World Cup 2022 thread (football only)

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

Well done to England. I thought they'd struggle to get out of the group (I expected more from Iran) but they eased through. After a so so 1st half where Rashford missed a great chance and made 3 really sloppy passes, they improved much in the 2nd period. Had much to do with switching Rashford and Foden who for me plays much better coming in from the left (and the reason Grealish gets little game time). I know Rashford scored twice but MOTM for me was Bellingham. He really does help this England side tick. Senegal next which will be far from easy. 

[Northern Red]

I can't help thinking that a lot of the moaning about the first half was people who'd decided in advance that it was going to be shit, regardless of what might actually happen on the pitch.

[cidercity1987]

Just now, TomF said:

Gotta give Erik Ten Hag credit for getting Rashford back on form.  I wasn’t sure he was ever going to get back to level he was precious at 

Never been Rashford's biggest fan but he has got to start on Saturday

[Kid in the Riot]

2 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

I can't help thinking that a lot of the moaning about the first half was people who'd decided in advance that it was going to be shit, regardless of what might actually happen on the pitch.

It was the same people saying England would struggle to get through the group. 

Yet here we are... 

[Sheltons Army]

3 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

I can't help thinking that a lot of the moaning about the first half was people who'd decided in advance that it was going to be shit, regardless of what might actually happen on the pitch.

Bit like our match day threads where if the balls not hitting the back of the oppositions net every 15 mins 

......we are poor , it’s s**t .......

[DolmanGaz]

3 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Never been Rashford's biggest fan but he has got to start on Saturday

he has to start on Sunday too!

[Open End Numb Legs]

Just back from my flu jab, did I miss anything?

Only joking, I went early. Very solid performance, nice to see some snappy passing, it doesn't always work but is key.

Wales - very poor, never even had a spell of possession. Will they fade in the future without the Bale/Ramsey era? Good singing though.

USA could well cause a surprise.

[Sheltons Army]

At least no one will make mention of this when we entertain the West Wales Toilet smashers in the FA Cup

[cidercity1987]

Page 'first half we were outstanding'

 what were they doing in this cup ffs

[Super]

4 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Never been Rashford's biggest fan but he has got to start on Saturday

He won't start on Saturday.

[Sheltons Army]

2 minutes ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

Just back from my flu jab, did I miss anything?

Only joking, I went early. Very solid performance, nice to see some snappy passing, it doesn't always work but is key.

Wales - very poor, never even had a spell of possession. Will they fade in the future without the Bale/Ramsey era? Good singing though.

USA could well cause a surprise.

I expect your mind was taken to the game though.....

I bet when the nurse said ‘Just a small pri*k ‘ ..........your thoughts immediately  turned to Joe Allen 

Edited November 29, 2022 by Sheltons Army

[cidercity1987]

Just now, Super said:

He won't start on Saturday.

Ah yeah for some reason Group C v D play Wednesday and Saturday

[Bas's perfect hattrick]

England v Fammy in the next round 

[Son of Fred]

5 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Never been Rashford's biggest fan but he has got to start on Saturday

 

2 minutes ago, DolmanGaz said:

he has to start on Sunday too!

He'll be shagged out!

[Super]

What do people think about Senegal on Sunday? Certainly won't be easy but Mane is a big miss for them.

[Andrew_V1]

Huge improvement tonight, great to see pressing from the front and playing with real intensity in the second half.

Rashford looking very dangerous

[cityexile]

1 minute ago, Kid in the Riot said:

It was the same people saying England would struggle to get through the group. 

Yet here we are... 

Always felt QFs were par for us this time round. Thought France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina were best coming in and we would do well to beat any of them. Not entirely worked out that way. Got to get past Senegal first, but assuming that likely to be France. No disgrace to go out then if that is the outcome, but we are capable of good matches. Get there first and then who knows.

[cidercity1987]

Just now, Super said:

What do people think about Senegal on Sunday? Certainly won't be easy but Mane is a big miss for them.

