FIFA 2022 World Cup Group stage: Sponsored by Bud

[Yevrah]

Presumably Australia will go 1-0 ahead within the first 10 minutes.

Nailed it. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some top Frenching from the left back there. Lost them a goal and died in the process.

His brother who replaced him is better anyway.

[Waffdon]

No idea why Theo wasn’t starting anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Presumably Australia will go 1-0 ahead within the first 10 minutes.

:D

[SvN]

And to think, all that had to happen was for Taz to bet in the opposite direction.

[-james-]

Mbappe is just a joke

[Giggles]

Don. Out of the numbers 1 to 46, which 40 of them would you pick?

[Ian]

Don. Out of the numbers 1 to 46, which 40 of them would you pick?

:D

[Yevrah]

Australia look a properly organised outfit here, with France all over the place.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Balls.

[Yevrah]

A shame.

That'll be Rabiot's Mum on the blower to Man Utd again too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's probably that :(

[Shindig]

Absolutely gifted. The French response has been relentless.

[Yevrah]

Well that was fun while it lasted.

[Queenslander]

Conceding while faffing around. :drool:

[Pepe]

Shit teams playing it from the back is a terrible trend.

[Waffdon]

Tchouameni reminds me of Cochise from The Warriors every time I look at him

[Jimmy Floyd]

Shit teams playing it from the back is a terrible trend.

I noticed Senegal doing the shit little goal kicks yesterday. Lads, just pump it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe is wank.

[Yevrah]

Mbappe is wank.

He seems in desperate need of an Alex Ferguson type who could properly harness the obvious talent he has. No one should be smiling at a miss like that either.

[Don]

France must have created the largest xG in the first half in the tournament so far and there's the gammons all rollling in their own filth lolling at me. Well, you're not oinking anymore lads, are ya?

That Lucas injury was some blessing, their left flank is now like some computer game (pretty sure either of them could beat all XI Aussies and score at will).

[Waffdon]

1595100586801766400

They’ll be calling up for ching in no time

[Shindig]

Oil rigs on fire ...

[Ian]

"Ronaldo to Burnley?"
Kompany: "Well..... we need players who can run."

:D

[Waffdon]

Cumdog time.

[Queenslander]

Harry Kewell on commentary is pointless the bloke is as thick as they get.


We had Bosnich in the first half...

[Ben]

Harry Kewell on commentary is pointless the bloke is as thick as they get.


We had Bosnich in the first half...

We've got Danny Murphy, count your blessings.

[Ian]

What happened to Bosnich? He off getting a noseful?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Australia manager = Alan Dale.

[Queenslander]

What happened to Bosnich? He off getting a noseful?

Just pointing out the obvious over and over.

[Queenslander]

We've got Danny Murphy, count your blessings.

:D

[Waffdon]

They’re just so much better with Giroud than Benzema

[Lewis]

AE gets a game at last.

[Queenslander]

Kuol. :cool:

[niko_cee]

So, with Argentina and France potentially lining up in the last 16 [although I suppose Argentina could still very well win that group] is it time for Southgate to somehow bail on winning our group to try and wangle ourselves into what might be a horrendous bit of the draw [feckless Dutch in the last 16, and then a potential really shit QF opponent]?

[Yevrah]

It absolutely will be, won't it. :moop:

[Waffdon]

You still want to finish 1st I think. Argentina will top their group still and that side of the draw is the scariest (on paper, natch). Suppose there’s still time for Brazil to shit the bed against Serbia and Switzerland.

King Kai to win it all

[randomlegend]

1595100586801766400

They’ll be calling up for ching in no time

This is great :D

[Dquincy]

The A-rabs have announced a national holiday tomorrow following them beating Argentina. Good on them.

[Spikey M]

Thrown from the spire, all the gays are terrified. Nananananana

[Ben]

Will Grigg is in for a well-paid six months before they realise what a fraud he is.

[Shindig]

4 games a day might be my absolute limit. Lord knows how they'll schedule 48 teams in 2026.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I fell off the wagon during France-Australia last night. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Really hope Morocco do well here.

[-james-]

This Morocco trikot. :drool:

[niko_cee]

It's a kit mate.

