Qatar 2022 World Cup

[Pepe]

This thread will do.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The opening match, Qatar versus Ecuador, is on a Monday afternoon, kickoff 4pm UK. England-Persia is at 1pm the following day.

Box office.

[-james-]

Early look at ratings based on estimated squad strength, market odds and historical performance. 0.1 difference in rating is probably equal to around 0.1 goals.

https://i.imgur.com/kmuHTNL.png

Looks like an England lay against Iran is on the cards, judging by current prices.

[Boydy]

The opening match, Qatar versus Ecuador, is on a Monday afternoon, kickoff 4pm UK. England-Persia is at 1pm the following day.

Box office.

I thought it started on the sunday?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're right, it's a Sunday.

I'm considering decent sized bets on Qatar to progress quite far.

[Pepe]

Early look at ratings based on estimated squad strength, market odds and historical performance. 0.1 difference in rating is probably equal to around 0.1 goals.

https://i.imgur.com/kmuHTNL.png

Looks like an England lay against Iran is on the cards, judging by current prices.

:harold:

[randomlegend]

Early look at ratings based on estimated squad strength, market odds and historical performance. 0.1 difference in rating is probably equal to around 0.1 goals.

https://i.imgur.com/kmuHTNL.png

Looks like an England lay against Iran is on the cards, judging by current prices.

Does this take into account their Transfermarkt values?

[-james-]

No but it probably could do. Any cross national club ranking system would work. It's pretty crude but probably does alright. Teams with players at Manchester City and Real Madrid are probably better than teams with players at Crystal Palace and Bourdeaux.

[Raoul Duke]

Wonder just how much VAR-related corruption we'll see. Some flagrant South Korea-level shenanigans would be great

[Giggles]

England will smash Iran :yn:

[-james-]

In other stats wankery news, Sofascore have added match stats for World Cup matches going back to 1966, and apparently final that year had 77 shots (https://www.sofascore.com/england-west-germany/nUbsNfqc). :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you watch old games, there was a lot less fucking about than there is now. The start of moves was slower, and they'd roll it around and pass back to the keeper which doesn't happen now, but they'd get to the point far quicker. Kind of like serve-volley in tennis versus the endless rallies of today.

[niko_cee]

Entertainment versus the joys of physical endurance.

[John Arne]

Not long to go now. What do we think the starting XI will be? I've thrown this together - the only possible changes I think are;
Dier for Maguire
James for Trippier (if fit)
Perhaps Sterling over Mount. Knowing Southgate he'll probably start Rashford based on one decent game.

I'd also much prefer a 433

https://gyazo.com/660b18fe0344828d2c732b0a7c84326e.jpeg

[Don]

Is Foden ahead of Sterling and Mount?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't think any of them are eligible for Indonesia.

[Shindig]

I haven't kept up. Is Kyle Walker injured?

[randomlegend]

Is Foden ahead of Sterling and Mount?

He should be given they're both shit.

[niko_cee]

Sterling is obviously going to start.

The thought (inevitability) of having 2 absolute bums who can't even get a game for United in the side is depressing in the extreme.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The closer we get to the tournament, the more uneasy I feel about England's chances. These are 3 opponents who simply have to be beaten or it's abject humiliation, but I'm not sure we have more than 2 or 3 goals in us across the 3 games. Iran has 0-0 written all over it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sterling is obviously going to start.

The thought (inevitability) of having 2 absolute bums who can't even get a game for United in the side is depressing in the extreme.

Shaw has been starting since Malacia got fisted in the Manchester derby.

[randomlegend]

Every time I think Shaw might actually be a good player he turns to shit and every time I give up on him he's good again.

[Waffdon]

He does look a lot slimmer.

England will win all 3 group games without a doubt. Probably make it to the semis again if they avoid anyone too decent of a side.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This belter from twitter:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FgpTdMLUAAcyLaW?format=png&name=900x900

:cab:

[Boydy]

He does look a lot slimmer.

England will win all 3 group games without a doubt. Probably make it to the semis again if they avoid anyone too decent of a side.

Doing a Taz on England? Nice.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

England are winning it all.

[-james-]

Mahow. :cool:

[Giggles]

They’ll go far enough to get all the tails up and windows smashed but will fall near the end due to being too conservative. Semi’s.

[John Arne]

Out in the group stage.

Goalless draws with Iran and Wales, followed by a 72nd Pulisic winner for the US.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And more:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FgtFokxWAAcnsBQ?format=jpg&name=medium

The England band officially on the Qatari state payroll, do we need any more evidence for the moral depravity of each?

