2022 FIFA World Cup

by Duty281 Mon 07 Nov 2022, 2:35 pm

First topic message reminder :

The strangest World Cup of them all will begin in Qatar in just a couple of weeks. The first World Cup (and surely not the last!) to be held in Arabia; the first World Cup not to take place in May, June or July; only the second World Cup to be hosted in Asia; and the last World Cup to be played with the 32-team format, as from 2026 the tournament will expand to 48 teams.

Free-scoring Brazil are, as usual, the bookmakers' favourites for the World Cup. It's been quite a barren run for the five-time winners - 20 years since they last won the tournament, and they've only made it past the quarter-finals once in the last four iterations. They were runners-up in last year's Copa America, but have since gone on an unbeaten run which has seen them cruise through qualification.

Argentina, the Copa America champions, are installed as the second favourites, in what will surely be Messi's last chance of World Cup glory. The Argentines are on a very long unbeaten run, having not experienced defeat in any fixture for over three years. Will Messi finally emulate Maradona and lead his side to their first World Cup in 36 years? Uruguay and Ecuador are the only other South American entrants; Colombia and Chile have missed out.

Turning to Europe, France are defending their second World Cup crown - they will be hoping it will go better than their first defence when they were dispatched in the group stage in 2002. On paper they still retain a strong side; in reality they're on a poor run of form, having been knocked out of the last Euros in the Last 16, and some key players will miss the World Cup through injury.

Europe, of course, has a wide range of potential winners extending beyond France. England, with an array of exciting attacking talent, will try to end all those years of hurt and misery, having come so close last year to breaking the duck. But they have also struggled in recent times, with Southgate struggling to get the best out of his creative talents. Germany and Spain both won the World Cup in the last decade, and are hoping to bounce back from disappointments in 2018. Belgium's golden generation has one last chance to deliver, as does Ronaldo for Portugal. The Dutch and the Danes will remain optimistic, and Wales are in it for the first time since 1958.

Or, perchance, for the very first time a winner outside of Europe and South America? African champions Senegal are likely leading this charge, with Mane and Koulibaly at the heart of their side, although no African nation has ever made the semi-finals of this competition. The North Americans are well represented with all three host nations of 2026 - Canada, USA and Mexico - and Costa Rica making an appearance, although you'll have to go back to 1930 for the last, and only, time a North American team made the semi-final stage.

Oceania have zero representation - unless you count Australia, but in footballing terms Australia are as Asian as Israel are European - and haven't done so since New Zealand's unbeaten run in 2010. The Asian continent hasn't done anything of note since South Korea in 2002, and their best hope this year probably comes from the South Koreans or Japanese, although hosts Qatar will be hoping to navigate themselves through a tricky group.

Um...come on, England?

Odds on the outright winners:

Odds on Golden Boot:

World Cup Schedule:

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 1:48 pm

England sizzling in the heat of Qatar.

Bellingham picked the wrong pass initially, but Kane's cross was perfect and Sterling's finish was unstoppable. That's the game.

14 minutes of stoppage time?! Just call HT now, I'm sure England won't mind.

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 1:48 pm

Very cool from Saka ... Two no more than they deserved.

And now three.! Sterling joining the party...

This could turn into a real rout.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 1:48 pm

14 minutes of added on feels cruel

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 1:57 pm

England have been a bit too loose at the back, almost paid for it

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:05 pm

Can't have too many complaints about that first half Smile

Agree with GSC they've looked a bit ...almost ... casual ? - In defence at times...though I don't think they have been in too much danger.

But in any case the finishing has been lovely. Not just the quantity - but aesthetically pleasing goals . Enjoyable to watch.

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:07 pm

Professional showing by England with a bit of flair to top it off. Job done. Southgate can make some subs and give some of the bench players minutes, if he so chooses. Only troubling aspects were Trippier being a bit off key with the runs of the attackers in front of him, and Shaw's slowness in tracking back for Iran's only chance (which was offside). Bellingham is different class.

Iran are dreadful. No interest in playing football. They only came here to kick the opposition and timewaste. 20th in the world rankings? Deary me. Again, this is my concern with the 2026 expansion where we'll see even more mismatches with the likes of Jamaica, New Zealand and Oman entering the tournament and being cannon fodder if they come up against the likes of France and Brazil.

by Lowlandbrit Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:07 pm

eirebilly_01 wrote:I would have preferred if it had been boycotted (something I hate as well) and FIFA disbanded and re-built. They are so openly greedy and corrupt and have no issue flaunting this in our collective faces.

I still find it hilarious that they managed to get themselves seen as the good guys standing up against greed by threatening to not let players play here when the Superleague stuff happened.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:11 pm

Iran have had some decent results to be fair, might be that they've rather written this one off and targeting the other two games

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:20 pm

Might be worth protecting a few here, some clumsy challenges going in

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:20 pm

Guess we will see a fair few substitutions in this half. Which does sometimes tend to spoil the flow ...but will be useful to get some game time for those who may be needed later in the competition.

Kane getting some treatment after being taken down. Any worries about him , get him off safely please...

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:22 pm

Iran are a disgrace. Not fit to be on the same field as England.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:23 pm

Ref is showing a lot of restraint for a man with 10 reds in 9 games

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:33 pm

He might have been a surprise pick but Saka is repaying Southgate

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:33 pm

Oh that's beautiful from Saka ! OK he will have better defenders to outmanoeuvre ; but he did that perfectly clap

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:34 pm

Nice finish from Saka, though poor of Iran to give him so much space. Sterling-Kane-Saka are a great attacking axis.

Saka's now scored more goals at World Cups than Wayne Rooney.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:35 pm

Game (maybe not) on

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:35 pm

Here come the subs...

Just as Iran get a surprise score of their own !

by Luke Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:36 pm

Duty281 wrote:Iran fans booing their own anthem, but England will probably get the blame!

No, they're doing it as a protest at whats happaning in there own country. Quirez showing just why he ahouls have always been a number 2, whay to defensively minded.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:37 pm

Bit lax maybe, but nice interplay and excellent finish

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:37 pm

England have been defensively poor down the left on the rare occasions Iran have attacked, and with Shaw the only pure LB option that is a concern. Disappointing to concede. Pickford will be furious. Powerful finish, though.

And Maguire's injured. Means Wilson doesn't get on as Southgate wants to keep a sub in reserve.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:41 pm

Bit of nonsense as the ref ignores a queue of England subs twice as they play with 10 men

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:42 pm

Gareth giving all the attacking options behind Kane a chance and Rashford does immediately

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:43 pm

Well won by Kane and three sublime touches from Rashford to make it five.

I hope Southgate takes note and has the courage to make proactive changes when the game is tight, unlike at the last Euros, because the likes of Rashford and Grealish can be game-changers.

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:43 pm

Subs on and didn't take Rashford long to get into the action ...

Whatever else , these goals are going to give several players some confidence . Wonder if the skipper is going to get on the scoresheet tonight ?

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:46 pm

Four first time WC scorers and the last golden boot winner can't get in on it

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:46 pm

GSC wrote:Four first time WC scorers and the last golden boot winner can't get in on it

BBC comments will be demanding Kane be dropped for the next game.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:47 pm

Especially if Wilson scores

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 2:50 pm

Well Wilson getting his chance now... And the skipper will have to wait for the next game for his first goal. Did his job with assists tonight anyway thumbsup

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:01 pm

Generous from Wilson to give Grealish a tap in

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:01 pm

Six-ly the best. Brilliant to see all the subs making an impact, and astonishingly unselfish of Wilson to not try and bag his first WC goal but to instead slide it to Grealish.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:02 pm

Defensive Gareth coaching both of England's heaviest tournament wins

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:02 pm

Yes expected another one... Unselfish from Wilson and Grealish happy to take his chance.

6-1 ... And what is this ? Ten more minutes ?

Can't say the fans aren't getting their money's worth...

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:02 pm

Why ten for the second half?!

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:02 pm

10 minutes is very cruel

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:03 pm

alfie wrote:Yes expected another one... Unselfish from Wilson and Grealish happy to take his chance.

6-1 ... And what is this ? Ten more minutes ?

Can't say the fans aren't getting their money's worth...

Giving those who couldn't get in a full 90

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:12 pm

Not entirely sure how a shirt tug is a penalty when Maguire got rugby tackled

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:12 pm

How on earth is that a penalty when Maguire's one in the first half wasn't?!

England often get cheated at major tournaments, but this is rather early in the day.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:13 pm

Well on the bright side that (hopefully) won't matter

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:16 pm

Professional performance. Iran like Qatar were miles off it, but their ranking and results suggest they have some competence. Hope Gareth sticks with this system, England were dominant in midfield and they had such a platform to work from. Defensive frailties the only drawback

by Soul Requiem Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:17 pm

VAR does like giving the minnows a chance.

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:17 pm

Well I guess if you are going to be on the wrong end of a couple of "questionable" penalty decisions ; best to be when you are winning 6-2 !

Indeed extraordinary that that softest of penalties is awarded after Maguire was pummelled into the ground in the fist few minutes to no effect... Presumably VAR hadn't been switched on in time for the start Smile

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:20 pm

6-2, that's an odd scoreline, don't see many of them outside non-league!

Job done for England. Controlled in possession and had the creativity to create plenty of chances. Bellingham is phenomenal and England's team should be built around him for a decade to come. Saka put in a sublime showing as well. Also good to see the substitutes make a telling impact, hopefully Southgate will trust them if it's 0-0 in a QF after 60 minutes. I might consider putting Foden ahead of Mount for the next game. Foden glides around the pitch, joy to watch.

Some moments of defensive frailty, particularly down the left, is a concern. Much tougher tests to come than this dismal Iran unit. I don't expect Southgate to stick with two centre backs for the big nations, but hopefully he'll keep running with this for the groups.

Next two games today should be closer.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:20 pm

It's where the lack of transparency doesn't help really. Nothing more will be said about it but if that happens in a game that actually matters it'll be a massive deal

by alfie Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:23 pm

Have to be pretty satisfied with that. Good movement and passing all over , some excellent finishing...dominated an opponent who are probably a bit better than they were allowed to look tonight.

Only quibble was that the defence still looks a little bit iffy. I suspect they might have got a little overconfident after getting four goals up ; but would still like to see them tighten it up a bit. Though to be honest we knew coming in the defending is their weak point : just have to make sure they keep scoring enough goals it doesn't matter !

Much better to watch than 1-nil anyway...

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:28 pm

That was such a nice run from Bellingham for the first goal, coming into the box late on like Gerrard. His overall game is a huge upgrade on Phillips starting at the last Euros.

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:32 pm

Think you have to stick with the 3 in midfield. Mounts work rate balances it out. Also puts another attacker closer to Kane and Sterling

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:32 pm

Fair to say

It's coming home!

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:33 pm

Also a 5 man defense doesn't necessarily make you more secure. (See Forest ditching it)

by GSC Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:42 pm

Germany now laying in FIFA over the armband, saying they ignored them for months until last night when it was too late for discussion.

It's all very transparent and above board

by Duty281 Mon 21 Nov 2022, 3:44 pm

Dutch team looks quite odd. A seemingly secure defensive unit - De Ligt, Ake, VvD at the heart of it, though with a debutant keeper - but not much quality up front. Bit of a contrast to Dutch teams of the past.

Similar look for Senegal. Koulibaly at the centre of their defence, a quite defensive midfield, but no Mane and so no x-factor in attack.

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