[Manc]

Silks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a swell uniform.

[-james-]

Just paying tribute to TTH heritage.

Who scores the goals for Croatia? Looks a textbook out in the groups deal.

[Don]

The midfield 3 alongisde Perisic on set-pieces is just too much quality to disappoint.

[wullie]

My knock-off Morocco kit should be with me just in time for their flight home.

[Manc]

Amrabat looks a player.

[CJay]

Morocco look solid but their flighty wingers won’t get them anywhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hakimi hit that with some venom, shame it was right at Livakovic.

[Browning]

John Hartson has somehow managed to be more dire than the game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I still think there's something up with the ball. It's not as bad as the Jabulani, but there are so many misplaced and particularly overhit kicks of the ball. The ball or the stadium air conditioning.

Also a lot of players treading on each other's feet. Can't think of an explanation for that one.

[CJay]

Also a lot of players treading on each other's feet. Can't think of an explanation for that one.

Yep, I noticed this too. Tangling legs in general. I think play has generally been slow and there’s little in the way of skilful attacking players who are able to escape close attention, so the play constantly gets gummed up in midfield or out wide.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The other, weirdest trend of all that I have noticed (related to the treading on each other's feet thing) is players having fouls correctly given against them, protesting vehemently with proper passion that they got the ball (making the ball signal), and then replays clearly showing that they were nowhere near the ball. You don't normally see this in club football. Is it just a language thing with the international refs, or are players somehow deluding themselves into thinking they have got the ball? And if so, why?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/22/german-football-federation-legal-action-fifa-onelove-armband-ban-world-cup

Germany’s football federation has said it plans legal steps against Fifa over its banning of OneLove rainbow armbands at the World Cup as it faced the humiliating decision by one of the country’s largest supermarket chains to cut its commercial ties over the row.

The DFB refused to let players in Qatar wear the armbands promoting diversity and inclusion after threats from the world football governing body to issue yellow cards to team captains, but faced a swift reaction, including from the supermarket chain REWE, which became the first sponsor to take direct action as it said it would drop its advertising campaign in protest at the decision.

[Don]

This should be a good game, Japan don't do tight negative shitfests and Musiala is a don.

[Waffdon]

For fuck sake.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This should be a good game, Japan don't do tight negative shitfests and Musiala is a don.

Why would you do this to us?

[Waffdon]

1595156203046572032

:lol:

[Spikey M]

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl7YVX1hrio

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

No booking for Neuer for wearing the armband although it is slightly hidden:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiQCkAmWAAIAGoa?format=png

[Manc]

The atmosphere in this game is horrendous.

[Waffdon]

What on earth is that whale whistling noise

[John Arne]

Is the picture quite dark or is it my stream?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I see the German gestures have got the third world seethebots out in force again. Latest strain of thinking seems to be that the West is also repressive because polygamy is not allowed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What is the keeper doing?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Should have been booked for the foul and then given a second yellow for the finger wagging. These guys live in such a strange reality.

[CJay]

Lame penalty decision.

[Manc]

Minamino on the bench is a sin.

[Don]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiQDeehX0AUbvxO?format=jpg&name=large

I wonder if we'll all be looking back on such shit differently in 50 years time when we're all sucking eachother off in our gender fluid orgies because currently, it really does look laughable.

[wullie]

The beatboxing world champions in action.

[Pepe]

That German uniform is hideous.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Linesmen checking captain's armbands to make sure it doesn't have anything promoting general inclusion. Pretty sure it runs against everything in the FIFA rulebook.

[Boydy]

Can we just ban Taz for the rest of the tournament?

It's very tiresome.

[Don]

Can we just ban Taz for the rest of the tournament?

It's very tiresome.

https://emojis.wiki/emoji-pics/apple/face-with-hand-over-mouth-apple.png

[Ben]

No please don't. I'm making bank off backing the opposite of his tips.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That would have been a brilliant goal.

[Waffdon]

I’m very thankful Musiala is playing for Germany and not England. Absolutely ridiculous player already.

[Alex]

That German uniform is hideous.

I agree it's not great. The Germany home shirt is quite a difficult one to mess up too, but they've given it their best shot there.

