I must admit that I thought there would be a very hostile atmosphere over in Russia at this world cup but from what I have seen on TV and the interviews with fans from across the world it seems very friendly and i wish I was there now. I know it's early days but the authorities seem to have got everything under control with the stadiums and fan zones so far , so well done Russia.

I was one of those who said before the tournament that there would not be a chance of me going over there. I wish I had gone now.
I hope Russia have a good run as this may well keep up the good feeling too.

I thought and said exactly the same.

The west are pretty good at demonising other country's.that they don't like.

tim_noone wrote:The west are pretty good at demonising other country's.that they don't like.

Killing journalists, killing opposition politicians, making it illegal to be gay and putting them into concentration camps, annexing parts of other countries.

Yeah, we're the ones demonising them.

Yes looks well organised so far. Groups trying to provoke things and promote causes have been quickly asked to stop doing this and then fans can just focus on the sport.

From what I have seen the whole organisation of the World Cup has been excellent and the fans out there have been superb. The cynic in me asks if the media are allowed to report any trouble, but I would expect our media to jump on trouble as they usually would.

Blackrod wrote:Yes looks well organised so far. Groups trying to provoke things and promote causes have been quickly asked to stop doing this and then fans can just focus on the sport.

"Asked"

Because the onslaught against russia has just been propaganda. There was no way these hooligans were going to be allowed to kick off.

Russia is putting on a PR show.

“But when the World Cup ends, the process of cracking down will continue. There are no illusions here... the picture that the outside world is being given in these weeks does not fully represent what is happening in Russia... People don’t have the right to assembly, people don’t have full freedom of speech,” - Former Russian Mayor
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... d-policing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both the police and hooligan gangs, who in some cases are funded by politicians will have been told to stand down. Quite simply Russia doesn't sh*t on it's own doorstep.

Imploding Turtle wrote:Killing journalists, killing opposition politicians, making it illegal to be gay and putting them into concentration camps, annexing parts of other countries.

Yeah, we're the ones demonising them.

But the atmosphere is pretty good agreed?

Agreed, a pleasant surprise and Putin deserves huge credit for the show he's put on so far. The atmosphere's in the stadium have come across a little poor though, it's like every stadium is a gigantic soulless place like Wembley.

KRBFC wrote:Agreed, a pleasant surprise and Putin deserves huge credit for the show he's put on so far. The atmosphere's in the stadium have come across a little poor though, it's like every stadium is a gigantic soulless place like Wembley.

Mexico v Germany was pretty special very vocal and a throw back to the seventies.

KRBFC wrote:Agreed, a pleasant surprise and Putin deserves huge credit for the show he's put on so far. The atmosphere's in the stadium have come across a little poor though, it's like every stadium is a gigantic soulless place like Wembley.

You mean well done to Putin for putting the word out to his henchman not to p-ss on their own doorstep with the world watching. Once they are on foreign soil however, the brave defenders of Mother Russia can revert back to type.

Combat calls it correctly.

Alanstevensonsgloves wrote:You mean well done to Putin for putting the word out to his henchman not to p-ss on their own doorstep with the world watching. Once they are on foreign soil however, the brave defenders of Mother Russia can revert back to type.

Combat calls it correctly.

Very good conspiracy theory but no I meant well done to Putin for the way Russia have hosted the World Cup so far.

I think when Putin says “ behave” he means it so the hools always unlikely to case trouble .That said England are so far out the way ,and limited fans travelling/1000’s of bans etc the hype of trouble was always just that .
Russia is no stranger to big sporting events so I think operations wise they’re a lot more than “ tractors and tight fitting shorts” Decent enough matches so far in what us a relatively “weak” finals with Italy and Holland missing , poor /moderate African teams and Argentina and Germany fighting for their lives .

Anyone have any idea how so many thousands of people from smaller, third world nations can seem to afford to go to the world cup.

Does it have regional based pricing and/or free flights?

starting_11 wrote:Anyone have any idea how so many thousands of people from smaller, third world nations can seem to afford to go to the world cup.

Does it have regional based pricing and/or free flights?

It’s more likely that they’re expats who don’t live in their own country, or that their countries also have rich people who can afford to go

CombatClaret wrote:Russia is putting on a PR show.

“But when the World Cup ends, the process of cracking down will continue. There are no illusions here... the picture that the outside world is being given in these weeks does not fully represent what is happening in Russia... People don’t have the right to assembly, people don’t have full freedom of speech,” - Former Russian Mayor
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... d-policing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both the police and hooligan gangs, who in some cases are funded by politicians will have been told to stand down. Quite simply Russia doesn't sh*t on it's own doorstep.

Having been to Russia,spot on comment.

I think when the countries with hooligan followings who can travel to Russia easily overland play each other there might be trouble between them but possibly not the locals.
I agree with some of the earlier comments about Russia. When their "fans" attacked anything with a pulse in France some Russian mp's praised them.
I'd sooner live under Thatcher again then have MP's like that.

That clap that the Iceland fans do is fantastic

How did so many Peruvians make it? I thought they were a Third World country. They outnumbered the Danes about ten to one at their game.

Bit of a shame to say it, but it's probably benefitted from having a lot less England fans there than previous tournaments.

ontario claret wrote:How did so many Peruvians make it? I thought they were a Third World country. They outnumbered the Danes about ten to one at their game.

Maybe the Peruvians are more passionate when it comes to their national football team.

Its the same every world cup and euros. Only time theres ever trouble is western countries where there are huge amounts of ****** england fans.

starting_11 wrote:Anyone have any idea how so many thousands of people from smaller, third world nations can seem to afford to go to the world cup.

Does it have regional based pricing and/or free flights?

Not everyone in those countries is poor. They have rich people too.

ontario claret wrote:How did so many Peruvians make it? I thought they were a Third World country. They outnumbered the Danes about ten to one at their game.

GDP $425b - 47th in the world
GDP growth circa 3.5%
Poverty = 22% Argentina and Greece circa 35%, UK and USA circa 15%
Income distribution - exactly the same ratio as the United States at 45 on the GINI index
National Savings 25% of GDP
Services 57% of the economy
industrial production growth rate 8% - 20th in the world
Peru is a net exporter
Peru has a budget surplus

tim_noone wrote:The west are pretty good at demonising other country's.that they don't like.

The west of where? I think you ought to get out a bit more

The Mexicans create a great atmosphere!