[Kikó]

Confirmed whoppers.

[Shindig]

They're probably the type to be £16,000 in debt.

[Ben]

Dear me.

[Disco]

And here was me thinking the England band couldn't get any worse.

[Yevrah]

You lot need to start focusing on the football.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

FIFA :harold:

[Lewis]

1588645267427176449

lol

[Shindig]

Jesus, Gary. Trying to respond like a politician instead of saying like, "I WOULDN'T MISS THIS WORLD CUP FOR THE WORLD! FOOTBALL!"

[Yevrah]

Game over for Gary that. Absolutely rumbled, with all the points made any sensible person without an agenda would make. God I love Hislop.

[niko_cee]

Is the Dani Alves in the Brazil squad for this the Dani Alves? What the fuck? Isn't he about 50?

[Ben]

He was in the CM 01/02 database. I guess there's not many of those folk left, certainly at international level.

[John Arne]

Australia squad for the World Cup looks, frankly, fucking awful. Queenslander, what happened?

1589916884518195203

[SvN]

https://i.postimg.cc/0QSgJf0f/Untitled-3.png

Absolutely dead behind the eyes.

[-james-]

What a name Keanu Baccus is though.

[Waffdon]

Australia squad for the World Cup looks, frankly, fucking awful. Queenslander, what happened?

1589916884518195203

I can see 3 Scottish players in there alone. Probably about 10 have played over here too. Grim.

[Kikó]

What a name Keanu Baccus is though.

If pes made films.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63554507

The face turn to end all face turns.

[Ian]

You say face turn but it's because he had a much better deal lined up with North Korea.

[Spikey M]

They'd have given it to Mordor if the cheque had been big enough.

[niko_cee]

What time is the final going to be? I've just realised I'm travelling on Dec 18th.

[randomlegend]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63554507

The face turn to end all face turns.


"Since then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account," he added.

Lol.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They'd have given it to Mordor if the cheque had been big enough.

Mordor?

Ha, GEEK!

[Jimmy Floyd]

What time is the final going to be? I've just realised I'm travelling on Dec 18th.

3pm our time I think.

[niko_cee]

3pm you say?

https://i.ibb.co/q9xF9VS/Screenshot-2022-11-08-135209.png (https://ibb.co/2P5YPH9)

:face: doesn't even begin to cover this.

[Manc]

Guernsey unlikely to reach the final imo.

[niko_cee]

Late and unexpected call up for Alex Scott?

Most of the team's image rights probably live here.

[Queenslander]

Australia squad for the World Cup looks, frankly, fucking awful. Queenslander, what happened?

1589916884518195203

Outside of Melbourne City the A League is terrible at producing quality players. We overlook the likes Cristian Volpato (Roma) as kids more often than not these days.

The upside is we have a small Army of Sudanese Australians coming through the pathways so hopefully we can keep most of them going forward. Thomas Deng and Garang Kuol will be the ones to watch at the World Cup.

[Shindig]

Garang going to a World Cup after 17 minutes of senior football. What a trajectory. :cool:

[Queenslander]

He's our best prospect since Kewell. :cool:

[Don]

Mane out now. No doubt some more big ones to come this weekend.

[niko_cee]

Obviously a bit of a tragedy for him personally, but in a world of petty tribalism, lol, fuck him. Hope he likes Christmas Markets.

[Don]

I skimmed past some tweet that seemed to suggest he misses the lads and plying his trade in a non-farmer setting so I feel a little hesitancy in lolling at the useless fuck.

[Bam]

Obviously a bit of a tragedy for him personally, but in a world of petty tribalism, lol, fuck him. Hope he likes Christmas Markets.

I very much doubt he does.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Qatar to reach the quarter-finals available at 14/1. Draw opens up with every passing day. Longer than Cameroon and Ghana!

[-james-]

1590365400235069441

Come ooonn the banter year.

[Don]

Jimmy, depart whatevet train you're trying to manifest, there's no hope there and there certainly is no will.

[Waffdon]

Lol at France not starting Maignan never mind not taking him to a World Cup. Their midfield depth also looks horrendous, bang average aside from the 2 Madrid boys.

[John Arne]

Rashford making the squad on the back of literally one decent game is peak Southgate.

Also, Elliot for Henderson please.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sir Rashford.

Address him using his full title, scum.

[John Arne]

Marcus "School Dinners" Rashford.

