World Cup 2018 - Pre-tournament discussion

First topic message reminder :

The World Cup is soon to be upon us, with Russia hosting a controversial tournament that has got about as much political intrigue attached to it as footballing interest.  Germany won their 4th World Cup four years ago in Brazil and go into this tournament amongst the favourites. Spain, Brazil and France make up the other four major players, with Argentina, Portugal and Belgium all tipped to make inroads too.

Even England are there, which is more than any other Home Nation (or Ireland) could achieve this time around, although some might say this is a good one to miss considering the nature of the questions surrounding the awarding of host status, poisonings, violence and political landscapes.  

The tournament runs from June 14th (kicking off with Russia vs Saudi Arabia) to July 15th, when the final will take place and a winner decided.

So that is Spain definitely not winning the World Cup and likely going out early. Sacking the manager a few days before the start of the World Cup must be mind-blowing for the players - they will probably go around in a daze. I think I will now have Portugal to beat Spain in the group stage.

Uryu Ishida wrote:

GSC wrote:Spain considering whether to sack their coach apparently

AND HE IS OUTTA HERE!

why? I woulda kept him on until after the World Cup...

He was already leaving after the World Cup. Got announced the other day as the new Real Madrid manager, but the Spanish FA knew nothing of it and were fuming. Hence this over the top reaction.

I doubt it'll make much difference. The squad is still decent.

The timing of the announcement that he would be the next head coach of Real Madrid, 3 days before the World Cup was extremely odd. (I guess Real Madrid were keen to show that they had already moved on and were open for business in the transfer market.) So I can definitely understand the anger with the Spanish FA. But pragmatically they had to keep him - he has managed Spain since 2016, has played 20 matches, won 14, drawn 6 and lost none. Manager & his team had a working understanding. All that is now up in the air - and there can only be disarray in the camp. Someone has to step up - probably Iniesta.

If he didn't tell the FA he was in for the Madrid job a few days before a WC he was bang out of line.

Suspect this will have less impact than some are suggesting though.

The President of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales, has only been in position for a month, and has a reputation of being an authoritarian and getting extremely angry if you go against him (finger across the neck style).  He was President of the Association of Spanish Footballers for seven years and that's where he got a reputation for being a bit of an autocrat. He is only 40 and seems to be a man on a mission.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Rubiales

Little, if any impact. Hierro takes charge, and should have them refocused without too much effort.

Pretty sweeping confidence there! It’s less than ideal

It looks like the majority are sympathetic to Luis Rubiales decision to sack Lopetegui, given all the details of what happened and that the blame squarely goes on Real Madrid and Lopetegui.  

The key thing was that Luis Rubiales had on 22 May 2018 agreed a new contract with Luis Rubiales extending his contract to 2022.  Lopetegui called Rubiales 5 minutes before the Real Madrid press announcement.  Rubiales told him to stop the press announcement to consider the matter - ideally the announcement should occur after the world cup.  Lopetegui said it was impossible to delay the announcement.  Throughout Lopetegui managerial career it was the Spanish FA that was employing him and promoting him at various levels from manager of the U19 and then up the ranks.  

He was appointed the U19 manager then he was promoted to the U21 manager.  He then left for Porto.  He was sacked after 20 months at Porto. The Spanish FA then reemployed him as manager of the senior Spanish side in 2016.  They then agreed a new contract with him May 22 2018.  He called Rubiales 12 Jun 2018 to say in five minutes Real Madrid would announce he will be their manager 3 days after the World Cup.

For the stat lovers out there: Brazil are the only country in this tournament with multiple World Cup appearances that have never fielded a player born in another country, while Morocco's squad has only 6 players born and raised there. Argentina has the oldest squad, Nigeria the youngest, and the most common year of birth for players selected is 1992. Mexico has the most experienced team (most caps), Tunisia the least (just ahead of England).

More clarification on the Lopetegui sacking.

Luis Rubiales (head of Spanish FA) was in the Russian capital, when he received a phone call from Real Madrid saying they will be announcing very shortly (5 minutes) that Lopetegui will be their next manager. This was the first time Rubiales had heard such news. Lopetegui had only signed an extension to his contract with the Spanish FA in May 22 2018. Rubiales asked them to delay the announcement but Real Madrid refused. He then tried to call Lopetegui but Lopetegui was not answering his phone. So Rubiales cancelled everything he was doing in Moscow to fly to the Spanish camp in Russia to confront Lopetegui to find out what was going on from him and then to assess what to do next.

I am hearing that in the past Real Madrid and Barcelona call the shots in La Liga and the Spanish FA just have to do what they say. It seems that Rubiales was brought in to give some spine to the Spanish FA.

The more I hear the more I support Rubiales.

Iran stun a fairly average Morocco and its not undeserved.

Fairly ordinary Uruguay sneak past a game Egypt

Wow, Nacho trips Ronaldo, 1-0 after 3 minutes