Black Cat Bone

Diamond Dog wrote:We must agree to disagree.

Yep - as I said in my original point I think that's the best.

Toby wrote:The Qatar World Cup is from Nov 21 to 18 Dec 2022 btw.

I still can't quite get my head around this.
And then it's 48 teams after that.

Geezee wrote:

Toby wrote:The Qatar World Cup is from Nov 21 to 18 Dec 2022 btw.

I still can't quite get my head around this.

It's a nonsense.

Let's see how keen they are to play the 3rd/4th place playoff then!

I really felt for Croatia. They showed real intent right from the off, maybe sensing they needed to win it in 90 minutes, and showed huge character the entire game, even when they went 4 – 1 down which would have killed most teams. They deserve huge credit.

I didn’t think it was a penalty either. If that wasn’t given then who knows what might have happened. In the end the score line flattered France but that’s how it goes sometimes. France have some real talent in that squad and, crucially, they also had the best defense which could really stand them in great stead for the next 2/3 tournaments. That performance against Belgium really seemed to give them a huge lift.

It’s been a cracking tournament overall, maybe the best I can remember although I would still maybe put ‘98 above it just because of the quality of the strongest teams. It’s arguably been the most open and entertaining however. I found it hugely refreshing after some of the more recent dirges, particularly 2006 and 2010. 2014 had a strong group stage but lacked the great games in the knockout stage to really elevate it. I did find the performances of Spain, Argentina and Germany hugely disappointing. As much I want surprises and underdogs doing well there is something about the glamour and history of those nations which makes me want them in the knockout stages. It didn’t feel right not having the Italians or the Dutch either. Argentina have issues and really need to find some creative midfielders. Spain and Germany will be fine I think and have some very good young players. The next Euros could be a real cracker.

I agree with G about Senegal. They were very unlucky to go out (yellow cards!) and I certainly think they would have given England more of a game than Colombia.

Team of the tournament:

Pickford (England)

Trippier (Eng) Varane (Fra) Maguire (Eng) Hernandez (Fra)

Kante (Fra)

Pogba (Fra) Modric (Cro)

Hazard (Bel) Mbappe (Fra) Perisic (Cro)


Subs: Courtois, Godin, Inui, Cheryshev, De Bruyne.

Player of the tournament: Modric. Totemic.
Game of the tournament: France v Argentina or Belgium v Japan.

I've never watched a 3rd place playoff match.

Diamond Dog wrote:

Geezee wrote:

Toby wrote:The Qatar World Cup is from Nov 21 to 18 Dec 2022 btw.

I still can't quite get my head around this.

It's a nonsense.

Does anyone who isn't a senior official with FIFA or the Qatari FA think that this madness will actually go ahead?

caramba wrote:

Diamond Dog wrote:

It's a nonsense.

Does anyone who isn't a senior official with FIFA or the Qatari FA think that this madness will actually go ahead?

Why wouldn't it?
As crazy as it is - I don't see any meaningful movement against it.

The final was the first game my boy watched "properly". I thought "you lucky shit, I've had to endure some properly rotten games and the first one you watch is a Stormer"...

Toby wrote:The final was the first game my boy watched "properly". I thought "you lucky shit, I've had to endure some properly rotten games and the first one you watch is a Stormer"...

Don’t worry, I’m assuming your kid will have plenty of West Ham games ahead which will more than make up for it.

No, he's veering towards Liverpool as Salah is Egyptian (he loves Ancient Egypt).

The only thing I've inculcated is not to support Chelsea. Anyone else is fine.

West Ham have made some exciting buys this summer, so you never know. No Egyptians though.

No more soccer for another four years, thank god.

sloopjohnc wrote:No more soccer for another four years, thank god.

Aug 11 is the Premier League new season so dream on...

Toby wrote:

sloopjohnc wrote:No more soccer for another four years, thank god.

Aug 11 is the Premier League new season so dream on...

It's on Fox Sports in the US. Which I don't watch, like their political stations.

sloopjohnc wrote:

Toby wrote:

sloopjohnc wrote:No more soccer for another four years, thank god.

Aug 11 is the Premier League new season so dream on...

It's on Fox Sports in the US. Which I don't watch, like their political stations.

Has NBCSN lost the contract?

It's a generational thing in the US I think. Football seems to be getting very popular among the under 40s.

The Modernist wrote:It's a generational thing in the US I think. Football seems to be getting very popular among the under 40s.

Of course they’d have been all over this thread had their team qualified!

The Modernist wrote:It's a generational thing in the US I think. Football seems to be getting very popular among the under 40s.

It's the fastest growing (or growingest, I dare say) collegiate sport.

PENK wrote:

The Modernist wrote:It's a generational thing in the US I think. Football seems to be getting very popular among the under 40s.

Of course they’d have been all over this thread had their team qualified!

I’ve watched a vast majority of the games and read most of this thread, but I don’t have anything insightful or particularly original to say so ...

LeBaron wrote:I don’t have anything insightful or particularly original to say so ...

That hasn't stopped the rest of us...