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World Cup of Beer Group B

Group B

Group B Results and Final Placings

 

 Estrella Galicia (Spain): V : Casablanca (Morocco): 1-0
? (Iran): V : Super Bock (Portugal): 0-1
? (Iran): V : Estrella Galicia (Spain): 0-1
Gallas Cerveja (Portugal): V : Casablanca (Morocco): 1-0
Casablanca (Morocco): V : ? (Iran): 1-0
Estrella Galicia (Spain): V : Gallas Cerveja (Portugal) 0-1

PORTUGAL: 9  Qualify

SPAIN: 6 Qualify

……………………………………………………………………….

MOROCCO: 3

IRAN: 0

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Estrella Galicia (Spain): V : Casablanca (Morocco): 1-0

For the first time Casablanca actually didn’t taste too bad today, but smoother and more enjoyable than the other two days. Still hadn’t much in the way of actual taste though. For that reason I will give the win to Estrella Galicia, as I really enjoy this beer cold from the fridge, perfectly smooth, and the malts hitting the spot. Yeah one nil to Spain.  

 

? (Iran): V : Super Bock (Portugal): 0-1

SuperBock on its own, nice and smooth. No competition, so Portugal take top sport in my World Cup of Beer,  Group B.

 

? (Iran): V : Estrella Galicia (Spain): 0-1

Estrella with no competition, enjoyable enough cold on a hot summers day watching the football.

 

Gallas Cerveja (Portugal): V : Casablanca (Morocco): 1-0

Had a Gallas IPA, was ok, much better than the bland lager Casablanca that has proven to be a disappointment so far in the beer world cup, a bit like their football team to be honest!

 

Casablanca (Morocco): V : ? (Iran): 1-0

Unlike the football Casablanca won this one, just as well as it was pretty shitty, but with no competition from Iran, they take the win. 

 

Estrella Galicia (Spain): V : Gallas Cerveja (Portugal) 0-1 

Gallas Wit Cinco de Abril Versus Estrella Galicia. Although I enjoyed both beers, I will give this one to Gallas, as it was just that bit more fruity and tasteful.  1-0 to Portugal. 

                                  ……………………………………………………………………………………

Three nations here that I can play around with. Iran dont do beer, full stop, a big no, no! But interestingly Morocco do, a lager called Casablanca from, eh, Casablanca. While I got two standard beers from Spain and Portugal, football special Super Bock, and Estrella Galicia. But I also got some interesting Portuguese beers from Gallas Cerveja which might shake the group up. But lets see…….

Gallas Cerveja

Super Bock

Estrella Galicia 

Casablanca Beer

                        No beer, no fun from Iran, guess a good kebab will suffice though

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World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony

World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony, Russia 2018

In South Africa they had the awful Vuvuzela’s and Shakira dancing with little black babies, ah the cute little things, but very little else. While in Brazil they not only had Shakira back but this time she brought a little dog with her, Pitbull. More dirge, and very little for me to signify a World Cup was in Brazil. (Edit I see it was Jennifer Lopez and not Shakira, my mistake not knowing the difference between the generic leggy Latino pop stars, me bad!) 

Still the best World cups for me in terms of atmosphere or world cup songs was the Korea/Japan event where the passion came from the stands, and the 1990’s when music was still something to behold. 

So will Russia be any different? You would like to think so, but this time round we are going to be treated to “Live It Up” by Nicky Jam feat. Will Smith & Era Istrefi. I know Will Smith, but had to Google the other two, an American rapper and an Albanian singer, great! Not only did they not get a Russian to headline, they also are singing in English. Why does everything have to be diluted into corporate nonsense? Will Smith! Really? And why always is it rap shite, ok granted footballers have generally bad taste in music, but why do the fans have to suffer?

So I probably wont be looking at the opening ceremony. The music might be trash, sorry, will be trash, and I couldn’t really stomach seeing the corporate in their suits guffawing in the prawn sandwich seats, while doing the two step to look down with the kids. 

But to be fair, generally opening ceremony’s be they in Olympics or World Cups are a bit dull. The best for me was definitely the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. They had an open air concert, with a good combo of traditional and modern music. The worst was Beijing, everything was faked even the fireworks. Makes you wonder why they even bothered. 

As for music, surely the best ever was Pavarotti and his rendition of  “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini‘s Turandot. Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras, “The Three Tenors” of 1990, will linger long in the memory. 

