Qatar World Cup 2022

[an tha]

11 minutes ago, Manny said:

Trent, Hendo and Konate. Plus Jude of course. And one or some of them have to come home tomorrow. 

Great stuff...working out nicely.

 

Trent not so much but we can cope without the other two.

 

Let's hope Trent and Hendo are back soon.

[Vincent Vega]

2 hours ago, John102 said:

I feel like I've seen this referee multiple times, refereeing our games, and he was always shite

Apart from that time he sent off Guardiola at The Emptyhad in the CL in 2018.

 

1 hour ago, Duff Man said:

Argentina beating Portugal in the final would be very, very funny. Ronaldo would be absolutely distraught.

FIFA will be doing everything they can to fix that final, with a Messi vs Mbappe final their second choice. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see England crying about refereeing decisions tomorrow.

[Bjornebye]

1 hour ago, Duff Man said:

Argentina beating Portugal in the final would be very, very funny. Ronaldo would be absolutely distraught.

Would be glorious 

 

 

[Vincent Vega]

Papers doing stories bigging up Pickford and Maguire can surely lead to only thing right? And I’m not talking about Maguire getting a winner or Pickford being the penalties hero. Why would they jinx shit if they really wanted England to win? They have actually watched these players in the PL in the last few years haven’t they?

[Bjornebye]

5 minutes ago, Vincent Vega said:

Papers doing stories bigging up Pickford and Maguire can surely lead to only thing right? And I’m not talking about Maguire getting a winner or Pickford being the penalties hero. Why would they jinx shit if they really wanted England to win? They have actually watched these players in the PL in the last few years haven’t they?

 

Imagine them being in future world cup montages alongisde Cruyff, Maradona, Buffon, Romario, Zidane, Pele....... Oh my lord. If England win this world cup then it needs shutting down. 

[Strontium]

Nothing to see here...

 

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/Soccer/2022/12/09/sports-journalist-grant-wahl-dies-fifa-world-cup-qatar-death-threats/3741670640979

 

Sports journalist Grant Wahl dies covering World Cup in Qatar after 'death threats'

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Grant Wahl, a sports journalist and soccer analyst, died while covering the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, U.S. Soccer confirmed Friday. He was 48.

Wahl's cause of death was not revealed but his brother, Eric Wahl, pleaded for help in a video message he shared on Instagram.

 

He had previously been detained for wearing a rainbow shirt in Qatar two weeks ago, where same-sex relationships are illegal.

"My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl's brother. I'm gay. I'm the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup," Eric Wahl said in the video message.
 

"My brother was healthy. He told me that he received death threats. I do not believe that my brother just died. I believe he was killed."

His death prompted remarks from State Department spokesman Ned Price, who revealed that U.S. officials have been "in close communication" with Wahl's family.

 

"We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Grant Wahl and send our condolences to his family, with whom we have been in close communication," Price said.
 

Eric Wahl later said that his brother collapsed at the stadium and was given CPR before he was taken by Uber to a hospital, where he died, according to the New York Post.

Grant Wahl was married to Céline Gounder, an infectious disease expert who served on the COVID-19 Advisory Board transition team for President Joe Biden.
 

"I am so thankful for the support of my husband Grant Wahl's soccer family and of so many friends who've reached out tonight. I'm in complete shock," Gounder said in a statement.
 

In its statement, U.S. Soccer said that "the entire U.S. Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl."
 

"Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists: teams, players, coaches and the many personalities that make soccer unlike any sport," the statement reads.

 

Grant Wahl detailed his detention in Qatar in an article in his Substack newsletter.

"When I arrived at the stadium media entrance to cover the United States-Wales World Cup game today wearing a rainbow soccer ball t-shirt supporting the LGBTQ community, the security guards refused to let me in, detained me for 25 minutes and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt," Wahl wrote.
 

Wahl said that he sent out a quick tweet after he was detained and a security guard "forcibly ripped my phone from my hands."
 

