Qatar Hero - The World Cup 2022 thread

[genome]

Well, you can't say England have the easy side of the draw this year

[Loafer]

Whoever wins re England v France will know they have a great chance to go all the way to the final.

Oh yeah shitting hell I thought that was the other side of the draw

I need to take that back
Portugal look terrific

who would have thought that they look better without Ronaldo

[genome]

Awful performance from Switzerland but at least their flag is a big plus

[From Despair To Where?]

Such disrespect shown to Ronaldo by benching him for someone who promptly scores a hat trick.

[fartdad]

Are we out of the group stages yet

[Franchise FC]

Are we out of the group stages yet

You’re out, yes

[Loafer]

Awful performance from Switzerland but at least their flag is a big plus

[Loafer]

Such disrespect shown to Ronaldo by benching him for someone who promptly scores a hat trick.

Piers Morgan is probably furiously VVanking at the thought of another interview

[From Despair To Where?]

He's probably got 50 missed calls.

[URZZZZ]

Said after the Euros (and when United signed him) that Ronaldo evidently has (had) undeniable quality. That’s not up for debate. But it’s only diminishing year on year and the sole tactic of just passing to Ronaldo doesn’t have the same effect it once had. Portugal have an abundance of attacking talent and whilst you may be losing talent by dropping Ronaldo, the overall benefits are further widespread as it becomes about the team as a unit, not the merits of one individual player

He still has the moments of individual quality of course, a couple of hat tricks last season, match winning games, had a strong tally last season etc etc but do those benefits exceed this tempers, the reluctance to press, the reluctance of his teammates to take any responsibility and just giving it to him? I don’t think so. It’s not a coincidence they won 6-1 tonight

[URZZZZ]

1000 passes from Spain resulted in one shot on target, no goals.

Football really has moved on from tiki-taka, eh

Do find it strange how teams are so set on playing a certain way when it’s evident it isn’t working. Was Stam’s downfall here (amongst other managers)

They were sublime to watch against Costa Rica but they’re extremely one dimensional

[Mr Angry]

Both South Korea and Switzerland got through their last Group match to qualify for the last 16 in pretty emotional style, and both looked utterly drained when they played their subsequent respective knock out games, so not a surprise that they both got stuffed.

In an aside, can you imagine what a Morocco v Croatia final would be like? 120 minutes of both sides playing for the penalty shoot out.......

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It's not usually like the Swiss to get absolutely annihilated in games, but Portugal looked very good. I always feel like Portugal are a bit of an underrated side, looking at the talent on display, they could/should go pretty far in most every tournament, you'd think Semi-Finalists.

A lot of people pre-tournament, and even now, have Argentina as one of the favourites to do well yet I actually think Portugal have an overall better side than what Argentina do.

[Mr Angry]

Watching Brazil is painful.....not for the football, but the over the top adulation from the commentators; last night, a South Korean knocked a 50 yard crossfield ball to his winger, in space, who took it down beautifully; no comment whatsoever from McCoist.

5 mins later, a similar ball from a Brazilian had McCoist in raptures and verbally ejaculating into the microphone.

Did you hear Jenas the other night eulogising over all the England players and then Lee Dixon doing the same in Sunday's game.
What gets me (if we are talking about personal annoyances) is when a top player does something simple and commentators go way OTT.
Kane's square ball the other night to a totally unmarked player for example.

I have taken to turning the volume down but not always off as the crowd noise is something I like to hear.

I didn't but it doesn't surprise me.

I am not bothered if a commentator verbally applauds a great pass or tackle or piece of play.....what hacks me off is when the commentator ceases to be an impartial observer and instead becomes a fanboy for either a team or a player.

As for England, we have reached the level our World ranking - 5th - suggested we would get to; IF we beat France then we would have over achieved.

The rankings of the teams left in the last 8 are:

1 - Brazil
3 - Argentina
4 - France
5 - England
8 - Netherlands
9 - Portugal
12 - Croatia
22 - Morocco

Incidentally, I can't find out the last time England beat a higher ranked team in a World Cup knock out match; they beat Argentina in a Group game in 2002, which was the last time they defeated a higher ranked team in the Finals (and possibly the only time they have done so........)

I am happy to stand corrected if I am wrong (again!)

[Sutekh]

Out of interest, not counting name changes, there are 5 nations that England have played at international level and never beaten (Algeria, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Honduras) and 2 nations they’ve never scored against (Algeria and Honduras).

There are also 22 nations that have never scored against England (9 from UEFA, 1 from CONMEBOL, 4 from CAF, 1 from OFC, 5 from CONCACAF, 2 from AFC)

[6ft Kerplunk]

As for England, we have reached the level our World ranking - 5th - suggested we would get to; IF we beat France then we would have over achieved.

Its a bit of a free hit against France for the team, lose and its kind of expected based on current form\ranking but that should hopefully give us a bit of freedom to go for it. I'd be surprised if Southgate carried on after this World Cup anyway (unless we win it) so he may feel going out in a blaze of glory is worth the risk and would certainly surprise France.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Also, two days without matches then two matches on Friday and Saturday. Is that normal scheduling?

[windermereROYAL]

So it`s France, Portugal (probably) and Brazil or Argentina (likely) in the final, nobody said it would be easy

[YorkshireRoyal99]

As for England, we have reached the level our World ranking - 5th - suggested we would get to; IF we beat France then we would have over achieved.

Its a bit of a free hit against France for the team, lose and its kind of expected based on current form\ranking but that should hopefully give us a bit of freedom to go for it. I'd be surprised if Southgate carried on after this World Cup anyway (unless we win it) so he may feel going out in a blaze of glory is worth the risk and would certainly surprise France.

Yeah agree with that, I think most English fans would accept losing to France, providing it's not an absolute drubbing like 3-0, but I don't think it will be. If we turn them over, we've done better than expected but knowing many English fans, there would be a level of expectation for us to suddenly win the tournament then.

[Mr Angry]

So it`s France, Portugal (probably) and Brazil or Argentina (likely) in the final, nobody said it would be easy

Unless Morocco cause an upset it is likely to be the best European team versus the best South American team in the final.