2018 FIFA WORLD CUP - RUSSIA - Discussion & Chat

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men' s national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded the hosting rights on 2 December 2010.
This will be the first World Cup held in Europe since the 2006 tournament in Germany, the first ever to be held in Eastern Europe and the eleventh time that it has been held in Europe. All of the stadium venues are in European Russia to keep travel time manageable.
The final tournament will involve 32 national teams, which include 31 teams determined through qualifying competitions and the automatically qualified host team. Of the 32 teams, 20 will be making back-to-back appearances following the last tournament in 2014, including defending champions Germany, while Iceland and Panama will both be making their first appearances at a FIFA World Cup. Denmark and Serbia will return after missing the 2014 tournament. A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities. The final will take place on 15 July at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of the World Cup will qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup.

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GROUPS :

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The rankings of teams in each group are determined as follows (regulations Article 32.5) :

1. Points obtained in all group matches;
2. Goal difference in all group matches;
3. Number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows :

4. Points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
5. Goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
6. Number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
7. Fair play points
First yellow card : minus 1 point;
Indirect red card (second yellow card) : minus 3 points;
Direct red card : minus 4 points;
Yellow card and direct red card : minus 5 points;
8. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE : GROUP A :

14 June 2018 h.18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Russia vs Saudi Arabia - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
15 June 2018 h. 17:00 YEKT (UTC+5) : Egypt vs Uruguay - Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
19 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Russia vs Egypt - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
20 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
25 June 2018 h. 18:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Uruguay vs Russia - Cosmos Arena, Samara
25 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Saudi Arabia vs Egypt - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd

GROUP B :

15 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Morocco vs Iran - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
15 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Portugal vs Spain - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
20 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Portugal vs Morocco - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
20 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Iran vs Spain - Kazan Arena, Kazan
25 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Iran vs Portugal - Mordovia Arena, Saransk
25 June 2018 h. 20:00 KALT (UTC+2) : Spain vs Morocco - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

GROUP C :

16 June 2018 h. 13:00 MSK (UTC+3) : France vs Australia - Kazan Arena, Kazan
16 June 2018 h. 19:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Peru vs Denmark - Mordovia Arena, Saransk
21 June 2018 h. 16:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Denmark vs Australia - Cosmos Arena, Samara
21 June 2018 h. 20:00 YEKT (UTC+5) : France vs Peru - Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
26 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Denmark vs France - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
26 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Australia vs Peru - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

GROUP D :

16 June 2018 h. 16:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Argentina vs Iceland - Otkritie Arena, Moscow
16 June 2018 h. 21:00 KALT (UTC+2) : Croatia vs Nigeria - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
21 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Argentina vs Croatia - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
22 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Nigeria vs Iceland - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
26 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Nigeria vs Argentina - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
26 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Iceland vs Croatia - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don

GROUP E :

17 June 2018 h. 16:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Costa Rica vs Serbia - Cosmos Arena, Samara
17 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
22 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Brazil vs Costa Rica - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
22 June 2018 h. 20:00 KALT (UTC+2) : Serbia vs Switzerland - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
27 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Serbia vs Brazil - Otkritie Arena, Moscow
27 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Switzerland vs Costa Rica - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

GROUP F :

17 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Germany vs Mexico - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
18 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Sweden vs South Korea - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
23 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : South Korea vs Mexico - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
23 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
27 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : South Korea vs Germany - Kazan Arena, Kazan
27 June 2018 h. 19:00 YEKT (UTC+5) : Mexico vs Sweden - Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg

GROUP G :

18 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Belgium vs Panama - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
18 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Tunisia vs England - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
23 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Belgium vs Tunisia - Otkritie Arena, Moscow
24 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : England vs Panama - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
28 June 2018 h. 20:00 KALT (UTC+2) : England vs Belgium - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
28 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Panama vs Tunisia - Mordovia Arena, Saransk

GROUP H :

