Are Russia the weakest WC host team ever?

tricky group. egypt are no mugs. uruguay are always going to have strong players.

anyone remember the refereeing South Korea benefited from in 2002?

Brazil, meanwhile, look a much bette 5/1 shot than Germany.
Famous last words.

when the pressure's off you'd fancy brazil but when it matters they seem to crumble. if they face germany again they're going to have an almighty demon to kill from what happened at the last world cup

At what stage would they meet each other, b_m, all being well?
Haven't even looked.

Mar 25, 2018 -- 12:45PM, Racingqueen wrote:

anyone remember the refereeing South Korea benefited from in 2002?

they had a decent team though. russia would need a nuclear apocalypse to wipe out every other team and they'd still struggle to win a world cup.

Mar 25, 2018 -- 1:21PM, Solano1 wrote:

At what stage would they meet each other, b_m, all being well?Haven't even looked.

i'll have a look nolberto

if they both win their group they wouldn't meet until the final. if either finishes 2nd they'll meet in the round of 16

I'd never underestimate the home nation.

Cheers, b_m.

especially if Putin gets the PED's out

even Brazil made the last final and that was a very poor national side. I'd expect them to get to last 8. Not on form but through national pride and patriotism.

Brazil haven't reached a final in 16 years

No. As it stands they are not as bad as South Africa. Russia qualified on merit for the last world cup. Nothing to suggest they are only in this one because they are hosts unlike SA who hadn't qualified for the previous World Cup.

As bad as Russia are, South Africa still worse I imagine.

mexico in 1986 were poor

Qatar 2022 are the weakest host nation ever

It's a shame for Russia that they've certainly got one of their weakest teams for a generation or two when they get to host the World Cup

Chile had lost 14 of the 23 matches they played prior to finishing 3rd as hosts in 1962, including shipping 7 goals in one game, 6 in another, and 4 in four others. They did manage to beat Argentina and West Germany in two of the games they weren't humped in, which is probably better than anything on Russia's recent CV.

Mexico in 86 should not be in this conversation  - they beat semi-finalists Belgium and were finally eliminated in the quarterfinals on pens by the West Germans after a 0-0 draw. I remember them being one of the favourites for the whole thing. Negrete's goal against Bulgaria was attempted about 1000 times in our back garden that summer.

Qatar could be pretty funny - they lost to China not long back as a form reference!

betting_masta
     25 Mar 18 19:21     russia would need a nuclear apocalypse to wipe out every other team and they'd still struggle to win a world cup.



Don't put ideas in their head ffs!!

never feel sorry for putin's russia

If they put the same effort into training, technology and infra-structure, as they do/did into drug cheating, they'd probably take some beating.  Years of communism, cronyism and state control, has led to a culture of corruption and cheating that's very hard to shift.

Russia were arguably the worst team at the last Euros and the prices they are going off for recent friendlies lend weight to that

qualifying on merit for a World Cup 4 years ago doesn't affect the argument

admittedly South Africa are still worse

Russia have been garbage ever since the break up of the Soviet Union which suggests that their previous decent results were down to the other nationals like the Ukrainians etc
But they're a long way from being as poor as South Africa - by some distance the worst host ever.

i dont agree with 40/1 Russia thats for sure

Qatar ranked 101 , 36 below China

Qatar have time (4 years) to improve, tho. Can't write them off as poor as the vuvezuelos just yet.

anyone remember USA 1994? shocking omission imo

Was that the year they drew with England ?

They beat England 2-0 in a friendly in 1993.

They were quite poor in WC but did beat Colombia who were something like 4th in the betting for the whole thing.

Home nation? I think Russia will get through, they'll be some lovely referring coming their way.

I'll try Officiating instead.

Yes Ociffer

mexico 1970 were poor hosts. only 16 teams in the tournament. mexico got to the last 8 where well beaten 4 1 by Italy.

I'm sure Qatar will buy( sorry I meant naturalize)enough Brazilians, Spaniards and Argentines to have a decent team in time for their world cup.