Official FIFA atrocity World Cup thread

[Biffer]

I'm not altogether comfortable with this line of argument. European clubs have warped the game financially and I don't think that's a positive for world football. When it comes to world cups, it should be more egalitarian and giving more power to Europe seems counterproductive.

My point is you can decide representation of countries in the World Cup in a few different ways

1. Performance on field
2. Relative to the number of countries from the region
3. TV / advertising revenue

Whatever combination of these you use, europe is under represented. One of the main things grinding my gears is the amount of South American teams there will be in the next World Cup - six or seven of their ten members. That’s entirely disproportionate when compared directly with Europe or indeed anyone else.

[Lobby]

I'm not altogether comfortable with this line of argument. European clubs have warped the game financially and I don't think that's a positive for world football. When it comes to world cups, it should be more egalitarian and giving more power to Europe seems counterproductive.

Its Biffer. If more European teams are allowed in, Scotland might manage to qualify for the group stages for the first time since 1998.

[Biffer]

I'm not altogether comfortable with this line of argument. European clubs have warped the game financially and I don't think that's a positive for world football. When it comes to world cups, it should be more egalitarian and giving more power to Europe seems counterproductive.

Its Biffer. If more European teams are allowed in, Scotland might manage to qualify for the group stages for the first time since 1998.

Much as I’d like Scotland to be there I’d rather we deserved it. I’ve outlined what my problem is with the numbers in the post above, if anyone thinks the treatment of South American and European teams is equitable, I’d be interested in finding out their reasoning.

[Torquemada 1420]

Meantime, this Fre defence + Lloris is way too vulnerable to go all the way.

[petej]

I'm not altogether comfortable with this line of argument. European clubs have warped the game financially and I don't think that's a positive for world football. When it comes to world cups, it should be more egalitarian and giving more power to Europe seems counterproductive.

Agree with this.

The going to 48 teams is fucking shite. 24 teams was always a bit bollocks as 3rd placed teams went through. 32 teams gives a good tournament structure .

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm not altogether comfortable with this line of argument. European clubs have warped the game financially and I don't think that's a positive for world football. When it comes to world cups, it should be more egalitarian and giving more power to Europe seems counterproductive.

Agree with this.

The going to 48 teams is fucking shite. 24 teams was always a bit bollocks as 3rd placed teams went through. 32 teams gives a good tournament structure .

48 is all about more games = more money............ = sh*ttier viewing as we rugby sufferers know all too well.

[petej]

Pleased with Southgates selection for tonight. Foden plays for man city on the left and Sterling has been quiet. Walker coming in makes sense as well.

[Slick]

Nice to see both teams putting in some good hard tackles and both sides getting on with it. I’m sure Kane will have a tumble at some point mind you

Love watching Bellingham

[Slick]

On a separate note, I think any player that pulls his socks up above the knees should probably have his legs amputated at that line, by law.

[Jim Lahey]

So is it coming home?

Or have England been made to look good by playing against 4 duffer teams so far?

France look great going forward, and will fancy their chances against Maguire ans Stones who look iffy. Bellingham and Kane could make hay against their defence though. Should be a cracker.

[derriz]

I think I know partly what is wrong with Germany these days. When I was living here 30 years ago it had a distinct identity. Taciturn but friendly. Popular stuff with the old people was along the lines of Val Doonican type stuff. Lots of cream polo necks and mullet vibes. Arrived here and turned on the telly and what's on? First Dates the German one called First Dates. Not Erste Dates just First Dates. Turned over and it was the Great German Bake off. In a tent with the exact same design. Turned over and it was some dubbed British thing with some Corrie alumni. The Tories really fucked up. They had already won

i'm skeptical - i also lived there for a few months about 30 years ago and the tv was absolute dogshit and was clearly far more emasculating than what they have on now. i was living on my own in the basement of a tiny apartment building miles from anywhere and reliant on a colleague for a lift to/from work. i was bored off my tits - the only thrill in the evening was using old irish 5p coins instead of marks to buy fags in a fag vending machine standing at an isolated country crossroads about a mile's walk away. even then i gave up on german tv after the first evening. no influences from bbc or whatever could have made german tv worse in the meantime.

