2022 World Cup Discussion

BongoBlue said:
Loved '94. Well I was living here by then. Went to see Ireland in Giants Stadium. 60k mental Paddies like me going nuts. My biggest regret however is not being able to go and see Argentina play Greece down the road in Foxborough (Sullivan Stadium at the time). I turned down a ticket for it as I was working that evening. Turns out it was Maradona's last ever game for them as he was drug tested and caught imbibing the old Colombia Marching Powder...I am still pissed off about missing that...
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I enjoyed 94 as well. A good tournament let down by a stinker of a final thanks to FIFA and their greed for European TV audience. Both teams were fucked.

Engerland not being there made it more enjoyable as I didn't have a dog in the fight and I felt I could get into it moreso.
 
Not Neville’s biggest fan but glad the bloke he’s talking to finally made the point I’ve been banging on about for a decade.

 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Apparently Brazil are heavy favorites to win the WC. I'm not a fan of the current Brazil squad - I guess in no small part due to my dislike of Neymar.

Argentina are strong too - lately though, I'm not a big Messi fan.

I guess, among the favorites I'll route for England of course - but failing England, I'd like to see Belgium lift the cup.

My national team - USA - has numerous issues - and I'm not really a fan of the side.
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Lump on Qatar....


I don't think a European country will win it this year there's not one outstanding representative.
 
Why do I have an awful feeling those horns uses in the SA world cup will return to try and create "atmosphere"?
 
mat said:
Lump on Qatar....


I don't think a European country will win it this year there's not one outstanding representative.
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+1
So much talent though on many European sides - maybe one of France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, England will pull it together and play up to their potential. Otherwise I guess it's either Brazil or Argentina to win it all.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
+1
So much talent though on many European sides - maybe one of France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, England will pull it together and play up to their potential. Otherwise I guess it's either Brazil or Argentina to win it all.
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My gut feel is that due to the heat and lack of atmosphere it will be a very dull competition. The most workmanlike / professional team will win it. Could be very open but not in an interesting way.
 
mat said:
Lump on Qatar....


I don't think a European country will win it this year there's not one outstanding representative.
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France depend on Kante. If he is fit for the WC campaign they'll have the best chance of winning it. The Netherlands have had an excellent NL campaign despite not looking that great going forwards so could shock a few and Portugal have a lot of very talented players so could do well.

Brazil for me are the standout team though. Lots of their players in form, so many options across the pitch and a great record in qualifying. Argentina have done well in qualifying but suspect at the back in my opinion.

England...well I think we all know what will happen there!
 
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It's going to be fun in many households over here in the US as the Thanksgiving holiday falls during the WC. This is traditionally the day for eating turkey and watching Football (the American variant). There are a few games scheduled for that day, including Brazil v Serbia. So many of the older guys will be wanting to watch fucking Dallas or Detroit (who always play on Thanksgiving Day) whereas the younger more football mad people will be watching the "sawcker". Mind you, of course for the large swathes of Brazilians/Portuguese especially where I live, there will be no contest. SHould be fun anyway. And the day after Thanksgiving, aka Black Friday, is a holiday for most and that is when Engerlund play the USA. So that one will have a huge audience.
 
Much talk about alcohol and fan impact. Less about the huge influence of the betting industry in modern televised football, and how that’s going to play in an Islamic country where every form of gambling is officially banned, even betting on sport.

But banning stuff which doesn’t happen anyway hardly ever occurs. betting’s banned there, because it’s widely held to be harmful, and this view is in step with the beliefs of enough of the population to make those laws stick. But plenty like a bet anyway. Especially on sport. Hence huge underground betting networks abounding across the Middle East.

Millions will be bet on underground markets on the outcomes of some pretty non-crucial games of football at this World Cup. Anyone think some of the games might be fixed? Don’t bet against it.
 
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