[Shindig]

Marcus 'Published Author' Rashford. 'cos he totally wrote that book he has out.

[Kikó]

Rashford has had a good season so far so not sure which was the good game.

[-james-]

Tyrone Mings to make the squad backed into 1/10 this morning lol.

[Waffdon]

Mings, Coady and Gomez all being called up would be hilarious. Such a grim back line, no wonder Southgate plays negative football.

[-james-]

Gallagher, Maddison and Wilson in if you believe the Skybet money.

[Don]

Gallagher over Hendo is a surprise if they're right but fairplay to the virgin gimp, he's grown some balls.

[niko_cee]

I have no idea what Connor Gallagher offers in international football. He's not even any good at penalties. Is Toney a no go due to off field issues?

[Waffdon]

He is probably suited to it, if anything, based on the fact RELENTLESS pressing is his only standout talent. Absolutely zero positional awareness and lack of a first touch though.

[niko_cee]

Since when have England played a pressing game?

I thought 'being in the right place at the right time' (like Lampard) was his main quality, although admittedly I haven't seen all that much of him.

[Waffdon]

He does arrive late to the box very well but he just is not suited to being in a team expected to retain the ball often. Certainly struggles receiving the ball on the turn and just a bit clumsy. Crystal Palace were perfect for him.

[Waffdon]

Have a look at the Netherland’s strikers they’ve called up if you want a laugh. Proper Brexit ball strikers

[-james-]

The first XI isn't bad tbf but the rest of the squad is reeking. Their 2nd keeper is a 39 year old who was first capped this year. :cab:

[-james-]

He's first choice actually. Can tell I don't watch Ajax games.

[Don]

Isn't he their 1st choice GK? VVD, Dumfries and Gakpo could take them far.

[Don]

No Thiago should assure us the CL :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Ochoa and Andrés Guardado are still around the Mexico team

[Lewis]

Have a look at the Netherland’s strikers they’ve called up if you want a laugh. Proper Brexit ball strikers

'LvG' MASTERCLASS incoming. Semi-finals at least.

[Pepe]

Ochoa and Andrés Guardado are still around the Mexico team

Surprised Marquez isn't there.

Talavera is even older than Ochoa. He was average as fuck when young. No way he is any good at 40.

[Kikó]

1591437612392513537?t=hfxpPxV5fP-Lg-U1fzGspA&s=19

Laughable. Click into the thread, all these fans traveling in from errr India?

[niko_cee]

But what are the rentamobs employment conditions like?

[Disco]

They cheer for who they're told to cheer for or its back to the labour gangs for the opportunity to become a load bearing migrant.

[John Arne]

World Cup starts this week.

:)

[Baz]

https://benderslikebeckham.com/

What a loser.

[John Arne]

Iran with some strange squad decisions.

4 goalies, and only named 25 players :sherlock:

1591880052014194695

[Spoonsky]

I'm intrigued by the way they've divided it into five positions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Goalkeepers, defenders, more defenders, full backs, and motorcycle outriders.

[Don]

Injuries to our [Hull City] wonderkid and, more recently, experienced holding midfielder (in a friendly against Nicaragua last week) have resulted in the 25. The 4 keepers is very peculiar though, maybe we want 2 training games on the go. Either way, the master clearly doesn't respect the 26 format and who is anyone to doubt him.

[Offshore Toon]

Is there any app with a widget that'll show games and scores?

[Yevrah]

https://benderslikebeckham.com/

What a loser.

Love it.

[John Arne]

Is there any app with a widget that'll show games and scores?

Sofascore and AIscore have a widget for livescores. AIScore also does livestreams for lots of games if you have a decent VPN.

[Offshore Toon]

Sofascore and AIscore have a widget for livescores. AIScore also does livestreams for lots of games if you have a decent VPN.
Nice one, I'll check them out.

[niko_cee]

Obviously misty-eyed nostalgia, but I've quite enjoyed the Italia 90 thing on channel 4. Just such a great tournament. Football may have been terrible for a lot of it, but Cameroon [and Roger Milla, who is now 70!] fucking shit up from the get-go, Toto Schillachi being a complete unknown, David Platt's goal, Nessum Dorma, just a shame the final wasn't Italy v England.

[Manc]

What was the last genuinely good WC? I'd go with 2006.

[Ben]

2018 until half time of the second semi-final.

[Giggles]

2002.