Fairly mundane team , would have been more worried about Ecuador

[chinapig]

5 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

USA Netherlands will be a very interesting game

Van Gaal didn't take kindly to Dutch journalists saying how boring his team are but they have looked pretty pedestrian. Luckily for them Gakpo is in great form.

Imagine the response though if England only beat Qatar 2-0. Instead this is the first England team to score 9 goals in the group stage. Southgate out!

[rednotblue]

12 minutes ago, Sheltons Army said:

Poor ?

You really think we were ‘poor’ ?

 

Nowhere near poor, totally in control of game

Yes in control of the game against a vastly inferior opposition, who dug in and sat back. It does not change the fact that up until Rashford's free kick our play was poor.

We were slow. Thought speed, movement, passing.

 

 

 

[WessexPest]

Have some of that, you toilet-wrecking troglodytes.

So ashamed by that performance they’ll want to change their team name after this.

This aged exceptionally well…

[Northern Red]

25 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Van Gaal didn't take kindly to Dutch journalists saying how boring his team are but they have looked pretty pedestrian. Luckily for them Gakpo is in great form.

Imagine the response though if England only beat Qatar 2-0. Instead this is the first England team to score 9 goals in the group stage. Southgate out!

I've seen many comments from Man Utd fans about how watching the Dutch is triggering their PTSD from his time in charge of them.

Edited November 29, 2022 by Northern Red
typo

[nebristolred]

29 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I appreciate the respect.

But it is silly that we have four FAs and four teams for one sovereign state. Might as well let Spain enter a Spanish team, a Basque team and a Catalan team, or let Bavaria, Prussia, Hanover and Swabia all form an FA and get involved.

I'll leave it there and let everyone enjoy the 3-0, but it's a stupid, divisive, archaic system.

I always find it weird looking back at the 66 World Cup crowd photos/videos and seeing Union Jack's everywhere. Genuinely think it looks better.

[BanburyRed]

7 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Page 'first half we were outstanding'

 what were they doing in this cup ffs

He meant to say 'out standing on the pitch, not doing very much at all...'

[lenred]

5 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Always felt QFs were par for us this time round. Thought France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina were best coming in and we would do well to beat any of them. Not entirely worked out that way. Got to get past Senegal first, but assuming that likely to be France. No disgrace to go out then if that is the outcome, but we are capable of good matches. Get there first and then who knows.

Get there and we’ve got a bloody good chance.   Sunday is going to be very tricky though.   Needs 100% attention.  

[Open End Numb Legs]

5 minutes ago, Sheltons Army said:

I expect your mingpd was taken to the game though

I bet when the nurse said ‘Just a small *****’ ...........your thoughts immediately  turned to Joe Allen 

I told the nurse I was in a hurry to get back to the game so she shoved the needle in like a Gerry Gow tackle.

I hope to be fit for the weekend.

[Davefevs]

5 minutes ago, Super said:

What do people think about Senegal on Sunday? Certainly won't be easy but Mane is a big miss for them.

Got shades of Cameroon 1990 about it.

Southgate won’t underestimate them…ought to be a good game.  7pm k/o is helpful too.

Is Fam the only player from Knowle to play in a World Cup?

[ralphindevon]

I think 

5 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Van Gaal didn't take kindly to Dutch journalists saying how boring his team are but they have looked pretty pedestrian. Luckily for them Gakpo is in great form.

Imagine the response though if England only beat Qatar 2-0. Instead this is the first England team to score 9 goals in the group stage. Southgate out!

There’s a bit of me that would prefer to be playing the Netherlands instead of Senegal.

They’re more unknown and unpredictable. We haven’t played much v African opposition lately and I think the last few have been close and of course Senegal are African champions………..and they’ve got the man from Knowle

[WessexPest]

[TV Tom]

12 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

It was the same people saying England would struggle to get through the group. 

