World Cup Qatar

Discussion in 'Sports' started by Montegriffo, Nov 18, 2022.

  1. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    I had a quick look and couldn't find a WC thread so with just two days before the opening game I thought I'd better start one.

    Also, with just two days to go FIFA under pressure from the Qatar authorities have announced there will be no alcohol sold in any of the 8 stadiums built for the competition.
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  2. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    The England and Wales teams play their first matches on Monday against Iran and USA respectively.
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    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
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  3. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Saying present. In the absence of my beloved Italy, I will be rooting for the United States, of course (I'm Italian-American), plan A, and for Brazil, a country I love from many professional collaboration long stays I had there that have left me with many enduring friendships with Brazilians, including, having learned the language very proficiently - Plan B. I look forward to seeing how Neymar, Vini Jr. and company will do. Brazil are considered to be the favorites to win it all. This doesn't bode well - often the favorites don't fulfill their potential. But they are indeed a very good team, much better than the one that failed at home in 2014 with the historical 7-1 fiasco against Germany, and got eliminated by Belgium in 2018. They cruised through the difficult South American qualifiers well above all the others including Argentina, having qualified undefeated with six rounds to spare. They no longer solely depend on Neymar. They have a stupendous offense and are taking no fewer than 9 forwards to the World Cup. They score a lot. Their defense is a bit shaky, but hey, if you score 4 goals and concede 2, you win. The Brazilian club I support, Flamengo, has two stars in the current national team: Pedro and Éverton Ribeiro. I'll be rooting for them.

    By extension with the Portuguese language thing and due to the biggest star of my Italian club, AC Milan, being a player for Portugal (left winger Rafael Leão) I have sympathy for the Portuguese team, although with a hint of concern: the better Rafa does, the more likely he will be poached from Milan by the various big and wealthy clubs that have already expressed an interest (PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea). I think we'll lose Leão anyway given how difficult the negotiations for his renewal have been, but I very much enjoy watching him play so I'll be looking forward to Portugal's games. If Leão shines a lot, we'll likely lose him in January, but if he is so-so in the World Cup, we may be able to keep him until the summer transfer window. Rafa can be wildly inconsistent, from being brilliant to disappearing from action, so, we'll see. Portugal is plan C.

    AC Milan has two other stars that will be playing for a major team: France's left back Theo Hernández and center forward Olivier Giroud, both players I also very much enjoy. Neither one is at a risk of being poached by other teams, so I can root for their success without concern. I also enjoy seeing Benzema play, the current Ballon d'Or holder. If the USA, Brazil, and Portugal get bumped out, I'll be supporting France as a plan D.

    AC Milan's center back Simon Kjaer (another player I like very much) plays for Denmark. Who doesn't like Denmark? I'd like to see them do well. Plan E.

    AC Milan's left back Fodé Ballo-Touré plays for Senegal. I don't like Ballo very much. He's been mediocre while playing for Milan, as a sub. Hey, if he does well maybe someone will buy him from us... we can use the money. I have no other reason to be sympathetic to Senegal, so no plan F.

    AC Milan's right back Sergiño Dest plays for the United States. He came on loan from Barcelona and initially he was awful. His defensive errors were responsible in great part for a very essential defeat we had against Serie A leaders Napoli, 2-1, a game I attended in person at San Siro. We were all very irritated with his errors, including the very major one of committing a silly penalty foul that prevented us from at least drawing with Napoli. It is true that Sergiño has finally shown signs of doing better for Milan for the last 3 games so there is hope; I'm still of two minds about him; but of course, being American, I will root for him as a member of the USMNT.

    AC Milan's offensive midfielder Charles De Ketelaere plays for Belgium. He was our flashy summer signing for 35 million Euro and has been an utter disappointment. He looks like a bust. However, part of it may be that he is very young and seems to be psychologically hurting, with no self-confidence in a new country, new language, new league and new team. So if he plays well for Belgium coming in as a sub and gets a boost of confidence, that may be good for us. Other than hoping for CDK to do well, I have no sympathy for Belgium so I won't go as far as rooting for them.