19 June 2018 h. 15:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Colombia vs Japan - Mordovia Arena, Saransk
19 June 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Poland vs Senegal - Otkritie Arena, Moscow
24 June 2018 h. 20:00 YEKT (UTC+5) : Japan vs Senegal - Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
24 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Poland vs Colombia - Kazan Arena, Kazan
28 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Japan vs Poland - Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
28 June 2018 h. 18:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Senegal vs Colombia - Cosmos Arena, Samara

KNOCK-OUT PHASE SCHEDULE :

ROUND OF 16 :

30 June 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group C vs Runners-up Group D - Kazan Arena, Kazan (Match 49)
30 June 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group A vs Runners-up Group B - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi (Match 50)
1 July 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group B vs Runners-up Group A - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow (Match 51)
1 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group D vs Runners-up Group C - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod (Match 52)
2 July 2018 h. 18:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Winners Group E vs Runners-up Group F - Cosmos Arena, Samara (Match 53)
2 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group G vs Runners-up Group H - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don (Match 54)
3 July 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group F vs Runners-up Group E - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg (Match 55)
3 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Group H vs Runners-up Group G - Otkritie Arena, Moscow (Match 56)

QUARTER-FINALS :

6 July 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 49 vs Winners Match 50 - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod (Match 57)
6 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 53 vs Winners Match 54 - Kazan Arena, Kazan (Match 58)
7 July 2018 h. 18:00 SAMT (UTC+4) : Winners Match 55 vs Winners Match 56 - Cosmos Arena, Samara (Match 59)
7 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 51 vs Winners Match 52 - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi (Match 60)

SEMI-FINALS :

10 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 57 vs Winners Match 58 - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg (Match 61)
11 July 2018 h. 21:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 59 vs Winners Match 60 - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow (Match 62)

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF :

14 July 2018 h. 17:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Losers Match 61 vs Losers Match 62 - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg

FINAL :

15 July 2018 h. 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) : Winners Match 61 vs Winners Match 62 - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

STADIUMS : A total of 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities have been built and renovated for the FIFA World Cup.

Samara : Samara Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The construction officially started on 21 July 2014.
The project was completed on 21 April 2018.

Nizhny Novgorod : Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The construction of the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium commenced in 2015. The project was completed in December 2017.

Volgograd : Volgograd Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The main arena of Volgograd was built on the demolished Central Stadium site, at the foot of the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex. The stadium was commissioned on 3 April 2018.

Ekaterinburg : Ekaterinburg Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 35.000). The Central Stadium of Ekaterinburg has been renovated for the FIFA World Cup. The arena's stands will have a capacity of 35,000 spectators. The renovation project was completed in December 2017.

Saransk : Mordovia Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup: 44.000). The stadium in Saransk was scheduled to be commissioned in 2012 in time for the opening of the all-Russian Spartakiad, but the plan was revised. The opening was rescheduled to 2017. The arena hosted its first match on 21 April 2018.
Rostov-on-Don: Rostov Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup: 45,000). The stadium is located on the left bank of the Don River. The stadium construction was completed on 22 December 2017.

Kaliningrad : Kaliningrad Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 35.000). The first piles were driven into the ground in September 2015. On 11 April 2018 the new stadium hosted its first match.

Kazan : Kazan Arena (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The stadium was built for the 2013 Summer Universiade. It has since hosted the 2015 World Aquatics Championship and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium serves as a home arena to FC Rubin Kazan.

Moscow : Spartak Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The stadium is a home arena to its namesake FC Spartak Moscow. In accordance with the FIFA requirements, during the 2018 World Cup it will be called Spartak Stadium instead of its usual name Otkritie Arena. The stadium hosted its first match on 5 September 2014.

Sochi : Fisht Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 45.000). The stadium is one of 22 arenas in history to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. After Sochi 2014, the arena was renovated in preparation for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup.

Saint Petersburg : Saint Petersburg Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 67.000). The construction of the stadium commenced in 2007. The project was officially completed on 29 December 2016. The stadium has hosted games of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and will serve as a venue for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship.

Moscow : Luzhniki Stadium (seating capacity during the FIFA World Cup : 80.000). The largest stadium in the country was closed for renovation in 2013. The stadium was commissioned in November 2017.

