2018 FIFA WORLD CUP - RUSSIA - Discussion & Chat

I Started a thread about the World Cup 2018 in the Off-topic section not knowing there was a sports section
and Italianfan had just started a similar thread before me ,therefore, I should be grateful if a moderator would remove this.

Below is how I started that thread :

The FIFA World Cup 2018 Is upon us - A feast of football to enjoy in the coming weeks.
There are no shock winners of this competition,and the winner will come from a small group of six
countries : Belgium,France,Brazil,Italy,Germany and Spain (sacking your manager on the eve of this
competition has not helped them). The best of the outsiders I guess is Portugal. If I was pushed to pick a
winner - it's tough, but I will go for France.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 Is upon us - A feast of football to enjoy in the coming weeks.
There are no shock winners of this competition,and the winner will come from a small group of six
countries : Belgium,France,Brazil,Italy,Germany and Spain (sacking your manager on the eve of this
competition has not helped them). The best of the outsiders I guess is Portugal. If I was pushed to pick a
winner - it's tough, but I will go for France.

Thanks for this thread, Italianfan.

I'm very much looking forward to this Worldcup, although I think its a bit weird that neither Italy nor the Netherlands are in it.

Of course I'm rooting for Germany, but I always hope that the one team wins, that plays the most attractive football.
I watched Spain play against Germany a few weeks ago and I was very impressed. So if I had to place a bet, Spain would be my choice,
followed by France.
Argentina also has my sympathies, simply because I think Messi is the best player in the world and deserves a title.

But first and foremost I hope we will see a lot of exciting and beautiful football. Good luck to all teams.

Spain has given the sacking to the manager Julen Lopetegui.

Here in a quote;

Spain have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after he was named the new Real Madrid boss, two days before their opening World Cup match with Portugal.

Real Madrid announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui would succeed Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu on a three-year deal.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had dismissed the 51-year-old because the negotiation occurred "without any information to the RFEF".

Spain sporting director Fernando Hierro will take charge for the World Cup.