| The ultimate World Cup thread 22:40 - Jun 11 with 252971 views | Logman |
Think we need a designated thread for general World Cup 2026 chat. There only seem to be the England and sweepstake ones so far.
Well that opening game got me nodding off nicely. VAR/the laws of the game the talking points as always. Well done FIFA. Not long before the highlights are just a reel of refereeing/VAR decisions.
When does the EFL start ?
[Post edited 11 Jun 22:41]
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 10:54 - Jun 28 with 2268 views | francisbowles |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:47 - Jun 28 by SydneyRs |
The end to the Austria v Algeria game was incredible. All after an extended period which looked like an impersonation of the infamous Austria v West Germany game in 1982. |
I didn't see that game but this 48 team format can give teams in the groups that play later an unfair advantage. Because you can be competing against teams in other groups, it goes against the fairness of kicking off the last games in each group at the same time.
Realistically, FIFA are not going to admit it doesn't work and reduce back to 32 teams, so I believe the only solution is to increase to 64 teams and go back to only two teams from each group qualifying for the knock out stages. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 11:07 - Jun 28 with 2189 views | Watford_Ranger |
Didn’t think we were that bad overall. Got plenty of shots away, controlled the vast majority of the game against a team (if you care about rankings) who aren’t awful and deserved more than two 1-0 defeats against also not awful Croatia/Ghana.
I don’t think we’ll go beyond the quarters but we’re in a good part of the draw. I’d rather this Mexico team away from home (assuming we can bumble our way past the good Doctor Congo) than the far better teams on a neutral ground. Get through that and probably play a far from vintage Brazil.
The lack of midfield options if Rice is out is a worry and he probably had James down as an option to fill in there but I’m bordering on optimistic for our chances. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 11:08 - Jun 28 with 2189 views | MrSheen |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 10:54 - Jun 28 by francisbowles |
I didn't see that game but this 48 team format can give teams in the groups that play later an unfair advantage. Because you can be competing against teams in other groups, it goes against the fairness of kicking off the last games in each group at the same time.
Realistically, FIFA are not going to admit it doesn't work and reduce back to 32 teams, so I believe the only solution is to increase to 64 teams and go back to only two teams from each group qualifying for the knock out stages. |
Surely that was the plan all along, to make it a mega TV spectacular with plenty of slush money to go round. The downsides are:
1) Qualifying will carry even less jeopardy than before. It’s dull enough now compared to thrills and perils it used to bring.
2) Hosting it will be an impossible challenge for any one country, unless…China? You need so much tourism and transport infrastructure in addition to all the stadiums. Most Western governments are too skint to lash out on extra white elephants now. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 11:19 - Jun 28 with 2136 views | Clive_Anderson |
I think Scotland still have a 0.0% chance of qualifying. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 13:45 - Jun 28 with 2008 views | derbyhoop |
Who thinks England can win it?
Can - yes
Will - no way.
They have struggled to break down Ghana and Panama, with a defence that is more porous than QPR's. As soon as they meet anybody really decent, they'll get beaten. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 14:26 - Jun 28 with 1926 views | kensalriser |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 13:45 - Jun 28 by derbyhoop |
Who thinks England can win it?
Can - yes
Will - no way.
They have struggled to break down Ghana and Panama, with a defence that is more porous than QPR's. As soon as they meet anybody really decent, they'll get beaten. |
The last line is true for every team but the winner. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 15:08 - Jun 28 with 1853 views | Boston |
Soon there will be no losers, every club shall come home with a cup. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 15:22 - Jun 28 with 1832 views | francisbowles |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 11:08 - Jun 28 by MrSheen |
Surely that was the plan all along, to make it a mega TV spectacular with plenty of slush money to go round. The downsides are:
1) Qualifying will carry even less jeopardy than before. It’s dull enough now compared to thrills and perils it used to bring.
2) Hosting it will be an impossible challenge for any one country, unless…China? You need so much tourism and transport infrastructure in addition to all the stadiums. Most Western governments are too skint to lash out on extra white elephants now. |
The group stage has always been a mixed bag.
For example Italy in 1982. Bored everyone rigid with three draws against Cameroon, Poland and Peru. Then they switched on and beat Brazil, Argentina, Poland and West Germany in the final.
Hosting I tend to agree with but the next one is in three countries and 2034 in oil rich Saudi Arabia, who better get busy building indoor stadiums unless we are to have another winter world cup.
