I've been thinking the same, maybe it's because it's the middle of the season. But yea a lot of poor games so far.
Is this one of the worst quality World Cups ever? | Probably not
- Thread starter Solius
- Start date
It's been shit at times but it's mostly due to failure of teams converting good openings into goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Some of the football thus far have actually been alright, or better than the group stages of 2010 at least, which was distinctly bad.
Would be interesting if there was a stat of overall xG compared to other World Cups.
It’s no different to any other World Cup I’ve watched. People just forget in 4 years. The quality has never been as high as club football.
2010 was worse than this, I think. Shit football + that horrible noise all the time.
1990 was also notoriously defensive, apparently, although I didn’t watch it myself.
As far as controversy, this is also far from the top, despite all the noise around Qatar.
2010 was worse than this, I think. Shit football + that horrible noise all the time.
1990 was also notoriously defensive, apparently, although I didn’t watch it myself.
As far as controversy, this is also far from the top, despite all the noise around Qatar.
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Right, and then FIFA increases replacements to 5 which means teams can press even more. They cite COVID which is ridiculous at this time.
“Football is going to be more and more tactical. You can see nowadays that any team can make it difficult for any team without having great players, but playing well tactically and in an organised way. But then it will be more complicated to see ‘extraordinary’ players.”
I see few kids playing casual football in the parks. It's almost all regimented in clubs. 20 years the parks were full of all kinds of football.
“Football is going to be more and more tactical. You can see nowadays that any team can make it difficult for any team without having great players, but playing well tactically and in an organised way. But then it will be more complicated to see ‘extraordinary’ players.”
I see few kids playing casual football in the parks. It's almost all regimented in clubs. 20 years the parks were full of all kinds of football.
There’s been a few surprising shocks which makes it exciting in terms of that aspect (Saudi Arabia beating Argentina & Japan beating Germany).
Quality wise, it’s hard to disagree that it’s been of a very poor standard particularly in the final 3rd. The amount of errors, mistakes, misplaced and overhit passes and crosses is conference level standards. I’ve dozed off a few times watching some of these games. I think timing & preparation wise has had a lot to do with it. World Cups are played in the summer but before that players would be with their international teams a week or 2 before it all starts and would have 1-2 friendly matches lined up just to prepare and iron out any rough edges & have more time to work on tactics and personnel in those games and on the training ground. This one the players have just gone straight into it right in the middle of a league campaign. No time to prepare or anything as they’ve been playing with their clubs.
Quality wise, it’s hard to disagree that it’s been of a very poor standard particularly in the final 3rd. The amount of errors, mistakes, misplaced and overhit passes and crosses is conference level standards. I’ve dozed off a few times watching some of these games. I think timing & preparation wise has had a lot to do with it. World Cups are played in the summer but before that players would be with their international teams a week or 2 before it all starts and would have 1-2 friendly matches lined up just to prepare and iron out any rough edges & have more time to work on tactics and personnel in those games and on the training ground. This one the players have just gone straight into it right in the middle of a league campaign. No time to prepare or anything as they’ve been playing with their clubs.
I don't think so, there are always weak teams in the World Cup, it's the big difference with the Euros. It's the same feeling every WC during group stages. The main thing this year is that Brazil seems like the only nation who can compete with Europe as Argentina and Uruguay look dire with very average squads. Most people are used to watching the top 5 leagues, including the PL, as well as the Champions League, World Cup football is never on that level in group stages, it usually gets much better in the latter stages though.
To be honest a lot of the tournaments seem like this nowadays. Everyone is well drilled and plays with energy but lacks an end product at times.
On the positive side all of the groups are going to the last games because most sides are competitive. Who wants to watch dead rubbers?
On the positive side all of the groups are going to the last games because most sides are competitive. Who wants to watch dead rubbers?
This will give one of the shit teams to win it. It's coming home? 
It's just football now.
People talk about pressing but its more the sitting deep, being compact, slow build up from the back.
It's a killer for entertainment. Would be more fun if they just launched it forwards now and again. Not that anybody can really head the ball anymore.
People talk about pressing but its more the sitting deep, being compact, slow build up from the back.
It's a killer for entertainment. Would be more fun if they just launched it forwards now and again. Not that anybody can really head the ball anymore.
