World Cup General Discussion Thread - 2030 The Jokes On You

The only way that could happen is if their plane go diverted to Luton and then they were forced to remain within a three mile radius for a few weeks and they wanted to play a local park team!

 

True, but tournaments are usually won by teams that start poorly and build. In 1966 we started with a dire 0-0 against Uruguay. The teams that dazzle from the start don't usually get far beyond the group stage.

Mind you, if that win persuades Gareth to make the best of his attackers at least we'll have some entertainment. And of course I could be wrong - it's bound to happen one day - and England walk it.

 

Plenty of teams smash it all the way though. 1970, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 off top of my head.

 

Come on Mexico .

I tend to support teams where I’ve had best times on holiday so Mexico and Japan are always my teams .

If Vietnam, Jamaica and Cuba qualified they would be my teams .

I also like the Lake Districts so will be supporting England and Wordsworth here on in

 

Great win, but terrible defending! Unless we play to our strength,which is attacking play, and stop all this tippy tappy stuff in our own half, we will have no chance of winning this tournament! We have so much talent at our disposal, but we are led by a donkey! Southall is wasting our golden generation of players, he has to go!!!

 

Neville Southall’s Welsh, m8.

 

Wringing.

 

Thyme four another holliday brake, Keeley ?

 

At least Bilic is nowhere to be seen pundit-wise while Croatia are playing, unlike others mentioned previously.

 

Only 6 minutes added. Just a blink of the eye compared to previous matches.

 

Southgate will get criticised by some whatever he does. When he goes defensive he gets criticised when his team turn it on and score 6 whilst conceding 2 he gets criticised. It's a lose lose situation for him. I think overall he and his players did well at the World Cup and the Euros.

 

There was only one 0-0 in Russia 2018, now we've had 3 in the 9 games played so far.

 

Thought the Moroccan manager made some bad calls in that game, last 30 mins was crying out for Chair and Zaroury

 

Good to see the Germans standing up to FIFA. I wonder if others will follow suit?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63729563

 

I think he would've started for sure. Not sure how he would've fared up against that Croatian midfield though!

 

Criticising him for winning 6-2 is bonkers. But he's always been good against poor teams.

His record against top 10 teams (Germany were out of the top 10 when we played them) is appalling (not sure he has done so in 3 major tournaments). That's when we will see whether he is good enough to exploit the talent in our team.

 

Bilic was spending time with Imran Louza, watching the game together.

Quality man.

 

Can’t see if he’s actually got it on but if he has he hasn’t been booked yet:

https://twitter.com/dmontalvan/status/1595402003202678785?s=21&t=HZnqN1XS0t2mpi_bYZbyQw

 

But the 'tippy tappy stuff' didn't cause either goal?

At the elite level - ie. well above Watford, where I tend to agree the pros don't as easily outweigh the cons - teams need to play out from the back to create space for their attackers. There's no point lumping it long all game, it won't work.

 

Southall lol. The mask slips.

 

Germany making a stand:



https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/s...ouths-team-photo-amid-armband-row-2022-11-23/

 

I haven't checked but you're admitting that what I said applied to the last four World Cups. I was thinking of the Euros as well.

 

I was annoyed by the non-pen decision but it probably worked in our favour. If we had scored it Gareth would probably have had them sitting back and waiting for Iran to come forward. As it was, our forwards had a chance to show him how good we are at breaking down a packed defence and maybe he'll absndon his usual caution.

 

Our attack is far better than our defence, I hope the Iran game shows Southgate that the cautious approach is not the best way for our squad.

If we eventually go out losing 4-5 in a knock out match then so be it, I'd rather that than 0-2 playing too conservatively.

 

I'm not sure about this. Some teams that do well in tournaments start well, some don't. Looking historically at the World Cup the picture is that the finalists don't start slowly all that often. Certainly since the format changed so teams have to finish top two to get through, a slow start is a disadvantage.

It's a bit of a hangover idea from the past, based perhaps on the way Italy slow-burned their way through in 1982. But, I mean, that's 40 years ago now. In recent years – since 1998 when you had to finish top two to get through – really only Spain 2010 and France 2006 started slowly and reached the final.

2018 – France won their opening two games; Croatia won all three group games
2014 – Germany won their opening game against Portugal 4-0 and topped their group; Argentina won all three group games
2010 – Spain, lost their opening game, won all the rest; Netherlands won all their group games
2006 – Italy top their group with two wins and a draw; France drew their opening two games
2002 – Brazil won all their group games; Germany won their opening game 8-0 and topped the group
1998 – France won all their group games; Brazil won their first two and topped the group
1994 – Brazil won their first two and topped the group; Italy lost to Ireland and squeaked through in third place
1990 – Germany won their first games 4-1 and 5-1; Argentina lost to Cameroon in their first game and qualified in third place
1986 – Argentina topped their group; West Germany only won one of their group games

 

Love it.

 

Another cool-weather country on the wrong end of a surprise defeat. Makes England's performance look even better.

 

That’ll teach them. Go woke, go home.

 

That looks persuasive, but what if we look at performances rather than results? I've a clear recollection of fancied teams stumbling through against unimpressive opposition but I admit I haven't replayed the matches.

 

Argentina lose to Saudi, Germany lose, England beat a bunch of part timers. It’s been quite the few days for topless, bulldog tattooed, pot-bellied English dads.

 

Just shows what can happen if the big boys aren't on their game. You can't just turn up and expect to win. Well done Japan. Fully deserved.

 

It is bizarre as the Bundesliga is the perfect stage for Japanese players due to their high work rates and pressing capabilities.

Of any team, Germany should have known what was coming. Well done Japan!