[Pepe]

Let's go Japan.

[Don]

Mitoma's shifted the momentum, MON.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a save from Neuer.

[Pepe]

Teams never change. Japan still can't score.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Teams never change. Japan still can't score.

TTH curse strikes again :cool:

[Manc]

Lovely.

[Pepe]

Teams never change. Japan still can't score.

:harold:

[Pepe]

TTH curse strikes again :cool:

Did it on purpose.

Japan. :cool:

[Don]

Mitoma :drool:

Just made £1.2k on Japan next goal. Ben, give me your paypal lad, I'll send a donation so you can feed the family.

[Pepe]

Mitoma :drool:

Just made £1.2k on Japan next goal. Ben, give me your paypal lad, I'll send a donation so you can feed the family.

:cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some nice Mendying from the keeper.

Ze Germans losing points here would set the group up nicely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gotze back in the national side? Holy shit.

[randomlegend]

The midfield 3 alongisde Perisic on set-pieces is just too much quality to disappoint.

Really is impressive at this point.

[Pepe]

Remember when all teams had one meteoric superstar?

Hristo Stoichkov, mate. Daniel Amokachi...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh shit. That's quality.

[Don]

Really is impressive at this point.

What the sweet fuck? :D

I'm under more fire than a western backed Ukranian shithole currently and let me tell you, the missiles are embarrasing.

£100 on Japan at 9. RL, give me your details mate, let's get you a KitKat.

[Pepe]

:rave:

[Adramelch]

Looking Musiala's stats up, I ended up finding that Roque Santa Cruz is still playing football at the age of 41.

[Pepe]

That was an incredible goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the sweet fuck? :D

I'm under more fire than a western backed Ukranian shithole currently and let me tell you, the missiles are embarrasing.

£100 on Japan at 9. RL, give me your details mate, let's get you a KitKat.
I see no post in the Betting thread. Are you outing yourself as an after eventing nonce?

[Waffdon]

McCoist’s reaction at that fat fuck Süle :lol:

[-james-]

Lads...


https://youtu.be/ubRBLAHjkTo

[randomlegend]

What the sweet fuck? :D

I'm under more fire than a western backed Ukranian shithole currently and let me tell you, the missiles are embarrasing.

£100 on Japan at 9. RL, give me your details mate, let's get you a KitKat.

You've already done that "joke" in your last post. I reckon the AI needs tweaking not to reuse a template so soon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I am a huge fan of this ref. El Salvador's Ivan Barton, quality name/country combo and just 31. He'll go far.

[Don]

I see no post in the Betting thread. Are you outing yourself as an after eventing nonce?

The landscape has shifted son and I'm all for it :huhu:


You've already done that "joke" in your last post. I reckon the AI needs tweaking not to reuse a template so soon.

You drive a hard bargain, Chunky it is.

[Baz]

It’s coming home isn’t it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The landscape has shifted son and I'm all for it :huhu:


Aliexpress Diljeet.

[John Arne]

Rudiger deserves this after that galloping shit.

[Waffdon]

Rudiger deserves this after that galloping shit.

He does it every game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Japan :cool:

[Pepe]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FiQDeehX0AUbvxO?format=jpg&name=large

[Ian]

I'm enjoying Germany adopting the old Spain role of serial tournament bottling.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Will be a tough old gig from here. If they even draw the next one against Spain it's guten nacht in all likelihood.

[Manc]

Neuer at fault for both goals. A terrible defeat for Rainbow FC.

[Waffdon]

In before Costa Rica get something in the next game.

Strange WC so far. 2 massive upsets, couple high scoring games and a right few 0-0s. Basically we’re getting a good game if someone scores 1st half

[Ben]

Japan :cool:

[Adramelch]

I'm enjoying Germany adopting the old Spain role of serial tournament bottling.

Spain have actually re-adopted that role themselves by now, haven't they?

[CJay]

I know it’s a mostly different team to 4 years ago, but I recall Japan being excellent for about 75 minutes against Belgium in the last 16 before blowing it at the death.

Nice to see a few Asian sides doing well so far.

