The World Cup

[ATL Recs]

And once again, there you go making things up to suit your own narrative. Just for the record, nothing I said was racist. It was merely an observation. So go on Einstein, explain to me what was racist about my comment. If I look out of the window and it's pissing it down, and I come on here and say it's raining, that's not being precipitationist, is it?

Malvinas? Eat my stools, Argentina.

Messi is finished now and they'll struggle to qualify for 2030.

They get automatic qualification along with 5 other nations

 

[ATL Recs]

Apparently only faced 10 shots

If that’s right that’s some stat wow

 

[Bladedog]

Malvinas? Eat my stools, Argentina.

Messi is finished now and they'll struggle to qualify for 2030.

They,ll be there..talk about expanding to 64 countries.

 

[BazWainwright]

I think the right team won the final, but not the World Cup.

Looking at how we performed overall I do think England should have been in the final and I think would have beaten Spain.

That final was pretty sterile apart from one red card, a goal out of nowhere and a feyt after the whistle.

Let's see if FIFA quietly forget the Malvinas banner and them being magnanimous in defeat and kicking off.

 

[Kenilworth]

I think the right team won the final, but not the World Cup.

Looking at how we performed overall I do think England should have been in the final and I think would have beaten Spain.

That final was pretty sterile apart from one red card, a goal out of nowhere and a feyt after the whistle.

Let's see if FIFA quietly forget the Malvinas banner and them being magnanimous in defeat and kicking off.

It would have made for a better final but Spain would have prevailed, again.
Boring to watch but technically outstanding.

 

[bornablade]

Apparently only faced 10 shots

That should be the new target for defences in the future.
Goals conceded was the old objective and then we had clean sheets.
Now we'll be measuring the success of the back 4 or 5 by their ability to totally protect their keeper and not have him face any shots.

(I wonder how many shots Wes faced in the 2023/24 season, Poor fella !!)

There'll be quite a few Argentinian players returning to our league programme next month.
Will opposing fans give them abuse for their animalistic behaviour?
Or if FIFA don't act upon the MALVINAS banner how will our FA react if a banner is unfurled at a ground stating the FALKLANDS ARE OURS. ?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

That should be the new target for defences in the future.
Goals conceded was the old objective and then we had clean sheets.
Now we'll be measuring the success of the back 4 or 5 by their ability to totally protect their keeper and not have him face any shots.

When cooper first joined the lack of shots he had to make made judging him nearly impossible!

 

[Berkshire Blade]

A good world cup slightly spoilt by off the pitch stuff and a terrible final.

3 weeks until our next competitive game. I am already looking forward to the next proper break from football next summer!

 

[Shadota]

 

[BazWainwright]

It would have made for a better final but Spain would have prevailed, again.
Boring to watch but technically outstanding.

True, but I do think we'd have been more front foot than the Argentines and gone at them more.

They had zero shots for most of the match. Okay, against France in the losers match the stabilisers were off but I think the message we received that Saka and Rashford is a decent pairing but I do think they would have had a handful with dealing with the likes of Bellingham and Rice and Anderson would be good matches for Rodrigo and the other Spanish midfielders. Oyazabal was nowhere to be seen for most of yesterday's match and most of their efforts were pretty tame and straight at Martinez.

 

[SwissBlade]

A good world cup slightly spoilt by off the pitch stuff and a terrible final.

3 weeks until our next competitive game. I am already looking forward to the next proper break from football next summer!

I don't think its been a good world cup, i think a terrible world cup has been rescued by a few decent games from the Quarter finals onwards, really.

Yes its been a huge spectacle for the USA and i think it will have been good for the USA to get some more interest in football as well as football culture. But its worried me seeing these American elements creep into the game - hydration breaks and longer half times are clearly not needed, nor wanted. VAR has been shown to be completely corrupt.

Watching the final last night, it was certainly the two best sides that made it there, they beat the best challengers to get there and even though the final was a poor watch for neutrals, it was an example of modern football, not a positive one, but showed how football is now. Very cagey, as many finals are and have been for a few years.

True, but I do think we'd have been more front foot than the Argentines and gone at them more.

They had zero shots for most of the match. Okay, against France in the losers match the stabilisers were off but I think the message we received that Saka and Rashford is a decent pairing but I do think they would have had a handful with dealing with the likes of Bellingham and Rice and Anderson would be good matches for Rodrigo and the other Spanish midfielders. Oyazabal was nowhere to be seen for most of yesterday's match and most of their efforts were pretty tame and straight at Martinez.

Yep, i think that Spain showed how best to play Argentina, suppress them with possession and keep probing to find that moment of brilliance. England don't play the same way as Spain, but as you say, it shows that if we'd persisted with our tactics until much later in the game we'd probably have found a second or at least one Argentinian player would've lost his head and gone for a red. But this is also the reason that Argentina made the final as they also put fear into England to defend rather than go for it. I don't think that should be underestimated

 

[BazWainwright]

Yes its been a huge spectacle for the USA and i think it will have been good for the USA to get some more interest in football as well as football culture. But its worried me seeing these American elements creep into the game - hydration breaks and longer half times are clearly not needed, nor wanted. VAR has been shown to be completely corrupt.

