2018 FIFA WORLD CUP - CPU VS CPU

[GaloVingador]

This is something I started only to check if the half lenght in my settings below, which I use in my Player Career, is good for 2.5ish goals per game with random teams. The plan was just letting the CPU play a few games from group stage.

But the thing was so enjoyable to watch and so thrilling that I decided to let them play it to the end.

And most people won't be able to do the same since CPU vs CPU is impossible without modding, so I decided to make a thread out of it for you.


This it the 21st FIFA WORLD CUP!

[GaloVingador]

All the games will be played by the computer on FIFA 18, with the settings below.

Difficulty: Legendary
Game speed: Slow
Half Lenght: 13 minutes

Sliders:

Sprint Speed: 45
Acceleration: 50
Shot Error: 48
Pass Error: 50
Shot Speed: 50
Pass Speed: 48
Injury Frequency: 50
Injury Severity: 50
Goalkeeper Ability: 47
Marking: 50
Run Frequency: 1
Line Height: 53
Line Lenght: 49
Line Width: 50
Fullback Positioning: 50
First Touch: 53

Before you ask me "how CPU vs CPU?" and "how 13 minutes?", the answer is PC version + modding.

Right now I'm in the middle of Day 3. In the next posts, I'll tell you what happened so far. Will need a bit of help from my memory, I promise better reports from now on.

I'll be using the 30-man squads from the World Cup 2018 release, so Salah is playing, Dani Alves is playing, and so on. Teams will use the starting lineups assigned by EA in their first game. For the subsequent games, I'll change players that are suspended, injured or tired. The rest is up to the CPU.

[GaloVingador]

Day 1 - 14/06/2018


---Group A---

Al Shehri, from Saudi Arabia, scores the first goal of the World Cup at the 17th minute. A tense game for the hosts, but they get their composure back after half time and come back for the win with two goals of Smolov.

Russia 2-1 Saudi Arabia
Al Shehri (KSA), Smolov x2 (RUS)

[GaloVingador]

Day 2 - 15/06/2018


---Group A---

Another comeback in a thrilling match between Egypt and Uruguay. Uneventful first half, then at the 65th minute, Hassan scores with a header for Egypt after Uruguay's defenders half clearance. Only two minutes later, Uruguay score from a set piece with Suárez, after a great first-touch assistance from Cavani in the middle of the way. All pointed to the game ending in a draw, but at the 94th, Cavani got the ball in a run in the middle of the defense to score an explosive winning goal.

Egypt 1-2 Uruguay
Hassan (EGY), Suárez, Cavani (URU)



---Group B---

The most anticipated 0-0 of the group stage didn't fail to deliver. With a good performance of Morocco's goalkeeper and a terrible performance of their strikers, we have the first goalless match, early on the group stage.

Morocco 0-0 Iran


And one of the most awaited games in this first stage ends in a shocker. A game which started even, with Spain a little bit better and scoring the opener with David Silva at the 20th. Little did they know. 7 minutes after, Portugal were already in front with two goals from Ronaldo, and after this, it was total humiliation, until the last goal of André Silva in injury time to make it 5-1. Spain once again start the World Cup with high hopes but a humiliating loss, it was exactly the same score as their defeat against Netherlands in the starting game at 2014.

Portugal 5-1 Spain
David Silva (ESP), Ronaldo x2, André Silva x2, João Mário (POR)

[GaloVingador]

Day 3 - 16/06/2018


---Group C---

Good performance of Australia and a tight game in first half, but France appeared in the second with Mbappé and Giroud to show why they're one of the favorites in this World Cup. Griezmann had the chance for the third goal in a penalty kick late in the match, but Matthew Ryan jumped for an amazing save.

France 2-0 Australia
Mbappé 57', Giroud 69'


Christian Eriksen started the World Cup on fire, scoring a beauty from long distance only 6 minutes into the game against Peru. 10 minutes later, he slotted it once more. Peru tried to react by the end of the first half, but stopped at the safe hands of Kasper Schmeichel. At the start of the second half, Denmark scored again with Delaney and the victory then was easy to manage. Peru scored their goal at the 67th, but it wasn't enough to come back against Denmark's superiority.

Peru 1-3 Denmark
Eriksen 6' 16', Delaney 55' (DEN), Carrillo 67' (PER)



---Group D---

No trouble for Argentina in Iceland's World Cup debut. One goal scored in the first half, two in the second and it was smooth sailing for them. It wasn't Messi's greatest match, but he was still able to deliver an assist from the left wing for Aguero to score the second goal.

Argentina 3-0 Iceland
Higuain 37', Aguero 62', Fazio 74'


Tight first half between Croatia and Nigeria, as expected. Nigeria dominated possession in the first 30 minutes but failed to create good scoring chances. Croatia found themselves in the game close to the end and the match opened up, with good chances from both sides, including a shot from Mandzukic stopped by the frame of the goal. The contest was still even in the second half when Perisic got the ball in the left wing after a break and his cross found Mandzukic's diving header to score the opener. Nigeria threw themselves to attack making the game dramatic, but Croatia were able to hold them for a very important win.