[Waffdon]

Rodri/Busquets/Gavi/Pedri all starting. Spain going for the most boring 90% possession game victory of all time

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm all in on Spain still (until they lose to Costa Rica). Think their approach will suit conditions.

[Ian]

Spain have actually re-adopted that role themselves by now, haven't they?

Probably but let's just say it's currently Germany because that's funnier.

[CJay]

Rodri/Busquets/Gavi/Pedri all starting. Spain going for the most boring 90% possession game victory of all time

Rodri at centre back?

[Don]

Costa Rica have fuck all but they looked cohesive enough to string a few attacks if Spain do their typical toothless shite.

Morata and Sarabia being out, there'a gotta be value on their penalty taker as FGS here if we have some info as to who it is...

[Waffdon]

Rodri at centre back?

I’m presuming so. Either that or a flat back 3 with the full backs more narrower

[Don]

Sunderland reserves' Jewison (lol) Bennette at 29 for FGS :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck Spain so much.

'Mon Costa Rica.

[Spikey M]

The Spanish Flu is back for it's ~100 year anniversary?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spain in red shorts, is it? Doomsday moves ever closer.

[Spikey M]

Wankers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ugh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Vamos chicos.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's over :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liquid football. Just imagine how good they'll be when Clinical Alvaro Morata comes back in.

[Spikey M]

Spain have turned up this year then.

[Ian]

Well this game's a bust. Fingers crossed for Canada getting something lol from Belgium.

[Manc]

Get Costa Rica in the bin with Qatar. Pathetic effort.

[Waffdon]

I presume Lukaku isn’t fit so Belgium might struggle unless Don Hazard has been saving himself for the last 2 years for this. Lukaku usually feasts off the goat herders, assuming Batshuayi (sp?) will be starting. Grim

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a quality goal.

[Manc]

Pure class.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that was a pretty tidy finish.

[Giggles]

Lads...


https://youtu.be/ubRBLAHjkTo

Seeing as your main thing is making obscure predictions in an effort to look clever once, the fact you’re so nailed on this is my only comfort for this tournament.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Seeing as your main thing is making obscure predictions in an effort to look clever once, the fact you’re so nailed on this is my only comfort for this tournament.

He was nailed on in the Euros too.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, what an idiot!

[-james-]

Seeing as your main thing is making obscure predictions in an effort to look clever once, the fact you’re so nailed on this is my only comfort for this tournament.


He was nailed on in the Euros too.



It is obviously highly unlikely that England win the World Cup (I make them around 12%). It's just fun being optimistic. :)

[Ian]

That's an incredibly weird prediction. I think 12.03 - 12.12% would be much more realistic.

[Adramelch]

That's an incredibly weird prediction. I think 12.03 - 12.12% would be much more realistic.

No that's their xOdds, which is typically a bit above the actual one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My order of 1 England 2 Spain looking good. 3 Germany less so.

[Lewis]

lol at that German 'protest'. It's less than doing nothing, and then they lost to Ja-PAN (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CW-dGhtKV4#t=15s).

[Yevrah]

lol at that German 'protest'. It's less than doing nothing

It's just embarrassing at this stage and talking of which, how's Gary getting on talking about the issues on BeIN?

[Giggles]

Wasn’t great but it’s definitely more than completely wimping out.

[Waffdon]

True facts.

Davies and David’s pace could be very fun behind that Belgium defence

[Waffdon]

Apparently this is the ref that stopped the AFCON game 5 mins early. Lolz if he does it again for the bantz just to go against whatever new rule they’ve got going here

[Spikey M]

It would be nice if there were a single country there that thought a yellow card was a price worth paying for taking a stand against human rights abuses.

[igor_balis]

True facts.

Davies and David’s pace could be very fun behind that Belgium defence

Yeah is it mental that I think Canada could do something here?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah is it mental that I think Canada could do something here?

Nope, they've got a decent looking side.

[igor_balis]

I remember my mate absolutely battering my Turkish league FUT team and mocking me for my star player being an ancient Canadian DM, and the cunt is their captain about 6 years later. Fair play to old man Atiba.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can't argue with that decision. Was going towards goal, hit his hand which was outstretched. Yellow a bit harsh but them's the rules I guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs.