[Max Power]

The last two had good group stages but fairly unremarkable knockout games

[John Arne]

When did Germany batter Russia... was that 2014? That was entertaining.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm still not over a) the fact that they ruined 2010 with a terrible ball, and b) the fact that everyone diagnosed the ball's weakness wrong - it wasn't the flight but the hard bounce, which just led to endless overhit passes and terrible first touches out of play.

[Lewis]

Diego Forlan hitting those low free-kicks into the box from forty yards is a stand out memory of the ball.

[Ian]

I'm still not over a) the fact that they ruined 2010 with a terrible ball, and b) the fact that everyone diagnosed the ball's weakness wrong - it wasn't the flight but the hard bounce, which just led to endless overhit passes and terrible first touches out of play.

Was that the Jabulani or am I thinking of a different shit ball?

[John Arne]

Just noticed a few issues with my wallchart...

The union jack is used for England :/

https://gyazo.com/ba38247bb62a2c59fc0a1ac27d62ccc4.jpeg

[Gray Fox]

Jabulani and Vuvuzelas. What more does a person want?

[Shindig]

Lol, Belgium is bi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not going to ask what's going on with that language. Xu Wales?

[Baz]

I like that USA is Mỹ but Canada is Canada.

[randomlegend]

I'm still not over a) the fact that they ruined 2010 with a terrible ball, and b) the fact that everyone diagnosed the ball's weakness wrong - it wasn't the flight but the hard bounce, which just led to endless overhit passes and terrible first touches out of play.

The flight was also stupid, tbf.

Unless you think the excitement introduced by a completely unpredictable flight is a positive I guess.

[igor_balis]

Unless you think the excitement introduced by a completely unpredictable flight is a positive I guess.
I mean there's something to be said for that, just ask Mohamed Atta.

[Waffdon]

Nkunku out of the World Cup after being injured in training. Not sure if he’d have started, mind.

[Disco]

I mean there's something to be said for that, just ask Mohamed Atta.

No love for poor Hani Hanjour and his perfect turn, for shame.

[Shindig]

The crowning achievement of his piloting career and it gets dismissed as a conspiracy.

[niko_cee]

£12 for a pint of Budweiser.

:happycry:

All the rainbow laces stuff and migrant workers buried in the concrete moaning is great and all, but these things travel to shithouse regimes as standard, and it's all deflecting from the real scandal, and that is that the tournament has been robbed from the fans by the corrupt twats at FIFA and their infinite backhanders. I know they are expanding it, so maybe it will be less of an issue, but imagine being a Wales fan, not having seen Wales at a World Cup in your lifetime, and then you do get to one, and it's an absolute non-event because it's in the middle of some tiny pissant desert shithole where no one can go. The atmosphere will be terrible, the football probably a human rights violation in itself, but it's ok, we're trying to help some recalcitrant bellends come to terms with their own prejudices.

England will probably win it and all now and it will be rubbish.

[Lewis]

lol at Virgin laying on a plane for England called 'Rain Bow' (yay) whilst suspending their gender-bending uniform policy on the exact same flight because Qatar doesn't like it (boo).

[Baz]

Anyone not excited for the World Cup should collect the stickers. I’m buzzing for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wouldn't have thought that blood would make a good adhesive.

[John Arne]

Loving how salty the Welsh are getting over William, Prince of Wales giving England's brave boys are decent send off.

#HesOneOfOurOwn

[Don]

1592571451881574401

"I think you should also stop to think about your record in England with immigrants, also".

Oh baby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Says a fucking white Portuguese Mozambican, think he exists at the mouth of the tunnel of injustice.

[Don]

My man ain't the one imposing his filthy kafir beliefs onto every fucker around him like a Jehovah's Witness.

[niko_cee]

What's the deal with all the puma kits for this seemingly having massive shield designs on them? The Swiss one looks like a first aid kit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Never mind that, is every team's kit in block colours and is every team's away kit all white?

[niko_cee]

I always thought 'block colours' meant all the same colour, but it seems that I may have been wrong in that assumption.

Most of the kits look pretty meh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63643362).

Saudi Arabia sporting Newcastle's third [away?] kit a nice touch. Sub-Saharan Africa look to be leading the way as usual.

[niko_cee]

I'm also coming to realise that, other than the debacle with the final, I have conflicts of some sort or other for virtually every England game. Just the worst time of year to be doing this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's what I meant by it.

24 of the 32 teams have at least one white shirt, which is a real worry. Not counting Argentina/Croatia in that either.

[Boydy]

Ecuador away, Mexico away and Spain away are all pretty cool.

