World Cup 2022. The football discussion thread.

[weeksy]

Well clearly it's a big thing in the world, not necessarily on this forum, but lets give it a whirl anyway.

Note, this WILL stay on topic of football... Any rogue politics/rants/etc will be binned and users get time out.

So play nicely.... in the same way the footballers may do.

I've no idea who'll win this one.
Brazil have merit, but often flatter to fail
Portugal the same, France not too far off, even the rest...

I'll go Argentina though for the win.

[mangocrazy]

Iran vs. USA is always a good one to watch...

[weeksy]

Iran vs. USA is always a good one to watch...

They've only played once in a tournament and once in a friendly, 1998 and 2000

[mangocrazy]

Iran vs. USA is always a good one to watch...

They've only played once, 1998

Blimey, was it really that long ago? That makes me feel really old...

[Count Steer]

It's not going to be the same if we can't moan about the dirty, time-wasting, diving Italians.

We could run a sweep!

[weeksy]

It's not going to be the same if we can't moan about the dirty, time-wasting, diving Italians.

We could run a sweep!

More than happy to play, either in a friendly context or £5 into a pot, whatever really

[DefTrap]

Brazil have so much depth, so much experience of playing in the latter stages of the finals, how to 'manage the officials' even because that's a thing that's important at this level if you want to be consistent.
So, it's an easy-in for being a favourite I reckon.

Runners up France.

England and Wales group should be straightforward but I don't think we can rely on both getting through.

Round of 16 opponents are from GroupA I think which should also be winnable you'd have thought.

So overall high hopes of England or Wales getting to the QF without too much bother.

[Potter]

What are the odds for Wales?
Isn't it their first world cup for ages?

[DefTrap]

What are the odds for Wales?
Isn't it their first world cup for ages?

To win? 200/1 ish

[Ditchfinder]

Germans are dark horses this time around

[Count Steer]

It's not going to be the same if we can't moan about the dirty, time-wasting, diving Italians.

We could run a sweep!

More than happy to play, either in a friendly context or £5 into a pot, whatever really

Probably easiest as a 'for the glory' event.

I have randomly numbered the 32 teams. Do it as a separate thread, 1 number each? Any spare numbers get allocated to first losers in the groups?

[weeksy]

Do it as a separate thread, 1 number each?

Go for it.

[Mr Moofo]

Germans are dark horses this time around

Horses of colour, please ...

[Cousin Jack]

Is there a World Cup on soon? Bugger, that means more boring football inflicted on unsuspecting TV watchers.

[weeksy]

Is there a World Cup on soon? Bugger, that means more boring football inflicted on unsuspecting TV watchers.

Or, you can just watch one of the other 200 channels, netflix or whatever else... There's been a Rugby world cup, cricket, i didn't watch any..... Can't imagine why.

[Mr Moofo]

With the talent pool they have , it has to be Brazil’s. Whether they can play as a team is another matter.

Whether Mbappe featuring 10 other French players can deliver to Mbappe’s expectations - hmmm

Belgium could be an outsider - if they bother to turn up. Again a bunch of players who an all playing really well at club level.
Portugal - tis all about Ronaldo - and that will obscure it for the other 10 players.

[weeksy]

Don't let this lot hear you say it's only Ronaldo

2022 SQUAD
Portugal World Cup 2022 squad
GK: Diogo Costa (Porto)
GK: Rui Patrício (Roma)
GK: Jose Sa (Wolves)
DF: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
DF: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
DF: Nuno Mendes (PSG)
DF: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
DF: Antonio Silva (Benfica)
DF: Pepe (Porto)
DF: Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
DF: Danilo Pereira (PSG)
MF: Joao Palhinha (Fulham)
MF: Matheus Nunes (Wolves)
MF: William Carvalho (Real Betis)
MF: Ruben Neves (Wolves)
MF: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
MF: Joao Mario (Benfica)
MF: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
MF: Vitinha (PSG)
MF: Otavio (Porto)
FW: Joao Felix (Atlético Madrid)
FW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
FW: Goncalo Ramos (Benfica)
FW: Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
FW: Ricardo Horta (Braga)
FW: Andre Silva (RB Leipzig)

[Mr Moofo]

^ it’s not about their ability. It is whether they would want to win and then have Ronaldo take all the credit.
Ronaldo makes Ibrahimovic look modest
Pepe is about 52!

Bernardo S, Cancelo and Dias are obvious all great

[weeksy]

^ it’s not about their ability. It is whether they would want to win and then have Ronaldo take all the credit.
Ronaldo makes Ibrahimovic look modest
Pepe is about 52!

Bernardo S, Cancelo and Dias are obvious all great

Lol Pepe must be a grandfather by now for sure.

[wull]

Is VAR being used?