World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

That’s a sickener, the Saudi goal actually changed nothing for Mexico as one more goal would’ve put them through on GS, but it just knocked the stuffing out of them.

Hope Poland take a heavy beating from the French.

Wouldn't normally praise a guy for going in hard on the goalie but Jimenez showed his bottle at the end there

Another day, a different vibe, this Poland team could find their legs in next game, that's football.

Poland a shambles. An absolute mess. They'll be destroyed in the next round.

More nail-biting and not the outcome that I expected.

There go two big "this-always-happens-at-the-World-Cup" moments.

Poland get out of the group for the first time since 1986 and Mexico fail to reach ‘el quinto partido’ again. This tournament ends their run of 7 consecutive World Cups where they crash out at the last 16. The French must be licking their lips.

What happened with Ben White leaving the England squad?

Can only guess based on the statement its a bereavement, but doubt anything more will come out anytime soon

And weirdly Argentina look poor as well.

It was a terrible group and I can't wait for all teams involved to be done.

I am happy for Poland to actually get out of a group though but they deserve no further.

Mexico's manager sacked straight after the game

I was a bit late to the party catching up on that group C madness. Even the highlights were magic. Bit of a travesty that only two teams qualify. Real pity there is no best 3rd place team. And the Saudi’s were great as well. Poland blessed. Their former Pope must have been looking down on them.

Fair points. I don’t agree with the expansion of the WC to that amount at all. I had forgotten about that.

Ends up as a ‘primary school sports day’ feel to it ‘everyone one wins’ where qualifying is devalued.

Standard of competition weakened and would get more one sided matches. I just feel those group C teams that did not qualify were in very hard luck.

I suppose I was thinking of the 2020 Euros system where there was ‘best third placed’ teams in the last 16. But the Euros only had 24 teams.

Personally I think any more than 32 in a competition proper, is getting silly.

He should have been sacked after the 2nd game, he's Argentinean and the conspiracy theorist in me believes he threw the 2nd game against Argentina when it looked like Argentina could be heading out.

Benching your 2 Ajax starters and main goal threat Henry Martin (not even subbing any of them on) in favour of 10 Liga MX players and Lozano was outrageous. He brought them all back in for the last game and Mexico looked much better yesterday. The Mexicans I talked to were going mad about it but it never seemed to get much traction over here.

Poland are a disgrace to international football, always have been with there talent. Mexico vs France is a much better world cup tie. Not any great round of 16 ties yet.

Poland are hardly "a disgrace to international football". They qualified for the competition, have now reached the second stage and are trying their best. I wish Ireland was in a similar situation today.