[niko_cee]

Ah, ok, seems to have another 'fashion' meaning as well. Portugal do have green shorts, no? And a half-and-half diagonal shirt thing which doesn't look too bad.

[Ben]

Is that Robben modelling the Netherlands kit? :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ah, ok, seems to have another 'fashion' meaning as well. Portugal do have green shorts, no? And a half-and-half diagonal shirt thing which doesn't look too bad.

Yeah, I managed to mistake Serbia for them. This might be the change I make in the world. No more all same-colour kits at tournaments, and no more light vs dark. We have suffered long enough. The colourblind must find other entertainment.

[wullie]

If anyone gets away with that rubbish Puma design it's Morocco as it's almost faint enough to miss. Their home is just a redo of the 98 Hadji special so I'm getting that from one of China's finest copycats.

[Manc]

Most of the kits look pretty meh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63643362).

They are all absoutley honking.

[Shindig]

I feel like Japan's hasn't changed since 1998.

[phonics]

I think it would be a genuine design challenge to fuck up the Argentina home kit. Just absolute perfection in its simplicity.

Although I’d say the same thing about the Dutch home kit and they still managed it.

[Shindig]

The shield motif on some of the away kits look downright horrific.

[Lewis]

Diego Forlan hitting those low free-kicks into the box from forty yards is a stand out memory of the ball.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLsR8GMdTSE

:cool:

[Ian]

That's not a bad Watford kit that Ecuador have.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLsR8GMdTSE

:cool:

Lovely to see 'Safe Hands' Richard Kings(t)on again after all these years.

[Boydy]

God, remember how annoying those fucking vuvuzelas were.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2022/nov/16/world-cup-2022-player-profiles-qatar-match-ratings?CMP=share_btn_tw

This is really good if you want to learn about the squads. It's amazing how out of touch I am now. In 2014 I'd have known everyone, nowadays I'm looking at a team as big as Argentina and I think I know less than half of them. Mexico I've heard of about five players.

Matty Cash playing for Poland will never not surprise me.

[wullie]

I like how Holland's third keeper is the late bloomer rather than the 39 year old first choice keeper who only got his first cap this year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My favourite of several 39 year olds is Atiba Hutchinson. If asked I would have said he was nearer 50 than 40.

[wullie]

He's been dreaming of playing in a World Cup, it's a story he'll be able to tell the grandkids when he sees them next week

[Ian]

I meant to post about that because it's really well done. Keep an eye out for the player portraits with a circle around them as they have a little extra title.

Marten de Room's "Hard worker," feeling like a backhanded school report, Mason Mount the "complete player" making him sound a lot more exciting than he is, Ismaeel Mohammed the "Joker", so you know to invite him to parties and Sir Daniel Rashford of course has "social activist."

[Ben]

Scrolling through that link (which is excellent by the way) really hammers home what a shambles our defenders are. I'm concerned for coming up against anyone half decent.

[wullie]

https://i.imgur.com/KnlT27S.png


It's a beautiful sight

[Jimmy Floyd]

Junior Hoilett:


Finds a way to look back positively on all four of his relegations from the English Premier League. Has worked under Sam Allardyce, Harry Redknapp and Neil Warnock, who he refers to as his favourite.

Warnock in.

[Shindig]

I got South Korea in the work sweepstake. Let the madness commence.

[Spikey M]

Is Son still injured?

[Shindig]

He's wearing a protective face mask in training so he'll probably be risked.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Son with a fucked up face is probably better than Lee Dong-Gook fully fit. I presume Lee Dong-Gook's still in their squad. He hasn't ever not been.

[Boydy]

Huh, that's a real player. I thought you'd just made up a racist name at first.

Google says former player though.

[Giggles]

Phonics had the siren fired up and all.

[Shindig]

Hwang Hee-Chan probably fills that role. He looked semi-decent for a couple of weeks last season.

There's also the potential commentary headache of Jeong Woo-yeong & Jung Woo-young.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mane officially OUT.

[niko_cee]

Already coming up Southgate.

Just need the French to have some sort of mutiny so we can be waved through to the semis again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They've banned beer at stadiums (in contravention of FIFA's deal with Bud, which was going to be allowed) with a couple of days to go. luv you Qatar.

[Ian]

Well, welp, welp, FIFA, if it isn't the consequences of your actions.

[Ian]

I assume they happily will accept the decision in the name of respecting local customs and focusing on the football?

