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Soccer World Cup 2022/2026

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Claymore95, Jun 17, 2022.

  1. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The refs played a big part in S. Korea advancing as far as they did. Against Italy, the world called us crybabies. When the refs did the same thing against Spain, there was international outrage all of a sudden. Just like diving, when an Italian does it, it is front page and that is all that everyone discusses. When Ronaldo does it against Ghana, it's Ok. Robben his whole career, no problem - especially against Mexico, forgot the year. Grosso against Australia? Italians are cheaters!!!! Immobile faking injury in Euro cup only to get up after Italy scores, what a disgrace. When Kane does the exact same thing a few games later, no mention because it's coming home.

     
  2. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    Interesting outcome from today's Japan/Spain group is that with Spain being the runners-up in the group, it now puts them in the same half of the draw as England and France. Portugal also likely to end up in that half of the draw if they finish top of the group tomorrow that they've already qualified from and are 3 points (and +3 goal difference) ahead of Ghana.

    As a biased ABE fan, I'm glad they're not getting the easy route through the tournament as they've usually had recently :laughy:
     
  3. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    It's likely that you could see a Brazil/Argentina semi final on the one side of the bracket and an all European semi final on the other side of the bracket. (either England/France vs Spain/Portugal) I'm not tipping my predictions, but if one were to be setting up odds...
     
  4. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yep, just brutal announcing during Japan-Spain which had Spain out just because Germany went ahead of Costa Rica, without even paying attention to goal difference.

    Took them quite a while to correct themselves.

    Even without the mistake, it was the first time I heard these 2, and they were uniformly awful.

    I've never heard so many soccer clichés within 90 minutes.

    They need to be sent home for the knockout round...
     
  5. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I was thinking this for most of the 2nd half, by finishing 2nd they got the easier draw.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2022
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  6. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    yeah you are talking about Jacqui Oatley and Warren Barton. It's funny, I did a post back in 2018 about the World Cup announcers... went into great detail about all of them (the ones here in the US that were covering it). I actually don't mind Oatley/Barton this time around. Barton got on my nerves in 2018 for being lazy and not knowing enough about the players on the pitch. He's been a bit better this cup. Oatley I think is actually pretty good. She reminds me of the Sky Sports female announcer that does some F1 stuff. Her name is Natalie Pinkham and her voice is also quite good. It's what you want in a regular play by play announcer... someone whose voice doesn't bother you and can get the facts out well enough to where if you were blind (or listening on the radio) you could "see" what was occurring. But their voices are very pleasant, like the sounds of the ocean :lol:

    Derek Rae cracks me up... he is the Scottish one who is teamed with Cobi Jones (he's improved over the years). Rae has to say everyone's name a little differently. Particularly the German/Dutch players. He is the only one I've ever heard pronounce Kevin De Bruyne's name differently (with a flemmish sound). Sounds like Kevin De "bru-er"... lol...

    I can't believe some of these announcers/commentators are still employed. Landon Donovan is dreadful, he sounds so bored with it all. John Strong is terrible, his voice breaks when anything good happens, it's so over worked. Aly Wagner... so bad. Don't even get me started with the studio announcers... Lalas and his top 10. lmao...

    The TV voices from NBC/Peaock (now Sky Sports) are so much better. But I can't believe NBC didn't keep Arlo White. He's brilliant. Now he does LIV golf. Now there's a topic for another day.
     
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  7. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    I think he lived in Germany, and speaks German fluently, so would make sense he would pronounce some names a little differently to us non-speakers.

    He used to do Scottish games on a channel here when they had the rights, and I like him as a commentator. One of the better ones.

    On the other hand, ex players, apart from a few examples, are almost always dreadful commentators/analysts, so I can understand your opinions on the likes of Donovan and Lalas. We have far too many of their type on our TV coverage too!
     
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  8. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    My actual favorites are the British announcers, who have clearly never met a Hispanic person, and continue to butcher Spanish/Hispanic names in a ridiculous fashion.

    For God Sakes, it's Mar-teen-iz not Martin-ezz...... !:2guns:

    Just a complete lack of professionalism.

    Although, it's less common here than it is in pretty much every EPL broadcast.
     
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  9. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    More nail-biting drama to end the last games of today's early groups, with Uruguay going out thanks to an injury time winner for S Korea. Have to say I'm pleased Uruguay have gone out, have disliked them ever since they kicked Scotland off the park in '86...moi, hold a grudge, never :lol:...they're still a dirty team though!

