To be the best you have to beat the best! Or what’s that nonsense thing some of us Arsenal people would say whenever we drew Barcelona or Bayern in the 2nd round of CL while actually hoping for Spartak Moscow

Dirty, horrible team. I hope Brazil give them a beating they'll remember forever.

If it’s not us I’d be happy to see Colombia win it. Great positive style and good dans

Don't really understand you English folk who are supporting other teams. Don't get me wrong, my interest in the national team is very low these days given the turgid football that we've played over the last 20 years and the fact I'm not particularly patriotic but when it comes to a big tournament, I'm gonna support my country

If England are out, historically I've supported the Dutch as stylistically for me, they're the best in the world pre-Van Marwijk although I'd give that title to Germany these days (whoops...).

Croatia have played the best ball for me. I love Modric and Rakitic, so I have a soft spot for them.
That said, I think this Brazil team will have enough. They’re very solid in the middle and back, and have enough magic amongst Coutinho, Neymar and Jesus to get the wins
Finally, of course I have a soft spot for Ronaldo, but I can’t see this aged and sparsely talented Portuguese team going far in the top half of the draw. He needed to score that penalty

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

Using the term 'supporting' loosely, as it's obvious most of us (Dula excepted) don't really care too much. 

France! I've enjoyed all of the matches so far though, haven't missed a weekday match yet since we have them on at work. I would have liked more African and Asian teams to go through though, just for a bit of variety.

Indeed. Quite a shame there is not more representation from either continent. Guess it goes to show how far behind we currently are with our football.

1. England
2. France
3. Japan

Need to see some East African and South Asian representation.

France won me over today, might have to support them over England if they meet.

https://www.planetfootball.com/quizzes/can-you-name-every-country-to-compete-at-a-fifa-world-cup/

While you decide who you’re supporting, take this timed quiz: name every country that’s ever played in a World Cup. I was awful. Got 49.

Oooooo, thanks Claud...love those kind of quizzes - I got 67.

Claudius wrote:

https://www.planetfootball.com/quizzes/can-you-name-every-country-to-compete-at-a-fifa-world-cup/

While you decide who you’re supporting, take this timed quiz: name every country that’s ever played in a World Cup. I was awful. Got 49.

68...  but i was also trying to watch the spain russia game..  lol

and i missed 5 within our own conference.. i forgot about half of the countries like cuba, el salvador, jamaica and T&T.. oops

Ah got 72 only. Totally forgotten about Ghana and Togo, the rest was news to me.

Don't really care about any of the teams in this World cup once/if Sweden get knocked out. I'd have a weak spot for France maybe, despite the soulcrusing football they gave us in the group stages, but I just can't bring myself to support a team with Griezmann in it.

Croatia winning might be best for everyone, objectively speaking. I think teams that play good, passionate football should be rewarded for it. There's preciously few of them around anymore.

Think we can do it. Our run to the final is being blocked by only Columbia Switzerland/Sweden and then most likely Croatia in the semis. But with England you never know, we have a habit of sabotaging ourselves at times.

If we can't do it then I hope a new team can surprise us and win it. The competition is pretty great this year.

"Only Colombia"...? :brow:

You're very optimistic about the capabilities of out team.

Also, we're not gonna be beating Croatia any time soon even if we somehow manage to get to the semis.

Before the start of the tournament, I rated this England team to be one of the most balanced and good depth in their history. The 352 really worked well and they have created many good chances in all 3 matches they played. They will never have a better chance of winning a major tournament.

Imagine they fall to Colombia though.