[niko_cee]

:D

[wullie]

The next World Cup hosting will now be awarded to man-made islands on international waters where no local laws apply. Moonshine and dogfighting in every fan zone, marry your cousin if you want

[niko_cee]

Officially banned.

:happycry:

Next up rainbow iconography.

[Ben]

Corporates still allowed of course.

[Waffdon]

19,000 and you’re having to drink Bud? Poor bastards.

[Spikey M]

Anyone going deserves everything they get to be fair. The weather is unbearable, fun is illegal and there's a fair chance you're getting stoned to death if you hug your mate after a goal. This is going to be worse than South Africa and those cunting Vuvuzelas ruing every game.

[Manc]

Moonshine and dogfighting in every fan zone, marry your cousin if you want

America is only four years away.

[Waffdon]

Reckon this works out quite well for Budweiser. Getting more advertisement now than they would have if folk were allowed to get pissed

[Disco]

I would certainly expect people who hadn't drunk any Budweiser to have a higher opinion of them than otherwise.

[Baz]

How much Bud have you had today?

[niko_cee]

I suppose there is an argument that saving people from paying £12 for '500ml' of Budweiser maybe rights a lot of the humanitarian wrongs associated with the tournament.

[Baz]

Anyone for World Cup Fantasy Football?

https://play.fifa.com/fantasy-classic/join-league/YWBC1796

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/fans-paid-to-attend-world-cup-by-qatar-have-daily-allowance-cancelled?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

It is quite lol how image-conscious the Qataris are. I've learned through my own contact with the Arab world now that these guys just scream and shout like little girls if anyone badmouths them.

[Ian]

I think these lads have misunderstood how sportswashing is supposed to work.

[niko_cee]

At what point does this transition from being all rather funny to being a bit of a problem? When they start rounding up people not respecting their 'culture'?

English hooligans to the rescue, tearing downtown Doha to pieces.

[Disco]

Was it not when they minced several thousand slaves putting up the stadiums?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think it's inevitable some kind of problematic event will occur during the tournament - whether a planned protest spectacle, or some kind of clampdown. The thing is for us, how can I put this, white western fans, I don't think we appreciate just how little of a shit the rest of the world gives about things like gays and dead migrant workers. I'd say maybe 12 or 13 of the 32 competing nations are from cultures that give a fuck.

[niko_cee]

Was it not when they minced several thousand slaves putting up the stadiums?

Apparently not.

[Ian]

At what point does this transition from being all rather funny to being a bit of a problem?

Depends who you mean a problem to? I think most people who aren't either actively profiting from it or from broadly similar cultures already see it as a problem, don't they?

FIFA might be having doubts now it looks like Qatar might start backtracking on shit they've promised to do to placate FIFA's pretence of caring about anything other than the bottom line... but even then it's only because stuff like the Budweiser thing might affect their bottom line.

It'll be very interesting to see who wins ("wins") the 2030 tournament.

[Kikó]

I think it's good that Gary Neville and David Beckham are there to raise the issues because I think we wouldn't have heard about most of this otherwise.

[Ben]

It's all a bit embarrassing when England fans kick off abroad but it would be good scenes if they did it this time round.

[Boydy]

Will they be able to get tanked up enough to start fights?

[Ben]

They'll only let the paid actors in anyway.

[Ian]

Will they be able to get tanked up enough to start fights?

For the England faithful what it lacks in inhibition-reducing alcohol it'll make up in rage-inducing brown people.

[Shindig]

And complaining about the heat.

[Manc]

Not sure I can squeeze in the 10am slot. 1pm games will have to be extended lunch.

[igor_balis]

I handed my notice in today and had barely any work anyway so I'm quite ready.

[Waffdon]

1593722179828473857

:lol:

[Offshore Toon]

Guernsey. :lol:

[Kikó]

Genuinely looks like one of the worst ways you could spend an afternoon.

[Ben]

Christ.

[John Arne]

David Luiz was genuinely awful in this game. Players having a bad game is fine, but his lack of discipline and continued stepping out from the back and leaving huge gaps was fucking atrocious.

1593676411427950592

[Shindig]

His interview after the game was good. He'd just made his £50m move to PSG.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The whole tone of that farridge/Tissier conversation is amazing.

'...than the woke Mr Southgate!' *smug, knowing glance to camera*

[Shindig]

It's the "Woah!" from Farage that gets me.

EDIT: Oh, Infantino's gone off on one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63687412

Why apologise for a past you didn't write, Gianni? The migrant deaths are very fucking current.