[Uncle fester]

I think I know partly what is wrong with Germany these days. When I was living here 30 years ago it had a distinct identity. Taciturn but friendly. Popular stuff with the old people was along the lines of Val Doonican type stuff. Lots of cream polo necks and mullet vibes. Arrived here and turned on the telly and what's on? First Dates the German one called First Dates. Not Erste Dates just First Dates. Turned over and it was the Great German Bake off. In a tent with the exact same design. Turned over and it was some dubbed British thing with some Corrie alumni. The Tories really fucked up. They had already won

i'm skeptical - i also lived there for a few months about 30 years ago and the tv was absolute dogshit and was clearly far more emasculating than what they have on now. i was living on my own in the basement of a tiny apartment building miles from anywhere and reliant on a colleague for a lift to/from work. i was bored off my tits - the only thrill in the evening was using old irish 5p coins instead of marks to buy fags in a fag vending machine standing at an isolated country crossroads about a mile's walk away. even then i gave up on german tv after the first evening. no influences from bbc or whatever could have made german tv worse in the meantime.

Was there not a biggish town or even city near where you were working/studying?

[derriz]

Was there not a biggish town or even city near where you were working/studying?

there was - i was living about halfway between duesseldorf and köln. so i'd a few good nights out at the weekends - it was the weekday evenings that were a struggle. i remember enjoying getting drunk in köln a few times - particularly remember a hothouse flowers gig. i was only 19 and didn't have a car or a license so i had no mobility. i hadn't a clue what i was doing to be honest - it was a summer job and the work was menial - i should have just headed for the building sites in london for the summer like most of my mates.

[derriz]

Jesus Derriz our stories were very very similar. The sister warned before going over to bring the 5p mark thing but not use them in the tiny local village I was in about an hour outside Frankfurt as they would know the only Irish lad in town was doing it. I not only.ignored that but used to rob irish cheese and kerry gold from the local shop. I was a master criminal. I agree German TV was awful but it was German. You half expected a big hairy orgy to break out any minute. Well that's what I presumed the Germans were up to of an evening. Now they are so bland. Nobody thinks orgy when watching first dates

i recall reading the germans using diplomatic channels to complain to the irish government about all their vending machines being full of irish 5p coins. i wasn't going to get caught anyway, not that i even thought about it - the fag machine was bizarre - just stuck on its own at the corner of a small country crossroads with no houses near it or anything.

you've a better imagination than me anticipating orgies watching tv. of course i tried wanking to german tv - i'd flick around for a sexy looking talk show host or a news lady to appear but invariably after a few minutes it would switch to ads of grannies or a jowly 70 year old muttering in german which tended to put you right off your stoke. so even in that regard, german tv was worse than useless to me.

[Slick]

Jesus Derriz our stories were very very similar. The sister warned before going over to bring the 5p mark thing but not use them in the tiny local village I was in about an hour outside Frankfurt as they would know the only Irish lad in town was doing it. I not only.ignored that but used to rob irish cheese and kerry gold from the local shop. I was a master criminal. I agree German TV was awful but it was German. You half expected a big hairy orgy to break out any minute. Well that's what I presumed the Germans were up to of an evening. Now they are so bland. Nobody thinks orgy when watching first dates

i recall reading the germans using diplomatic channels to complain to the irish government about all their vending machines being full of irish 5p coins. i wasn't going to get caught anyway, not that i even thought about it - the fag machine was bizarre - just stuck on its own at the corner of a small country crossroads with no houses near it or anything.

you've a better imagination than me anticipating orgies watching tv. of course i tried wanking to german tv - i'd flick around for a sexy looking talk show host or a news lady to appear but invariably after a few minutes it would switch to ads of grannies or a jowly 70 year old muttering in german which tended to put you right off your stoke. so even in that regard, german tv was worse than useless to me.

We did a German school exchange when we were about 15 and one of the lads had to spend 2 nights in hospital with and inflamed wrist from too much wanking to German TV. True story

[bok_viking]

Europe provides the meat of the competition, both in terms of money and football. That’s undeniable.

Not disputing either:
a) There are wayyy more European sides.
b) And it's the money that has tilted the balance with so many players from other nations in Europe. It both damages the local leagues and damages the exiled players: because they all become conditioned to Euro bore fest styles (post the 70s, only the Netherlands has played any likeable football).