Well done to France on winning the FIFA World Cup against Croatia. Croatia were unlucky and played the better football, but they can hold their heads up high, nevertheless

taffy wrote:If I was pushed to pick a
winner - it's tough, but I will go for France.

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1. Congratulations to France - much deserved World Cup winners.

2. Congratulations to Russia for a very efficient and entertaining competition.

3. Congratulations to Italianfan for this thorough and informative thread.

Four more years to wait for the next competition in Qatar - where a lot of the major teams ,that failed in Russia, will be hoping for a much stronger showing.

We won't be starved of football for to long, the new domestic season is only a month away.

In the meantime, find below a link of an entertaining three hour ITV Sport compilation from 2002, broadcast on C4.

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100 greatest World Cup moments (3hours , 2.02 GB)

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We congratulate French! A last time the team of France won the World Cup 20 years ago and the Croats for the first time in history reached the decisive match. ...

Thanks for the review Italianfan!

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - THE FINAL :
Luzhniki Arena, Moscow, h. 17 CET :

France 4 - Croatia 2
Goals : 18' Mandzukic (C o.g.), 28' Perisic ( C ), 38' Griezmann (F pen.), 59' Pogba (F), 65' Mbappe (F), 69' Mandzukic ( C )

Referee : Nestor Pitana (ARG)

Yellow Cards : FRA : 27' Kante, 41' Lucas
CRO : 90' + 3' Vrsaljko

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : FRA : 55' N'Zonzi for Kante - 73' Tolisso for Matuidi - 81' Fekir for Giroud
CRO : 71' Kramaric for Rebic - 82' Pjaca for Strinic

Attendance : 78.011

FRANCE win the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the second in the history of the Federation

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See you in Qatar 2022

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KNOCK-OUT PHASE - THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF :
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint-Petersburg, h. 16 CET :

Belgium 2 - England 0
Goals : 4' Meunier, 82' E. Hazard

Referee : Alireza Faghani (IRN)

Yellow Cards : BEL : 90' + 4' Witsel
ENG : 52' Stones, 77' Maguire

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : BEL : 39' Vermaelen for Chadli (Injured) - 60' Mertens for R. Lukaku - 78' Dembele for Tielemans
ENG : 46' Rashford for Sterling - 46' Lingard for Rose - 84' Dele Alli for Loftus-Cheek

Attendance : 64.406

BELGIUM third classified

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - SECOND SEMIFINAL :
Luzhniki Arena, Moscow, h. 20 CET :

Croatia 2 - England 1 After Extra-time, 1-1 after 90'
Goals : 5' Trippier (E), 68' Perisic ( C ), 109' Mandzukic ( C )

Referee : Cuneyt Cakir (TUR)

Yellow Cards : CRO : 48' Mandzukic, 90' + 6' Rebic
ENG : 54' Walker

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : CRO : 90' + 5' Pivaric for Strinic - 102' Kramaric for Rebic - 115' Corluka for Mandzukic - 119' Badelj for Modric
ENG : 74' Rashford for Sterling, 90' + 1' Rose for Young - 90' + 7' Dier for Henderson, 112' Vardy for Walker

Attendance : 78.011

CROATIA advance to the Final

ENGLAND advance to Third Place Play-off

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - FIRST SEMIFINAL :
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint-Petersburg, h. 20 CET :

France 1 - Belgium 0
Goal : 51' Umtiti

Referee : Andrès Cunha (URU)

Yellow Cards : FRA : 87' Kante, 90' + 3' Mbappe
BEL : 63' E. Hazard, 71' Alderweireld, 90' + 4' Vertonghen

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : FRA : 85' N'Zonzi for Giroud - 86' Tolisso for Matuidi
BEL : 60' Mertens for M. Dembele, 80' Carrasco for Fellaini - 90' + 1' Batshuayi for Chadli

Attendance : 64.286

FRANCE advance to the Final
BELGIUM advance to Third Place Play-off

I hope Belgium wins the World Cup. I certainly don't want England to win it as we in Britain who don't support England will be bombarded with the Media esp. the radio presenters on talkSPORT saying how great the "heroic" win of "our boys" was. It's going to be bloody awful if England do win it, so come on Belgium!!!