[igor_balis]

Oh ffs you useless cunt

[Lewis]

lol at that attempt.

[Boydy]

Lol, fuck off Canada.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Worse than the penalty was the first touch on the rebound. Should have controlled it and scored easily.

[igor_balis]

Worse than the penalty was the first touch on the rebound. Should have controlled it and scored easily.

Yeah I was thinking that

[Luca]

Ugh.

[CJay]

Worse than the penalty was the first touch on the rebound. Should have controlled it and scored easily.

Looked like some fairly wild spin on it as it came back out to him.

Is Hutchinson the one with the massive long throws?

[Waffdon]

That offside decision was worse than the penalty. Defender literally passed it back

[thommo]

Shit penalty but Canada have started so well here. Question now is if they can maintain it for the whole match.

[igor_balis]

Maybe he is a regular penalty taker but it felt a bit like "he's the star man he takes pens", while there's prob some dweeb who has scored 25 out of 27 pens for the Calgary Chinooks.

[Lofty]

lol at that German 'protest'. It's less than doing nothing, and then they lost to Ja-PAN (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CW-dGhtKV4#t=15s).

To be fair it's a derby for them.

The Axis derby.

[Manc]

Canada robbed of a second penalty.

[CJay]

Maybe he is a regular penalty taker but it felt a bit like "he's the star man he takes pens", while there's prob some dweeb who has scored 25 out of 27 pens for the Calgary Chinooks.

I think David is a penalty taker at club level.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon about 14.8% of my football watching lifetime has been spent watching Alderweireld and Vertonghen ponderously knock the ball to each other, 90 yards from goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Batshuayi's first touch is so bad.

[Waffdon]

Hazard :drool:

[igor_balis]

Can't quite tell if the ref is a bit whistle happy or if Canada do just keep fouling them.

[Waffdon]

Davies is going to run himself into the ground. He’s playing about 3 positions at once. He’s injury prone as it is

[Luca]

Probably should have had Jonathan David take it. Or 39 year old Atiba Hutchinson.

[Shindig]

Courtois going to wind up man of the match.

[igor_balis]

Canada are fucking class, Belgium are toilet.

[Waffdon]

Jesus, any team with pace and better quality would put 8 past these

[Jimmy Floyd]

This reminds me of one of those Man U games, from the truly shit era, when someone like Bournemouth would play them off the park, De Gea would keep it 0-0 and then Cavani or some twat would score at the end.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is a penalty kick.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Penalty for me too.

[igor_balis]

Amazed that's not been given.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think they both first-ruled it, was easier not to give it having not given it on the pitch.

Somebody please relieve me from the Belgian centre backs knocking it between themselves. Absolutely eye-bleeding stuff.

[igor_balis]

Gross.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ugh, nice finish though.

[Don]

Hazard is a mascot, get one of those BLM boys on the bench on instead.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So many chances wasted.

[igor_balis]

God this is so much like watching Mowbray era west Brom, probs similar to late era Howe Bournemouth - playing lovely football, looking creative, stretching defenses but just a little bit too little composure and quality in the last ball or finish, and a bit naive defensively, and you end up thinking how the fuck have we lost this. One of the most frustrating things to watch.

Canada's front line is probably a bit better than Chris Brunt, Luke Moore and Felipe Teixeira though.

[Lewis]

This reminds me of one of those Man U games, from the truly shit era, when someone like Bournemouth would play them off the park, De Gea would keep it 0-0 and then Cavani or some twat would score at the end.

This is more like late-Ferguson, where they would go somewhere and get battered, but the other team would simply miss all of their chances out of respect.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alphonso Davies was electric in that half, except when it came to ball striking. Club football is about running. International football is about ball striking.

[igor_balis]

Okay guess it wasn't a penalty then, huh.

Edit: but the other one prob was lol

[Manc]

Kompany is a miserable cunt.

[Waffdon]

Probably because his kid is stuck with Phil Foden and his missus.

[igor_balis]

Kompany is a miserable cunt.

Without wanting to give an earnest reply to a tongue in cheek comment, it prob is a bit of a headfuck to go from the non stop adrenaline rush of being a world class footballer playing at the highest level to just stopping, doesn't it make loads of ex players go a bit mental. I spose he gets to manage Burnley and chat with Rio but er yeah.

