World Cup 2018

PES Fan wrote:

Moggy wrote:

No, It's a Labo Logo wrote:Wenger to return to London triumphant in the late stages of the next European Champs.

I can’t see past Germany at the moment, but France certainly have the potential.

I would like a new winner though, rather than one of the usual suspects. That’s why I am putting all of my money on a Morocco v Australia final.

The most likely new winner is Belgium if they click.

I wasn't being serious with Morocco v Australia. It will obviously be Iceland v Saudi Arabia.

PES Fan wrote:The most likely new winner is Belgium if they click.

The concern (or positive, from our perspective) is that unless they've been keeping a few players under wraps then they're missing out on a few constituent parts. They have a top keeper, quality centre backs to spare, attacking and creative midfielders par excellence, and a great 'classic' centre forward. But to create the perfect team they're also in need of good full- or wing-backs (not asking someone who's a great CB at club level to do a shift, as when instincts kick in they find themselves dragged out of position) and someone who can link the play from defence and into attack. Witsel is the only 'proper' central midfielder they have and unless one of the four superstar centre halves plays there, there's no one in that squad who'd call themselves a holding midfielder. I expect Meunier and Lukaku will be the preferred full-backs and perhaps it's just because the standard is so high elsewhere in the team but for me that's a weakness and I'd fancy the pace of Sterling (Rashford, Vardy, even Welbeck) against those two.

Photek wrote:

PES Fan wrote:

No, It's a Labo Logo wrote:

PES Fan wrote:Wilshere really didn’t need to tweet that he deserved to go.

...because he's wrong?

Could have just wished the players well and left it as that. No need to be bitter on twitter or snapchat about it.

I would have taken him only because our options aren’t great in that position. But it’s not clear cut because he hasn’t done enough in the last two years. For someone who rates himself highly he couldn’t get in the Bournemouth team.

He tweeted he felt he could go to his followers on twitter....I don't see anything wrong with it, he also respects the managers decision and will support them in the World Cup.

Also the picture is rather funny. Only you could have me strawberry floating defend Wilshere!

twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/1001210911179333633

If he respects the managers decision then maybe it’s time he let it go and move on.

Can't even count the number of kids in his photo, don't see how good he'd have been in the WC

I've got a sneaky suspicion Belgium may win the world cup.

Tomous wrote:Can't even count the number of kids in his photo, don't see how good he'd have been in the WC

I think there may be one in the pushchair.

PES Fan wrote:

Photek wrote:

PES Fan wrote:

No, It's a Labo Logo wrote:

PES Fan wrote:Wilshere really didn’t need to tweet that he deserved to go.

...because he's wrong?

Could have just wished the players well and left it as that. No need to be bitter on twitter or snapchat about it.

I would have taken him only because our options aren’t great in that position. But it’s not clear cut because he hasn’t done enough in the last two years. For someone who rates himself highly he couldn’t get in the Bournemouth team.

He tweeted he felt he could go to his followers on twitter....I don't see anything wrong with it, he also respects the managers decision and will support them in the World Cup.

Also the picture is rather funny. Only you could have me strawberry floating defend Wilshere!

twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/1001210911179333633

If he respects the managers decision then maybe it’s time he let it go and move on.

U OK hun? xxx

twitter.com/jackwilshere/status/1001210911179333633

Shufflin'?

BBC will be showing all their World Cup matches in variable 4K HDR...just with a load of caveats: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/live-uhd

You'll need a compatible Ultra HD TV set and a high-speed internet connection of at least 20Mbit/s. It's recommended that a wired connection from the TV to the home router is used for the most consistent performance.

There is a limited number of spaces available (tens of thousands) for each game.

The Ultra HD stream will be available from the BBC iPlayer home screen as soon as programme coverage begins until the trial is full for that match.

What quality can I expect?

