FIFA World Cup 2022

[Bluedell 5,627]

2 hours ago, Bill said:

The biggest surprise for me has been realising how good an idea it is to hold the WC tournament in December or possibly January. We were all told this WC would be a moral and organisational disaster, how wrong they were.

 

Also, having heard that not a single England supporter was arrested in Qatar, perhaps we should hold every WC in a country with authoritarian regimes 😄

One downside to holding the event in Qatar has been the lack of atmosphere at games and the vast number of empty seats. However it is nice to see it without major crowd trouble.

[Gonzo79 15,294]

There's empty seats at most WCs, especially in the group stages.  The South American and African fans brought some atmosphere but it looks like European fans who enjoy a sing song didn't bother or couldn't afford it.  

 

Personally, I've missed seeing England fans throwing plastic chairs.  

Edited December 14, 2022 by Gonzo79

[craig 5,199]

46 minutes ago, Bill said:

The greatest player of all time? Every generation seems to have had its Messi and they were all claimed to be the greatest player ever to play the game. The truth of course is that none of them were. They were all just great players of their time, nothing more, all comparisons utterly meaningless. The fact that the usual suspects are always prolific goal scorers and that great defenders or goalkeepers are never seen as contenders should confirm the utter futility of the notion of the greatest-ever player. I'm fairly sure Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi or Mbappe wouldn't be lauded if they weren't goal scoring forwards.

GOAT is an oft used descriptor but there are so many variables, one of which you rightly point out being a positional bias.  Beckenbauer was way beyond his years, Bobby Moore ?  Plenty of players to include in the mix.  And that is before you consider the bowling greens todays players play on, along with the lightweight balls they use unlike players of yesteryear.

 

Messi is my GOAT but that is purely subjective obviously and nobody can really claim there is an indisputable.

[compo 7,062]

23 minutes ago, craig said:

GOAT is an oft used descriptor but there are so many variables, one of which you rightly point out being a positional bias.  Beckenbauer was way beyond his years, Bobby Moore ?  Plenty of players to include in the mix.  And that is before you consider the bowling greens todays players play on, along with the lightweight balls they use unlike players of yesteryear.

 

Messi is my GOAT but that is purely subjective obviously and nobody can really claim there is an indisputable.

Puskas ,Pele or Messi ,perm anyone from the three seen them all in their pomp and they were superb a joy to watch 

[buster. 5,208]

2 hours ago, Bill said:

The greatest player of all time? Every generation seems to have had its Messi and they were all claimed to be the greatest player ever to play the game. The truth of course is that none of them were. They were all just great players of their time, nothing more, all comparisons utterly meaningless. The fact that the usual suspects are always prolific goal scorers and that great defenders or goalkeepers are never seen as contenders should confirm the utter futility of the notion of the greatest-ever player. I'm fairly sure Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi or Mbappe wouldn't be lauded if they weren't goal scoring forwards.

That is a bit like saying it isn't fair that only good looking women with good bodies win beauty contests.

 

Yes, of course you can get great defenders but they don't offer nearly as much as your elite game changers, middle to front. The latter are what most people want to see and who are worth far more in the transfer market for the same obvious reasons.

 

Zidane is almost more middle than front but he was a supreme game changer whose level of skill and imagination was off the scale.

 

 

Sometimes the lack of supreme quality up front will give the defenders a chance,

WC 2006 Canavaro

(Zidane decided to headbutt an Italian)

Edited December 14, 2022 by buster.

[Scott7 6,024]

France win. Morocco could have won if they had been able to finish the chances they made.

 

France will be too powerful for Argentina - they’re mostly little guys.

 

Morocco might have been too fast for them. Should beat Croatia for third.

[Franc Ergs 1,660]

12 hours ago, Bill said:

Also, having heard that not a single England supporter was arrested in Qatar, perhaps we should hold every WC in a country with authoritarian regimes 😄

Safest World Cup ever according to most accounts ,unlike some other countries that i won't name ,like Brazil , where you had to watch your back at every turn for the fear of being mugged .

Got to be honest, i miss a bit of the old drunken mass brawling outside the pubs, gives a bit of edge to proceedings ,and far better than getting dressed up as a fucking chicken or whatever other ridiculous fancy dress outfits the supporters seem to be wearing, having said that , it takes some balls to wear a chicken outfit sober .

[compo 7,062]

Should be an interesting final but I think I will stick my few shillings on the Argentinians to take home the trophy. 

[onevision 1,571]

5 hours ago, Franc Ergs said:

Safest World Cup ever according to most accounts ,unlike some other countries that i won't name ,like Brazil , where you had to watch your back at every turn for the fear of being mugged .

Got to be honest, i miss a bit of the old drunken mass brawling outside the pubs, gives a bit of edge to proceedings ,and far better than getting dressed up as a fucking chicken or whatever other ridiculous fancy dress outfits the supporters seem to be wearing, having said that , it takes some balls to wear a chicken outfit sober .

Or lack off balls, i can see the WC going down the Eurovision Song Contest route if the dressing up continues.

[Gonzo79 15,294]

Wearing fancy dress is for children.

Edited December 15, 2022 by Gonzo79