Qatar Shitshow 2022 thread

[Letters]

I wish Maradona was alive to see this

[HCZ_Reborn]

I have a weird liking of the Argies

A) because I’m too young to really take in Falklands and Hand of God. Although Maradona is a cheat and the Falklands is British

B) I am old enough to remember Batistuta, Ortega in Italy

This is tempered by Diego Simeone being a cunt in 1998.

So I’ve always half wanted to see them win the World Cup, but if you can’t beat Saudi Arabia you’re kind of pissing into the wind.

Saudis are cunts though, and UK/US should be ashamed of our closeness with them

[Globalgunner]

Denmark-Tunisia. 0-0 FT.

Lots of huff and puff but no one could blow any houses down.

[Mac76]

2-1 Saudi Arabia. Full time! Wow!

Saudi
Islam
Allah
Messi

corruption
backhanders
bent refs

[HCZ_Reborn]

corruption
backhanders
bent refs

Bent ref

Sorry I can’t think of that term without thinking of the paedogeddon episode of Brass Eye

[Mac76]

so Denmark couldn't beat Tunisia

the supposedly good teams are really excelling themselves this time around...

Eriksen

[Letters]

It's pretty common for the eventual winners to have started slowly.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's pretty common for the eventual winners to have started slowly.

Is it?

I guess it depends how you define starting slowly but only once in the previous nine world cups has the eventual winner failed to win their opening game.

However in the interest of being non argumentative I’ll also say that only twice in the same period has a team that went on to win won every game in their group

[Letters]

Is it?

I guess it depends how you define starting slowly but only once in the previous nine world cups has the eventual winner failed to win their opening game.

However in the interest of being non argumentative I’ll also say that only twice in the same period has a team that went on to win won every game in their group

I'll need to look into this a bit more, but I just remember other world cups where a team has been flying in the group and hailed as the eventual winners only to fall flat on their faces later.
It was certainly a bad one today, but if they win the next one I don't think it's going to have any real affect on their chances.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I'll need to look into this a bit more, but I just remember other world cups where a team has been flying in the group and hailed as the eventual winners only to fall flat on their faces later.
It was certainly a bad one today, but if they win the next one I don't think it's going to have any real affect on their chances.

Since 1986, most of the winners have finished their group with seven points.

Argentina in 86, Germany in 1990, Brazil in 1994, Italy in 2006, Germany in 2014 and France in 2018

With the exception of Italy in 2006 and Germany in 2014 that draw has normally come against the team that qualifies from the group.

Now statistics of course only tell you what has happened, they can’t tell you what will happen.

Argentina and Denmark might benefit from playing opponents in the next game where the match will be more open, but who knows. Argentina for me, I think Messi is often a drag factor rather than a benefit to the team.

It was often that Argentine fans accused him of not replicating his level for Los Celestes as he did for Barca and was considered Catalan first and Argentine second (you consider Messi joined Barca at a very young age).

Now I think that’s somewhat unfair, Argentina never had players of the quality of Xavi and Iniesta in midfield but I also do think that Argentine coaches have far too often made Messi the fulcrum of the team (that worked with Maradona because he was a playmaker first)

Therefore I think both Messi and Ronaldo will ultimately have to be satisfied with the European championship and Copa America respectively. The Argentinians had their best chance to win eight years ago and I don’t think they made the best use of all their attacking players but also the Germans were better