Could we cope with 64 teams? I think we could, especially if we teamed up with Scotland, Wales and ROI. | | | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 16:13 - Jun 28 with 1742 views | charmr |
So much of the presentation of this World Cup from the commentators, studio guests, tv coverage ( obsessed with reactions) the hype and the commercials have made it unwatchable.
Games become secondary if not lower. More like a circus | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 16:48 - Jun 28 with 1698 views | Clive_Anderson |
I am coming round to the idea that they have one big table like the Champions League and play 5 games each to see who qualifies for the next round. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 18:32 - Jun 28 with 1613 views | ted_hendrix |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 16:13 - Jun 28 by charmr |
So much of the presentation of this World Cup from the commentators, studio guests, tv coverage ( obsessed with reactions) the hype and the commercials have made it unwatchable.
Games become secondary if not lower. More like a circus |
Well yea, pictures of bloody Beckham every Ten minutes. |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 18:39 - Jun 28 with 1607 views | Juzzie |
For me, the new format has enabled more smaller teams to be in the tournament itself and maybe one or two to progress, but that is merely at the expense of the other smaller teams.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that’s a bad thing necessarily but let’s not fool ourselves this new format will affect any of the big guns.
People are, quite rightly, talking about Cape Verde and DR Congo but there hasn’t really been any shocks at the other end of the spectrum. IMO only Turkey have underperformed and they’re not even in the top 20 world rankings.
FIFA will find a way to spin this and crow on about how wonderful it is but it feels the group stages are just a bunch of glorified friendlies and the really heavyweight stuff will start in R32, maybe even R16. [Post edited 28 Jun 20:10]
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 19:04 - Jun 28 with 1569 views | VancouverHoop |
Arguably today's match between South Africa and Canada is the most important in their respective histories, certainly is for the latter. Getting into the last sixteen would be a dizzying prospect for Canadian soccer obsessives. But merely met with a shrug by many other sports fans. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 20:53 - Jun 28 with 1478 views | Watford_Ranger |
Not exactly a classic thus far but SA hanging in there though playing for penalties is a bold strategy.
Ref is letting the challenges go at least. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:31 - Jun 28 with 1399 views | Dorse |
My idea to improve Hydration Breaks: each team member in succession has to down a pint of Guinness. First team to finish can restart with a corner. |  |
| 'What do we want? We don't know! When do we want it? Now!' |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:46 - Jun 28 with 1381 views | GroveR |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 20:53 - Jun 28 by Watford_Ranger |
Not exactly a classic thus far but SA hanging in there though playing for penalties is a bold strategy.
Ref is letting the challenges go at least. |
It's been a championship standard game but not in a good way. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:51 - Jun 28 with 1369 views | Northernr |
If Varane could find some South African heritage he could captain this lot. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:55 - Jun 28 with 1358 views | Clive_Anderson |
Canada against South Africa doesn't feel like a World Cup knockout game, all feels a bit Beazer Homes league. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:00 - Jun 28 with 1335 views | Boston |
So a 1 - '0 Canada' win. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:05 - Jun 28 with 1312 views | Northernr |
I really am hoping we are seeing the end game and death of this fcking idea that passing the ball back to the goalkeeper and building out slowly from there is the way to win at football games.
What have South Africa achieved there? Eliminated by a beatable team, having spent your whole knockout game passing the ball back to your own goalkeeper. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:06 - Jun 28 with 1310 views | Northernr |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 21:55 - Jun 28 by Clive_Anderson |
Canada against South Africa doesn't feel like a World Cup knockout game, all feels a bit Beazer Homes league. |
And played like it. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:06 - Jun 28 with 1302 views | VancouverHoop |
Well the win was nice. Even if the game wasn't a classic. Another classy goal from Esqui though. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:11 - Jun 28 with 1275 views | rbee |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:05 - Jun 28 by Northernr |
I really am hoping we are seeing the end game and death of this fcking idea that passing the ball back to the goalkeeper and building out slowly from there is the way to win at football games.
What have South Africa achieved there? Eliminated by a beatable team, having spent your whole knockout game passing the ball back to your own goalkeeper. |
South Africa obviously fancied their chances with penalties, thankfully they didn't get the opportunity. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 22:36 - Jun 28 with 1229 views | MrSheen |
Jesse Marsch is a bit of a dick, turning himself into Captain Canada. Imagine Thomas Tuchel as a Pearly King, doing the Lambeth Walk down the technical area | | | |
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