I didn't wake up for the Morocco v. Croatia match, so I'm seeing them for the first time. Honestly, Belgium hasn't played their best match today, but Morocco look to be a very good side. They defend. They are organized, and their counter attack is lethal. They also look very fit and very inspired by the volume of fans represented in Qatar. In pole position to win their group. Good on them.
Is it just me or is this WC group stage crazier than usual? I.e. upsets. And if so, do we think it's just down to random probability or something more systemic like limited prep time due to the stupid winter WC concept?
I think less prep time is a big contributor to the group stage games going the way they have. Teams usually have 3 weeks together before the World Cup, and this time everyone had 1 week. I was surprised FIFA didn't require players to be released a week earlier, and everyone would just end their seasons a week later.
An interesting article/example of the subtle but widespread washing operation that is going on by Qatar and FIFA: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/sports/soccer/mural-migrant-workers-world-cup.html June: November:
Gregg Berhalter and Tyler Adams have now been asked about systemic racism in the U.S., the American fleet in the Persian Gulf, high inflation, and why Iranians need a visa to visit the USA but Americans don't need one for Iran.This press conference has been... different.— Leander “same handle *elsewhere*” Schaerlaeckens (@LeanderAlphabet) November 28, 2022 LMAO https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/to...r2022/match-34-pre-match-press-conference-usa They deserve it for removing the emblem from the flag. idiots may have unified Iran with this stupidity.
USSF deserves it. GGG and Adams don't. But from the videos I've seen, Adams handled himself quite well.
Indeed he did (I watched the whole presser). Adams might already have better interview poise than Berhalter ever did or will. I'm tired of the other stuff, from being on the USMNT threads.
Maybe, but the Iranian team already created controversy by not singing their National Anthem before their first game. I don’t know whether they repeated that protest before the game against Wales.
I have the worst luck. Missed the first two games which collectively had 11 goals. Could only catch the evening matches which had only 3 lol. As an African I'm proud of our teams. I didn't rate most of them to be in a position to leave their groups. Also like seeing African coaches coaching their NT. Former players like Addo, Song and Aliou Cisse.
Both Ghana matches have been really entertaining ---- which of course makes me fear for Partey's legs, as both matches have been track meets.
Feels like the WC has kinda evened out on MD2, MD1 had France, England, Brazil, Spain kinda assert themselves as clear favourites, but MD2 and France/Brazil/Spain had narrow wins and didn't look impressive against better opposition, and England had an awkward draw. Starting to think we won't have a locked on WC favourite until we see who gets who in the final 4 because the upsets are still happening and if the groups stayed as they are, Netherlands, Argentina and Japan could get one of the faves on an off day.
For sure, and the questions were nasty for Adams about race and representing America. It sucks, but don't be stupid. that’s not how this works, bredrin
I had a feeling this would be a good tournament for non-European nations due to the weirdness and lack of air travel. It’s been a fun tournament.
No they started singing again in Game 2 vs Wales. But it seemed more than a bit half-hearted to my eye. I made some comments about this at the time (in this thread?) where I posited that they might've been under clear pressure from their authorities to start singing again.
Me too. I also like seeing American coaches of USMNT. And I had a daydream today about Jesse Marsch comin that way, depending on the planets aligning.
I was really hoping for ROK to score a late winner, largely so that Partey's WC mins would be brought to a quicker end.
man, maybe it's me remembering wrong but i feel like ghana is competitive every single time they're in. like, i get that they might not have advanced deep but their games always feel competitive, win or lose.
Could very well see a combined five teams from Africa and Asia in the knockouts. Most we’ve ever seen before is three. It’s certainly been one of the most unpredictable tournaments I can remember.
We are upto the shit part of the tourney where instead of getting multiple games, I am up at 2am because I can't sleep and have to choose between games.