Philosophy Now Forum

The Football (US/AU: soccer) World Cup 2018 is approaching.
I thought it could be funny if we each name our favorite teams to reach the semi finals*.

You may choose 5 favorites and 5 outsiders** (ten teams).
A correct favorite gives 3 points. A correct outsider** gives 1 point. The maximum score is 12 points (4 favs).

July 11th we will know who of us is the Phi.Now football knowledge champ!

The list of teams can be found here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/index.html

COMPETITION HAS ENDED!


* The semi finals consists of two matches involving four teams.

** An outsider is one, that you do not expect to beat your favorite, but has the potential to do it. I couldn't think of a better word.
Joker seems to be the closest match, but I chose outsider over joker.

Favorites:

Spain
Belgium
Brazil
Germany
France


Outsiders:

Portugal
Argentina
England
Switzerland
Denmark

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 4:22 pm

Quantum, what's an outsider team? I have never seen that expression, and I want to participate in the in-house competition here.

-1- wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 5:35 pm

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 4:22 pm

Quantum, what's an outsider team? I have never seen that expression, and I want to participate in the in-house competition here.

Is an outsider team one team that makes the semis, despite being a handicap?

Okay, I got my list.

Favourites:

1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. Croatia
4. Russia
5. England

Outsiders:
1. Portugal
2. Spain
3. Argentina
4. Egypt
5. Nigeria

For fourth and fifth place in Outsiders I had to choose between Egypt, Nigeria and Argentina. For fifth place in Favourites I had to choose between England and Portugal and Spain. These teams in my esteem are almost equally ranked.

-1- wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 5:53 pm Quantum, what's an outsider team? I have never seen that expression, and I want to participate in the in-house competition here.

Is an outsider team one team that makes the semis, despite being a handicap?

Yes. Or despite not being a bookie fav, or not in your own top 5, or just unexpected by most. Any way you see it is fine

QuantumT wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 6:49 pm

-1- wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 5:53 pm Quantum, what's an outsider team? I have never seen that expression, and I want to participate in the in-house competition here.

Is an outsider team one team that makes the semis, despite being a handicap?

Yes. Or despite not being a bookie fav, or not in your own top 5, or just unexpected by most. Any way you see it is fine

Thanks, Quantum, for the explanation. I also have a bet with anyone that the Germans will win the world cup. In my opinion they bought the win in Brazil; they have more money to spend on this endeavour. This is an opinion of mine, not a stated fact, that they bought the win then.

So they did it once, according to me, there is no stopping why they won't or couldn't do it again if they wanted to, assuming the opinion I hold is true.

I have an opinion on the Germans anyhow. Yes, it's a cultural condemnation, but not at all a racial or ethnic condemnation. I believe any other nation would behave like they do given the other nation were given the same experience as a nation in situation and in background.

A reminder!

Your final chance to enter this competition is:

Tuesday June 19th at 8 pm CET (7 pm GMT - 2 pm EDT)

Surprises so far:

Group A:
Saudi Arabia: We knew they were the lowest ranking team in this cup, but that they are so bad is astonishing.

Group B:
Morocco: They played one hell of a game against Iran, but lost 0-1 in the latter seconds of the game. Football is cruel and unfair.

Group C:
France: How a lazy bunch of spoiled french millionaires managed to win against the socceroos beats me. Dumb luck!
Peru: Damn they are good! But they miss the final touch. France watch out!

Group D:
Argentina: Seems that with Messi pacified, they are just average Joe's (or maybe Amigos?).
Iceland: Keeps surprising and shocking the football world! A nightmare for any opponent!

Group E:
Brazil: Like Argentina, they failed against a medium ranked nation. We expected more. Much more!

Group F:
Germany: Like France they seem lazy and full of themselves, but atleast they applied pressure in the end. But, like with Brazil, we expected more!

Group G:
-

Group H:
Poland, and one of Europe's best strikers, Lewandowski, failed to deliver.

Aaliyah wrote: ↑Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:16 am Why Cristiano Ronaldo delivered his most complete tournament display in Spain thriller

Not a surprise

/sorry, had to withdraw post.

-1- wrote:... In my opinion they bought the win in Brazil; they have more money to spend on this endeavour. This is an opinion of mine, not a stated fact, that they bought the win then. ...

The only 'buying' they did was when they invested in developing their international team. The Germans have made eight finals and won four of them, bribery had bugger all to do with it.

Arising_uk wrote: ↑Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:59 pm

-1- wrote:... In my opinion they bought the win in Brazil; they have more money to spend on this endeavour. This is an opinion of mine, not a stated fact, that they bought the win then. ...

The only 'buying' they did was when they invested in developing their international team. The Germans have made eight finals and won four of them, bribery had bugger all to do with it.

And the Brazilian team was made of ninnies? C'mon, there was much more to it than skill and talent.You have not convinced me that it was not bribery.
1. They had the motive.
2. They had the opportunity.
3. They had the means.
I admit these don't prove bribery. That's why this is my opinion, not an argued claim.

-1- wrote: And the Brazilian team was made of ninnies? C'mon, there was much more to it than skill and talent.You have not convinced me that it was not bribery.
1. They had the motive.
2. They had the opportunity.
3. They had the means.
I admit these don't prove bribery. That's why this is my opinion, not an argued claim.

Do you have any idea what would happen to a Brazilian player if it was discovered that they took a bribe to lose the World Cup! They'd probably be lynched, their families would disown them as football is a religion in Brazil and the World Cup their glory. Also why would the players need to take such a bribe as the bulk of them were playing abroad and making very, very good money, why would they wish to jepodise their careers. As it was careers were ruined by that result which was the result of the Brazilians losing their captain and their star player, resting upon their past laurels and the Europeans catching-up, hence there has been a revamp of the Brazilian style so they are not so loose in defence anymore. That was just about the best German team ever and that's saying something for a country with its World Cup record. I have no idea why you are slurring the Germans in this matter but in my opinion your opinion is not based upon football.

Germany 2-1 Sweden

Germany scored the winning goal a few seconds before the end. Very typical.

Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.
- Gary Lineker