Totally agree. I think the 94 WC was fraught with commercial Amercanism but because that disgraceful chump is now in the White House and we seemingly have a more corrupt head of FIFA than Blatter and Platini ever were, this tournament has jumped the shark.

I hope the 28 Euros resets football and the Spain/Portugal/Morocco 30 WC brings it back upright. No ad-breaks, no half time jambourees and no Orange baby-men wearing nappies under their suits

 

[Cheeky Blade]

Riots on the streets of Buenos Aires after the defeat…

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Argentina just like pigs......mardy twats when the bouncing gets stopped.

 

[Houston_Blade]

There's a bit of difference between a college championship ring and your cup medal but at the end of the day it's a cultural thing in North America.

I’d hazard a guess that most of the people I met with these rings on would have been something like ‘High School 3rd Division hopscotch championship’ winners.

 

[Rodley]

What I don’t get is the media / pundits trotting out “They really are effective at the dark arts” and “They know just how to stay on the right side of the line”. They should call them what they are, f*cking cheating buggers without a grain of sportsmanship who shame the game of football.

 

[Swannyblade]

Spain conceded one goal all tournament wtf? I didn't even think their defence was anything special!

Spain's XG for the entire tournament was 2.3.
That's very impressive when you consider the expanded format and them having to play 8 games to lift the trophy.
Furthermore, when you consider the quality of the opposition they had to beat along the way - Argentina, France, Belgium, Portugal, Austria & Uruguay. There's some very good attacking players in those teams.

 

[Davalon]

Didn't watch the final but glad the Argies lost. Did they get to display their school artwork to celebrate losing like that other team in blue and white stripes tend to?

Also, did Trump allow Spain to keep the trophy?

There are some footballing highlights to cherish and marvel at but want to forget the way the hosts tried to 'Americanise' a sport that isn't theirs.

Seeing Ronaldo (the tubby one) take the World Cup trophy to Trump during the game to let him touch it was rather sickly

 

[Bladey_blade]

Little weasel. I thought much better of him but all tournament he's been trying to use his influence on referees.
Sunk to the depths of the rest of his team mates.
Surely there are very few neutrals that are disappointed with that outcome? They absolutely stank the place out in the final, offered nothing but the usual petulance. Seemingly as bad as losing as they are at winning.

Spain by far the best team in international football right now, they won it at a canter and would have beaten us comfortably had we got there. Euros and World Cup champs without having to struggle for it. Incredible.

I stand by my opinion that Bellingham was the best individual player in the tournament.
However, it's hard to argue with Rodri winning the award. The most important cog in a very well oiled machine... how does Anderson get a game at City? Are we looking at the next Kalvin Phillips ..

Influence over referees is correct, does anyone else get this "foul"?

 

[SwissBlade]

Totally agree. I think the 94 WC was fraught with commercial Amercanism but because that disgraceful chump is now in the White House and we seemingly have a more corrupt head of FIFA than Blatter and Platini ever were, this tournament has jumped the shark.

I hope the 28 Euros resets football and the Spain/Portugal/Morocco 30 WC brings it back upright. No ad-breaks, no half time jambourees and no Orange baby-men wearing nappies under their suits

I've largely ignored the Trump show, its not added anything to the WC, but there has been some drip through in the corruption side of things as you say.

The Euros is always a better football show, the WC has been a commercial venture for so long, but the expansion has also brought with it lower quality of games and i can't say that its been fun to watch in the main. Euros is always better football, tighter games and much more sporting rivalry. Europe just does football better.

The WC in 2030 is something that will be a farce again as it expands further and has some forays into South America with a few token games being hosted in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay as well as the hosting in Spain / Portugal / Morocco.

The good news for 2030 is that UEFA is starting to gain traction with its members to push to topple Infantino from FIFA. In a world where we thought Blatters corruption couldn't get any worse, we've got Infantino. I've seen some rumours of a journalists investigation into FIFA / Argentina this morning, so perhaps something juicy will be released. I won't hold my breath though.

As you say, hopefully the Euros will reset back to football

 

[mattbianco1]

I’d hazard a guess that most of the people I met with these rings on would have been something like ‘High School 3rd Division hopscotch championship’ winners.

You'll know this as you've lived in the US, but College Football is absolutely crazy.

I've been to Nebraska twice for work. The Memorial Stadium in Lincoln holds 85,000 and sits on the University grounds. It's sold out every game since 1962.

How many people attended your championship winning game?

 

[Davalon]

Argentina just like pigs......mardy twats when the bouncing gets stopped.

I don't mind saying that my disdain for the Argentinian football team surpasses that of the pigs

 

[Houston_Blade]

You'll know this as you've lived in the US, but College Football is absolutely crazy.

I've been to Nebraska twice for work. The Memorial Stadium in Lincoln holds 85,000 and sits on the University grounds. It's sold out every game since 1962.

How many people attended your championship winning game?

View attachment 240554

I get that top tier college sports are a massive thing, I have my views on college sports and the way that they’re recruited for etc. but this isn’t about that. The examples I’m referring to are the yanks that have rings made up for a lot of very minor achievements, I’ve seen it and experienced it. Then they continue to wear them for 50+ years and like to talk about their ‘high school sports career’. Weird.