Yet here we are... 

if we couldn’t get through a group that contained the woeful Wales & Iran there would be questions asked.  Now the World Cup really starts and we”ll see what England turn up, I think we’re capable of beating anyone as long as Southgate is brave enough 

[AshtonGreat]

7 minutes ago, ralphindevon said:

I think 

There’s a bit of me that would prefer to be playing the Netherlands instead of Senegal.

They’re more unknown and unpredictable. We haven’t played much v African opposition lately and I think the last few have been close and of course Senegal are African champions………..and they’ve got the man from Knowle

Out of interest, which bit?

[ralphindevon]

1 minute ago, AshtonGreat said:

Out of interest, which bit?

The bit that doesn’t know anything about football 

[WessexPest]

7 minutes ago, ralphindevon said:

I think 

There’s a bit of me that would prefer to be playing the Netherlands instead of Senegal.

They’re more unknown and unpredictable. We haven’t played much v African opposition lately and I think the last few have been close and of course Senegal are African champions………..and they’ve got the man from Knowle

Definitely not to be taken lightly but England never beat one of the top nations (I’d include Netherlands in that bracket, three times finalists) away from Wembley and I wouldn’t be confident of breaking that habit. True, the Dutch haven’t ripped up trees but they are a much better side than what we’ve faced so far.

When we’ve played less fancied countries in knockout games at the WC (Paraguay, Ecuador, Denmark, Cameroon, Colombia, Sweden) we usually find a way to go through.

[cityexile]

18 minutes ago, Super said:

What do people think about Senegal on Sunday? Certainly won't be easy but Mane is a big miss for them.

Think I am right that Gueye also misses it for two yellows as well.

Feels ‘proper’ World Cup playing a side we would meet very rarely. Surely we start as favourites but thought the 0-2 v Netherlands was very flattering to the winners and Senegal have been one of the more interesting sides to watch. Got to be on it from the first minute.

[maxjak]

19 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

I've seen many comments from Man Utd fans about how watching the Ditch is triggering their PTSD from his time in charge of them.

Trench warfare?

[cityexile]

5 minutes ago, WessexPest said:

Definitely not to be taken lightly but England never beat one of the top nations (I’d include Netherlands in that bracket, three times finalists) away from Wembley and I wouldn’t be confident of breaking that habit. True, the Dutch haven’t ripped up trees but they are a much better side than what we’ve faced so far.

When we’ve played less fancied countries in knockout games at the WC (Paraguay, Ecuador, Denmark, Cameroon, Colombia, Sweden) we usually find a way to go through.

Point is well made, but never beaten a top top side in knock out in the WC. By that metric don’t think we have ever beaten a WC winner in KO away from Wembley, certainly since ‘66.

[2015]

Fair play to Rashford he's been brilliant all season for Man United too

[Taylor10]

37 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Page 'first half we were outstanding'

 what were they doing in this cup ffs

Hilarious. Won’t have a bad word said about this team mind

They are absolutely trash but this whole ‘proud to even be here’ stuff is a little wide of the mark no? Pretty much most of tonight’s starting line up either play or have played in the prem. 

[AppyDAZE]

1 minute ago, Taylor10 said:

Hilarious. Won’t have a bad word said about this team mind

They are absolutely trash but this whole ‘proud to even be here’ stuff is a little wide of the mark no? Pretty much most of tonight’s starting line up either play or have played in the prem. 

They had one decent, if not great, half (the 2nd vs USA)

Other than that, they've been possibly the worst side at the tournament.

But oh  sooooooooo proud.  ffs

[BCFCGav]

Rashford on the march! Joint top scorer and firing England to a comfortable win

Do one you Welsh tossers

[Taylor10]

9 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

They had one decent, if not great, half (the 2nd vs USA)

Other than that, they've been possibly the worst side at the tournament.

But oh  sooooooooo proud.  ffs

Only goal scored from the spot as well. Done themselves proud though!

[ralphindevon]

I’m looking forward to seeing Wales in the World Cup finals again.

