I don't think we should consider that an upset. They have a good squad, with most of their players in Europe's top 5 leagues, and many of them have been playing the CL or EL regularly.
Is this one of the worst quality World Cups ever? | Probably not
- Thread starter Solius
- Start date
Colour me shocked. Surprised people can watch it tbh.
It is an upset based on bookies odds
Morocco have some good players but the Belgian squad has much more top level experience
Good input, bud.
Yes it's probably one of the worst so far, not really in terms of results but just how uninventive much of the play has been, misplaced passes, slow play, the lack of strikers and other prominent players, many too old and not much coming through. I've always enjoyed tournament football while disliking friendlies and found interest and entertainment in teams/players I've not watched before in the majority of the early games with some nice creative goals, this has been the opposite, probably around 20% of games have been decent.
At least Croatia did find some nice creativity today, they we're against quite basic opposition but they made their class show with some well worked goals. Perhaps it will take a while to get going, definitely the very top is not as good and the bottom teams like Wales etc have been just too poor.
At least Croatia did find some nice creativity today, they we're against quite basic opposition but they made their class show with some well worked goals. Perhaps it will take a while to get going, definitely the very top is not as good and the bottom teams like Wales etc have been just too poor.
There’s too much conservative football. Doesn’t help that the best coaches aren’t in international football.
Minnows improving is welcomed, but it does lead to some tepid nervous games
Bring back proper strikers too. Tired of this constant shite finishing
Minnows improving is welcomed, but it does lead to some tepid nervous games
Bring back proper strikers too. Tired of this constant shite finishing
It feels like football development has been more focused on midfielders than strikers his past decade..
Saudi beating Argentina won't have much of impact in terms of its upset if Argentina still easily qualify, it would be a bit like a top side in the champions having a dodgy first game but still qualifying top of the group.
Yeah, the games get bogged down in midfield. This must be the worst era for elite strikers.
I've certainly gotten more into it, and I think it'll improve from game-day 3 onwards. It's not been overly amazing so far though, and I don't go out of my way to watch a-lot of the games.
it’ll pick up when united play their first game.
I've been enjoying watching the games as I do every world cup. But, yeah, technically it's not felt up to the usual levels. And that, combined with some cagey tactics, has led to some low scoring games.
It feels like it's one of the world cups that comes about in a betwixt and between era, with a lot of the top players now 30+ and not at their prime, and not many of the next generation at a point to take over the mantle. Kylian Mbappe being an obvious exception.
The 'underdogs' now also being a lot more solid and tactically astute than in previous eras also doesn't help in terms of the goal count. Though it does help in terms of the scores staying closer for longer, and increasing the amount of upsets.
I guess it's that balancing act of some upsets being good to watch, but maybe not so much if they're more because of a dilusion of ability and entertainment?
It feels like it's one of the world cups that comes about in a betwixt and between era, with a lot of the top players now 30+ and not at their prime, and not many of the next generation at a point to take over the mantle. Kylian Mbappe being an obvious exception.
The 'underdogs' now also being a lot more solid and tactically astute than in previous eras also doesn't help in terms of the goal count. Though it does help in terms of the scores staying closer for longer, and increasing the amount of upsets.
I guess it's that balancing act of some upsets being good to watch, but maybe not so much if they're more because of a dilusion of ability and entertainment?
It's a bit of a perfect storm really:
-There's a vaccuum of outstanding quality between the generation that's playing their last WC (Messi, Cristiano, Lewandowski, Modric, Bale) and the NextGen that's playing their first one. The ones that are supposed to be shining (with Mbappé and Neymar as the obvious exceptions) aren't good enough.
-Having the WC in November/December is a nightmare for the players. They have only one week to prepare for the tournament, and after it ends they'll have a very short time before club football is back.
-The heat might be causing a lot of teams to play in a slower pace.
-There's evidently a lack of atmosphere in most stadiums, which probably doesn't contribute to teams and players giving their 110%.
-There's been a lot of political issues that have taken focus from the game.
Having said that, most WC group games start like this (i reckon only 2014 being ostensibly better) and there's been a handful of good games. For instance now Germany and Spain are playing a hell of a match.