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE :

10 July 2018 h. 20 CET : France vs Belgium - Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
11 July 2018 h. 20 CET : Croatia vs England - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - QUARTER-FINALS - MATCH 4 :
Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, h. 20 CET :

Russia 5 - Croatia 6 After Penalties, 1-1 after 90', 2-2 after Extra-time
Goals : 31' Cheryshev ( R ), 39' Kramaric ( C ), 101' Vida ( C ), 115' Fernandes ( R )

PENALTIES :

Smolov (RUS) saved by Subasic (CRO)
Brozovic (CRO) GOAL
Dzagoev (RUS) GOAL
Kovacic (CRO) saved by Akinfeev (RUS)
Fernandes (RUS) OUT
Modric (CRO) GOAL
Ignashevich (RUS) GOAL
Vida (CRO) GOAL
Kuzyayev (RUS) GOAL
Rakitic (CRO) GOAL

Referee : Sandro Ricci (BRA)

Yellow Cards : RUS : 109' Gazinskiy
CRO : 35' Lovren, 38' Strinic, 103' Vida, 114' Pivaric

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : RUS : 54' Erokhin for Samedov - 67' Smolov for Cheryshev - 79' Gazinskiy for Dzyuba - 102' Dzagoev for Golovin
CRO : 63' Brozovic for Perisic - 74' Pivaric for Strinic - 88' Kovaric for Kramaric - 97' Corluka for Vrsaljko

Attendance : 44.287

CROATIA advance to Semifinals

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - QUARTER-FINALS - MATCH 3 :
Cosmos Arena, Samara, h. 16 CET :

Sweden 0 - England 2
Goals : 30' Maguire, 59' Dele Alli

Referee : Bjorn Kuipers (NED)

Yellow Cards : SWE : 88' Guidetti, 90' + 4' S. Larsson
ENG : 87' Maguire

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : SWE : 65' Guidetti for Toivonen - 65' Olsson for Forsberg - 85' Jansson for Krafth
ENG : 77' Delph for Dele Alli - 85' Dier for Henderson - 90' + 1' Rashford for Sterling

Attendance : 39.991

ENGLAND advance to Semifinals

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - QUARTER-FINALS - MATCH 2 :
Kazan Arena, Kazan, h. 20 CET :

Brazil 1 - Belgium 2
Goals : 13' Fernandinho (BRA o.g.), 31' De Bruyne (BEL), 76' R. Augusto (BRA)

Referee : Milorad Mazic (SRB)

Yellow Cards : BRA : 85' Fernandinho, 90' Fagner
BEL : 47' Alderweireld, 71' Meunier

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : BRA : 46' Firmino for Willian - 58' Douglas Costa for Gabriel Jesus - 73' R. Augusto for Paulinho
BEL : 83' Vermaelen for Chadli (Injured), 87' Tielemans for R. Lukaku

Attendance : 42.873

BELGIUM advance to Semifinals

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - QUARTER-FINALS - MATCH 1 :
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, h. 16 CET :

Uruguay 0 - France 2
Goals : 40' Varane, 61' Griezmann

Referee : Nestor Pitana (ARG)

Yellow Cards : URU : 38' Bentancur, 69' C. Rodriguez
FRA : 33' Lucas, 69' Mbappe

Red Cards : None

Substitutions : URU : 59' M. Gomez for Stuani - 59' C. Rodriguez for Bentancur - 73' Urreta for Nandez
FRA : 80' N'Zonzi for Tolisso, 87' Dembele for Mbappe - 90'' + 3' Fekir for Griezmann

Attendance : 43.319

FRANCE advance to Semifinals

KNOCK-OUT PHASE - QUARTER-FINALS SCHEDULE :

6 July 2018 h. 16 CET : Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
6 July 2018 h. 20 CET : Brazil vs Belgium - Kazan Arena, Kazan
7 July 2018 h. 16 CET : Sweden vs England - Cosmos Arena, Samara
7 July 2018 h. 20 CET : Russia vs Croatia - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi