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 eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:20 pm

The pace this Japanese side play at is incredible. Really making Croatia look slow.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:22 pm

Croatia can't live with the pace of the wide players. Japan look like they can score on every attack atm

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:28 pm

So many clear chances for Croatia now. Proper good match.

by dummy_half Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:34 pm

Duty281 wrote:
GSC wrote:Greece the only team ever to win on a silver goal

What a silly rule silver goal was. I wouldn't mind seeing golden goal brought back, to be fair.

Didn't really work as intended though, as teams tended to be very negative in extra time and just play for penalties.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:43 pm

Japan goal...

Well that was coming in fairness.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:46 pm

Japan have their reward just before the half. Have cut Croatia to pieces in the first half. Quality delivery from out wide

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:49 pm

For a second, i was worried that VAR would find some way to rule that out for offside.

Excellent half of football, for the neutral thumbsup

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:52 pm

Well deserved lead for Japan. Croatia just look old, like the Danes and Belgium.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 3:53 pm

The only real positive for Croatia is this is only 1-0

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:05 pm

To stand any chance now, Croatia need to score within the first 20 mins of this half without conceding.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:10 pm

Oh dear, Croatia have resorted to diving. Good from the referee to not entertain it.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:13 pm

1-1 now.

Beautiful cross and a nice headed finish.

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:17 pm

Seen some cracking headers at this tournament, there's another.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:21 pm

Great shot and save from Modric clap

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:36 pm

Japan look spent, Croatia controlling the game

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:39 pm

Shoot, Tomiyasu! Might get our first visit to ET at this tournament.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:42 pm

Will Croatia last ET, they look gassed and Japan still look like they have more.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:49 pm

Don't need to run if you keep possession. That's gonna hurt Japan

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:52 pm

This has penalties written all over it now, sadly.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:55 pm

ET it is. Japan pay the price for missing all those chances in the first half. Croatia have grown into it and are controlling the tempo now.

Think it has Croatia picking them off or penalties tbh. Japan gonna have to summon something extra

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 4:58 pm

It's a bit like England-Croatia 2018 this, with Japan in the England role. Fast start followed by a gradual retreat.

I reckon Japan will take penalties from here, but they'll still fancy nicking a goal to win it.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:05 pm

Japan look in panic mode, no composure.

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:10 pm

Modric going off is a help. Referee blowing far too much for the faintest touch.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:15 pm

Wow, Japan so close again...

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:34 pm

Penalties it is then. I actually think the Japanese Keeper is more solid at penalies.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:34 pm

Might be an argument to just ditch ET in future tournaments. Tends to produce very low quality play with both teams spent

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:35 pm

Penalties! Always fun for the neutral, always cruel for the partisan.

Croatia still haven't won a World Cup knockout game in 90 minutes since 1998, when they beat Germany.

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:36 pm

GSC wrote:Might be an argument to just ditch ET in future tournaments. Tends to produce very low quality play with both teams spent

Wouldn't be a fan of that, it would encourage more negativity from lesser teams knowing they only have to hold out for 90 minutes to get a 50-50 shot.

by alfie Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:38 pm

The first knockout match in which there wasn't a strong favourite : and inevitably it is going to penalties...

Can't say I'm surprised . Always a bit of a pity to see a great contest like this settled by this nerve jangling test of individual skill and self control with a dash of fortune ...but can't deny it is great theatre !

We hold our breath...

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:43 pm

Heartbreaking for Japan but they were awful penalties. Well saved but awful penalties.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:46 pm

Hard for Japan. Better side on the night and in the world cup. But when you don't take your chances you risk the lottery.

Can't see Croatia giving Brazil much to worry about but they still have to get there later!

by alfie Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:47 pm

Afraid Japan have had an "England" experience there...rather a one sided shootout and Croatia move on...

Croatia keeper can dine out on that performance for years now thumbsup

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 5:47 pm

Those were some of the worst penalties I've seen in my life.

I'd actually back England to down Japan in a penalty shootout if it came to it. Well...maybe not.

Croatia through to the last eight. Goodness. The schedule is rather skewed and Croatia's QF will be in just four days time, so not a lot of recovery time. Whereas England, say, have six days between games. Against Brazil, probably, so it really should be the end of the road.

Shame to see Japan out. They, and their fans, have been one of the bright points of this tournament, but they should have put Croatia to bed early and failed to do so.

by alfie Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:09 pm

Didn't take Brazil long to get started...

Got a nasty feeling this could be a bit of a carve-up.

by westisbest Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:12 pm

Didn’t see the game earlier, but a shame to see Japan go out.

This could be 5 or 6.

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:13 pm

Fantastic from Brazil but there is the darker side of them. Dirty cheating diving sc u mbags. never a penalty.

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:14 pm

This one is over.

by GSC Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:14 pm

The one show is on!

by eirebilly_01 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:23 pm

Brazil are everything good about football but equally everything bad about it.

I cannot watch the theatrics and diving anymore tonight.

by Duty281 Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:31 pm

GSC wrote:The one show is on!

Nice to know they've got cover for Jenas.

by alfie Mon 05 Dec 2022, 7:39 pm

4-0 and another hour to go...feel for the Korean fans sitting watching this.

by GSC Tue 06 Dec 2022, 6:01 am

To be honest I fell asleep rather than watch the rest.

Can't see Croatia giving Brazil much trouble given their form. Should get through to a semi final against the Netherlands or Argentina without being seriously tested

The Swiss seem to always turn up, grind their way out of the group then go out at the first knockout stage. Imagine Portugal have enough to continue that, though I don't think it'll be a classic.

Spain Morocco should be pretty good though. Morocco cruised what looked like a tough group on paper and their reward is a Spain team who crushed their first game 7-0 and then spent about 5 minutes in the final game going out of the tournament. Spain might just be a bit lightweight at both ends of the pitch which is weird given the first game. Might be the best chance of an upset left in this tournament.

by alfie Tue 06 Dec 2022, 7:59 am

Yes I'm looking forward to Spain/Morocco rather more. Though as we haven't really had a "surprise" yet in the 16s maybe it is time for the Swiss to upset Ronaldo & his mob Smile

Wish the order of these last two games had been reversed as I found I was unable to set the stream of the Japan/Croatia game back to the start (just not tech-savvy enough perhaps ?) and had to watch from when I woke up , ie mostly just ET. But was then able to see the Brazilian slaughter job until - like GSC - eyes started closing again... One game was a contest , the other one sadly a total mismatch. Ah, shouldn't grumble - have had plenty of entertaining stuff to see so far.

Does look as though The Usual Suspects - or most of them - will be rolling up for the QFs. But we have seen some spirited efforts from some lower ranked outfits and a couple of big names knocked out early so the event hasn't lacked for interest. I do imagine Brazil should have far too much for Croatia but the other matches in the next round are looking as if they might all be hard to predict , with teams who may be expected to have a proper crack at each other based on the way they've played so far. Last time for this format and heaven knows what they are going to end up settling on for the gargantuan expanded version in four years so we should enjoy this one while we can !

by Luckless Pedestrian Tue 06 Dec 2022, 10:51 am

It's a shame that Morocco v Spain isn't the evening match. I genuinely don't know how to call it.

by Duty281 Tue 06 Dec 2022, 10:55 am

Not really seeing anything from Morocco to be honest. They beat an already eliminated Canada, and got four points against two teams who were good on paper, but in reality are past it and shop-worn. True enough Spain had an off night v Japan, like all top teams have had an off night so far, but they were fine against Germany and Costa Rica. I think they'll pass Morocco to death and win comfortably.

Switzerland are exactly as GSC says, they haven't made the QFs since 1954. But I think this is one of the better Swiss sides I've seen. They ground it out v Cameroon, pushed Brazil close, and proved that they can score goals, deal with pressure and come from behind v Serbia. The Swiss also got past France at last year's Euros, which I think serves as a mental boost. Portugal, by contrast, have looked fairly average (at best) to me. They stuttered past Ghana, looked awful against a terrible Uruguay side and then lost to South Korea. Of course Portugal have players of real individual quality all over the pitch, lots of goalscorers and ones who can make things happen, so I'm not writing them off, but I do think the Swiss are narrow favourites. Bookmakers don't agree, with Switzerland 2/1 to qualify and 5/2 on the 'draw no bet' market.

by Lowlandbrit Tue 06 Dec 2022, 11:16 am

Not sure if there are just a few big examples in my memory, but I feel like Switzerland's knockout games are usually contenders for worst game of the tournament.

by Duty281 Tue 06 Dec 2022, 11:35 am

Lowlandbrit wrote:Not sure if there are just a few big examples in my memory, but I feel like Switzerland's knockout games are usually contenders for worst game of the tournament.

With special regard to Switzerland-Ukraine 2006!

https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-set-pieces-blog/2018/jun/01/world-cup-history-worst-game-ukraine-switzerland

by Duty281 Tue 06 Dec 2022, 3:09 pm

Moroccan fans are tedious, fair bit of colour and they've travelled in great numbers, but the constant whistling when Spain are on the ball is dull. Hope Spanish authorities are able to quell the later rioting in their homeland without much fuss.

Wonder if Morocco will soon host a World Cup? They've bid for quite a few recently and are set to bid for 2030. Hosts will be chosen in 2024.

by eirebilly_01 Tue 06 Dec 2022, 3:19 pm

Spain just look in total control here. Calmness personified. Can see them knocking 3 or 4 past Morocco.

by eirebilly_01 Tue 06 Dec 2022, 3:26 pm

Well now, that was extremely close for Spain. Offside though and some decent defending.

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