[Shindig]

Costa Rica looked worse than Qatar.

[Foe]

Alphonso Davies was electric in that half, except when it came to ball striking. Club football is about running. International football is about ball striking.

He’s basically roaming into an AMC position trying to get involved. Surprised hazard hasn’t plonked himself in that hole and then get him the ball on the counter in the right channel.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Janny's having a stormer here. Just needs to give the canucks another couple of penalties and he should get a nice summer pad in Winnipeg.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a beautiful block.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Announcing yellow cards on the tannoy with name and number might be worse than the migrant worker stuff.

[niko_cee]

As appears to have been said at length, Belgium look dreadful. Who are they on course to be roasted by in the knock outs?

Canada a bit embarrassing as well with all their going down holding their faces.

Quite like the neat little 'events' icons on iplayer.

[Shindig]

I like the idea but I don't quite know whose benefit it's for. Commentators know. People in the stadium know.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have the MSM still not picked up on the high-flying ball when you hit it hard? Surely De Bruyne blazing it 100 miles over the bar from 20 yards there will alert them.

[Ian]

I wonder how many times we've all been Canada in this game on FM before. Between us on here it's probably thousands.

So frustrating to watch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Except instead of being superkeepered, they sliced across the ball with every shot.

I think there's genuinely something in modern football coaching that downplays the role of kicking it properly. I've not been party to any modern football coaching, so I don't know, but that's certainly been the outcome.

Another example of that mindset was Jenas seething about Batshuayi all night, when his classy finish was literally the only important thing done by Belgium all night.

[Giggles]

The Belgians all look like they’ve aged 10 years since the last tournament.

[Don]

The fucking contrast between Kompany's intelligence and the rest. No wonder you poor fucks are left with having to make your own uninformed conclusions and thinking Don Martinez is a poor manager etc.

[phonics]

Costa Rica looked worse than Qatar.

They were also playing an infinitely better team.

[Don]

Spain will get dicked the second they face a coherent side with a BLM midfielder to eat up those shite midgets.

[Spoonsky]

Spain will get dicked the second they face a coherent side with a BLM midfielder to eat up those shite midgets.

Remember you saying similar about Italy in the Euros.

Spain were great tbf, can hardly accuse them of being dull when they've scored seven. One less than their entire tournament in 2010. Felt like there was a nice mix of shit tiki taka and actually incisive attacking. Second match will tell a lot more.

[Giggles]

Remember you saying similar about Italy in the Euros.

Spain were great tbf, can hardly accuse them of being dull when they've scored seven. One less than their entire tournament in 2010. Felt like there was a nice mix of shit tiki taka and actually incisive attacking. Second match will tell a lot more.

Taz knows this to be true also, but how else would he squeeze a BLM in there?

[Shindig]

They were also playing an infinitely better team.

I know and Spain put a lot of pressure on. Still, the Costa Rican defence were all over the place on half the goals.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Winning 7-0 is handy as it covers them off for a scenario where they lose to Germany and then beat Japan. Hard to see Costa Rica being that bad again.

[Waffdon]

Switzerland/Cameroon doesn’t half sound grim. Pleasantly surprised if we get more than 1 goal

[Jimmy Floyd]

The World Cup hasn't truly begun until Switzerland have stunk out the place.

Hopefully the roons can spring a surprise, I'm reasonably optimistic. They should be a lot better than their last couple of appearances.

[Don]

That front 3 and Zambo is naughty. But then so is having 6 absolute clowns in defence.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also sad to report they're going to be in all green and the cuckoo clock people in all red, which is SACRILEGE.

[Max Power]

Impressive how Switzerland have the same team in every tournament since like 2002.

[Ben]

Also sad to report they're going to be in all green and the cuckoo clock people in all red, which is SACRILEGE.

This shows up the Premier League where teams routinely play in their away/third kit when there's no clash in their first kits in the name of helping those that are colour blind (but we know it's just marketing), yet FIFA have no issue pairing up a full green against a full red.

[niko_cee]

The World Cup sending zero-covid China into some sort of existential crisis is quite funny.

