World Cup 2022 thread

[Jam do Bronx]

I've got Brazil to win it. Their squad is really good, but their attacking line up and their depth in that area is actually ridiculous. I think they're going to be a problem for everyone.

I've got Portugal as the dark horses. They've got a talented group of individuals. On top of that, they're always churning out amazing young talent. Everyone raves about Ajax's youth development, and rightly so, but Benfica, Sporting, and Porto have some of the best youth development in football, and their national team are benefiting from it.

I'm afraid football isn't coming home this time round.

[biscuits]

Portugal!

Brazil probably though! I love it when it all gets going and a quieter team suddenly pops up as amazing.

[limey123]

I'd like to see a dark horse win it, a team that hasn't won a major trophy for a long time, if ever. Not the usual Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany, etc. Maybe the Netherlands?

[Jam do Bronx]

^ This is far from a great Netherlands team and people are dismissing their chances, which I understand, but I really think they're a better team than people realise, I really do.

Croatia, no one is mentioning them, but they need a big shout out. I'm not saying they're going to win it, but keep an eye on them. This team is no joke.

[Mr. Nobody]

I'm going to award myself a prize of a sip of lager any time I see any players that DON'T have tattoos, cans in the cool box at the ready

I think the winners will lift the cup,..but it's going to be close mind you as always, and I think the runners up will come a close second.

[anxiouslondoner]

Well at this point I reckon it could be literally anyone's, though in all likelihood it'll be one of the teams that have qualified for the World Cup, I reckon they are the ones with a decent chance, and if they score more goals than their opponents, that will certainly tip the scales in their favour, isn't it??? mmmm.
I reckon we'll see a lot of running around on the old "turf rectangle", maybe some kicking, skidding and falling over. But mostly I reckon the winner will come down to whichever team is best at bribing. And there won't be any referees, cos it's too dangerous to be a whistleblower.

[Jam do Bronx]

^/^^ If you're not wrong, then I think you might be right.

[cymruambyth26]

Did anyone see the surreal press conference the President of FIFA gave today?

It was strange. He tried to sweep any concerns people had about the tournament under the carpet, said the West were hypocrites and urged everyone to focus only on the football.

[Jam do Bronx]

^ It was truly jaw dropping.

[anxiouslondoner]

I did see the end of the Wales vs USA game that was showing in a pub I was in.
It's quite an achievement to draw with a country that has about 100x your population.
Go Wales! í*¼í¿´í*€í±§í*€í±¢í*€í± ·Ã­*€í±¬í*€í±³í*€í±¿ I'm not Welsh but I'll root for the underdragon.

[anxiouslondoner]

^ that was supposed to be a Welsh flag not a string of mojibake
Of course I can't now edit my post...
(emoji of a sighing man)

[Jam do Bronx]

The world cup doesn't really start until Brazil plays. Really excited about this game.

[biscuits]

This is the first full game I've been able to watch!

[biscuits]

Uhmazing goal!

[Jam do Bronx]

There you go, been waiting for this, goal of the tournament right there.

[Jam do Bronx]

I just cannot tolerate the England band. This needs to stop.

[biscuits]

USA are looking fiercer. Reckon they'll score soon.

^ yeah, someone punch a hole in the drum.

[Ronnie_Pickering]

I see finally people are wanting #Southgate out.

[biscuits]

That Danish defence *chef kiss*

Biscuits Mbappe has a nice ring to it

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by affluenza

I see finally people are wanting #Southgate out.

Aw really? That's a bit premature. His starting line up never makes sense. Break-glass-in-emergency-for-Grelish is getting old and predictable.

But maybe it's pool sharking in the group stage.

[Ronnie_Pickering]

I am not watching the World Cup myself but I just have never rated him good enough to beat decent teams. His record at club level was 0-0's persistently with Middlesbrough. That being said England should beat Wales.

[cymruambyth26]

I can look at Wales performance in the tournament in maybe one of two ways.

1) We did great just to even qualify for the tournament and just be content that we finally made it to the World Cup again. Anything positive that happens is a bonus.

2) It has been a disappointing campaign because we haven't been able to show fully what we can do when we are at our best.

I think I will go with number one as we have tried in each game and perhaps, we're not just at our best these days. We are trying to carry a number of players who are now older than they were in Euro 2016 and not fully match fit.

At the end of the day, I much prefer being the underdog that no one expects anything from rather than an England fan who expects their country to win every tournament before a ball is kicked. I couldn't live with that pressure or as some might say arrogance haha.

[cymruambyth26]

I watched England's game last night and I think the 6-2 win over Iran did gloss over some issues that remain with the team based on what I saw in that USA game.

Why didn't Foden play? Strange decision that.

If we were in a better state ourselves, then I wouldn't fear us playing England on Tuesday. They can be beaten. It wasn't that long ago that England lost to Hungary 4-0 at home.

Once England face a very strong team like France, Brazil or Spain then I think it will be a struggle for them.

[biscuits]

^ yeah, England will make it through the group stage and then they'll probably go home.

[cymruambyth26]

Southgate, I noticed isn't much of a risk taker. He's not willing to change personnel or change things up tactically if things aren't going well in big games. If he does it's too late.

I agree with what's been said, he tends to stick with his players no matter what. The likes of Rashford and Foden deserve more game time but he prefers Sterling, Kane and then Grealish and Henderson off the bench.

Harry Kane and Gareth Bale I'd say there wasn't any difference in their performances yesterday.

[Jam do Bronx]

Yeah that's the frustrating thing about Southgate, he's conservative as f**k. When you've got the likes of Saka, Foden, Bellingham, Grealish, Sterling, Rashford, Trent, and one of the most lethal strikers in the world in Kane, take some ****ing risks. These are players from the highest intensity league on the planet, in theory we should match anyone and have the potential to go toe to toe with the elites. Southgate's man management is his strengths and that's so important in international football where he has limited time with players and large gaps in between games, and that's why he's been able to take this team far in previous tournaments (that and very favourable routes to semis/finals), but his lack of being tactically astute and aversion to risk are the reasons why we won't win a thing under him.

But I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

[Mr. Nobody]

Come on Japan,.

I like Japans smiley players and their attacking style of football,
They seem to be having fun out there.

[biscuits]

Belgium v Morocco. The whistling when the opposing team gets the ball drives me raaahhh. I might watch it in silence.

[Jam do Bronx]

Morocco 2-0! God I love the wc

[biscuits]

Canada just scored after 1 min 10 seconds! Wowzers.