TBF, it is too fast to ask this question, this is not the end of the group stage round. But if you measure from the first 2 games, I would say I like it. I love the underdog countries winning against top countries, the quality of football at this world cup isn't the best compared to the previous world-cup but it's still on the level of acceptable/great. You must also remind that it lacks full preparation and concentration due to the league schedules, which leads to a lot of teams don't click or synchronizing as they should. On the positive side, I see a lot of underdogs have been developed in terms of qualities both players and tactical, although the big fishes show the signal of declining at this WC.
Lack of quality attackers due to injury or any reasons?
Yes, they affect the quality of this world cup for sure, we've seen this world cup lacks quality in operation and decision in the final-third area. Examples are Korea against Uruguay and Croatia against Morocco. Although both games look great, they lacked quality in the final-third area. The decision-making, quality of attackers, the operation, and the attacking format/ creativity in the final-third area are the weaknesses of both games( not only both games, TBF). It can also represent the essence and overall of this GS round in WC.
The quality of finishing skill is also must be an interesting part of this WC. TBH, this WC lacks the quality of finishers and clinical finishing. They are several games of this WC that could show this part like Saudi against Poland or Canada against Belgium. Saudi and Canada had a similar thing, both were better sides in terms of dominating possession and shot-on targets or chances of shooting but in the end, both were defeated. The reason was both lacked the quality of shooting and finishing. The last one, we all know that a lot of quality players couldn't participate in this WC due to injuries from the club level, which affects the overall quality of football in this WC.
A couple of teams in this WC also play very physically and defensively first. The reason is not having 0 points first or preventing them from losing the game. It has been a trend for over 70+ years and I've understood this method for a long time. It's one of the best methods in football to have points and it's legal. I'm also a person who enjoys defensive football. Great organization, discipline, and tackles/interceptions could be arts too. This method may haven't been liked by a lot of fellas, which is probably understandable.
Overall, I think we should watch more and conclude it after the final of this WC. Maybe the scenarios will change since round 16.
Lack of quality attackers due to injury or any reasons?
Yes, they affect the quality of this world cup for sure, we've seen this world cup lacks quality in operation and decision in the final-third area. Examples are Korea against Uruguay and Croatia against Morocco. Although both games look great, they lacked quality in the final-third area. The decision-making, quality of attackers, the operation, and the attacking format/ creativity in the final-third area are the weaknesses of both games( not only both games, TBF). It can also represent the essence and overall of this GS round in WC.
The quality of finishing skill is also must be an interesting part of this WC. TBH, this WC lacks the quality of finishers and clinical finishing. They are several games of this WC that could show this part like Saudi against Poland or Canada against Belgium. Saudi and Canada had a similar thing, both were better sides in terms of dominating possession and shot-on targets or chances of shooting but in the end, both were defeated. The reason was both lacked the quality of shooting and finishing. The last one, we all know that a lot of quality players couldn't participate in this WC due to injuries from the club level, which affects the overall quality of football in this WC.
A couple of teams in this WC also play very physically and defensively first. The reason is not having 0 points first or preventing them from losing the game. It has been a trend for over 70+ years and I've understood this method for a long time. It's one of the best methods in football to have points and it's legal. I'm also a person who enjoys defensive football. Great organization, discipline, and tackles/interceptions could be arts too. This method may haven't been liked by a lot of fellas, which is probably understandable.
Overall, I think we should watch more and conclude it after the final of this WC. Maybe the scenarios will change since round 16.
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Beyond the oddly dire quality of some of the matches, I think most people are just not psychologically up for the tournament because it’s in the middle of league seasons.
Big/your teams not performing well = bad quality.
I think 2002 World Cup was worse.
It's been pretty poor due to a number of factors, but should hopefully liven up in the knockouts when the big boys start going up against each other.
Factors
- The lack of break, most European leagues were still playing a week before. The Saudi league had a month's break and their team looks noticeabley fitter.
- The heat. Maybe not so different to a European summer, but players haven't had time to acclimatise.
- A lot of poor coaches, and tactics in general. Page, Santos, Moriyasu, Martinez, Hjulmand all leaving better players on the bench. The prevelance of a shit implementation of 5 at the back isn't helping.
Factors
- The lack of break, most European leagues were still playing a week before. The Saudi league had a month's break and their team looks noticeabley fitter.
- The heat. Maybe not so different to a European summer, but players haven't had time to acclimatise.
- A lot of poor coaches, and tactics in general. Page, Santos, Moriyasu, Martinez, Hjulmand all leaving better players on the bench. The prevelance of a shit implementation of 5 at the back isn't helping.
The quality of football is abysmal compared to the CL. The biggest problem is of course the fear of failure.
I thought the quality would improve because the tournament wasn't at the end of the season for once but apparently this is not the case.
