I guess it is appropriate to have a World Cup thread for the matches(Excluding ours). The tournament will take place from November 20th to Dec 18th. Some of the stadiums. The teams.
I was meaning to ask you… Are you happy with the team selected by the USMNT? I hear some “big names” were left out…
I'm a bit disappointed that Pepi was snubbed. The kid looked great to start qualifying, then moved to Europe and fell off, but looked in good form lately only to get left behind. I'm not convinced Ferreira was the better pick there. Taking Morris over Arriola when the former has been injured and not done much for us lately and the latter was such a needed workhorse is a bit strange too. I also don't get Berhalters fascination with Long in central defense when there were more pedigreed options. But to be honest these are the more marginal players. USAs campaign depends on the Pulisics, Reynas, Weahs, etc. playing to their capabilities, one of these raw as hell strikers finally finishing some chances, and the coach not getting in their way with picking dumb tactics and formations which feels like a coin flip. On a good day they can thoroughly school a team like Morocco 3-0 and on a bad one they look utterly clueless in midfield against Japan.
I have a friend who put down 500 dollars for the US to finish first. I think he said he got 6-1 odds. I’ll pull for the US but I’d rather see them play the Dutch in the KO stages but I also would not mind if the Dutch finished second. Unlikely, considering their group.
I hope he wins, lol. Group B is so weird to predict. England being so awful lately really makes it seem anything could happen, but they could also wake up and walk it, the second team could be anyone still though.
Apparently some people were shocked Steffen wasn't selected but he was literally the worst goalie in CONCACAF qualifying.
I have to tip my hat to Gary Lineker. He's an honorable man (even though he's English), Here is a link to the whole interview. Lots of interesting comments from him. I love how he says that as a center forward you want to pass the ball to the winger wide enough so that he can't shoot, so he has no choice but to give it back. And he quips that Argentina-England 86 was the most memorable match ever, and the only thing about the match that people don't remember is who scored England's goal. (He did, of course. I remember every second of that match) https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wo...da-england-star-turned-pundit-talks-world-cup
Assuming that the group is topped, these are the days of rest between each game: Group Stage Game 1 4 days Group Stage Game 2 4 days Group Stage Game 3 3 days Round of 16 6 days Quarter Final 4 days Semi Final 5 days Final
Well. Looks like the Dutch will definitely finish first now. A cakewalk of a group then probably an easy matchup in the R16… BREAKING: Sadio Mané will miss the World Cup, Senegal confirms. He will not be able to be part of the squad as he’s not recovering from his injury. 🚨🇸🇳 #WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/RIn9ISBGi0— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 17, 2022
BREAKING: Alcohol will no longer be sold around World Cup stadiums in Qatar.Via @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/hVsjTcvyoW— SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 18, 2022 I’d be pretty upset as a fan. I mean, Qatar is opening their doors to the world, you should try to cater to their needs… where most of the world does in fact drink alcohol. 💰 You can get alcohol inside a stadium at the World Cup in Qatar if you have a corporate hospitality ticket, where prices start at £19,000. [via @SkyKaveh] pic.twitter.com/73e33jzgBL— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 18, 2022 But they will… if you have enough money. This should be the last time the World Cup is hosted in this part of the world. But I do wonder if the teams were allowed to bring alcohol. Imagine if the Germans were told they could not bring beer with them…
🚨🎙| @AndiOnrubia: "Karim Benzema has left the training session injured. It was obvious he wasn't even at 60%. We will see if it compromises his presence at the World Cup."— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 19, 2022 🚨🎖| There is a high concern around Karim Benzema about his participation at the World Cup. @RMCsport— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 19, 2022
Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup after picking up a thigh injury in training, per multiple sources 💔 pic.twitter.com/3E2NpRQM7A— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 19, 2022 I mentioned this earlier. If France was in a somewhat tougher group, they perhaps would not advance. But from all of the seeded teams(Not counting Qatar) they probably have the easiest group. If for example were in Brasil group or even Portugal’s they might not have come out. But it’s going to be really interesting to see what happens. There could be a real possibility we play them in the R16.
Yeah I mean Denmark already beat them both times they played this year, and that was when France had a full squad.. Now after all the injuries it really wouldn’t surprise me to see the Danes topping the group
FIFA announced they won’t be publishing the WC’s behind-the-scenes VAR dialogue as they had been doing in all the other international tournaments No, not fishy at all..
Depends on how many brown envelopes are winging their way to Quito Loco. I'm sad seeing Estupinan. Was announced at preseason two years ago after having been on loan in Spain then was sold. So never saw him in a Watford shirt. If no bribery is involved Qatar nil Ecuador three. Caicedo with a brace.
Me too. Feels very unlikely though since Ecuador has trouble manufacturing goals. Would love Qatar to go 3 and out and thoroughly embarrassed in every match, but the host usually pulls some results out of their ass and this could be one.