I have to go back to these subjects; I can’t help it. Soccer is a conservative sport in comparison to many others, based on beliefs and myths that might sound accurate but (most) have never been proven to be the most effective. Soccer is an old-school guy that hates change and does a lot of stuff simply because “it's always been done like that.”
Pep Guardiola is, in my humble opinion, the best manager in the game right now. There will be others who one day usurp his position as managerial king, but that day shall not arrive for a number of years, even decades.
We saw his genius work for Manchester City last season, as the Citizens reached the 100 point mark as well as setting multiple other records.
While it’s all well and good to sit here and marvel about the product Guardiola produces on the field, isn’t it worth investigating how and why he can garner his team to annihilate every opponent in front of them?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few days, you would have heard that the host nation of the 2018 World Cup, Russia, managed to send Spain packing by defeating them on penalties. Not many people, if any at all, gave Russia a glimmer of hope of advancing past La Roja, but here we are, awaiting a quarterfinal between Russia and Croatia.
After a disappointing first match against Iceland, Argentina needs to get a result out of its match with Croatia on Thursda if it wants to keep its hopes of getting out of the group alive. For Croatia, three points would all but seal its ticket to the next stage. This promises to be a huge match, so here is everything you need to know ahead of the big game, plus a Argentina vs Croatia prediction.
Poland and Senegal play on the final day of matchday one at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and it looks set to be an absolute goal fest with both teams possessing plenty of firepower upfront.
PREDICTED POLAND LINEUP (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Piszczek, Pazdan, Bednarek, Rybus; Krychowiak, Linetty; Grosicki, Zieliński, Błaszczykowski; Lewandowski
Many soccer fans are predicting that France is going to win the 2018 World Cup, and with good reason. But, before they can start thinking about lifting the trophy, they have to get past Australia first.
Lloris; Mendy, Varane, Umtiti, Sidibe; Pogba, Kanté, Matuidi; Mbappé, Griezmann, Dembélé
The Spain vs Portugal World Cup matchup on Friday, June 15, is going to be the battle of who will come first in the group. Both sides have quality in areas where the other does not, in addition to each manager having their own playing styles and drilling that into their players.
De Gea; Odriozola, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Thiago, Isco; Silva, Costa, Iniesta