-There's a vaccuum of outstanding quality between the generation that's playing their last WC (Messi, Cristiano, Lewandowski, Modric, Bale) and the NextGen that's playing their first one. The ones that are supposed to be shining (with Mbappé and Neymar as the obvious exceptions) aren't good enough.
-Having the WC in November/December is a nightmare for the players. They have only one week to prepare for the tournament, and after it ends they'll have a very short time before club football is back.
-The heat might be causing a lot of teams to play in a slower pace.
-There's evidently a lack of atmosphere in most stadiums, which probably doesn't contribute to teams and players giving their 110%.
-There's been a lot of political issues that have taken focus from the game.
Having said that, most WC group games start like this (i reckon only 2014 being ostensibly better) and there's been a handful of good games. For instance now Germany and Spain are playing a hell of a match.
Can see in the Spain Germany game how cm accurate offside has damaged the spectacle.
Offside is there to stop goal hanging... No one thought you'd get this kind of precision when the law was written.
In VAR games there should be a bigger margin of error. It's something that should have been tested before it was ever brought in.
Offside is there to stop goal hanging... No one thought you'd get this kind of precision when the law was written.
In VAR games there should be a bigger margin of error. It's something that should have been tested before it was ever brought in.
Absolutely not. The groups always bring up some boring games, but we are not fully through even through the second set of games yet and we’ve had a 7-0, 6-1, two 4-1s and three huge upsets (Saudi, Japan and Morocco).
It’s only the worst if it’s the first you’ve seen.
It’s only the worst if it’s the first you’ve seen.
Watching the Spain Germany game and thinking this. It's a World Cup where most of the traditional big nations are in a sort of rebuilding phase. Busquets playing in midfield with Gavi and Pedri, Musiala playing with the likes of Muller. France have a real chance at being the first to retain the trophy for the first time since 1962. They're the most balanced side out there.
Total xG/90 of all 32 teams of whole 2018 world cup: 38.93 source
Total xG/90 of all 32 teams of the 2022 world cup so far: 38.49 source
(xg stats only showing up to the Belgium-Morocco game so far)
Writing this in the middle of the Spain-Germany match.
Assuming this game finishes 1-1, the corresponding game from the last world cup was Germany vs Sweden finishing 2-1.
Goals at this point in 2018 world cup: 64
Goals so far at 2022 world cup: 67
You can argue for what is considered quality but if you are complaining about lack of goals/chances then you are biased and/or have a short memory. Not to mention 2018 had the record number of penalties with that handball rule.
Total xG/90 of all 32 teams of the 2022 world cup so far: 38.49 source
(xg stats only showing up to the Belgium-Morocco game so far)
Writing this in the middle of the Spain-Germany match.
Assuming this game finishes 1-1, the corresponding game from the last world cup was Germany vs Sweden finishing 2-1.
Goals at this point in 2018 world cup: 64
Goals so far at 2022 world cup: 67
You can argue for what is considered quality but if you are complaining about lack of goals/chances then you are biased and/or have a short memory. Not to mention 2018 had the record number of penalties with that handball rule.
So... It's likely been the same as it has typically been but personal biases make it sound better or worse..
Interesting. Thanks!
Perhaps it’s been skewed a bit by the 7 - 0 and 6 - 2 results? There’s definitely been more 0 - 0s than before, though the last two games today have been good.
Well 2018 had those too,russia 5_0 ksa, Belgium 5_2 Tunisia and England 6_1 Panama so it's not a factor.
This is the answer. Teams have caught on to how to press/shape themselves off the ball to turn every game into a cagey midfield battle, and to overcome this it takes a lot of practice and work (along with quality) through patterns that I just don’t think these teams have. It’s tough without world class players to teach how to play and move back to front through a press, but it’s much easier to get said team to implement the press.
A uniform style (European conservative/pragmatic) from many players and coaches working in that same environment… outliers (like Arabia, Iran, Japan) are the most enthralling, in the good and in the bad results.
Don't remember a lot of the group stage games from 2018, but it feels like this time teams have all practiced defending but not passing or attacking.