    I think one thing these last games of the groups have shown is they need to have a rethink about the plans to have 16 groups of 3 in the next tournament. You lose too much drama from not having all teams playing in the last game and outcomes changing by the minute depending on each game. I think 16x3 hasn't been confirmed yet, so I hope they go with 12x4.
     
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  10. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Funny I was just thinking about 2026 and looking up the format, which as you say has not fully been decided yet. 16 groups of 3 is really strange, because 1 team does not hold their fate in their hands at the end, so that has to be re-imagined. Although I'm hearing that the knock out stage won't be 16 teams but rather 32 teams. So you've got 2 teams out of 3 advancing. That can be interesting to see how they get to the 2 from 3.

    Uruguay were poor until today, they deserved to go home. pretty disappointing with Darwin Nunez not playing that well. (as an LFC supporter of course)
     
  11. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    a bit of a sham some of these third group stage games... Portugal, Brazil, Spain, France all losing with their 2nd teams (Spain not as blatant as the other three). Mixed results for the teams that beat them, with South Korea and Japan being the benefactors.
     
  12. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Round of 16

    Netherlands [​IMG] vs USA [​IMG]

    -I'll be rooting for the US of course, the Netherlands have really been better this WC with the blossoming of Gakpo. I think without him, I'd be picking the US. I hate to say it's about one player that decides it. US can win this game and it would be a huge occurrence. Pulisic, if he's 100% would be a big boost. My Pick? Netherlands! 3-1

    Argentina [​IMG] vs Australia [​IMG]

    -I'd like to see the Aussies go thru, but Argentina will be too much for them. Argentina 2-0.

    Japan [​IMG] vs Croatia [​IMG]

    -This will be a fun game to watch. I'd love to pick Japan. Croatia are just so clinical. It seems setup for a Croatia run... I'm gonna go with Japan though! Lovren at the back worries me with that Japan counter speed! Japan get thru 2-1!

    Brazil [​IMG] vs South Korea [​IMG]

    -Could I pick both South Korea and Japan??? no :lol: Brazil are just too good here, Brazil 4-1
    England [​IMG] vs Senegal [​IMG]

    -And here we go... If Senegal had Sadio Mane, I'd be a little more worried about this one. England should win it and will... England 3-0

    France [​IMG] vs Poland [​IMG]

    -France will recover in time to beat a Poland squad that aren't that good IMO. France 4-0

    Morocco [​IMG] vs Spain [​IMG]

    -This is shaping up to be a great game! I believe the entire Moroccan population has travelled to Qatar, or at least it seems that way. In an ordinary setting, a neutral stage, I'd pick Spain. But I'm going to pick Morocco!! It could even go penalties! Either 1-1 or 2-1 Morocco!
    Portugal [​IMG] vs Switzerland [​IMG]

    Can the Swiss do it again? Will Sommer make it back for penalties? I'd love to see the Swiss and Shaqiri win it... but I have to go with Portugal. Two upsets out of eight is probably enough... Portugal 3-2!


    QF predictions

    NED vs ARG... Argentina again... 2-1
    JPN vs BRA... Brasil in a classico... 4-2

    ENG vs FRA... look, on paper, France are a better team, but... going with England, 2-2 winning on penalties!! oh my heart.
    MAR vs POR... it ends for Morocco here... Portugal 3-1

    SF...
    Brasil beat Argentina on pens.... after a 1-1 game.
    England beats Portugal and enacts revenge on Ronaldo sending him home for good... 2-1

    Final! Brasil loses to England!!! 3-2 in the best game of the tourney.

    hahah (did you really think I'd predict anything else?) what a homer I am...
     
  13. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Brazil is a force. Congrats to Cameroon on a historic win. Cool interaction between the ref and goal scorer, who he had to give a second yellow to.
     
  14. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    I thought there was going to be a full scale riot in the Serbia-Switzerland game with multiple sending offs at some stages of the game. For those that don't know, Xhaka and Shakiri are of Kosovan Albanian descent whose families fled to Switzerland, and absolutely loathe Serbia due to the Balkan wars. Xhaka in particular looked like he wanted to fight all the Serbian players at some points, and was caught on camera making gestures to them which riled the whole Serbian team.

    That was a brutal war, so I kind of understand the depth of feelings that players from that region have. I went to the war museum in Dubrovnik when I was in Croatia a couple of years ago, and the pictures and stories there were harrowing, with more than a slight resemblance to storylines from the Holocaust.
     