Infantino opened by saying: "Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker."

:|

[Ian]

"I feel African, I feel gay, I feel-"
* dragged off stage *

[wullie]

Just when Ronaldo thought he had the week's soundbites all to himself, here comes Infantino saying the Qatar World Cup is good because he used to be ginger.

[Don]

Anyone going deserves everything they get to be fair. The weather is unbearable, fun is illegal and there's a fair chance you're getting stoned to death if you hug your mate after a goal. This is going to be worse than South Africa and those cunting Vuvuzelas ruing every game.


I think it's inevitable some kind of problematic event will occur during the tournament - whether a planned protest spectacle, or some kind of clampdown. The thing is for us, how can I put this, white western fans, I don't think we appreciate just how little of a shit the rest of the world gives about things like gays and dead migrant workers. I'd say maybe 12 or 13 of the 32 competing nations are from cultures that give a fuck.

phonics

[niko_cee]

I love when complete morons like Infantino go off on grand historical rants. What we Europeans have been doing for 3000 years? What's that mate, inventing the modern world? Including, you know, The Football. Yeah, forshame on us. Would be much better if we'd never bothered with all that.

[Ben]

Grass.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The truth hurts, my little flower.

The Arab was talking to me about the World Cup yesterday. When I asked who he wanted to win, he said 'Lionel Messi'. Then he started going on about how Qatar wasn't to blame for the migrant worker deaths because the stadiums were built by Indian contractors (I have not fact checked this claim).

Earlier in the day, he'd been on at me about how he and most Arabs liked conspiracy theories. The one he always cites is how the people who built the pyramids were ten feet tall but European subjugation had since reduced heights in the region. That is how these people think. They need everything to be an American/Israeli conspiracy, because if it isn't then they might have to start being slightly introspective about the way they go about things.

[Don]

Lad, can you calm down a little please, I haven't seen such misplaced outrage since a Belfast bakery refused to make a cake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You have genuinely sounded a little unwell in the last few weeks, I would look at talking to a professional. That's not flippant, I'm serious.

[7om]

He’s been on the ropes for years now.

[Spikey M]

It does feel like he's disappeared down a Middle-Eastern rabbithole recently though. He's gone from just trolling the gammons to taking offence to absolutely any mention of the Middle East / Arabian Peninsula.

[Giggles]

That’s mental from Infantino, I thought it was a parody thing when I seen it first. One can only assume there are some nice men with hacksaws minding his family in the hotel at the minute.

[Dquincy]

The truth hurts, my little flower.

The Arab was talking to me about the World Cup yesterday. When I asked who he wanted to win, he said 'Lionel Messi'. Then he started going on about how Qatar wasn't to blame for the migrant worker deaths because the stadiums were built by Indian contractors (I have not fact checked this claim).

Earlier in the day, he'd been on at me about how he and most Arabs liked conspiracy theories. The one he always cites is how the people who built the pyramids were ten feet tall but European subjugation had since reduced heights in the region. That is how these people think. They need everything to be an American/Israeli conspiracy, because if it isn't then they might have to start being slightly introspective about the way they go about things.

Hardly the biggest sample pool.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He claimed to speak for them all, so who am I to doubt him.

[niko_cee]

Wait, did Bryan Swanson come out after Infantino's speech or was that a known thing?

[Ben]

Taz needs to get his leg over.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wait, did Bryan Swanson come out after Infantino's speech or was that a known thing?

I don't know, but him coming out (to me at least) as FIFA's director of communications was a good laugh.

[Dquincy]

He claimed to speak for them all, so who am I to doubt him.
Fair play. They do all look al...

That was a JOKE, please dont ban me.

Anyway, not really giving any fucks about the world cup. But hoping that changes when it starts.

[Don]

That Infantino speech is actually a belter, wasn't aware he was such an intelligent thinker.

[John Arne]

It's kinda weird seeing so much criticism of Qatar without anyone mentioning Islam. Qatar has dual civil and Shari'a law - all the stuff people are moaning about (except migrant deaths) basically stem the the Shari'a side.

[randomlegend]

You have genuinely sounded a little unwell in the last few weeks, I would look at talking to a professional. That's not flippant, I'm serious.

I've tried.

[Ben]

That Infantino speech is actually a belter, wasn't aware he was such an intelligent thinker.

He’s not. The Qataris gave him the notes.

[Dquincy]

Re Beckham, can we all agree, if we were offered millions of pounds by the Qatari gov to promote the World Cup, we would?