As is this waxwork special:


state media have sought to amplify China's "presence". The Global Times has reported on how China-made products "ranging from buses to the [Lusail] stadium, and even air conditioning units are well represented at the event".

lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

China being as terrible as they are is worth one of those 10,000 word Athletic think pieces. They really should at least be at perennial qualifying standard by now.

[CJay]

I'm with Andros (enjoying his presence here) on this one: good game so far. I think the notion of Switzerland as boring cloggers is outdated - they're a quality outfit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You could put Maradona in a Swiss shirt and he'd be as interesting as a bank clerk.

Bit of a high line here from our cheese-melting friends.

[CJay]

Commentator here is going with 'Mbomo' but I'm sure I've heard PL commentators going with 'Mbermo'. Neither of those sounds right. Thoughts, Jimmy?

[Foe]

That’s a great challenge. Goal saving.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's probably a transliteration into French of what would in English be Mbomo, sort of halfway between oh and uh.

[Don]

This game has indeed been quality, as have Andros, Switzerland and Widmer.

[wullie]

This game reminds me that both Choupo-Moting and Shaqiri couldn't stop Stoke losing to League 2's Coventry City in the FA Cup a few years ago. Shoehorning that one in where I can

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Somehow about Coventry, again.

[wullie]

John Hartson started it the other night, give the people what they want

For the other games, Brazil vs Serbia: Mitrovic scored for fun last season apart from when he lost TWICE against Coventry City

Portugal vs Ghana: Ghana have called up Tariq Lamptey, probably grandson of Coventry City's Nii

Uruguay vs South Korea: Uruguay used to wear yellow until their coach saw a resplendent David Speedie in his pomp

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that an apologetic non-celebration in an international game? Never seen that.

[thommo]

For the other games, Brazil vs Serbia: Mitrovic scored for fun last season apart from when he lost TWICE against Coventry City

I'm still not over that dive from Godden in the 4-1 away loss. Utterly shameful.

[thommo]

Is that an apologetic non-celebration in an international game? Never seen that.

Born in Cameroon so I guess he doesn't want to rub it in. A non-celebration really fits with this dull Swiss team though.

[Don]

Sow and Vargas are horseshit whilst they have Okafor on the bench :cab:

[wullie]

I'm still not over that dive from Godden in the 4-1 away loss. Utterly shameful.

McFadzean pushed for the opener though, despite the win I'm still sore about that

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get Aboubakar on ffs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have we had a goal from further out than Al-Dossary's yet? I didn't see all the Spain goals last night.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We have not.

[Adramelch]

Have we had a goal from further out than Al-Dossary's yet? I didn't see all the Spain goals last night.

I don't recall any long range ones. Most of them were from the penalty spot or just behind.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure there's going to be a long range goal in the tournament other than possibly a daisy-cutter all along the deck, or via deflection.

Spain looking really good with this ball. Same as in 2010, with a bad ball the teams that pop it about short are the ones to watch. Maybe someone will work it out, Forlan-style.

[niko_cee]

Aren't long range goals prohited by the stats wankers now anyway?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aren't long range goals prohited by the stats wankers now anyway?

They are, but both with long shots and a lot of corners / longer free kick deliveries, I've noticed the ball just zooming off into the sky, almost like a flyer from the rough in golf. The Canadian bloke last night (Eustacchio?) was exhibit A but it's been in every game. Also lots of chances blazed way over the bar even from inside the area.

[niko_cee]

Maybe it's the giant A/C fans disturbing the ball.

[Don]

South Korea and Suarez and Nunez, proper entertainment in store.

[Luke Emia]

They are, but both with long shots and a lot of corners / longer free kick deliveries, I've noticed the ball just zooming off into the sky, almost like a flyer from the rough in golf. The Canadian bloke last night (Eustacchio?) was exhibit A but it's been in every game. Also lots of chances blazed way over the bar even from inside the area.

There was something said about this on the Totally Football Show this morning when I was listening by one of the stats wankers. He was wondering the same thing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I actually looked up Michael Wanker-Cox's twitter account to see if he'd picked up on it as I thought him the most likely, but nothing. Well, the clock is ticking for the first long range goal.