I thought the quality would improve because the tournament wasn't at the end of the season for once but apparently this is not the case.
Not really. We've had five 0-0 draws so far. Seven is the record. It's mostly been a boring affair aside from some upsets.
Not really. England were great in the first game and the quality of their finishing was excellent. Less so in the second game of course. It’s hardly been swashbuckling football from most teams.
A host nation most don't want, at a time no one appreciates, plus a waning interest in international football means this World Cup was always going to face a lot more than it's fair share of criticism unless the games were truly spectacular.
next world cup might even be worse.. 48 teams.. more teams will be there just to make up the numbers..
I don't know about xG, but South Africa 2010 was easily the worst football club cup I have watched. Absolutely dire, this one is miles better than South Africa to begin with, but I am not enjoying it either.
Poor quality but incredible entertainment. I’m loving it. feck the quality I don’t care.
Not sure I'll be able to watch most of the games, not only there will be so many but loads of poor games.
Its the battle of Moyeses.
I've enjoyed most of the games but the coverage has been completely lacking and I feel it's bleeding into the issues on the pitch in terms of quality.
Most world cups are spectacles and great because you get to see people out and about, enjoying the venues, soaking up the culture and bringing/sharing the atmosphere in the stadium and outside it. For obvious reasons, this one has had almost none of that. Brazil, Japan/Korea and even South Africa (as tumescent as the games were) look magnificent by comparison.
I dare say that even with 48 teams the next one will be so much better just for being hosted in Canada, USA and Mexico.
Most world cups are spectacles and great because you get to see people out and about, enjoying the venues, soaking up the culture and bringing/sharing the atmosphere in the stadium and outside it. For obvious reasons, this one has had almost none of that. Brazil, Japan/Korea and even South Africa (as tumescent as the games were) look magnificent by comparison.
I dare say that even with 48 teams the next one will be so much better just for being hosted in Canada, USA and Mexico.
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Quality is so poor, as bad as the WC 2010 group stage.
Hope it gets better, but i highly doubt it.
The problem is that tactics tend to make the game boring due to minor teams looking to get a draw and not losing.
Hope it gets better, but i highly doubt it.
The problem is that tactics tend to make the game boring due to minor teams looking to get a draw and not losing.
Agreed, definitely doesn't need any additional teams. It'll just make it easier for teams like Wales to qualify and they've been a waste of a European spot in this tournament. Worst team at this tournament after Qatar.
Performances have been dire
It is not just the WC, don't think the club game (in Europe) has been great in the last few years, lack of depth of quality, and what quality we have condensed on to a handful of teams leading to lopsided competition.
Good game right now though, Canada quite open leading to a lot of transition play which is always fun.
Good game right now though, Canada quite open leading to a lot of transition play which is always fun.
Then where are all the strikers? We've already had 4 0-0 scorelines. When was the last time we had so many goalless GS matches?
I’ve enjoyed it. Some absolute dud games but lots of tight and competitive groups and interesting match-ups. Long way to go.
- Too many teams playing 532 with no good strikers though.
- Not enough number 10s and no space in that area, which is sad for the game
- Not enough quality strikers
- Far too many teams choosing old players on reputation - Di Maria, Hazard, Suarez for example who are all shells of themselves.
- Too many teams playing 532 with no good strikers though.
- Not enough number 10s and no space in that area, which is sad for the game
- Not enough quality strikers
- Far too many teams choosing old players on reputation - Di Maria, Hazard, Suarez for example who are all shells of themselves.
I guess you have a Short memory - literally every World Cup ever doesn't get going until last round of group games
TBF there has been more than the fair share of 0-0s
Still getting upsets from Saudi, Morocco and Japan is already more interesting than most World Cups
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I’m hoping it improves. As others have said, the 2014 group stage was good.
I don’t think it’s been all that bad. Tactically maybe not up to scratch but all players should be in better physical condition compared to other tournaments.
I think it’s been decent to be honest, I’m just not sure there’s as many ‘great’ teams as previous years.
I think it’s been decent to be honest, I’m just not sure there’s as many ‘great’ teams as previous years.
No
We haven't had a World Cup with many great teams since 2006.
The teams may be a bit tired mid season. So the quality may suffer somewhat but I think it's been enjoyable all the same. Minnows doing a great job too
Definitely
That's always how it is. There's been some very good games so far. And also most groups will go down to the wire.
Its been good entertainment even though the quality of football isn’t up to CL level its still been quite enjoyable. May just be me though 