Quarter-finals of the World Cup: Choosing a team to return is half the fun



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No doubt for whom they are attached: James Roberts, on the far left, Ollie Kavanagh, center, with his wife, Kat, and his friend Jeremy O. Brien, on the right, celebrate on Tuesday the victory of England over Colombia at Mile End, July 3, 2018.


Pierre Obendrauf / Montreal Gazette

Choosing the team you are going to support is half the fun of the World Cup.

Of course, for some, it's obvious. If you are one of the many French expatriates living on the Plateau, there is a good chance that you will support Les Bleus. And with the quarterfinals starting Friday, many had to change allegiance after their team was eliminated. In fact, many favorites have gone, including Germany, Spain, Argentina and Portugal. Plus, two of the eternal contenders, Holland and Italy, have not even made it to the starting line of this World Cup.

For many of us it is not easy to know which team we will come back to. When my kids were younger, we jumped on the train from Spain, while Spain won the World Cups and Euros as if it was not working anymore. I come from Scotland and my family's roots are pure Irish wool, so my two most likely teams – Scotland and Ireland – were mostly missing during the recent major international tournaments.

difficult situation. Campbell, who moved from Glasgow to Montreal as a baby, is one of Glasgow Celtic's biggest fans of Montreal, and his team when it comes to the World Cup is Scotland. Alas, the Scots have not participated in a World Cup or at the Euro for 20 years. This leaves Campbell looking for a team to support for every World Cup.

"I would choose Wales if they participated," Campbell said. "Never England." My whole family always says, "No matter who except England" The oldest international rivalry in sport is Scotland / England. the oldest enemy. "

This time, he supports Belgium for the very good reason that their exciting team includes Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata. He is ready for a big game on Friday afternoon with Belgium against Brazil.

"I like to watch good football and I like to see big teams get crushed," Campbell said. "I like to go for the underdogs, so I hope Belgium will do it."

Oh, and he hopes Sweden will spank England on Saturday.

Barb Hill, on the other hand, will encourage England, as it always does. Although, like all English fans, she has a derogatory vision of the performances of her favorite team at the last World Cups.

"My team is still here, and I'm just surprised," said Hill, a resident of St-Lambert.

She talks about the dysfunction of these former English teams.

"I love the Premier League and I did not understand why all these guys could not play well together in a national team." Hill said. "When they came to the World Cup, they played like aging rock stars every time."

But she loves this young England team built around Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane, a team that reached the quarterfinals with a dramatic victory Tuesday in penalties over Colombia.

"This is not just a guy," Hill said. "Harry is awesome, but look how many guys have stood up for this win against Colombia and I think they're going to beat Sweden."

Steve La Barbera enjoys watching this World, even though he's one of the many Montrealers of Italian descent who had to look for a team to come back because the Azzuri "

" It's interesting because that changed my viewing experience, "said La Barbera. "I just enjoy it for the sport.There is a place in my heart for the Argentina team, but they have also lost."

When Argentina came out The Barbera changed her allegiance to Uruguay and placed a $ 10 bet on them. He is happy to report that the odds of this happening are 15 to 1. Uruguay plays France on Friday, and La Barbera believes the South Americans will win it.

"Everyone is talking about France, man, but I do not see it," said La Barbera. "The France team has a lot of talent, a lot of depth, but I see a lot of individualistic players who make individual games.There's not a lot of team play. 39, Uruguay, they play much more like a unit. "

Dan Seligman, the creative director of the Pop Montreal music festival, is perhaps the World Cup orphan par excellence. He watches every game and does not look forward to anyone.

"It's really fun if you're at the Social Club or elsewhere to feel the energy of various pockets of fans," Seligman said. "I'm not the Premier League, but I'm competing in the World Cup because there are so many dramas, it's kind of like the best and the worst of what's the sport.

"I looked at everything. France looks really good. They are fun to watch. Belgium looks really good. Uruguay too. I just enjoy the fan community aspect of watching with a group of people and everyone cheering. I do not think there is so much drama in another sport.

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