 

[Grey Blade]

The WC in 2030 is something that will be a farce again as it expands further and has some forays into South America with a few token games being hosted in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay as well as the hosting in Spain / Portugal / Morocco

Where Will The World Cup 2030 Take Place?​

The next World Cup will be unlike any previous tournament, with six countries across three different continents hosting matches. Games will take place across 11 stadiums in Spain, three in Portugal and six in Morocco. In addition, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host three opening matches to mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup – held in Uruguay in 1930.

The opening game will be held at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, with the following two taking place at El Monumental in Buenos Aires and Asuncion in Paraguay. After that, the rest of the competition will take place across Europe and Africa – with the final set to be held on 21 July in either Spain or Morocco.

Seems to be a weak explanation re venues for the next World Cup. Is Fifa sponsored by an International Airline by any chance

 

[MadDad38]

I've largely ignored the Trump show, its not added anything to the WC, but there has been some drip through in the corruption side of things as you say.

The Euros is always a better football show, the WC has been a commercial venture for so long, but the expansion has also brought with it lower quality of games and i can't say that its been fun to watch in the main. Euros is always better football, tighter games and much more sporting rivalry. Europe just does football better.

The WC in 2030 is something that will be a farce again as it expands further and has some forays into South America with a few token games being hosted in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay as well as the hosting in Spain / Portugal / Morocco.

The good news for 2030 is that UEFA is starting to gain traction with its members to push to topple Infantino from FIFA. In a world where we thought Blatters corruption couldn't get any worse, we've got Infantino. I've seen some rumours of a journalists investigation into FIFA / Argentina this morning, so perhaps something juicy will be released. I won't hold my breath though.

As you say, hopefully the Euros will reset back to football

I guess that if Infantino can rely on the 16 votes of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Belize et al who might be amongst the 64 teams in the next WC then this outweighs all of the disdainful UEFA block. The crafty bald twat.

 

[blade too long]

argentina got what they deserved, were content to employ every dark art in fooball to rattle the opposition

we can say with some certainty we may have got to the final if we had been appointed a ref who was bold enough to show a card or 7 when we were literally kicked out, their lack of control after the final needs to carry a severe punishment, it was pure thuggery

I hope that UEFA do set up a more honest and open alternative to the extremely corrupt FIFA Circus and remove the who can give us the most cash set up

and refine it to a 32 max teams event.. 104 games is way too many, it may give minnow nations curacau and cape verde and scotland a chance to lose to better teams
but there were 36 games we didnt need

 

[Swannyblade]

Where Will The World Cup 2030 Take Place?​

The next World Cup will be unlike any previous tournament, with six countries across three different continents hosting matches. Games will take place across 11 stadiums in Spain, three in Portugal and six in Morocco. In addition, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host three opening matches to mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup – held in Uruguay in 1930.

The opening game will be held at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, with the following two taking place at El Monumental in Buenos Aires and Asuncion in Paraguay. After that, the rest of the competition will take place across Europe and Africa – with the final set to be held on 21 July in either Spain or Morocco.

Seems to be a weak explanation re venues for the next World Cup. Is Fifa sponsored by an International Airline by any chance

So, three teams will have to leave their training bases in Spain/Morocco to fly to South America for a one-off game against Uruguay/Argentina/Paraguay? What's the point

 

[Revolution]

So, three teams will have to leave their training bases in Spain/Morocco to fly to South America for a one-off game against Uruguay/Argentina/Paraguay? What's the point

2 reasons:

1. A sop to Uruguay as it's the centenary of the first tournament

2. It allowed Infantino to say South America had had its turn in the continental rotation, meaning that 2034 could go to Saudi, all other continents aside from Oceania (which has no viable host) having hosted some of the tournament since Qatar.

 

[Rodley]

I don't mind saying that my disdain for the Argentinian football team surpasses that of the pigs

Some of these tackles are unreal.

 

[SwissBlade]

Where Will The World Cup 2030 Take Place?​

The next World Cup will be unlike any previous tournament, with six countries across three different continents hosting matches. Games will take place across 11 stadiums in Spain, three in Portugal and six in Morocco. In addition, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each host three opening matches to mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup – held in Uruguay in 1930.

The opening game will be held at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, with the following two taking place at El Monumental in Buenos Aires and Asuncion in Paraguay. After that, the rest of the competition will take place across Europe and Africa – with the final set to be held on 21 July in either Spain or Morocco.

Seems to be a weak explanation re venues for the next World Cup. Is Fifa sponsored by an International Airline by any chance

Apparently its something to do with the 100 year anniversary and the 1930 WC was in Uruguay.

Infantino wanted it on 3 continents (Europe, Africa and South America), but its still a weak excuse.

I guess that if Infantino can rely on the 16 votes of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Belize et al who might be amongst the 64 teams in the next WC then this outweighs all of the disdainful UEFA block. The crafty bald twat.

Yeah he'll basically get enough votes but i think the idea was to get someone strong to challenge him...