"Nearly half an hour passed. One security guard told me that my shirt was 'political' and not allowed. Another continually refused to give me back my phone. Another guard yelled at me as he stood above me -- I was sitting on a chair by now -- that I had to remove my shirt," Wahl wrote. "I told him no."

[Jurgen Knows]

May his soul rest in peace. My thoughts are with his family.

 

There’s a small bit that you forgot to copy at the end of the article on the link you provided. Here it is:

 

Wahl revealed on his podcast "Futbol with Grant Wahl" on Thursday that he had bronchitis and was feeling sick.

"My body I think told me, even after the U.S. went out, 'dude, you are not sleeping enough.' It rebelled on me," Wahl said on his podcast.

"So I've had a case of bronchitis this week, I've been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now, including today. I'm feeling better today. I basically canceled everything on this Thursday that I had and napped. And I'm doing slightly better. I think you can probably tell in my voice that I'm not 100%."

 

Wahl's agent, Tim Scanlan, told The New York Times on Friday that Wahl was in the press box during the quarterfinal game between Argentina and the Netherlands when he collapsed. He is believed to have died at a local hospital.

 

 

[Kevin D]

Until England are knocked out, it’s hard to assess if yesterday was an entertaining day or absolutely disastrous.

A lot rests on Mbappe lighting that defence up like a Christmas tree, because Kane will get one and there’s easily another penalty in it for England on the counter with their pace and crafty Mancs.

[Jurgen Knows]

10 minutes ago, Kevin D said:

Until England are knocked out, it’s hard to assess if yesterday was an entertaining day or absolutely disastrous.

A lot rests on Mbappe lighting that defence up like a Christmas tree, because Kane will get one and there’s easily another penalty in it for England on the counter with their pace and crafty Mancs.

I think the winner today goes on to lift the trophy. 

[Jurgen Knows]

[Scott_M]

When was Croatia formed? Early 90’s?

 

Got to laugh that they’ve been to as many semis and finals in 30ish year as England ever have.

 

Still, I can’t see them winning it. Shirley the fire power in the other sides have them as clear favourites over Croatia.

Brazil should have won yesterday, they massively let Croatia off the hook. 

[Jurgen Knows]

1 minute ago, Scott_M said:

When was Croatia formed? Early 90’s?

 

Got to laugh that they’ve been to as many semis and finals in 30ish year as England ever have.

It is amazing when you consider their population is around 4 million only. 

[Jairzinho]

1 hour ago, Kevin D said:

Until England are knocked out, it’s hard to assess if yesterday was an entertaining day or absolutely disastrous.

A lot rests on Mbappe lighting that defence up like a Christmas tree, because Kane will get one and there’s easily another penalty in it for England on the counter with their pace and crafty Mancs.

 

Brazil and Holland are exactly the sort of mentally weak, style over substance, shithouses that England could beat. Yesterday was perfect. We still have Croatia, who would take Brazil 1970 to penalties, and two streetwise cheating cunts in Portugal and Argentina, both of whom hate England. 

 

And that's only if somehow Maguire, Pickford and Shaw prevent Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele, and Giroud from putting four past them. 

[HBenn]

1 hour ago, Kevin D said:

Until England are knocked out, it’s hard to assess if yesterday was an entertaining day or absolutely disastrous.

A lot rests on Mbappe lighting that defence up like a Christmas tree, because Kane will get one and there’s easily another penalty in it for England on the counter with their pace and crafty Mancs.

I think the first corner Villa concede will be interesting. Virgil may want to give Martinez a bit back. 

[Kevin D]

4 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

Brazil and Holland are exactly the sort of mentally weak, style over substance, shithouses that England could beat. Yesterday was perfect. We still have Croatia, who would take Brazil 1970 to penalties, and two streetwise cheating cunts in Portugal and Argentina, both of whom hate England. 

 

And that's only if somehow Maguire, Pickford and Shaw prevent Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele, and Giroud from putting four past them. 

I feel a bit exposed without Italy in the tournament. 
 

They're usually there as my contingency plan, but I really haven’t been filled with confidence watching any of these shocking national teams play.