Pavarotti with the best World Cup song EVER

The Open Ceremony, Russia, 2018? Nah, will pass. The football should be more than enough to get me in the mood. But if I did miss something be sure to tell me!

And the best World Cup Song representing a national team, definitely this one………………

 

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ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: England

England, all eyes on Kane.

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: England

Things appear to be a little different this time with England. Under Gareth Southgate their seems to be far less pressure and expectations on this team from the media and the general public. A team that qualified with relative ease, 8 points to spare and unbeaten, Southgate has done well since he took over the hot seat from Sam Allardyce. 

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: EnglandThere is a quiet confidence with this England team and the manager has also done very well to blood the team with a lot of new young players and letting some big names retire early. This is an England team without the big stars and big egos of  English teams past. Wayne Rooney is finally gone, thank Christ, and there are no Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Owens type players to raise expectations. Ok Harry Kane could arguably fill that bracket, but he is still relatively unproven at international level, and with him we have Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Danny Rose and Dele Alli, a bunch of players who have had good seasons with their clubs the last few years, and who if they gel together can propel England far in this World Cup. 

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: EnglandThey are in a relatively easy group. Ok Belgium are tough, but England should have too much for Tunisia and Panama, and I’d fully expect them to come out of the group without too much bother. Their last game against Belgium should be a great head to head to see who gets to play either Colombia, Senegal or Poland in round two, all beatable teams for England either way. But after that it is either Brazil or Germany in the last eight awaiting, and both teams are tough to break down. But the good thing for England is that Southgate has the team well drilled on penalties, a nice change from previous managers who didn’t think it necessary! England should get to the last eight, but after that they might need Kane to hit the form of his life to go beyond that. 

Please check out a very enjoyable chat I had with Tom from the excellent new football fan site Worldwide Terrace Culture who over a very pleasant twenty minutes or so told me how England are going to do in this years World Cup!

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World Cup 2018: The view on Brazil

World Cup 2018: The view on Brazil

A very enjoyable chat with Brian from the excellent website, www.Brazilfooty.com, a blog dedicated to all things related to Brazil and football. (go figure!). Brian gave me the lowdown on how Brazil will do in this years World Cup in Russia and the general state of football in the South American country.

We had a good long talk about Brazil’s upcoming participation in the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia. We discussed their chances, the philosophy of their manager, the football scene in the country, the passion of the fans, and an overview of the domestic league, amongst other things. We also looked at Brian’s time living in the land of sun and samba. 

Check out Brian’s blog and social media sites.

Website

World Cup 2018: The view on Brazil

Twitter

Facebook

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ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: Iceland

Iceland, the team we all love to watch.

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: Iceland

Iceland were the darling of the last European Championships, getting further than anyone expected, playing with a lot of passion and their supporters were a great addition to the tournament. Yeah Iceland were great fun.

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: IcelandI have to be honest, I dont think they actually played much decent football at that tournament, a lot of it was smash and grab stuff. But to be fair to the Icelanders, it wasn’t a tournament with a lot of quality on show.  We did learn though, that this team can compete and can beat the top teams. And they will never give up, playing right to the 90th minute and beyond. Which goes to show you that a team which such a strong work ethic always have a chance. I guess that’s why we love watching them. 

Beating Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey is no easy feat, to come top in their World Cup qualifying group was a clear statement tho show that the Euros wasn’t just a lucky turn. A first World Cup but they are here not to make up the numbers, that’s for sure. 

ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: IcelandThey have a tough group though. Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia, three teams that are no pushovers. The only thing with Argentina is that they are notorious slow starters and Iceland might just catch them cold on the first day. After that I’d imagine they might be a bit too clever for Nigeria, and would be well able to match them physically. Last match against Croatia they might just need a draw, but it might be hard to keep Modric and co quiet for 90 minutes. I expect Iceland to go close but at the moment my head says that Argentina and Croatia will just shade it. The fact I didn’t mention any players shows that its the team and their cohesiveness that is the main thing for Iceland, but sometimes you need a top star to change a game and that’s where I feel in such a tight group could be where they come up short. But I could be wrong, and like so many people in the last Euros, Iceland just might prove us all wrong. Again! 

Check out my chat of Iceland’s chances with writer Marc Boal from the excellent Icelandic Football Magazine

We had a good long chat about Iceland’s upcoming participation in the Fifa 2018 World Cup in Russia. We discussed their chances, the reasons behind their recent successes, the football scene in the country, the scramble for tickets or not, and an overview of the domestic league, amongst other things. 

 

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