Spain are the only ones who look like more than the some of their parts. Scoreline wasn't great but Spain-Germany was the best technical match by a massive distance.
Spain are the only ones who look like more than the some of their parts. Scoreline wasn't great but Spain-Germany was the best technical match by a massive distance.
Been gash so far
Just on strikers, had a quick look at the 1998 tournament and it had;
Suker
Batistuta
Vieri
Bergkamp
Kulivert
Shearer
Owen
Ronaldo
Salas
Zamorano
Baggio
Henry
Bebeto
Klinsman
Bierhoff
Hernandez
Moreintes
Raul
Mijatovic
Benni McCarthy
Claudio Lopez
Trezeguet
Edmundo
Solskjaer
Flo
Etoo
Del Piero
Inzaghi
Chiesa
Van Hoojdonk
Jimmy Floyd
Asprilla
Crespo
Balbo
I mean, god damn.
Suker
Batistuta
Vieri
Bergkamp
Kulivert
Shearer
Owen
Ronaldo
Salas
Zamorano
Baggio
Henry
Bebeto
Klinsman
Bierhoff
Hernandez
Moreintes
Raul
Mijatovic
Benni McCarthy
Claudio Lopez
Trezeguet
Edmundo
Solskjaer
Flo
Etoo
Del Piero
Inzaghi
Chiesa
Van Hoojdonk
Jimmy Floyd
Asprilla
Crespo
Balbo
I mean, god damn.
It’s been terrible. Then again that’s just what football is these days.
Holy shitballs
Fair enough!
1998 was the first tournament I remember and always felt like the best. Glad it wasn’t just nostalgia doing that. What a list.
Today was fun. France v Denmark was fun too. It just depends on matchups. There's been a lot of shit matchups in this group stage.
Wow, what a great list of quality strikers.
5 substitutes could be playing a part as the defensive teams can run all day to destruct play and block space. I genuinely don't like this idea.
TBH some were going in and out of their prime, plus 442 was the formation most teams used.
Most teams didn't have the wingers we have currently in world football.
In a few years team, we could just simply take a list of France and Brazil's attackers and be astonished at how world class it was.
Similar with Portugal too.
There are also some strikers on that list who were good, but were nowhere as good as lots of people remember. Imagine putting 1998 Benni McCarthy on a list of quality strikers.
It's boring. Probably because most people posting online have watched 6, 7, 8 of them now and are realising together how crap life is.
Best to go have a mid life crisis I reckon.
Best to go have a mid life crisis I reckon.
This is better than any WC since 2010
So this must be why 98 is my favourite world cup. It all makes sense now.
We're going to go into the last round of group fixtures with potential only 1 or 2 (and max 3) teams definitely qualified for the next round. Which, without looking into it, doesn't feel like the norm, and so should be pretty exciting.
Generally, I feel like the 'organisation' and 'keeping the shape' part of the game has been shoved down everyone's throats so much that this is what most teams focus on now. There's more about 'not making a mistake' and getting criticised for it in the media/social media than there is of a focus on creativity or making goals. I'd say that it's more of a process now than an art.
94 was the worst one I’ve seen.
I don’t think it’s worst ever.
However, it may feel so due to a number of factors. World cups are normally more exciting due to being in the summer when its generally a better time for your mood in general. It’s a carnival atmosphere as the country gets behind the team.
Also the players are playing in circumstances they’ve never experienced before. We have to remember these players have been playing non stop for over 2 years now as we had the Euros last summer. It’s been a hectic schedule this season too.
I also don’t think it’s helping having 4 matches on every day which feels very overkill. It’s non stop games from 10am till 9pm. Usually it’s 3 games per day. Sometimes less is more.
However, it may feel so due to a number of factors. World cups are normally more exciting due to being in the summer when its generally a better time for your mood in general. It’s a carnival atmosphere as the country gets behind the team.
Also the players are playing in circumstances they’ve never experienced before. We have to remember these players have been playing non stop for over 2 years now as we had the Euros last summer. It’s been a hectic schedule this season too.
I also don’t think it’s helping having 4 matches on every day which feels very overkill. It’s non stop games from 10am till 9pm. Usually it’s 3 games per day. Sometimes less is more.