saudi goal being denied by Russian state TV. You are just being silly now Marx is/was German! |
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Post by nsd on Jun 14, 2018 13:36:50 GMT
Is Putin playing as centre forward? 3-1 to Russia , Lenin, Stalin and Marx to score with the Saudi goal being denied by Russian state TV. You are just being silly now Marx is/was German! Would've been Trotsky out on the left but he's out with a concussion. |
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Jun 14, 2018 13:40:05 GMT
You are just being silly now Marx is/was German! Would've been Trotsky out on the left but he's out with a concussion. He got an ice pick that made his ears burn!  |
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Post by crouchpotato1 on Jun 14, 2018 13:40:36 GMT
I see ITV have gone down the PC route🤔
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 13:42:13 GMT
You are just being silly now Marx is/was German! Would've been Trotsky out on the left but he's out with a concussion. Dunno they have a young heart throb in Rasputin |
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Post by NassauDave on Jun 14, 2018 13:47:43 GMT
2-1 Russia with a very dodgy late penalty to pacify those animals and keep the hosts sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 13:48:11 GMT
2-1.
ITV panel already being over-pally, it's like all the wort bits of MOTD.
"So the world cup is starting first thing we need to discuss: racism"
Fuck me if I wanted political analysis I'd read the economist, not Lee Dixon and co...
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Post by Gods on Jun 14, 2018 13:56:02 GMT
I like Lawro too, his air of mordant pessimism beats Robbie Savage’s banalities or Thierry Henry’s impersonation of a wry and laconic Frenchman. Only just realised the blatant Bob Dylan reference in your profile Yes indeed! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 13:56:58 GMT
You are just being silly now Marx is/was German! Would've been Trotsky out on the left but he's out with a concussion. Would have been funnier if Trotsky had the shits. |
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Post by iamcliveclarke on Jun 14, 2018 14:03:49 GMT
If you or anyone else is interested ive set up a Fantasy Football League for the World Cup on the Telegraph. fantasyfootball.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/select-teamLeague name: Oatcake Cup Pin: 8154056 Passcode: 5555 £5 per entry to the league Ask anyone you think would like to play if you like 👍 |
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Post by nigerianstokie on Jun 14, 2018 14:34:59 GMT
How on earth did Clive Tyldesley bring Port Vale surviving relegation into the World Cup?
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