Qatar World Cup 2022

Thelonious Monk

I think we're usually allowed a thread about World Cups in After Hours when they are on. I have no idea where the soccer forum is nowadays either or how to access it so can we have one here?

Anyway I can't remember there ever being less excitement or fuss over a World Cup. Must be down to the fact that we all know it's completely wrong holding it out there given the slave labour involved in building it and just the total waste of materials and resources to build all those pointless stadia.

Regardless, who do we think will win? Is this Gareth's last chance with England? Probably, and I would have thought they've a good chance although they haven't looked great this year. France are missing Pogba and Kante, huge players for them. Germany aren't up to much these days. Spain were excellent in the Euros but I don't think they have any great strikers at the moment or at least I can't think of any.

Brazil I think are favourites, all their best players are in form. Argentina also, I don't think they've lost a game in a couple of years, but because of the Nations' League they don't play against European opposition outside of tournaments as much any more.

I can see Wales maybe getting into the knockouts and surprising a few teams, hopefully another small country gets a good cup run too.

Mad_maxx

I’ve never been less interested in a World Cup , not getting that feeling at all

Allinall

Having a few quid on dark horses, Belgium.

Really looking forward to it.

Star Bingo

The Weird Cup. I think the Qataris will emit a noxious gas from those suspicious looking vents at pitch level and win at a canter

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836642#Comment_119836642

I think they are past their peak of that Golden Generation. KDB has never looked better though.

billyhead

I can see Serbia or Croatia go far in the competition.

Deebles McBeebles

Winter WC was always going to be a disaster. For players in particular. Some of the lack of excitement about it is due to Qatar probably but look at the last 3 hosts, big issues with all of those for varying reasons.

Hoping to see Messi win it.

silliussoddius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836645#Comment_119836645

Probably gases from the builders bodies they threw into the foundations.

cj maxx

Ive a hunch Argentina will do well, and as above Belgium and croatia . Though they might be past their peak. I don’t think England will go that far .

Atlantic Dawn

I wouldn't mind getting myself an Iran jersey, bound to get a few comments when out and about.

dxhound2005

Get a half and half Iran USA scarf. The group is England, Wales, USA, Iran.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836954#Comment_119836954

And Iran, Iran so far away

If you repeat "Qatar World Cup 2022" three times while standing in front of a mirror, Sepp Blatter will appear behind you.

NIMAN

Agree about the anticipation levels. Lowest ever for a WC. Even the media aren't as hyped as they usually are at this point.

But will watch as much as I can, as usual.

Think England missed their chance to win a major trophy in the last 2 tournaments. They have regressed since then.

Still time for some countries to pick up injuries. It was a daft place to hold the WC, with players basically going straight from club leagues into a WC with no break or preparation time. Who knows, it might make this one better for that reason? But we'd need to be prepped, cos nothing is surer than the Saudis being handed the tournament in the near future.

I'm going to go with Brazil or Argentina. With perhaps Germany or France as potentials if they play well.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837117#Comment_119837117

He hasn't gone away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFxWfaJ-IqU

Thelonious Monk

I wonder if Big Ron will be a starter for Portugal. They've got some excellent players but could be hampered by starting Ron.

Pherekydes

Hope all the wokists withdraw and leave Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to play it out in a 3 way final. Will they have dancing girls or executions during their half time shows?

Larbre34

Its a shambles.

World Cups work in June/July, because they are at the end of the season in the northern hemisphere, they fill the television schedule when there is otherwise little to nothing on, the kids are off school to be watching their heroes and outside with a ball trying to emulate them late into the warm evenings.

Like the Olympics, it is a landmark in our four year calendars, as constant as Christmas or Paddy's Day and a massive boon for big corporate advertisers who go mad with offers an merchandise.

The host venues tend to be the cities of a big global nation, with lots to see and do and go to meet and party and generally enjoy the tournament of a lifetime.

Qatar is none of that. None.

Its a small, parched, temperant, human rights abusing kip. The fans don't want to go, the sponsors don't want to be associated with it and back in the leagues that are paused in the height of the season to shoehorn it in, there is only inconvenience and resentment.

Somebody sent me a map of the venues overlaid on County Wexford. They all fit in a triangle from Gorey to New Ross to Wexford. Bonkers.

I hope its a massive failure because FIFA need a massive slap. Again.

Boscoirl

Some amount of propaganda on BEIN sports for the it. Trying a bit too hard me thinks.

Furze99

Iran need to be kicked out and the sooner the better for the tourament.

interlocked

I've less than zero interest in it, or who wins it. It's rotten to the core as is FIFA.

Atlantic Dawn

You get the impression that the day it's over the stadiums will be knocked to the ground and turned in to something they might actually use like a field to store their camels...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj--SvStNgw

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836613#Comment_119836613

100%.

I like sport in general, but I won't be adding to viewing numbers.

Anesthetize

I can see Saudi Arabia going far in the competition. Plenty of referee decisions will go in their favour, lots of goals being ruled-out for the opposition. Not suspicious at all.

NIMAN

I wonder how the authorities and locals are going to take to the foreign fans? I know the visitors have been told to respect their hosts, but what's going to happen if thousands of fans start taking their tops off, getting rough and rowdy?

I can see it being a security disaster.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837667#Comment_119837667

Fifa will reap what they sow.

Riddle101

It does feel like there is less interest in it but I reckon over here at least part of it is because Irish people have nothing to look forward to. If Ireland had qualified for it we'd be talking nonstop about it and it'd be all over the news for months about how it's the first time we've been in a World Cup since 2002. Irish fans would be absolutely buzzing about it. It'd be like Italia 90 all over again.

God, it's crazy to think how long it's been since we've been in one though. I miss those days.

keshit

My favorite teams are France and Brazil, but the messi needs a cup to complete the world cup hole.

Montage of Feck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837096#Comment_119837096

I just ran, Iran all night and day

I couldn't get away

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837611#Comment_119837611

You could make some serious money from the bookies with this inside information. They are rank outsiders along with Costa Rica, 750/1. 14/1 to beat Argentina, 9/2 Mexico and 17/4 Poland in the group. Get your money on.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119837527#Comment_119837527

Same thoughts here.

bent as fûck. If it’s as blatantly bogey as in picking the host country and other off field carry on it brings seriously into question what occurs ON the pitch, referees etc…