Croatia 1-0 Nigeria
Mandzukic 56'

[GaloVingador]

STANDINGS


Group A




Group B




Group C




Group D




In the next day, we'll see the debuts of the two greatest footballing nations in the planet: Brazil and Germany.

[GaloVingador]

Day 4 - 17/06/2018


---Group E---

Very fun and competitive match between Costa Rica, the sensations of 2014, and Serbia. Quite a few chances from both sides during the entire game, with Costa Rica having the best chances, but the deadlock wasn't broken for 85 minutes due to the great performance of the goalkeepers, especially Serbian GK Stojkovic, who was a beast under the woodwork today. In the final minutes, Gonzales failed to clear a pass from the middle of the pitch to Ljajic running free on the left to score the opener for Serbia. Costa Rica went all in and in injury time, Ljajic again got the ball in a break, serving a low cross for Zoran Tosic to secure the win.

Costa Rica 0-2 Serbia
Ljajic 86', Tosic 90'+


2 minutes and 7 seconds is what it took for Gabriel Jesus, after a great exchange between Dani Alves, Neymar and Paulinho, to break the deadlock at Rostov-On-Don, Brazil 1-0 against Switzerland. Prelude for a massacre from a giant? Not quite. Switzerland drew at the 19th from a great shot of Seferovic. It looked like Brazil would take things back to normal when Coutinho scored at the 28th after Alves' cross on a set piece, but only 3 minutes later, Switzerland tied the game up again, with Seferovic finishing after Xhaka's long range shot that smashed into the far post. The Swiss were definitely not toying around and had 11 shots against only 3 of Brazil in the first half. But Brazil was another team in second half, determined to win, dominating possession and pressing up on the field. And the goal came from the golden boy, Neymar, shooting from outside of the box. 3-2. Brazil were totally dominant and could have scored more goals if it wasn't for the interventions of Yan Sommer and the poor aiming of Willian. But in the end, when Switzerland were all out on the attack, Willian's pass after the break found Firmino totally free to score the fourth. In a wildly entertaining match with a perfect second half, Brazil score their first 3 points.

Brazil 4-2 Switzerland
G. Jesus 3', Coutinho 28', Neymar 60', Firmino 86' (BRA), Seferovic 19' 31' (SUI)



---Group F---

The world champions needed less than 4 minutes to score their first goal in the World Cup, against Mexico. Özil, after an individual play, shot the ball into the post, and Draxler was there to complete after the deflection. Mexico tried to equilibrate the affair, but it all went downhill when Araujo pulled Timo Werner's shirt while he was running for a clear scoring chance, granting him a straight red card at the 36th minute. Özil found the net this time, just a few minutes after that. And in the second half, playing against 10 men, Germany transformed the Luzhniki stadium into their own private playground. Werner scored twice in quick succession, and Sané scored his one closer to the end. The champions are back. 5-0.

Germany 5-0 Mexico
Draxler 4', Özil 42', Werner 49' 55', Sané 84'

[GaloVingador]

Day 5 - 18/06/2018


---Group F---

Hum? Where's Ibra? Well, without him, there wasn't much Sweden could do against Korea. The match was entertaining and tightly contested, but both teams lacked quality in offense. Well, at least until the 92nd minute, when Marcus Berg's cross found the head of John Guidetti to score a crucial goal. Korea will have to do better against Mexico and Germany now if they want to repeat 2002. Kind of a mountain to climb, I must say.

Sweden 1-0 Korea Rep.
Guidetti 90'+



---Group G---

Time to see if the hype over Belgium materializes into results this time. Shouldn't be hard against Panama making their World Cup debut. And it wasn't. Felipe Baloy fouled Lukaku on the edge of the box at the 11th minute for a totally unnecessary penalty. Hazard scored. A few minutes later, Hazard delivered a perfect cross for Mertens to score the header. Belgium had no difficulties and could have scored a lot more if it wasn't for some great saves from Jaime Penedo. At the 71st, Chadli scored the third from a corner after a lot of confusion inside of the box. There was still time in the end of the match for Lukaku and Batshuayi to score the fourth and the fifth. Even if opposition wasn't the strongest, solid performance, solid result. Belgium is for real.

Belgium 5-0 Panama
Hazard (P.) 11', Mertens 23', Chadli 71', Lukaku 89', Batshuayi 90'+


Totally one sided game between England and Tunisia, with Dele Alli and Rashford shooting from every spot in the first half and being only stopped thanks to the safe hands of Mathlouthi. Alli, facing an injury, was replaced by Sterling at the interval, who unusually played at the center, and it took only six minutes for him to make a perfect assist for Rashford to score the opener. Nine minutes later, Walker delivered a low cross to Harry Kane, who dribbled a defender and finished almost without an angle under the thighs of Mathlouthi for a nice second goal. Tunisia tried to go forward, but the English squad managed the advantage well. Solid performance in the first game to keep alive the hopes of repeating their title from 52 years ago.

Tunisia 0-2 England
Rashford 51', Kane 60'