Option 33 for me. lol

Habitually, I would root for Germany because the first year I took interest they won (2014).

But, this year, it is different. Canada is finally in the competition (only the 2nd time in our history).

1.- My country, Mexico (altought never in my lifetime had we felt more pessimistic about our chances).

2.- Spain, since my family came from there, so once Mexico's out I'm all for them.

3.- I like surprises so countries like Senegal, Ecuador, Wales, Poland Denmark, Tunisia, Japan, Costa Rica, Canada, Morocco, Croatia, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ghana, Australia or South Korea come here. Denmark gets an edge because I feel they can do something important this year.

4.- Iran, I'm ambivalent, I have an Iranian friend and I would hope that a good showing of their team could serve as inspiration for the people in their country to manage a change in their country, but I'm also aware that it will more likely be used as propaganda for their regime.

5.- "Big" teams that don't win much, so they would be a nice variation like Uruguay, England, Belgium, Netherlands.

7.- Big teams that win a lot, so I rather someone else for a change like France, Argentina, Brazil or Germany.

8.- Portugal, I love the country and their people, but I have a strong dislike for Cristiano Ronaldo.

9.- Qatar and Saudi Arabia, unexciting teams representing countries with huge human rights problems and contrary to Iran, with no movement by their people to change things.

10.- Mexico sports arch-enemy, the USA.

You don't need two "fors" in the question:

For Which team are your rooting for?

Any dark horse team.

Sorry, but I won't be watching.  I don't care for the game (unless one of my grandkids is playing AYSO).

How about "Morocco" for Morocco? (1930 film, Dietrich, Cooper...)

Live Poll: https://www.imdb.com/poll/iptIyTIYaDM/

Congratulations Mario.

After today's match, Iran has gone up in my preferences all the way to number 3. The players stood with the protesters and against the islamic goverment in their country, they were brave and they have my full support.

A heavy defeat makes it unlikely they'll go far, but they deserve to give some happiness to Iran's people.

I was not expecting Germany to be out of the tournement so soon.

Even more to see it eliminated by Japan, as far as I know, a country with zero soccer tradition, except from some mangas/animes on the subject...

@Breumaster 

So @ElMaruecan82 ... France or Morocco?

I support Argentina for sentimental reasons and I gambled 100$ to win the World Cup. I am waiting to gain 600$. IN MESSI I TRUST!

I always like underdogs to win, so my ideal final would be the most unlikely match, Croatia vs. Morocco. They both already made history.

This has been a crazy month, seriously, not even in my wildest dreams would I have believed Morocco to reach the semi.

You've got to understand the narrative:

I was too young to remember it, but in 1986, Morocco was the first African nation to get to the 2nd round, it was the first of its group and it was a cruel last-minute goal from Germany that sealed the game. Never mind, it was a legendary World Cup.

1990, we were out but we were rooting for Roger Milla's Cameroon to get as far as one African nation could go, but the dream ended at the quarter.

1994, we played but we lost all our games and the Super Eagles of Nigeria lost against Italy in the 2nd round.

1998 was the closest we could get to the 2nd round, we had to beat Scotland and all Brazil had to do was a draw with Norway. Brazil was the then-World Champion and we really thought it was about winning our game. We did it the best way 3 to 0. Brazil was winning, then they took a goal, but a few minutes before the end, we were ready to celebrate. My brother who was 12 at that time, was tying his shoes to go to the streets with a Moroccan flag.

Then, the shock, a penalty was conceded to Norway, why the hell did that Brazilian pulled the player's shirt I'll never know... anyway, Norway scored the goal and the dream was over. We cried, my brother cried, we were depressed, and it took some time to get over it. It was a great generation of players and that was the last World Cup they'd play.

(I never rooted for Brazil again -and it was my favorite team in '94- and Norway lost against Italy in the 2nd round)

Then we got used to NOT GO to the World Cup and every time it was because of one our lousy defeat or draw that prevented us from that one ticket to the WC... we rooted for Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010 but Africa never went to the semi (the Ghana case was even more heartbreaking since Suarez' "villainy" had to do with it), anyway our losing streak was finally broken for the World Cup 2018, I had goosebumps hearing the national anthem 20 years after 1998...

We lost to Iran because of our own player's mistake and at that point, I knew the curse wasn't over and then it was one defeat against Portugal and a draw with Spain and one penalty not granted and no VAR for us and we were out again...

Anyway, I don't know what's happening in 2022, it's just as if we had to make up for all that frustration, that rage, that sadness that spanned almost 40 years, talk about karma to have to go against Spain and Portugal again... two great teams that crashed against an extraordinary defensive wall.

Believe me, I am as stunned and speechless as if I was rooting for another team, I can't believe this is Morocco, I can't believe we have that goal that let the ball slip only once, and it was his own mistake. Bono is truly the Chuck Norris of goals.

(And talk about suspenseful matches, sometimes I feel like time is going backwards, yesterday it was the slowest 15 minutes of my life before we could finally celebrate the victory)

I am a big underdog movie fan, I love what Regragui said about Morocco being the Rocky Balboa of the competition, at that point there's no small country anyway and we're an African Giant (first to reach the semi) but it's true there's something magical in that narrative, something of a Cinderella story.

At that point, I don't think Morocco has anything to prove, being among the last four countries to still be in the game is a historical achievement, I wish we could go further but France is one adversary to fear, they have tremendous technical abilities, they're effective, the group is solid, their coach is incredible and well, they have M'Bappe and Giroud... and well, I just wish it'll be a clean game, that fair play will win no matter who wins... and that there will be no problem with the celebrations no matter what happens.

There's a Moroccan diaspora in France (well, i'm among them :)) and there's a history between the two countries but these are friend countries and I hope we won't have anything disgraceful like what happened between Netherlands and Argentina, I don't think so but we never know.

Anyway, we'll have two games to play in any cases... and let the best one win!

And my brother (who's 36 now) could finally tie his shoes, took his Moroccan flag, and a ticket for Qatar and enjoy the best day of his life during el copa del mundo!