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  15. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Weah as a nine with Ferreira alongside intrigues me and good on the coach for changing it here at this stage. Lets go USA!!
     
  16. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    US afraid to shoot in the final 18. Really missing a striker. Imagine if they had Gakpo or Depay.
     
  17. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Nevermind he is playing out wide. Tho just had a shot. Only their second of the game.
     
  18. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Done. Dagger.
     
  19. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Brutal to concede just before halftime. They have had some chances just really lacking in the final 18. Weah has made some good runs on the right but nobody has found him consistently enough. Pulisic should be playing more central he isnt a winger. Pulisic and Weah need to be closer to each other. Robinson and Dest making those runs has been their best moves out if the midfield to the 18 but then a lack of quality.
     
  20. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Robinson with a nightmare defending against Dumfries all game. He wasnt like that against LFC and Salah. Looks gassed. Should have come off when he got hurt.
     
  21. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Oops. Predicted the score right. (Whistles)
     
  22. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Tired team, that was ball watching way too much.

    You can tell we were tired when Adams doesn't track his runner only 10 minutes into the game.

    Maybe running 8 miles a game for 3 games in a row, wasn't something that was sustainable.

    They finished and we didn't.

    Christian is going to die at age 95, in bed with 2 blondes, and he's still going to be thinking about that early chance....

    It was a fun run though.

    It would've been nice to see how we could've played if some of our best guys were actually 90 minutes fit.!:(
     
  23. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Oof. Poland had real chances to take the lead v France but buckled at the end of the first half. Been a bit of a theme so far in the brackets, the late first half goals. France is not so dominant out of possession. They are passive and invite attack so they can counter with their speed. That can backfire.
     
  24. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    That'll be that then. Poland aren't coming back from a 2 goal deficit.
     
  25. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    My god the American announcing is frankly embarrassing. John Strong just converted Mbappes top speed to a 40 time and says hed run a 3.8 40 time. Does he not understand physics and how a 40 time is run/calculated from a “standing” start? Thats literally the dumbest thing I’ve heard all World Cup.
     
  26. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Lloris looks like he hasn’t slept for days.
     
  27. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Same Poland every year. No midfield and can't string 3 passes together. Waste of Lewa's international career.
     
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  28. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Sterling family matter out. No big deal. Rashford not starting odd.
     
  29. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Bellingham has been absolutely brilliant. I havent seen him much till this WC. Dont watch Dortmund games. I now understand what all the fuss is about (LFC transfer rumors).
     
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  30. Tone_E

    Tone_E Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    So mature and humble at such a young age as well. Check out how he carries himself in interviews. Seems like a great kid on top of his sky high potential. He's probably gonna be the next player poached from BD.
     
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  31. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Comfy in the end but some nervous moments in that first half. Getting the 2nd before HT was nice. Thought the ref was going to blow for the half. Time for the Brits fans to show up en masse v France. Walker v Mbappe the key matchup.
     
  32. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    English. English! You're not going to get many Scottish/Welsh/N Irish fans supporting them!
     
  33. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    So you’d rather root for the French? lol. They burn their women!
     
  34. Lloyd Heilbrunn

    Lloyd Heilbrunn Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Was he trying to impress people with linebacker speed in the NFL?

    I didn't see the early game, but thought England looked strong after Pickford's early save.

    Senegal learned the lesson the US learned.

    Don't blow early chances against a top team...
     
  35. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    Haha, I quite like the French. There's a thing called the "Auld Alliance" between the Scots and French, goes back to medieval times when we backed each other up from attacks....from the English :tongue2:
     
  36. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    I've just been reading that a Saudi Arabian team have offered Ronaldo a contract worth 200million(!) Euros a year. I've been saying for a while that the money is getting ridiculous in soccer, but that is just obscene!

    He was on £500k a week salary, or £26m a year, for Man Utd, which was a lot already, but that's almost 10x that amount.
     
  37. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Almost Japan almost…
     
  38. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    Its official he has signed. Crazy. Will the same people be giving him crap like they did the LIV golf players?
     
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  39. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    Dreadful penalties by them. You'd think they'd have practiced them knowing they would be facing Croatia, who always seem to end up in a penalty shootout!
     
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  40. Claymore95

    Claymore95 Working on it... Club Member

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    The third goal from Brazil, that's my goal of the tournament so far! The kind of goal that only Brazil can score.
     

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