What have we learned from the World Cup so far?

Some teams were under prepared coming in due to timing
of tournament and leagues shutting down close
to start of tournament.

Some of the outsiders are learning to press the ball
which creates problems for opposition.

Refs are allowing a fair degree of physicality in the
games, which helps the pressing teams.

No red cards so far, unless I missed one.

France,Spain or England will win it….forget the rest…

You can't really judge England, France or Spain, all played s*** opposition. Looking forward to see what this Brazil team can do against a better side that the 3 the aforementioned played. Messi didn't turn up, not sure Neymar will either.

Brazil's price is ridiculous. Even if they were hosts it would be too low.

Some of the 'lesser' sides have upped their game.  They won't win the tournament but they're not mere fodder either.  Saudi and Japan were a pleasure to watch, as were Canada, who could do some real damage with a bit more composure in front of goal.  If the Saudi 2nd goal had been scored by a Brazilian or Argentine the media would be drooling over it.

That very few are interested on here. No thread at all for the Swiss game & relatively few postings yesterday. I'm not bothering on the forum any more. Other thing I've observed is that a gift horse SHOULD be looked in the mouth even if you're not a veterinary dentist!

set pieces are dreadful, how many corners are overhit ? only decent ones been english and french.

Have noticed that morp and also misses over the bar from close range seem shocking. Another just now by Korea. Ball must be much lighter for this WC me thinks???

We've learned what colours are in the rainbow

Weve learned the BBC will try anything to get a reaction from the Qataris

Brazil might well go on to win this.
They're priced on past teams to me though.

Nov 24, 2022 -- 1:35PM, HallGreenSpy wrote:

Have noticed that morp and also misses over the bar from close range seem shocking. Another just now by Korea. Ball must be much lighter for this WC me thinks???

apparently ball is different, you'd have thought teams might have practised with it beforehand

Without doubt they will have. Maybe just not enough.

Yes,they're using a new ball.Don't think it's been about
too long though.
Supposedly flies through the air quicker,no good if they
can't keep it down.

Portuguese will thrash this lot today

Any other home win

You read it here thank me later….

Teams obsessed with armbands and wokeness aren't fully focused on the game

em's blog
Nov 24, 2022 -- 1:35PM, HallGreenSpy wrote:

Have noticed that morp and also misses over the bar from close range seem shocking. Another just now by Korea. Ball must be much lighter for this WC me thinks???


apparently ball is different, you'd have thought teams might have practised with it beforehand

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Premier league ball is great, should become standard.

Why keep spoiling the game with carp balls.

Adidas release a new ball every WC

England, Spain, France - 17

Qatar, Ecuador, Iran, Senegal, Netherlands, USA, Wales, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia, Mexico, Poland, Morocco, Croatia, Costa Rica, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Cameroon, S Korea, Uruguay - 17

Only a handful of players in the world can shoot straight from 10 yards out.

Portugal and Ghana won't be winning this cup.

African teams are a joke get roger milla out of retirement I know he’s about 70 b better than what’s currently on offer

definitely kicked his foot

that Portugal as ever are the vilest team in it. such a shame very good players have to behave this way.

world cup in November is bollocks, they have to be in the summer

Shock results and ridiculously poor ref/var decisions are commonplace.

I have learned that I am jinxed... I have never before backed a red card... I have done in practically every match so far in this WC.

Now every team has played and it is obvious that all the refs have been told, that under no circumstances, are they allowed to get the red card out

A pen in 9/16 matches so far

All games off tomorrow. Rain expected and organisers afraid there will be a rainbow

What have we learned so far? The Premier League is the best league in the world for entertainment and puts the best international tournament in the world very much in its shade. Some awful teams out there. We are lucky to have it, albeit we have to pay a premium to be able to watch it.

Agreed swifty

The red card thing is ridiculous

16 matches and no red card is odd, esp when Iran can be quite petulant with the late tackles usually when losing. Costa Rica losing 5-0 without ever getting the ball and not throwing in a late one out of embarresment and/or pride? The South Americans are usually quite hot headed when struggling as well.

Who can remember the Netherlands Portugal Nuremburg game in 2006?

Expect red cards from 2nd group games onwards when teams are facing elimination and desperation/frustration takes over.

England , France , Spain and Brazil were impressive to different degrees.

England , France and Spain beat 3rd raters.
Brazil beat 2nd raters.