Mainly because as they only qualify every 64 years, I’ll be 122.

[Ronnie Sinclair]

50 minutes ago, WessexPest said:

Have some of that, you toilet-wrecking troglodytes.

So ashamed by that performance they’ll want to change their team name after this.

This aged exceptionally well…

It didn't age as well as this beauty - and to think what actually happened is Maguire and Stones were marking him out of the game in their slippers all match

[cidercity1987]

Just now, Ronnie Sinclair said:

It didn't age as well as this beauty - and to think what actually happened is Maguire and Stones were marking him out of the game in their slippers all match

English plonker

[lenred]

2 minutes ago, Ronnie Sinclair said:

It didn't age as well as this beauty - and to think what actually happened is Maguire and Stones were marking him out of the game in their slippers all match

Should’ve stopped after his England C team cap.  Much more the plastic Taffs level. 

[Ciderhead433]

1 hour ago, David Brent said:

You reckon?

I don't reckon I know

[cityexile]

Ah bugger. Senegal game is on ITV. May as well start to so focus on Euro 2024.

[WessexPest]

11 minutes ago, Ronnie Sinclair said:

It didn't age as well as this beauty - and to think what actually happened is Maguire and Stones were marking him out of the game in their slippers all match

Desperately trying to prove how Welsh he is.

Kieffer Moore couldn’t knock out a w**k.

[Malago]

Whilst Wales channelled their inner Michael Sheen, England channelled their inner Mr Sheen and polished the Welsh off.

[Ciderhead433]

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

Wales shouldn't even be a team. Neither should England. It's mad that the UK gets to enter 4 teams just because of a quirk of history.

On a separate point I reckon continental champions should automatically qualify for the WC.

What about the old Soviet Union or Yugoslavia.

All the four Great Britain are separate countries

[Malago]

Surprised no one’s started the Norwegian commentator's rant, obviously adapted for tonight’s purposes.

Dylan Thomas, Shirley Bassey, The Manic Street Preachers, Neil Kinnock, Gladys from Hi De Hi, Tony Pulis……….

[RedLionLad]

[Stortz]

34 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

They had one decent, if not great, half (the 2nd vs USA)

Other than that, they've been possibly the worst side at the tournament.

But oh  sooooooooo proud.  ffs

They're grasping for more straws than a w**king scarecrow haha

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, Malago said:

Whilst Wales channelled their inner Michael Sheen, England channelled their inner Mr Sheen and polished the Welsh off in a Jif!

 

[Calculus]

4 minutes ago, Ciderhead433 said:

What about the old Soviet Union or Yugoslavia.

All the four Great Britain are separate countries

The old Soviet Union and Yugoslavia no longer exist.

The UK (not GB) components are not countries according to the UN, don't have their own governments or leaders. Each is as much a country as Catalonia. I.e. Not.

[reddoh]

7 minutes ago, Stortz said:

They're grasping for more straws than a w**king scarecrow haha

is that walking or the other one?

[cidercity1987]

Poor Huw is absolutely gutted on the Beeb

[WessexPest]

53 minutes ago, Taylor10 said:

Hilarious. Won’t have a bad word said about this team mind

They are absolutely trash but this whole ‘proud to even be here’ stuff is a little wide of the mark no? Pretty much most of tonight’s starting line up either play or have played in the prem. 

It’s just the typical, hackneyed “brave plucky Celts” trope that is always trotted out. That and “gave their all” - by no stretch of the imagination could you say Wales showed pride at this WC or even gave their all. They were dreadful. Euro 2016 they did superbly well but here? No.

21 minutes ago, Ciderhead433 said:

What about the old Soviet Union or Yugoslavia.

All the four Great Britain are separate countries

A better example, I think, would be the Faroe Islands - clearly a proud nation distinct from Denmark but not with complete sovereignty. Yugoslavia and USSR obviously competed under one banner.

I’d never support a United UK team and I suspect the overwhelming majority of football fans in the four Home Nations would concur.