I certainly would.

[Shindig]

None of us have a reputation to protect.

[Dquincy]

Speak for yourself mate. I'm legendary on this board.

[7om]

I've tried.

Aren’t you a paeds SHO?

[randomlegend]

Lol as if actual psychiatrists exist.

[Boydy]

1593582494582030338

[Giggles]

1593582494582030338

Conflicting loyalties for young Declan there.

[niko_cee]

:D

Is that actual Gerry Adams?

[Kikó]

Some brilliant tweets on Qatar so far
1592997689427660801?t=mLDhSG1K16i6pNN-Y-yVIg&s=19

1593912019111084033?t=o9oxV2IktDHJznbWnHFZ_Q&s=08

£300 a night.

[Lofty]

To be fair to Qatar there's no point building economy hotels as there will be no use for them afterwards.

[Shindig]

Fucking rubes. :D

[7om]

Lol as if actual psychiatrists exist.

It’s what I will be specializing in :henn0rz:

[Ben]

I’m shocked that this having the World Cup in Qatar thing is turning into a shambles already.

[randomlegend]

It’s what I will be specializing in :henn0rz:

Which region are you in?

One of the paeds trainees I work with did a secondment to CAMHs for six months recently. He said CAMHs provision is bad enough, but described the adult mental health service in this region as "one guy standing on the roof of Hellesdon hospital waving a white flag and crying".

[7om]

Which region are you in?

One of the paeds trainees I work with did a secondment to CAMHs for six months recently. He said CAMHs provision is bad enough, but described the adult mental health service in this region as "one guy standing on the roof of Hellesdon hospital waving a white flag and crying".

Peninsula.

I’ve done about 10 weeks of psych placement over the last year and honestly it looks fine here. Admittedly CAMHS probably could do with a bit more funding but adult seems pretty good to me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think there's something that has been lost in the 'World Cup in Qatar' debate because all the focus is on things that can be easily slated, like gay rights, women's rights and migrant workers' rights. These things are a problem in many, many countries, including plenty that have hosted the World Cup before.

The real problem with having the World Cup in Qatar is that it's a tiny shithole with absolutely no capacity to host an event of this magnitude, except the money to bribe Jack Warner, Chuck Blazer et al for the hosting rights 12 years ago.

A World Cup in Egypt, Morocco, even the hated Saudi Arabia would be far more viable.

[randomlegend]

Peninsula.

I’ve done about 10 weeks of psych placement over the last year and honestly it looks fine here. Admittedly CAMHS probably could do with a bit more funding but adult seems pretty good to me.

Yeah this region is the worst in the country.

[Lewis]

1593918828731301888

[igor_balis]

:D

[Dquincy]

I'll be honest, I don't really care about the migrant workers, booze, etc. My only beef is that we have a world cup in the winter during the build up to Christmas and half way through a season.

It's just odd.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm actually not minding that aspect of it. Club football bores me to tears at this point, and this is normally an unbearably miserable time of year in general.

[igor_balis]

Yeah I'm fully behind the scheduling, I get total football burnout by about April. Being able to watch a world cup while I'm still in stage of the season where I'm watching most live EPL games and listening to the odd podcast is great.

[Dquincy]

I'm actually not minding that aspect of it. Club football bores me to tears at this point, and this is normally an unbearably miserable time of year in general.

Not a Christmas fan? Or is it the dark afternoons and crap weather?

[niko_cee]

Imagine how much more unbearably miserable it is going to be after England CRASH OUT in ignominious fashion, or France win again.

Merry Christmas.

[Dquincy]

...or we win it and bring Christmas cheer to one and all. The positive feeling amongst the English public then has a positive impact on the UK economic market, and by January next year there is no cost of living crisis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not a Christmas fan? Or is it the dark afternoons and crap weather?

Christmas is alright, but it's the only saving grace between the clocks going back and, well, before them going forward again really.

[Dquincy]

Christmas is alright, but it's the only saving grace between the clocks going back and, well, before them going forward again really.

The clock changing is bollocks to be fair. An archaic hang over, which does not serve any real purpose these days.

[Lewis]

I wouldn't open my curtains to watch Qatar vs Ecuador normally, but I might give it a go to see if they execute any gays in the opening ceremony, and I'm away with work Monday and most of Tuesday so I think the first game I'll be able to watch is France vs Australia. YouTube has been unblocked on the work internet for some reason this week, so we might be able to get some games up in the office once we're back, like it's 2002 again.