World Cup General Discussion Thread - 2030 The Jokes On You

Not sure what was more annoying…the fact I don’t care about a WC final, Gianni Infantinos ridiculous speech, the hypocrisy around the press being there or Dion Dublin’s commentary

 

It was on a par with the worst of Lawro. An incredibly low bar has now been set for worst pundit of the tournament.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63696125

They will be right up for this game tomorrow, England 0-1 Iran.

 

******* stand your ground boys!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63699477

 

I will watch the England games and probably the Welsh as well, but probably not much more.

 

If they are seriously going to book the captains, we should drop the idea but instead drive to the stadiums in a rainbow colour bus, wear pink training shirts, bring rainbow colour sports backs into the dugout, etc. Far more visible and effective than one single armband.

 

The tournament won’t be able to justify the hundreds, maybe thousands of migrant worker deaths. That’s not to say I won’t watch any of it, but I’ve never felt so disconnected or disinterested at this point in a World Cup.

 

Shock horror, they all bottled it. Actually bullied into submission by FIFA. Remind me again why we didn’t boycott this tournament?

 

I'm not uninterested but I am conflicted. This is an important tournament that comes round infrequently, but I despise everything about it. Dunno how excited I'll be when England play, but at the moment my main pleasure is in every example of Qatar's bad faith and humiliation.

 

Quite right. A nasty sneaky last minute sanction from FIFA designed to intimidate their member countries. Sadly England have caved in, although I understand why they don’t want to put individual players in a difficult position. How I wish we would pull out of this tawdry circus.

 

So people stood up for their cause with the threat of being run over by a tank or being set on fire - but we are running scared from the threat of a yellow card in our general direction.

 

FIFA are completely in the pocket of the Qataris as evidenced by the last minute alcohol ban and now this.

 

How entirely predictable that England quickly shelve their 'values' to save the captain the slight inconvenience of a booking

 

I also drew Qatar in the office sweepstake, so this tournament can **** right off.

 

Some of the most high profile players in the world are amongst the captains involved. Shame they can’t use their supposed ‘power’ to face down FIFA and force them into making a bad decision which will ruin their precious tournament.

Or maybe the players don’t want to risk a future lucrative TV role currently being lapped up by the likes of John Terry if they make a stand.

 

It’s one thing promoting these values in a country that is pretty socially and culturally liberal like ours but it would be far more impactful and worthwhile to do it somewhere like Qatar with the world watching.

I’d be ******* gutted if I was a gay or trans person watching England today. I’d feel used and lied to, less important than a ******* yellow card.

 

Brraaark ! Brraaark ! Brraark ! Yellow chicken alert.

All the bluff, bluster & b-s from Southgate and the F.A....."we're going to do this, we're going to do that, we're going to protest about the other", and their bottle is GONE at the first hurdle.

Was a brilliant call on Nick Ferrari. Caller suggested Kane should come on wearing the armband, accepting the booking, and then pass the armband to another player....who accepts the booking, and passes the armband on to another....who accepts the booking and passes the armband on to another player.....you get the picture.

 

I think Harry Kane should dip Raheem Stirling as though he were a WW2 soldier on VE Day and passionately snog him, maybe a little grope of his bum too.

 

Why don’t they just rotate the armband? Kane can act as captain during the match armband or not. Pretty pathetic the way they have backed down.

 

Southgate should wear it.

 

And surely what a powerful image anyway. Captain pointing proudly at the armband while a referee, the minion of FIFA shows the yellow card. Can’t think of a worse image for FIFA as it’s reported all round the world next to Infantino’s face.

 

Not a slow Lloris.

 

That's strange. I've had that dream too

 

I’m washing the sheets three times a week, costs a bloody fortune!

 

In many ways FIFA have done us a service. The fact that this whole issue has blown up means the issue has been thrust into the headlines in a much higher profile way than a few players wearing an armband and FIFA have been shown to be weak and in the pocket of the Qataris. I suggest the players now all announce they will wear anti-Qatar t-shirts under their kit and then FIFA can decide to ban that too 5 hours later. Different article of clothing/accessory every 2-3 days should keep the subject firmly in the headlines.

 

Don't worry, England plan to pull out on penalties at the end of the round of 16.

 

The USA are co hosts in 2026, millions dead in illegal wars and occupations in the last 2 years. Part of the Euros was based in our country last year, we sell arms to Saudi waging an illegal war in Yemen to this day. ****s and psychopaths are everywhere I'm afraid.

 

FIFA really is a cowardly, despicable organisation run by a dreadful (freckled) weasel. I will watch the matches because they are on but I hope everything about this tournament is as satisfying as a microwaved cheese sandwich. A damp, soggy affair consisting of VAR controversy and loads of empty seats.

 

Not fair on the players who could end up being banned. Call their bluff and threaten to drop out of the competition would make it interesting but then unfair on fans who have paid to go to Qatar. The way FIFA have done it have left England and other countries with no choice. What if every player in the whole squad wore a One Love armband? What if every country then did the same? They won't book every player as there will be nobody to play the games. It's an opportunity to make a stand

 

Agreed and thinking about it, would they really have booked Harry Kane for wearing an armband? What happens next? An immediate second yellow and red if he didn’t take it off? One of the biggest names in world football trudging off in those circumstances? Nah.

Absolute nonsense. Wouldn’t have happened.

 

They should wear black armbands now.

The protest has kind of worked by forcing FIFA's hand, who again have made themselves look the corrupt organisation that they are.

 

I suggest wearing a banknote instead would have a greater impact.

 

I think you're right, it wouldn't have happened so now would be the ideal time to call their bluff. If they did book Kane, get him to pass the armband to another player and then another and so on. What would they do if Ronaldo or Messi were to wear the armband? I wonder how the players feel? Maybe let them make their own decision.