The European teams don’t get fair representation at the World Cup. Africa, Asia, the Americas are over represented. And next time, with 48 teams in the tournament, they’ll be even more over represented. Out of the 10 South American sides, there will be a guaranteed 6 places, with the possibility of another through the playoff. Yet UEFA gets 16 to represent 55 countries. Asia will have 8 places; the eight ranked Asian team is UAE, ranked 70th. There are 32 European teams ranked higher. Half of them wouldn’t get to go because it’s skewed to Africa, Asia and the Americas. It’s nonsense.

The growing rumours of UEFA disassociating from FIFA are getting more and more justified.

What do you mean Africa is over represented? You do know there are 54 countries in Africa, and only 5 gets to the WC, and I think 45 in Europe, so that means that Africa is the continent most under represented in the tournament.

[Uncle fester]

Jesus Derriz our stories were very very similar. The sister warned before going over to bring the 5p mark thing but not use them in the tiny local village I was in about an hour outside Frankfurt as they would know the only Irish lad in town was doing it. I not only.ignored that but used to rob irish cheese and kerry gold from the local shop. I was a master criminal. I agree German TV was awful but it was German. You half expected a big hairy orgy to break out any minute. Well that's what I presumed the Germans were up to of an evening. Now they are so bland. Nobody thinks orgy when watching first dates

i recall reading the germans using diplomatic channels to complain to the irish government about all their vending machines being full of irish 5p coins. i wasn't going to get caught anyway, not that i even thought about it - the fag machine was bizarre - just stuck on its own at the corner of a small country crossroads with no houses near it or anything.

you've a better imagination than me anticipating orgies watching tv. of course i tried wanking to german tv - i'd flick around for a sexy looking talk show host or a news lady to appear but invariably after a few minutes it would switch to ads of grannies or a jowly 70 year old muttering in german which tended to put you right off your stoke. so even in that regard, german tv was worse than useless to me.

They are a dull people. Even in city centers, you go into a bar midweek and it's empty.

[yermum]

My abiding memory from my year in Germany as a teenager was going to a bar in bumfuck Schwabenland and getting told off for dancing in the space that was for drinking. I was about 6 inches from the dance floor. A dull and pedantic bunch

[boere wors]

Jesus Derriz our stories were very very similar. The sister warned before going over to bring the 5p mark thing but not use them in the tiny local village I was in about an hour outside Frankfurt as they would know the only Irish lad in town was doing it. I not only.ignored that but used to rob irish cheese and kerry gold from the local shop. I was a master criminal. I agree German TV was awful but it was German. You half expected a big hairy orgy to break out any minute. Well that's what I presumed the Germans were up to of an evening. Now they are so bland. Nobody thinks orgy when watching first dates

i recall reading the germans using diplomatic channels to complain to the irish government about all their vending machines being full of irish 5p coins. i wasn't going to get caught anyway, not that i even thought about it - the fag machine was bizarre - just stuck on its own at the corner of a small country crossroads with no houses near it or anything.

you've a better imagination than me anticipating orgies watching tv. of course i tried wanking to german tv - i'd flick around for a sexy looking talk show host or a news lady to appear but invariably after a few minutes it would switch to ads of grannies or a jowly 70 year old muttering in german which tended to put you right off your stoke. so even in that regard, german tv was worse than useless to me.

We did a German school exchange when we were about 15 and one of the lads had to spend 2 nights in hospital with and inflamed wrist from too much wanking to German TV. True story

There used to be regular tv channels in the 90s showing mainly american porn films after 11pm. Only the close ups of genitala were cut out. Of course they were dubbed in german. The lad could have really improved his language skills, had he just sat on his hands.

[Paddington Bear]

My abiding memory from my year in Germany as a teenager was going to a bar in bumfuck Schwabenland and getting told off for dancing in the space that was for drinking. I was about 6 inches from the dance floor. A dull and pedantic bunch

The pedantry is quite something. Earlier this year I had a bloke talk at me through a whole lunch hour about how we are 'dishonest' to say we cook soup, when instead the correct term should be 'thermally heated'. A lot to like about their quality of life but after a couple of days I'm desperate to go anywhere else but there.