    The USMNT is made of many young players who are promising and play for major European clubs. I do not expect us to progress very deeply but I do hope we'll survive the group phase. I do expect that our youngsters will collect experience and skills, so that the USMNT will hopefully do much better in 2026 at home.

    Anyway, I'm very excited (to the degree I can be, because I weep every time I think that Italy is not there!). Now, retired, I'll be able to watch all games that interest me. Go USA, avante Brasil, força Portugal, allez Les Bleus, gå til Danmark, and my best to Leão, Hernández, Giroud, Kjaer, Ballo-Touré, Dest, and De Ketelaere.
     
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  4. drluggit

    drluggit Well-Known Member

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    I think it will be interesting to see what, if any, tolerance for the tribalism and violence seen in previous world cups. Perhaps that's why the suddenly killed alcohol sales at the venues.... I can't believe the WC is being played in Qatar... It just begs for the lockup of a lot of tourists as the ignore the laws there...
     
  5. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Stopping sales of alcohol at the stadiums is a move I think will backfire on the intolerant Qataris.
    Fans will now do their drinking beforehand at the fan zones and international hotels leading to the spectacle of drunken hordes descending on the venues through the streets.
    The rules for the super rich are different of course as those able to pay 19 thousand bucks for a hospitality box at the stadiums will be able to purchase beers or champagne.
     
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  6. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    I want to see the US do well as I think it will be good for the sport but I also want the home nations England and Wales to progress from the group and only two will go through to the next round.
    Above all in the group stage I want Qatar to be humiliated and lose every game 10-0.
    After his poor treatment from Man Utd I'm more sympathetic towards Ronaldo than I have been in the past. He got it absolutely right when he complained that the Glazers care nothing for the game and only GAF about the money.
     
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  7. drluggit

    drluggit Well-Known Member

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    We shall see. US v Wales? Monday. interested to see how much viewership in the US there is...
     
  8. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    A must win match to get out of the group stages unless you can manage to pull off an upset against England.
    Should be a good game so I hope there are plenty of people watching it in the States.
     
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  9. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    I would say poor guitar because they have to pay for everything. FIFA is organized crime.
     
  10. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    Really the USA I'm surprised our country has a team and is even competitive in kickball.
     
  11. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Currently ranked 16 in the world, ahead of both Wales and Iran.
    A real chance of progressing to the knockout rounds where anything can happen.
    With a wide open field this year there is a slim chance you could be hosting the next World Cup as champions.
     
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  12. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    ...and let's not forget that the three times England has played USA in competitive games resulted in two USA wins and a draw.
    England have never beaten the USA in a competitive soccer match or a war of independence.
     
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  13. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    So cheer for everybody else.
     
  14. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    My preferred winners in order are...
    1) England
    2) Wales
    3) USA
    ...and I'm flexible with regards to 2 and 3.
     
  15. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    I don't care about kick ball.
     
  16. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    You may have mistakenly wandered into the wrong thread then.
     
  17. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    I'm here to mock kickball.
     
  18. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    It's your own time you are wasting.

    I've always wanted to say that but I've never had a child of my own so thank you for the opportunity.
     
  19. Polydectes

    Polydectes Well-Known Member

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    And what are you doing?
     
  20. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Trying to understand what would motivate someone to make so many posts in a thread they claim to have no interest in other than to mock the subject.
    Did some soccer player once steal one of your partners?
     
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  21. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    And it starts! Intriguing opener; I'll be rooting for Ecuador (no sympathy for the Qataris). Wow, golazo for Ecuador at 2'50"! Well darn, VAR offside, no goal.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2022
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  22. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Should be fairly significant viewership. Soccer popularity has increased in the United States in the last few years, not to forget that the figures also get boosted by a significant population of immigrants who come from soccer-loving nations.
     
  23. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Just tuned in.
    One nil to Ecuador but I missed it.
    My team for this game is anyone bur Qatar.
     
  24. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Strange statement from the FIFA president yesterday.
    Likening his own bullying as a red haired speckled school boy to the plight of gays and other minorities in Qatar.
    I'm not sure that even the strictest private schools ever outlawed gingers.
     
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  25. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    Harsh yellow card. I wonder if Qatar has bought the refs as well as their team and FIFA?
     

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