Brazil are a more coherent side without Neymar and Vini

basically the euro's with argentina and brazil in as guest teams.

At last .... the first red arrives

The World Cup used to about football. This has been presented as if politics trumps sport. Should players really be that bothered about what armband they can wear? Do many of those watching really care about gestures?

I haven't watched all the games, but Wales easily one of the worst sides. Just boring. Like a poorer version of Poland.

Is it really such a surprise that the minnows have had some good results? Perhaps the supposed better sides are not that good?

Brazil have now been overrated for the best part of 50 years.

Winning the group avoids Brasil and Spain.

Possibly Senegal next, then Argentina then Belgium leading to a final v Spain or Brasil.

That would be the easier route for England. France would be the big one in the Quarter Final. Good side, great attack but defence looked wide open.

Belgium and Argentina should they make it are there for the taking if we get to the semi

VAR is a optical illusion

I've not seen many dribbles, if any.

Bellingham looks good

Hate this back four passing around. Only takes one missed pass and it will be one goal down.

England are sh!te and Southgate needs to be sacked asap.

If usa and Iran draw, a 1,2 or 3 goal win for
Wales sees them through as 2nd to England.

A 4 goal win for wales would put them through
as group winners.

If there's a winner in the USA Iran game then
Wales need to win by 4 to go through as runners
up to the winner of other game.

We have not seen the World Cup winners today.

Wales try and nick a 1-0 and the other games a draw, they go through on goal difference which is used ahead of head to head.

Nov 25, 2022 -- 9:08PM, ----you-have-to-laugh--- wrote:

If usa and Iran draw, a 1,2 or 3 goal win forWales sees them through as 2nd to England.A 4 goal win for wales would put them throughas group winners.If there's a winner in the USA Iran game thenWales need to win by 4 to go through as runnersup to the winner of other game.

reminds me of the "So you're telling me theres a chance" scene in dumb and dumber for Wales hopes

And if Wales don't go through then England do.

So uk will be in last 16!

only place wales are going is the airport next tuesday night. 

played 3, lost 3, goals for 1 (penalty).

Very disappointed with England tonight, no cohesion, the manager picks too many players who are just not good enough.

I imagine Southgate will revert to type in the knock out stages, set up not to concede and try and win 1-0 or so.

The predictable manner of the manager will yet again see the demise of his team,as the stakes get higher.

As regards the dribbling I think the defensive game has evolved that much more than the attacking game.

These days teams look first for pace and power, basically athletes converted into footballers. Most will just try and pass their way through the opposition in combination with dead ball situations. If they don't pass the ball quick enough it can look incredibly tedious. Players either don't have the skills to beat players, or they are just too frightened to even try for fear of losing possession.

I think coaches have coached dribbling out of the game. How effective is Grealish? Not very.

Football is all about getting yourself in enough space to be passed to.

Belgim wont be wining the we

Carrying the ball forward remains
a valuable asset over simple passing
all the time. Even though passing gets the
ball from a to b quicker.

I thought Grealish made a big difference
when he came on v usa, but usa just moved
an extra man onto him.

We didn't exploit the space that created elsewhere
as Southgate isn't attack minded. He was happy
that usa had become less of a threat.

Have learned that the minnows aren't scared any more, and having a right go at the so called top set, and that Kevin de bruyne is more tired playing for his country than he is for man city

Laying favourites is a very profitable hobby.

World cup of unders

German clubs nicking our players; English clubs bloated with money, asleep in the afternoon.

I've found the whole tournament completely underwhelming.
I'm engulfed in apathy but Argentina and Germany both losing to minnows was quite entertaining, I suppose.

Having said that, I will be watching & supporting Spain tonight and @ 2.52 they're worth a punt.

Croatia 65 outright.

Look best value of the chasing bunch

I think it has been great. Not footballing wise but seeing the pain of some of the fans has been fantastic.

I think we might see the Beautiful Game returning with Brazil. Head and shoulders above the rest.

Spain wont win the wcup

Never write off the Germans....

Strikers score goals.

It's the worst German side I can remember, it's basically the remnants of the 2014 with Neuer still in goal, Muller still leading the attack with super sub Gotze still ready to come on, the current Bayern players are all very nifty little players but none of them special, Gnabry was a good player for a while and looks half decent for Bayern but a shadow of himself when he plays for Germany, the passing and moving is reminiscent of England, which is average.