To me, as unpalatable as us merging with the Rent Boys from the P*sspoorial Mound to form Bristol United. Would it make us more successful? Arguably. Would that be a price worth paying? Absolutely not.

Edited November 29, 2022 by WessexPest

[Ronnie Sinclair]

Anyone checked on Hartson yet?

[Sir Colby-Tit]

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

I appreciate the respect.

But it is silly that we have four FAs and four teams for one sovereign state. Might as well let Spain enter a Spanish team, a Basque team and a Catalan team, or let Bavaria, Prussia, Hanover and Swabia all form an FA and get involved.

I'll leave it there and let everyone enjoy the 3-0, but it's a stupid, divisive, archaic system.

The trouble is a UK team would probably have to have Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish players in it to keep everyone happy, and then we'd be shit.

[Kid in the Riot]

8 minutes ago, RedLionLad said:

Thornbury Town

5 minutes ago, Calculus said:

The old Soviet Union and Yugoslavia no longer exist.

The UK (not GB) components are not countries according to the UN, don't have their own governments or leaders. Each is as much a country as Catalonia. I.e. Not.

The ISO recognises Wales as a country. Let's be honest; of course it's a ******* country. 

[WessexPest]

3 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Thornbury Town

The ISO recognises Wales as a country. Let's be honest; of course it's a ******* country. 

Indeed. Centuries of being a nation. Unlike Italy and Germany which are relatively very recent constructs.

[reddoh]

6 minutes ago, Sir Colby-Tit said:

The trouble is a UK team would probably have to have Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish players in it to keep everyone happy, and then we'd be shit.

and

[lenred]

Even after defeat the Welsh love in continues on the beeb.  Goldie Looking Chain (!!) are on Newsnight discussing how the World Cup has changed the Welsh identity. I love the Beeb and will defend it to the hilt but FFS, what is going on with this coverage?!

[Kid in the Riot]

1 minute ago, WessexPest said:

Indeed. Centuries of being a nation. Unlike Italy and Germany which are relatively very recent constructs.

If my history serves me correct the Welsh formed part of the original Britains along with the Bretons and Celts too. They were on these islands long before the Normans and Anglo Saxons (what became England/English). 

[reddoh]

6 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

If my history serves me correct the Welsh formed part of the original Britains along with the Bretons and Celts too. They were on these islands long before the Normans and Anglo Saxons (what became England/English). 

proper Welsh women have dark hair or grey if they are older

[Barkhamred]

Good coverage of Ashton Gate fanzone on beeb news

[WessexPest]

5 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

If my history serves me correct the Welsh formed part of the original Britains along with the Bretons and Celts too. They were on these islands long before the Normans and Anglo Saxons (what became England/English). 

Sort of. Everyone in Great Britain is of mixed genetic stock, though. The Welsh didnt sprout out of the ground from the Rhonda and were “comeovers” themselves albeit earlier (I think from Azerbaijan). The Scotti hopped over from the Emerald Isle and absorbed the Picts.  The “native” population of the island is a blend of Romano-British, Saxon, Angle, Norman, Jute, Viking. 

[cidercity1987]

1 minute ago, Barkhamred said:

Good coverage of Ashton Gate fanzone on beeb news

Local or National?

[Robbored]

Just now, lenred said:

Even after defeat the Welsh love in continues on the beeb.  Goldie Looking Chain (!!) are on Newsnight discussing how the World Cup has changed the Welsh identity. I love the Beeb and will defend it to the hilt but FFS, what is going on with this coverage?!

The BBC are trying to promote equality - that’s why we see and hear so many female pundits and commentators these days.

Personally I find one particular female commentator extremely grating whenever there’s an exciting episode of play. Her high pitched excitable voice doesn’t sit right to me. 

I actually watch BBC far more than ITV. I find the absence of advertising a significant bonus.

As for the Welsh - well done for reaching the WC finals but unfortunately they were cruelly exposed.