[Biffer]

Not disputing either:
a) There are wayyy more European sides.
b) And it's the money that has tilted the balance with so many players from other nations in Europe. It both damages the local leagues and damages the exiled players: because they all become conditioned to Euro bore fest styles (post the 70s, only the Netherlands has played any likeable football).

The European teams don’t get fair representation at the World Cup. Africa, Asia, the Americas are over represented. And next time, with 48 teams in the tournament, they’ll be even more over represented. Out of the 10 South American sides, there will be a guaranteed 6 places, with the possibility of another through the playoff. Yet UEFA gets 16 to represent 55 countries. Asia will have 8 places; the eight ranked Asian team is UAE, ranked 70th. There are 32 European teams ranked higher. Half of them wouldn’t get to go because it’s skewed to Africa, Asia and the Americas. It’s nonsense.

The growing rumours of UEFA disassociating from FIFA are getting more and more justified.

What do you mean Africa is over represented? You do know there are 54 countries in Africa, and only 5 gets to the WC, and I think 45 in Europe, so that means that Africa is the continent most under represented in the tournament.

In comparison to Europe. As per my other post, my main problem is actually South America, and the allocation from the next World Cup going forward. If it's done on number of member countries, South America should have fewer slots. If it's done by on pitch success, Asia and Africa should have fewer. Whatever measure you use, Europe (at 16 out of 48 places) will be under represented.

[Torquemada 1420]

In comparison to Europe. As per my other post, my main problem is actually South America, and the allocation from the next World Cup going forward. If it's done on number of member countries, South America should have fewer slots. If it's done by on pitch success, Asia and Africa should have fewer. Whatever measure you use, Europe (at 16 out of 48 places) will be under represented.

It's this old boys' network protectionism which has made a nonsense of rugby's claims at making itself a global game.

[JM2K6]

Bit of a shame that England are going to run into the best team in the tournament who will make mincemeat of our defence. Especially if we get another 35 minutes of shite at the beginning, it's a bad habit. I was just thinking that Henderson and Rice had been utterly irrelevant when it all sparked into action.

[Jim Lahey]

Bit of a shame that England are going to run into the best team in the tournament who will make mincemeat of our defence. Especially if we get another 35 minutes of shite at the beginning, it's a bad habit. I was just thinking that Henderson and Rice had been utterly irrelevant when it all sparked into action.

Southgate needs to tell Maguire and Stones to stop passing it out from the back. Just hoof the fucking thing up the pitch. Both look like a ticking time bomb when the ball is at their feet.

Will be interesting to see how Walker's pace holds up against Mbappe.

[Uncle fester]

My abiding memory from my year in Germany as a teenager was going to a bar in bumfuck Schwabenland and getting told off for dancing in the space that was for drinking. I was about 6 inches from the dance floor. A dull and pedantic bunch

Not too different to some varieties of Septics/Aussies that I've met.

[Biffer]

In comparison to Europe. As per my other post, my main problem is actually South America, and the allocation from the next World Cup going forward. If it's done on number of member countries, South America should have fewer slots. If it's done by on pitch success, Asia and Africa should have fewer. Whatever measure you use, Europe (at 16 out of 48 places) will be under represented.

It's this old boys' network protectionism which has made a nonsense of rugby's claims at making itself a global game.

Because South America aren't part of the old boys network of football right enough. What basis do you want allocate spaces on? At the next World Cup there will be 23% of FIFA members represented. If you want to do it based on numbers, that'd be roughly
Asia 10, Africa 12, Europe 13, South America 2, Oceania 2, North & Central America 8. And probably one in a playoff

That's an absolutely fair way to do it. Happy with that?

[Torquemada 1420]

Bit of a shame that England are going to run into the best team in the tournament who will make mincemeat of our defence. Especially if we get another 35 minutes of shite at the beginning, it's a bad habit. I was just thinking that Henderson and Rice had been utterly irrelevant when it all sparked into action.

Too much mockers methinks.

This French side has been smashed by injuries (Pogba, Benzema, Hernandez, Kimpembe etc) and in effect are being carried by Mbappe and Griroud. Their defence looks horribly vulnerable with Lloris looking more like a Brazilian keeper (ironic given how good Ederson and Brazil have been defensively and how poor up front) and they don't do any work in the middle to press their opponents.

