GENERAL World Cup Thread

Des Curran is out there I know that much, as was Houghton with him for a game

It means they also have 4 hours of their generic morning sh1te that they don't have to show for 2-3 weeks..

Not everyone is into soccer or even sports.

There are people who would watch that "generic morning sh1te" a million times quicker than sports.

RTE are a public service broadcaster, they have to balance their output.

Totally given up on RTE at this stage. Will only watch on BBC or ITV going forward.

no your absolutely right, I’ve been waiting all week to watch this morning’s episode of Channel 4’s Junior Bake Off on RTÉ 2 that was first broadcast in 2023…

RTE I know has its own thread elsewhere, but I’ve long since given up on them being anyway competent. For balance I do think Cantwell is quite good for someone who’s primary sport is the GAA

it’s crap, but not as crap as the water breaks.

ref cam is good or will prove to be good when certain things happen where it’s the best angle to see it.

Yesterday : Morocco very good, very attacking. It did cost them as Vini exploited being left up while Hakimi attacked for the Brazil goal.

Brazil: only showed individual ability and that was mainly only Vini. Thiago and Paqueta could have few complaints if they were dropped next time out. Raphinia won’t be dropped but Mazouri held him well.

didn’t see the Scotland game but they just aren’t any good if you go through their squad. What’s better than one slow ponderous centre forwards, two slow ponderous centre forwards. Doak is playing coz Hes the only player with pace but he’ll be figured out by Brazil and Morocco..could well be another early exit.

Türkiye were hopeless playing against a low block, owned the ball but resorted to low xG shots. Needed a plan B. The Aussies punked them on the break.

Swiss; a boring team, Ndoye, Vargas and Embolo lack inspiration. Should still win the group as it’s the lowest quality group in the competition.

Only 2 teams have impressed me, Morocco and the US, Scotland looked bang average and Australia are very limited although they kept a good shape in the second half, but they can thank their keeper for that win

First proper mismatch this evening with the Germans. Should see 5/6 goals

James McClean was diagnosed as an adult as autistic. I don’t know enough about what the means but might explain behaviors.

I wasn’t if that so I’ll take back a bit of the harshness in my last post

He took a stance on the poppy issue which drew a lot of heat and criticism and some of it inexplicably from these shores just for having the temerity to stick his neck out. He was articulate in his explanation of his stance.

He also drew criticism for a social media post wearing a balaclava which since then a band like Kneecap have kind of been accepted by the mainstream as tongue in cheek. I think he’s an intelligent guy and plenty of courage in his convictions. Some people won’t like his opinions because maybe they’re a bit lefty or Nordie Republican and won’t like him “as a pundit or whatever” but that’s to do with their own personal opinions.

He has over 100 caps for his country and is as entitled to have a go at the pundit gig as any of them. After that it’s up to him to know his information and come across well. He’s still fairly new at it.

As a fellow Derry mucker, I think James is a fairly poor pundit. But he is new to it and will have to improve.

I think his slow speech and constant pauses is down to one thing. Us Derry ones speak VERY fast. If he was to go on rte and speak in his normal voice, you'd all be up in arms about it. I think he has been told to slow down by those in rte. And this is his way of doing it.

He's been telt to slow it down by the Mexicans.

My view being Ireland should play the game they are obligated to play. But it is utterly irrelevant to a World Cup match.

He's not very good as a TV pundit unfortunately. Drab and monotone - you need to have a certain type of personality for this type of work and a bit of energy about you (and he doesn't have either).