 

Our 19-21 team would be 4-0 up against all of these sides after 35 minutes and we’d be watching Trent and Thiago switching passes between for 60 minutes.

 

If they don’t have a league 1 keeper, they have idiotic defenders and midfielders constantly picking the wrong option; the winner South Korea scored against Spain was astounding.

 

They had 5 players back, Son cornered and one South Korean running from deep. What else can he do but, wait and pass it to the runner? 
 

Klopp would have been on the pitch to fight our defence, if Alisson and the Kop didn’t get to them first, it was an extraordinary piece of sabotage and I’ve seen still more alarming defending over the tournament.

[Scott_M]

Last night had 48 fouls, 14 yellow cards and 1 red.

[Trumo]

Virg poleaxing Paredes was unfortunately the highlight of his evening.

 

Messi's had a go a ref Lahoz afterwards saying he's shit (he's right about the George Graham-lookalike Mike Dean-turned-up-to-11 head-the-ball), which is a bit rich given how Messi more than anyone benefitted from favourable decisions all night.

[Jairzinho]

20 minutes ago, Trumo said:

Virg poleaxing Paredes was unfortunately the highlight of his evening.

 

Messi's had a go a ref Lahoz afterwards saying he's shit (he's right about the George Graham-lookalike Mike Dean-turned-up-to-11 head-the-ball), which is a bit rich given how Messi more than anyone benefitted from favourable decisions all night.

 

He supports Valencia (chip on shoulder re Barcelona), and has always tended to favour Real Madrid, which is why Messi won't like him.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Still can't believe he bottled carding Messi for that handball. 

[Arniepie]

If england win tonight, I can see the going onto win it.

I think Croatia are looking very hard to beat however.

[magicrat]

Lahoz was the worst ref I've seen in many along year. Not that he showed overt bias rather than a fear of upsetting the likes of Messi but that aside it was  just his inability to run a game of football that was so shocking.  Bottling big red card decisions whilst more than happy to hand out yellows like confetti, Shit scared to let the game  flow and when his worst nightmare happened , lots of handbags and confrontation, he was running around like Mr Magoo unable to restore order and then bottling the red card calls . Almost entirely down to him It was a fucking shambles of a game and the guy should be off the FIFA list already.  

[magicrat]

7 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

If england win tonight, I can see the going onto win it.

I think Croatia are looking very hard to beat however.

 

I started to think that but from the outset I've said the moment England play a decent team their CB's and Pickford will  cost them . They haven't met a well oiled top team yet, The group games were no test and in fact they looked terrible against the USA.  Senegal played like amateurs and got stuffed in the first 20 minutes. Tonight is the first real test and I still can't see how the likes of McGuire and Pickford will get past France never mind win the thing,  Mbappe has been touted everywhere as the big threat and they will double team him meaning Maguire pulled out of position. He's fucking useless in position but floundering around in the RB area can't end well . Never mind Mbappe though , Griezeman is playing superbly and with extra space to operate in I see him as the their game changer.  Anyway it's one game and England are good in midfield and up top so who knows but I'm sticking with my original gut feeling and think it will be tears before bed time for Sir Hal and our plucky heroes. 

[Scott_M]

1 hour ago, HBenn said:

I think the first corner Villa concede will be interesting. Virgil may want to give Martinez a bit back. 

 

I'm hoping Martinez is back in Buenos Aires celebrating their win and misses the game!

[Scott_M]

Surprised there hasn't been a leak on the England line up yet, there always seems to be early team news with England.

 

I'd be surprised if they don't go 5 at the back. I think England are asking for trouble if they go with 4. However, it would be very harsh on any of Hendo, Rice or Bellingham to be dropped. Unless Southgoat drops an attacker, which I think given how deep Kane comes these days, would hand the initiative to France. 

 

Edit - Just seen that England are expected to be un-changed. I can see Mbappe and Dembele turning Walker and Shaw inside out.

[El Rojo]

Was sporting of the Dutch to encourage the Argentinian penalty takers on their walk up.