I think England will be far too physically strong for them: all they need to do is man mark Mbappe with a covering defender in behind.

For me, this is the worst f**king draw. I was hoping either Eng or Fra would be out by now! If Eng loses to Fra, wearing a Fre rugby shirt will be a suicide mission for a few years and so can only hope you are wrong and Eng wins!

[Slick]

Bit of a shame that England are going to run into the best team in the tournament who will make mincemeat of our defence. Especially if we get another 35 minutes of shite at the beginning, it's a bad habit. I was just thinking that Henderson and Rice had been utterly irrelevant when it all sparked into action.

Too much mockers methinks.

This French side has been smashed by injuries (Pogba, Benzema, Hernandez, Kimpembe etc) and in effect are being carried by Mbappe and Griroud. Their defence looks horribly vulnerable with Lloris looking more like a Brazilian keeper (ironic given how good Ederson and Brazil have been defensively and how poor up front) and they don't do any work in the middle to press their opponents.

I think England will be far too physically strong for them: all they need to do is man mark Mbappe with a covering defender in behind.

For me, this is the worst f**king draw. I was hoping either Eng or Fra would be out by now! If Eng loses to Fra, wearing a Fre rugby shirt will be a suicide mission for a few years and so can only hope you are wrong and Eng wins!

When England start playing they look very good, but as JMK says, they can also have extended periods of shite. I think England will win.

also, at the bolded bit

[petej]

Bit of a shame that England are going to run into the best team in the tournament who will make mincemeat of our defence. Especially if we get another 35 minutes of shite at the beginning, it's a bad habit. I was just thinking that Henderson and Rice had been utterly irrelevant when it all sparked into action.

Southgate needs to tell Maguire and Stones to stop passing it out from the back. Just hoof the fucking thing up the pitch. Both look like a ticking time bomb when the ball is at their feet.

Will be interesting to see how Walker's pace holds up against Mbappe.

Disagree. The ball will come straight back at us. It is an issue and why the best Premier league teams like man city have defenders and goalkeepers (alisson, ederson, ramsdale) who are very good at passing and driving into space if need be and why i expect ten haag to dump mcguire and de gea.

[Hugo]

Three very well worked goals. The interplay on the break for Kane's goal was a thing of absolute beauty.

France are a very tough opponent but to be honest they all are at the quarter final stage.

[JM2K6]

Who's going to man mark Mbappe? Declan Rice?

[Insane_Homer]

Japan are shyte at Pens.

[Slick]

I do find the Brazilian footballers and arrogant unsavoury bunch. Hopefully the usual will happy, they get over cocky, beaten, cry a bit, go home

[Torquemada 1420]

Three very well worked goals. The interplay on the break for Kane's goal was a thing of absolute beauty.

France are a very tough opponent but to be honest they all are at the quarter final stage.

Look at the work off the ball compared with France. Brazil lose the ball and they are pretty much all trying to get back behind it bar the front 2 and if it's in the middle+, even they are putting in the effort (very un South American). They are defensively good because they make it hard for opponents to earn chances whereas France give up the ball, sit back and hope the oppos make an error.

If now they've found this cutting edge too..............

[Torquemada 1420]

I do find the Brazilian footballers and arrogant unsavoury bunch. Hopefully the usual will happy, they get over cocky, beaten, cry a bit, go home

How TF can you not enjoy watching this?

[Gumboot]

I do find the Brazilian footballers and arrogant unsavoury bunch. Hopefully the usual will happy, they get over cocky, beaten, cry a bit, go home

How TF can you not enjoy watching this?

They're putting on quite a show now. That third goal was a thing of beauty.

[Torquemada 1420]

I do find the Brazilian footballers and arrogant unsavoury bunch. Hopefully the usual will happy, they get over cocky, beaten, cry a bit, go home

How TF can you not enjoy watching this?

They're putting on quite a show now. That third goal was a thing of beauty.

Maybe not quite Carlos Alberto 1970, but close!

[Torquemada 1420]

Grade A butchery now

[inactionman]

Ally McCoist going a bit Alan Hansen.

Although he does have a point.

[Gumboot]

Brazil missing so many chances... it should be more like 7-0 by now.