There are an awful lot of pundits. Many of them loud "advocates for human rights" quite happy to take the Qatar dollar, despite their often expressed distaste for that society's way of life. Real hypocrisy, but let's hope we don't hear them banging on about womens', LGBT, trans, minorities rights etc, any more. They have forfeited their rght to lecture us haven't they?
Also noticed that there seem to be quite a lot of pundits from countries that are not even at this World Cup. That's the first time (as far as I've noticed anyway) quite so may pundits from countries not involved. Is this also because of the kind of money involved?
We are all hypocritical to some extent, but these greedy ba5tards take the biscuit.

worst German side had to be 2000 Euros surely...we beat them 1-0 and neither of us got out the group...dreadful scenes...

modern German sides are almost too positive for their abilities..look wide open at the back at times even when not having to chase the game and that was the same at the last Euros as well..have a squad that would be very dangerous playing on the counter if you had Sane and Musiala in the starting line up..Muller does ok but not for me...

they were rather hard done by against Japan...like Argentina v Saudis could have been 3 or 4 clear before the equaliser

best game I have witnessed in my  long life . and perfect result . neither should lose for the performance we all witnessed .    Qatar taken some bashing ,yet onwards it goes .. Congratulations to both sides for what I  think was wonderful advert for the beautiful game .. no prisoners taken .REFEREE    TEN OUT OF TEN  letting them   get on with it as best he could  DID he not DO WELL   .  ,all stats should show a great game for all to sit on edge of our seats ..

Speaking to a bloke online who lives in Ireland who says their broadcasts there no mention of the political stuff at all, they bash England a lot though but thats to be expected

Its only our media who have been unsufferible with it

There was plenty of political stuff on Irish TV at the start and for the first few days. It has died down now but if there is an incident like players not singing anthems or armband stuff they will cover it like it's a highlight.

I never listen to the pundits before a game because they are just guessing what will happen.

Likewise after a game they are only telling me what I have just seen.

At halftime i listen for a minute before I get bored.

Semi-automatic VAR and stopping the clock for timewasting have transformed the game for the better!

I suppose when we get back to the Premier League after Christmas we'll be back to the regulation second-half spectacle: 30 seconds before any throw, throw-out, goal-kick, free-kick or corner is taken; 2 minutes additional time and 3 subs from the team running down the clock. English fans are already the most most-changed for their money; I would like to see this WC bring about some change at home.

15-20 minutes or more, added on to the 90 is tolerable in a place like Qatar, when it doesn't take long to get home or to your Hotel. I'm not sure it would go down too well for an 8 O'Clock Kick Off, on a cold winter's night in the North. When away fans need to catch the train or drive home.

Agreed on that des

Stadiums will empty once the 14 minutes comes up on the board ffs, I want to get out and catch the bus back home around 85 minutes usually unless its 0-0/1-1 and looks like a late winner either way goes in.

Amd thats home games I dont attend away matches

We have learned that inconsistency is still rife even with VAR. Toss of a coin for penalties.

Nov 28, 2022 -- 10:06PM, Des Pond wrote:

15-20 minutes or more, added on to the 90 is tolerable in a place like Qatar, when it doesn't take long to get home or to your Hotel. I'm not sure it would go down too well for an 8 O'Clock Kick Off, on a cold winter's night in the North. When away fans need to catch the train or drive home.

Well they're not locking you in, Des..leave early if you want. Don't forget there is a much bigger tv audience getting short-changed at present.

It's only about 5-8 mins more than current and that's where there's VAR. KO at 7.30 instead of 7.45. Very few games kick off at 8, way more at 7.45. There are already a few that KO at 8.15 on Amazon. Bring them all forward by 15 mins and everyone will get out earlier.

I get what you're saying, you might be right. I'm not that bothered personally. Just hypothessing about away fans at evening games, and how they might feel about having their arrival home delayed by up to 25 minutes or so. Especially if they have to rely on Public Transport and have to get up early for work next morning. Most fans dislike VAR anyway. And adding further inconvenience might not enhance the experience for them. However, as you say, If the kick off times are earlier, they may not mind, or may get used to it. As for TV audiences, I think they are priorotised anyway. So, the demands of broadcasters will win out whatever the ordinary fan thinks.

Trouble is now teams know wasted time will be added on they are having surreptitious breaks. An injury now becomes a timeout.