Oh no, how have I discovered this just new that the next World Cup will have 48 contenders in the final tournament...wow I mean, what is the point of calling that the World Cup, just call it Conference league. Awful decision. First they ruined the prestige of EURO championship and now even the World Cup.
I bloody love the World Cup
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Fair on penguins?
World Cup has to be summers! Even if it’s a hot country, they can use air conditioned stadiums.
It’s just not the same in the winter as you are less inclined to get together with friends and family to watch matches. Nice for kids too as it’s holidays.
Yeah but it's only winter in northern hemisphere.
Hooray for everything..... It's been poor.
On this specific World Cup I would totally disagree... But the thread isn't about this World Cup, I'm talking about the World Cup as an event in general.
I mean they have been this time round
Knockouts haven't happened yet? Got a crystal ball?
As for the group games it's really heated up in the second half, think we've had more good games than bad in the end.
It’s amazing and I’m fully invested despite by best efforts. I do wish FIFA weren’t such a greedy, horrible, corrupt piece of shit corporation, though. Always puts a bit of a dampener on it. Ultimately the competition itself would exist regardless though.
Having watched nearly every game I disagree. Been very good I think. Yes there have been a few dead 0-0s but there’s also been some enjoyable 0-0 or low scoring games.
A couple of dire games at the start but yeah been good mostly. This week the matches have been great, drama, tension, footballing skills the works. Glad I watched them all live.
I’ve been so engaged in them I’ve done so little work!
Luckily ive been able to watch most, was great having 4 games a day, little dissapointed that these last rounds the games are played same time so I have to try concentrate on the tv and the Ipad, but that aside the football has been really entertaining.
This has been a brilliant world cup so far.
Much better that 2010 and 18 imo.
Much better that 2010 and 18 imo.
Too many poor teams having too negative tactics. The World Cup should be about the best of the best.
I remember when the European cup for example consisted of 8 teams. You had 2 mouthwatering super hard groups... the best of the best.
Now if all bad teams express themselves like Canada or Saudi Arabia do then I am all for it but there are too much piss poor teams and attitudes (read refusing to take risks) that my overall feeling is one of irritation.
What Poland did today on the pitch was not football, it was pure cowardice.
I remember when the European cup for example consisted of 8 teams. You had 2 mouthwatering super hard groups... the best of the best.
Now if all bad teams express themselves like Canada or Saudi Arabia do then I am all for it but there are too much piss poor teams and attitudes (read refusing to take risks) that my overall feeling is one of irritation.
What Poland did today on the pitch was not football, it was pure cowardice.
That's your opinion, there are people that enjoy and see the art in defensive style tactics or 'parking the bus'. The beauty of football is that there are many different styles and ways to play it, if you want to have a tournament with 32 teams gegenpressing and playing direct, it would kill the beauty of football and it wouldn't as you are assuming make the world cup any better.
Possibly but my hunch is that those people are in the minority. Give me end to end stuff any day of the week but I respect your different opinion.
One of the good things that happened was Qatar winning 0 points.
It’s so special and there’s genuinely nothing like it.
Not sure, you can have more than 10 very competitive teams that didn't qualify.
Just for this year
1. Italy
2. Sweden
3. Turkey
4. Austria
5. Cz Rep
6. Ucraine
7. Rusia
8. Perú
9. Chile
10. Colombia
11. Egypt
12. Mali
13. Algeria
That would already make 45 teams, so it might not be a chore.
Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Hungary, Scotland, Norway
Yes, you can easily get 48 good teams.
Great post, and totally agree. I'm in the States and hearing about how my 6th and 8th grader school shutdown to gather around different TVs to watch USA/Iran, makes my heart smile.
Agreed on Poland, disagree on everything else. The beauty of the World Cup is the absolute joy it brings to ordinary football people from every corner of the world, kids with nothing going mental at Senegal reaching the knock outs, Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, Australia making it through the group stages. Strip away the despicable top layer of greed and there's still an amazing competition for all real football people from dozens of nations. I don't want to just see Neymar and Messi facing off. There's beauty in all of it. Granted, it's better if those moments come from bravery and skill rather than winning via fewer yellow cards.
The way you put it I have to agree with it.
After all we already have what I want in the form of the CL.
On the FOOTBALL, the tournament has had highs and lows so far, but the fans have been excellent, love the colour, the passion, the noise (Argentina tonight were literally bouncing).
Looking forward to knockouts and especially the quarters. Top half could well be…
Holland v Argentina
Spain v Brazil
Other half less clear but could be…
England v France
Portugal v Germany
Theres usually a surprise result but I’d quite like to see football royalty going toe to toe.
Looking forward to knockouts and especially the quarters. Top half could well be…
Holland v Argentina
Spain v Brazil
Other half less clear but could be…
England v France
Portugal v Germany
Theres usually a surprise result but I’d quite like to see football royalty going toe to toe.
Yeah if all the group winners should win in the round of 16, aside from maybe Croatia or Belgium who likely play Germany. The last few rounds are going to be intense
as long as they go for the win and give it their all that’s all that matters.
Give me Saudi Arabia over Poland this world cup for instance. They weren’t the best but they went home knowing they gave it all.
I can’t stand teams that turn up to tournaments and defend for 90 mins
Need a couple of surprise results in last 16
Yeah gutting they got through tonight
There is nothing like the World Cup. It complements club soccer perfectly. The emotions you see from the players and fans (both positive and negative) is the best part. Even watching the players/fans/coaches sing their respective national anthems is enough to bring someone to tears. Not me of course, someone I know.
I've always loved the World Cup from when I was a kid through now. Nothing else like it for me. I greatly enjoy club football and I enjoy other events like the Olympics but there is just something about World Cup month every 4 years that completely hypnotizes me. Something about the passion of people from all around the world coming together to celebrate a competition just can't be topped by anything in any other sport or even club football. Olympics I enjoy but it feels more disjointed with many people just focused on certain events.
I was first skeptical of expansion to 48 nations but feck it. A knockout that starts with 32 teams? I'm here for that. I'd love to see more Asian and African teams start to make up the ground between Europe-SA and the rest of the world.
I was first skeptical of expansion to 48 nations but feck it. A knockout that starts with 32 teams? I'm here for that. I'd love to see more Asian and African teams start to make up the ground between Europe-SA and the rest of the world.
My love and appreciation for the WC has interestingly grown since our decline and my disinterest in the rest of European footy. feck the CL, this is so much more fun.
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The quality of football is often used as an excuse to bash international football and we sometimes forget that club football can be as just as bad, whether it's league or European competition
Jeez, so why don’t you go marry it then?
The best and the biggest sport competition in the world.
I'm loving it so far too. There seems to be a distinct lack of quality, but it's across the board, making the games weirdly entertaining. It's like watching 4 Cup games every day.
If we're ranking competitions by monetary cost and cost to human life, it's definitely the best and biggest
If we're ranking it by talent, quality and entertainment then nah, not close
You mean this World cup or world cups in general?
Cause football world cup is bigger than the Olympics.
I don’t t think so. Rather watch the best teams play watch other. Otherwise we may get a scenario where a “giant killer” has the one off game and then get mauled in the next round. It sometime happens in the CL. Villarreal got to the semi final then got battered by Liverpool last season.
Ye would be good to see someone outside of Europe and SAmerica make it to the quarters
As long as it's not Senegal
