The worlds biggest sporting event kicks off on Friday in...err... Qatar this weekend. You know that world famous footballing country.
Our cousins from the across the pond are in our group with Iran along side Wales, which is tasty and interesting. I can only speak for England i think we will go out in the QF against France as i think Gareth Southgate fucked up by dropping a midfielder leaving us light up front. The USA are probably my dark horse for the tournament. Sorry Wales but i can't see you doing much. I think France will win the Cup.
Agree that I think England will get to the quarters and then get knocked out due to Southgate's very conservative style of playing which is same reason we lost to Croatia in the last World Cup and then to Italy in the Euro's last year.
Not too keen (or fussed) on watching it this year after all the dramas with it and not sure who will win it either as there are quite a few teams that can (including England if they have a good run/draw)
There doesn't seem to be much excitement about it, I think a combination of the venue and time of year is responsible. Plus, football fans are completely embedded in club football right now (rightly so). Usually we're desperate for some action in the summer between seasons, but having to actually switch focus from our domestic teams and leagues onto this is really odd.
I dare say I'll be all over it by about Monday. But being a supporter of a team in the third tier means that's still happening too. Like I said, odd!
Ah yes, the 'other' England team. Maybe they'll win something this century...
I'm going to miss most of the group games because of work, apart from England - USA which we'll have a watch party as it's nice scheduling. Assuming England win the group, their next match is Sunday, than Saturday...then Wednesday, which nearly works for the majority of UK time zone viewers.
England will get to the second round. Can't get all that interested in it tbh. Qatar got it by bribing Blatter, it's interrupting the season, don't like the treatment of the migrant workers, I actually hope it's a big flop.
Why was Ecuador's opening goal disallowed? No offside or foul??
After some of the interviews I have seen, I wish they would have cancelled it. The way the people have been treated so far should not be shocking. But I also have to consider the organization putting on the world cup. Fifa are not exactly the best people. Hopefully there will not be any further incidents and we can get this thing over with.
WAM Businessman said: The worlds biggest sporting event kicks off on Friday in...err... Qatar this weekend. You know that world famous footballing country.
Our cousins from the across the pond are in our group with Iran along side Wales, which is tasty and interesting. I can only speak for England i think we will go out in the QF against France as i think Gareth Southgate fucked up by dropping a midfielder leaving us light up front. The USA are probably my dark horse for the tournament. Sorry Wales but i can't see you doing much. I think France will win the Cup.
Lol the USA definitely are not a dark horse. I'm American and follow the us national team more than any other team. Average squad, give or take a couple players, topped off with an incompetent manager in Gregg Berhalter aka 3G, triple G, or Greg with 3 Gs as we call him. If only Jurgen Klinsmann didn't get fired, he'd be able to get the best out of the squad. Firing him was the worst decision the US national team ever made. Some people disagree with me but you can't tell me that Bruce Arena who had previous meh tier stints with the US and Greggggggg were better options. I'd like to see the USA do well but hopefully this world cup is what finally gets Greggggggg outta here. He even left out some key players in favor of some MLS nobodies and literal whos. He excluded the one player who I feel saved his job early on in WCQ, Ricardo pepi (who is actually finding his game in the Dutch league for groningen). Also, was stunned that pefok from union Berlin and Taylor booth for Utrecht were left out.
The US will probably squeak out of group B and then get vanquished in the R16 by the presumed group A winners, Netherlands. Senegal looked good until I heard sadio mane got injured.
Not a fan of Greggggg then i take it. They played good stuff against Wales and deserved the lead at half time but ran out of steam very fast in the 2nd half. They can't do that against England. A point each was a fair result.
Lauren19 said: There doesn't seem to be much excitement about it, I think a combination of the venue and time of year is responsible. Plus, football fans are completely embedded in club football right now (rightly so). Usually we're desperate for some action in the summer between seasons, but having to actually switch focus from our domestic teams and leagues onto this is really odd.
I dare say I'll be all over it by about Monday. But being a supporter of a team in the third tier means that's still happening too. Like I said, odd!
I can understand where you're coming from, must be very strange. Agreed, there seems to be a lack of excitement for your reasons.
The tournament gets more bizarre each day. Apparently football is now a 100 minute game.
12/17/23, 2:07am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.
England were actually very tidy for the whole game. Arguably shouldn't have conceded either goal, but a very convincing win and the Kane-Saka goal was sweet as.
Shock result from last night as Saudi Arabia beat Argentina, who were very unlucky to have three goals ruled offside, two of which were very marginal (an arm and a foot)
I would love to see England, France or Spain play finals against each other but if I had to bet, I would put my money on the Netherlands. I am impressed with the Japanese team but they'd be a longshot. Argentina too.
We are very upset that FIFA caved to Quatar and hate that the World Cup is being played there, makes me not want to watch but it's the World Cup
Oh, and a wonderful side note... did you see the entire Iranian team not sing the national anthem in solidarity with their women?!?!?! That took a great amount of courage
A poor show from England, and lets face it a pretty shit game but US battled and defended well and a point each is right i think. Tuesday should be very interesting. Madeline should hold on to the bet as Netherlands weren't great. I was sad to see Valencia getting injured for Ecuador as he's an exciting player to watch. Japan are the team i hope do well until/if they play England of course.
MadelineOasis said: I would love to see England, France or Spain play finals against each other but if I had to bet, I would put my money on the Netherlands. I am impressed with the Japanese team but they'd be a longshot. Argentina too.
We are very upset that FIFA caved to Quatar and hate that the World Cup is being played there, makes me not want to watch but it's the World Cup
Oh, and a wonderful side note... did you see the entire Iranian team not sing the national anthem in solidarity with their women?!?!?! That took a great amount of courage
m
"FIFA caved to Quatar", Of course at no point in time did any money change hands to make it happen, that would be completely wrong.
WAM Businessman said: A poor show from England, and lets face it a pretty shit game but US battled and defended well and a point each is right i think. Tuesday should be very interesting. Madeline should hold on to the bet as Netherlands weren't great. I was sad to see Valencia getting injured for Ecuador as he's an exciting player to watch. Japan are the team i hope do well until/if they play England of course.
I thought it was good for 0-0 to be honest. Normally not a fan of 0-0 games but I actually enjoyed it. I question why Southgate didn't bring foden or TAA on...
A lot of us in England are thinking the same thing about Southgate not bringing on TAA and Foden.
Baffling and typical Southgate - too conservative!!!
Very interesting couple of hours last night in Group E, with all four teams in qualifying positions at one point or another and a controversial goal by Japan. Two major teams are now knocked out.
England v France, Netherlands v Argentina, Japan going strong and all that Spain, Portugal, Moracco and Switzerland things still to sort out! It's getting good!
I was disappointed for Japan as they played good footie. It looks like Morocco are this WC dark horses with a shock win over Spain, but how good are Brazil and Portugal? Both equally wonderful to watch. Add a certain Mr...Messi into the mix and it's getting tasty. As for England V France, I hope Gareth Southgate has done his homework and get his tactics right but my gut says we'll lose.
12/17/23, 2:07am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.