This will depend on your internet connection. For the full 3840 pixel Ultra HD, you'll need at least a 40Mbit/s connection. If your connection is 20Mbit/s and above, you'll be presented with 2560 pixel Ultra HD. All footage will be shown at 50 frames per second.

We'll also use the Hybrid Log-Gamma version of HDR which the BBC invented with Japanese broadcaster NHK. This provides improved picture quality not only to HDR Ultra HD devices, but to the vast majority of Standard Dynamic Range Ultra HD devices, too.

The experience and data gathered from this trial will help the BBC to optimise Ultra HD delivery in future.

It’s a complete embarrassment for Sony, whose flagship TVs for 2016, 17 and 18 are mostly missing (despite also having received updates for Hybrid Log-Gamma). I can see it being a frustrating experience however with so few slots available.

Labo Banana Split wrote:

PES Fan wrote:The most likely new winner is Belgium if they click.

The concern (or positive, from our perspective) is that unless they've been keeping a few players under wraps then they're missing out on a few constituent parts. They have a top keeper, quality centre backs to spare, attacking and creative midfielders par excellence, and a great 'classic' centre forward. But to create the perfect team they're also in need of good full- or wing-backs (not asking someone who's a great CB at club level to do a shift, as when instincts kick in they find themselves dragged out of position) and someone who can link the play from defence and into attack. Witsel is the only 'proper' central midfielder they have and unless one of the four superstar centre halves plays there, there's no one in that squad who'd call themselves a holding midfielder. I expect Meunier and Lukaku will be the preferred full-backs and perhaps it's just because the standard is so high elsewhere in the team but for me that's a weakness and I'd fancy the pace of Sterling (Rashford, Vardy, even Welbeck) against those two.

I would argue they only have 3 top quality centre backs and all 3 will start. It's more likely Martinez will go with two advanced wing backs with Meunier on the right and possibly even Carrasco on the left. Not that takes away from your point about the teams potential weaknesses. Especially if one of those centre backs gets injured (backed up by Tommy Glasslegs) the back 3 looks a lot less solid or they have to revert to a back 4 and the headache of fitting in all that attacking talent is compounded.

That said, this Belgium team presents a lot more worries for England with De Bruyne potentially running riot and Walker could easily be overwhelmed by a Hazard/Carrasco combo. Lukaku doesn't even need to worry about goals, just keep defenders busy and Mertens and Hazard will punish teams. With De Bruyne lacing through balls? Frightening prospect for anyone they play.

The BBC will be showing all its 33 games in UHD and VR via the BBC sports app but on a first come first serve basis.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44305845

Not sure if it's been posted, but apparently the BBC are going to be showing all their matches in 4K, on a first come first served basis.

I think Germany will win it again.

I put some money on Spain a while ago. At the time I think Brazil then Germany were favourites.

BBC have detailed their coverage for this tournament

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44305845

- Ultra HD TV can be accessed through a high-speed internet connection and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

- The HD stream will be available from the BBC iPlayer home screen as soon as programme coverage begins but the number of users granted access will be limited to "tens of thousands of people".

Sounds like there will be no other way to watch 4K other than streaming once again rendering Sky Q and Virgin V6 strawberry floating useless.

I reckons for the first game:

Pope
Dier Stones Cahill
Walker Henderson Alli Young
Sterling Welbeck
Kane

Pope has just been the best keeper of the lot. I don’t remember him making any errors when the other two have quite a few times.

Seeing as we’ve brought three right-wingbacks with us nobody will be expecting us to play Walker there, leaving the third-choice a redundant pick. It’ll stump the hell out of Tunisia and we’ll have won the game when the line-up is announced.

Welbz gets the nod for being hard-working and also having the best goal-scoring record for England in the squad. He might also be a surprise selection that’ll ruin Tunisia’s gameplan.

Tactical masterclass.

I really feel England should just go for it in every game, no one expects strawberry float all so strawberry float it and go for it

Apparently the BBC will be streaming the World Cup in 4K, but it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

are any of the broadcasters streaming this in 4K at all?