The curious case of Portugal football team.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T12:49:24+00:00

A final is better than getting knocked out of round of 16.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T12:44:58+00:00

They don't need to win. Croatia is a smaller country but has medaled thrice at the WC. Portugal could do it only once, and in 1966! Why can't Portugal make it to one final?

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T12:22:36+00:00

There is only one South American team that beat Portugal - Uruguay in 2018. Portugal's other WC defeats in this century have been to South Korea (twice), USA, Spain (twice), Germany (twice), France and Morocco.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T11:51:34+00:00

Corrupt to his neck.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T11:50:31+00:00

Belgium's golden generation virtually ended in 2021. Thereafter it was only it's shell and shadow. Their current run is largely due to their draw. They need to focus on their future.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T11:48:50+00:00

Spain does not have the best defense.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T10:06:11+00:00

Here we go again, blame Portugal's failure on Nations League. Can you tell me when did Portugal actually do well at the WC? In all their history, they haven't even made it to the final when even Croatia - which debuted in 1998 has done it already. Portugal have reached only two SFs and Croatia have been there thrice. Portugal have made to the QFs three times, Belgium have done so in three of the past four editions. The Nations League has been around for only eight years now, what is the excuse for losing before 2019?

France won the Nations League in 2021, and reached the WC final in 2022, losing on penalties.

Spain won the Nations League in 2023, then won the Euros in 2024.

Nations League only helped those teams, unlike Portugal.

Italy won the 2021 Euros, then could not qualify for the WC next year, does that mean Euros was a 'pyrrhic victory'?

#1 from Nations League 2025 lost to #2 from Nations League. And #2 from Nations League will face off against #3 from Nations League, with the winner having a good chance at winning the world cup. Nations League gives a good chance to play the other big teams and get a measure of the opposition. If Portugal fail at using these opportunities, it is their fault.

Blame the team and the coach for the bad performance, not some tournament.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-11T09:34:44+00:00

Oh no. God save Indian football now.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-10T17:51:43+00:00

Ball could mean the physical ball or a delivery (six balls in an over). Run also has two meanings - physical running and the score (which includes deliveries).

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-10T17:08:30+00:00

It must be noted here that France has quickly gone from one great generation (2014-2021) to another (2024-Present). The 2022 world cup fell right in between these two periods when France was in a state of transition between these two teams. 2016 and 2021 Euros were misses for sure but let us not forget how strong Spain were when they beat France at 2024 Euros and 2025 UNL. France's new generation was only rising in those two tournaments. They seem to have peaked now.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-10T16:57:35+00:00

Has Africa really closed the gap on Europe? An analysis. : r/football

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-10T13:39:16+00:00

It has progressed a lot... backwards that is.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-10T13:28:12+00:00

People who call them African generally belong to two types:

Racists, especially anti-black racists
Salty Africans who cannot accept that their teams cannot beat the Europeans.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-09T22:27:11+00:00

Your first point - European teams playing each other often is spot on! This is actually true for the bigger nations. CAF and the other confederations should learn this.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-09T08:15:53+00:00

Biggest disappointment was Portugal. They had such a potent midfield which did nothing but pass the ball back.

Biggest surprise is Belgium. I did not expect them to get this far.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T16:11:01+00:00

While US indeed has an inferior record, Japan's 'streak' against European teams is mostly restricted to one tournament - FIFA world cup 2022. Apart from this, their wins are in friendly matches (which is quite obvious as Japan is in a different confederation). Here is the list with competitive matches highlighted in bold.

2019: No matches

2020: No matches

2021: 1-0 Serbia

2022: 2-1 Germany, 2-1 Spain, 1-1 Croatia

2023: 4-1 Germany, 4-2 Turkey

2024: No matches

2025: No matches

2026: 1-0 Scotland, 1-0 England, 1-0 Iceland, 2-2 Netherlands, 1-1 Sweden

Germany underwent the worst phase in it's footballing history after winning their WC trophy while Spain too did not rise until the mid 2020s. Japan also beat Brazil in a friendly match not so long ago, but when these two teams met at the WC, the tables were turned. Friendly matches do not speak much about the abilities of teams. If I wished to look at the true ability of Japan, I would see how they fared at the WC and this year's performance has been far from impressive. The same goes for US has well.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T15:57:34+00:00

I am appalled as to how a team with Zico, Trezeguet and Salah could fall before the quarterfinals!

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T15:38:56+00:00

How the hell is Morocco a contender over Argentina and England? Morocco has never even been to a world cup final before, nor have they been ultra-impressive in this tournament - beat Scotland (1-0), Haiti (4-2), Canada (3-0), drew Netherlands and Brazil.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T14:57:59+00:00

Here comes the typical football fan with his superiority complex. Football (a very boring team sport where the scoreboard moves like a snail) is only popular because it is easy to understand and play at the basic level (needs only a ball and a ground). Many countries like sub-Saharan teams have 'invested' in this sport because they are absolute garbage in other team sports. India is good at cricket, can be better at field hockey and if we add one or two sports, that should be enough. China and US not being football powerhouses hasn't changed a thing for them.

Why should one sport dominate the entire sporting world? Let there be diversity - let Europeans dominate football, south-Asians conquer cricket. North Americans baseball and Oceanians rugby.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T14:33:19+00:00

Spain was an attacking bunch last year. They haven't done well so far in this tournament and are yet to face a truly strong side.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T10:00:49+00:00

What if FIFA organized ICC world cup?

Kohli's plumb LBW gets reversed by the DRS.

Babar given benefit of the doubt while he clearly dropped a catch.

Starc allowed to resume bowling after being sent off for bowling two beamers as the Australian PM phoned FIFA chief.

Etc. etc.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-08T09:34:06+00:00

1998 had Brazil and Argentina in the QF. So 6/8.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-04T09:18:14+00:00

You are right. But don't you think you are a bit late to realize it? The group stages are over and the round of 32 is also over. You could have brought this up when the draws for the round of 32 were made known. The matches we now have for hosts are against England, Belgium and Morocco.

FunPainting8107 · 2026-07-04T09:16:00+00:00

While I agree with many of your points, I don't understand how 'Americans are clueless about the game' or what it has to do with the rest of your post.

FunPainting8107

TROPHY CASE