re: Is this really the “best World Cup ever” like Fox claims?

quote:

---

Scoring is down from the last World Cup. There have been some late heroics and a lot of shootouts, but there were also some horrific games where a win was salvaged due to a penalty kick or an own goal.

---

I liked the last World Cup. Up until this year that one and France 98 were the best I watched. However in both cases I thought they both seemed super exciting and open in the group stage then a lot of conservative, boring play in the knockout stages (with a few exceptions). This one has been more exciting start to finish than both of those IMO, despite the US not being there.

As a side note, scoring isn’t down that much from last cup. There were a total of 171 goals scored in 2014. There have been 162 scored so far with a couple of games left. I would assume when it’s all over the difference will only be about 5 goals total which isn’t much over the course of 64 games. Especially when you consider 2014 had a major outlier with Germany’s 7-1 win in the semis. For reference, 2010 (which was t worst I watched) only had 145 total

Way too many shoot-outs.

Over half. 1-1 and into penalties.

Meh. If close makes it exciting for you than that's your thing even if the game itself was boring...but just because games were close doesn't make them exciting.

The semi today was a boring 1st half but was great in the 2nd half. Glad it didn't go to PKs.

I really liked 2014 because of the insane goals and how well and how much heart the US played with to get out of the group of death at the cost of one of the worlds best players in Ronaldo.

I don’t think it’s the “best ever” but from an entertainment standpoint, it certainly is not lacking. I grew up playing soccer so I look forward to this every 4 years so maybe it’s just me.

2002 was my least favorite WC. It seemed very manipulated if not rigged and the Brazucas had the easiest path to a final ever.

I've enjoyed 2018 and it was probably a great WC for a neutral or newer viewer with the great finishes but it seemed to lack the epicness that some have had and in my opinion the winner will be among the weaker teams in years.

This is the best World Cup because its the most recent/ongoing and we all fricking love it while it’s om