World Cup Sweep - into the Stains

[The Ghost of Alex Higgins]

Flag avs are done they said.

We'll take care of it they said.

Should have known NEVER to trust gammon

[JimmyDee]

Should have known NEVER to trust gammon

Here you go.



Let me know if it's too big to be allowable.

[Basualdo]

Well I was going to do the flag thing tomorrow when I had the time but everyone seems to be doing it themselves so it's not it worth the effort.

But seeing as you do not seem to have the wits to do it yourself and need to be led by the hand...





Edit: Jimmy's is far better.

Resized to fit avvy criteria.

[Carlos J]

Nice one End. It's not a draw without a whiff of corruption. It will give the tabloids something to get their teeth into.

Naranjito. Top avatar, DB.



And top wall chart Jimmy D, will print out and stick on the walll.

[JimmyDee]

If anyone wants to know their next three fixtures, Ask Alan.

[Basualdo]

Jimmy D evens for POTY already. OUTSTANDING contributions. Let's hope he hasn't peaked too early in the year.

Can he keep this standard up?

[Carlos J]

Can't see Doug and Notin voting for him.

[Basualdo]

I'm sure he's heartbroken over that.

[kevin04]

Terrific work, Endo!

A week today and we're GO!

[stemcp]

Ok Denmark. I’ll take that. Better than fucking England last time
Good work, again, as per


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AlcoholBrazil]

Like to wish Lou Grant all the best with his team and hope Cornwall do very well.

[Sinbad]

This Sweepstake is a farce !

..

[beingsoblase]

Nigeria!

Hopefully the Nigerian flag is an upside down kitteh!

[subsub]

Russia?
*offers to make "nice" pot of tea for End-o*

[JimmyDee]

World Cup Guide, Group B

Group B

Sid Pervcat
Sid Pervcat has fully bought into the mantra of first and foremost making himself difficult to beat, with the Euro 2016 triumph strengthening his belief in this approach and fortifying the newfound winning mentality. Pervcat's traditional free-wheeling and flamboyant style of play has been replaced by a more defense-minded approach, meaning creativity is in short supply.
He should get out of the group, and once there, a favourable match-up in the round of 16 makes a quarterfinal appearance do-able, though the run will end there against Basualdo or Carlos J.
"Although the other teams [The End and Clivert] had fantastic qualifying campaigns, Sid Pervcat and Darkyboy are favourites to top the group and are among the favourites to win the whole thing." -- former player Luis Figo

Darkyboy
Darkyboy sailed through qualifying in Europe's Group G, winning nine and drawing one of his 10 games while scoring 36 goals and conceding just three. His biggest strength throughout his 2008-12 glory years was a possession-based style that saw him able to dominate games and international tournaments in a way never seen before. Darkyboy's biggest problem through more recent disappointments has been a inability to turn all that dominance of territory and possession into goals.
He has at least as much talent and experience as any other competitor at the tournament, and if he does click, then he can potentially play at a level above all his potential opponents -- including Sid Pervcat in the group and possibly Carlos J in the quarterfinals and defending champion Mark in the semis.

The End
Despite being grouped with the 2015 African champion, The End went unbeaten during the CAF qualifying campaign and did not concede a goal across his six matches. However, after being pitted against Sid Pervcat and Darkyboy in Group B, it's hard to see him escaping the opening round. An opening-day win against Clivert in St. Petersburg on June 15 is surely imperative, and after that he'll need to mastermind a victory over one of the two European heavyweights.
"The Atlas Lion is ready! Mentally, physically, he knows that he has all he needs to win. He's qualified in heroic fashion and captured millions of hearts." -- Oumeima Er-rafay, 360.ma

Clivert
The road to Russia could not have been smoother and straighter for Clivert, who became the second person (after Sinbad) to secure a spot. All he had to do was finish in the top two in the third round of qualification, and it was never in doubt. Not only did he finish first and unbeaten, but Clivert, now preparing for a fifth World Cup, didn't concede a single goal until the 10th and final game after qualification had already been achieved.
Clivert has been the highest-ranked Asian for four years, and that theoretical superiority has been reflected by reality for at least the past two years. He has strength in depth but what he lacks is games against top-class international opposition.
Given the draw, as well as Clivert's past history in the tournament, there are no demands to finish in the top two. Being in the mix for the final game would be acceptable, and his statistic of just one win in 12 previous World Cup matches really needs to be improved, yet if Clivert can make it out of the group, there is no reason why he could not go a little further.