2022 World Cup

[dsvitak]

Welp..I suppose it's time to fire this puppy up.

I should make a poll, and see which team is favored to win amongst us experts.

I read a long article about all 32 teams, and I was surprised to see that the USA was ranked 15th, AND is the youngest team.

Ima just gonna say it...the US ain't going to the knockout round.

[pilight]

There's a possibility the US could beat Iran and Wales to get second in their group

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by pilight

There's a possibility the US could beat Iran and Wales to get second in their group

I suppose. The US can't beat a good high school team over the last several months.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

I suppose. The US can't beat a good high school team over the last several months.

There's an ominous subtitle to an article that I am looking at:

The United States arrived at the World Cup with one of the youngest rosters in the tournament. But is this new generation of stars getting its shot four years too soon?

[Amazin69]

There's no reason the US can't pull another miracle draw against England. Sure, they're no match on paper…but it's England. At the World Cup. Something's bound to happen.

(Besides, Jordan Pickford doesn't exactly scream "invincible". Even against the ball of confusion that's the US selection nowadays.

And maybe we can tell Harry Maguire that he's playing in the Premiere League rather than for the national side, and he'll stand around like the £75,000,000 fence-post Manchester fans have come to know and "love"? It's worth a shot, I'm just saying.)

[Déjà Bru]

Big "Ooops!" Qatar waited until the last moment to ban alcohol sales at their stadiums. FIFA is agog, because Budweiser is one of their major sponsors.

To make matters worse,

The ban on alcohol consumption seemed to apply only to fans attending games. Beer and other drinks, including an official FIFA Champagne and an array of sommelier-selected wines, will still be available in stadium luxury suites reserved for FIFA officials and other wealthy guests.

Imagine that going down with the bleacher creatures? "Hey, get yer near-beer here! Near-beer here!" [Ducks things thrown at him.]

[Hageneezz]

I predicht the Netherlands will NOT win the world cup. I am going for Argentina

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[pilight]

I guess Qatar doesn't want to host any future World Cups.

One would think FIFA had contracts and such that covered such things.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Big "Ooops!" Qatar waited until the last moment to ban alcohol sales at their stadiums. FIFA is agog, because Budweiser is one of their major sponsors.

To make matters worse,

Imagine that going down with the bleacher creatures? "Hey, get yer near-beer here! Near-beer here!" [Ducks things thrown at him.]

Like, are we supposed to be surprised? I always enjoy watching disaster strike when people ignore obvious warning signs because of greed for $ & power. You ignore harm being done to your fellow man because the perpetrator has extra change, you deserve what you get.

Tom Brady getting trolled by Antonio Brown? Love it.

Basketball season lost because of going to 'Ye's school? Love it.

Getting sued cause you did nothing about Dan Snyder's decades long discrimination & sexual abuses? Love it.

FIFA ignoring Qatar's systematic abuse of foreign workers should see chickens coming home to roost. Love it.

[monkeyman576]

I'm guessing they don't have a moment of silence for the construction worker that died building the stadium either.

[jcard]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Welp..I suppose it's time to fire this puppy up.

I should make a poll, and see which team is favored to win amongst us experts.

I read a long article about all 32 teams, and I was surprised to see that the USA was ranked 15th, AND is the youngest team.

Ima just gonna say it...the US ain't going to the knockout round.

Assuming you found the article at least worthwhile, would you mind passing along where it can be found? Thanks in advance if you are willing, and no worries / no explanation needed if not.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by pilight

I guess Qatar doesn't want to host any future World Cups.

I guess they stopped wanting to host even THIS one a few years back when the headwind picked up...

Originally Posted by pilight

One would think FIFA had contracts and such that covered such things.

They have. Qatar is in breach of contract, and they will have to fork over $$$$$ for it.

Thing is, Qatar has a lot of $$$$$. They don't do it for financial, but religious reasons.

But I absolutely love that they went along with Uncle Bud for 12 years, and then pulled the plug two days before the opener, WAY too late for FIFA to scramble the World Cup to somewhere where you can drink until your shirt and pants are yellow, and then drink more, like, uh, England?

+++

Speaking of England, I have kind of a predicament here. I am conditioned to hate on England, at least when soccerball is concerned. But I do adore Jude Bellingham. What do??

Sigh. Why can't *he* play for Germany? Why did we have to settle for Musiala?

Oh well, I will hope beyond hope for my usual selection. Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, the Netherlands. In no particular order.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

I'm guessing they don't have a moment of silence for the construction worker that died building the stadium either.

There was more than one. To have a moment of silence for each would push the tournament back a week.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Westheim

But I absolutely love that they went along with Uncle Bud for 12 years, and then pulled the plug two days before the opener, WAY too late for FIFA to scramble the World Cup to somewhere where you can drink until your shirt and pants are yellow, and then drink more, like, uh, England?

The cynical part of this is the timing. It appears that they did indeed wait until it was too late for anybody to do anything about it, whereas they knew all along that it was not going to happen. By the way, the motivation may not be all religious in nature. No doubt they have observed the drunken brawls that seem to plague European football matches.

Originally Posted by Westheim

Speaking of England, I have kind of a predicament here. I am conditioned to hate on England, at least when soccerball is concerned. But I do adore Jude Bellingham. What do??

I was going to suggest that Bellingham score at will and win the Golden Boot while England goes down to defeat but that's contradictory, isn't it? England would need to be winning for that to happen. Instead of a vicarious Golden Boot, you have been presented with a Gordian Knot.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

By the way, the motivation may not be all religious in nature. No doubt they have observed the drunken brawls that seem to plague European football matches.

As good a time as any to remark that want some describe as "atmosphere" in a soccerball stadium is horrendous to me, and I very much prefer the attendees of a baseball game. Where there's also beer, but somehow people can sit next to each other, wear different-colored shirts and don't try to murder each other.

I'm not even exaggerating, there've been a few Euro League games this season where rival fan sections actually lobbed pyrotechnics at each other.

Seriously, **** that.

[Hageneezz]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Welp..I suppose it's time to fire this puppy up.



I should make a poll, and see which team is favored to win amongst us experts.



I read a long article about all 32 teams, and I was surprised to see that the USA was ranked 15th, AND is the youngest team.



Ima just gonna say it...the US ain't going to the knockout round.

Where's the poll? Come on dude!

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[jcard]

Originally Posted by Westheim

As good a time as any to remark that want some describe as "atmosphere" in a soccerball stadium is horrendous to me, and I very much prefer the attendees of a baseball game. Where there's also beer, but somehow people can sit next to each other, wear different-colored shirts and don't try to murder each other.

I'm not even exaggerating, there've been a few Euro League games this season where rival fan sections actually lobbed pyrotechnics at each other.

Seriously, **** that.

Agreed. Still, the world is a better place because this photo was able to exist [England - Argentina, 1986 World Cup (Mexico)]:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db5KDa_W...jpg&name=small

[dsvitak]

2 minutes in, and Ecuador gets cheated. SMH.

[Déjà Bru]

Goaaallll! Goaaallll! (that is, two goals) by Enner Valencia! Prepare the Golden Boot!

[Westheim]

Good news, kids, it can only get better from here.