Most subdued build up to a world cup ever..?

Wrong forum, old chap.

they hype will go stratospheric if england give a few minnows a hiding in the group and early stages.

48 teams over nearly six weeks, takes the gloss off the tournament for me.
First time ever i can say I am not fussed to watch any of it.

Football overload is a factor, as well as the fact that every Premier League game is reported a must win life and death game,the Champions League more important than anything else the likes of the FA Cup Final, Euros and now even the World Cup just get diluted into just another game of football.



A bloody shame. The youth of today will hardly have any fond memories in the same ways that those today in their 40's will likely have.

after 72 matches there will still be 32 teams in it

48 teams. This is pure greed. The FIFA President is a buffoon. He is a fanboy of President Trump. He'd only say "chill and relax" about the treatment of the Somali referee by the US.

Are the times of the matches having an impact on interest?

Once is saw the squad picked I lost what was left for England.

bit of live footie for those that don't pay for it so cheer up 

get in a glasgow pub at 2am sunday and see if there's any interest

but don't wear your three lions shirt

Scotland might not make the 32 team cut, so every game for them in the group stage is exciting.

With the greatest respect to the jock fans they would attend the pubs for the sporting opening of an envelope. When you don't get many invites you tend to say yes to every invite you receive.

I genuinely hope they enjoy the win against Haiti

England v Scotland would be good

Scotland are 12 here to make the 1/4-final. I think this is a stonking price for the layers. I expect Scotland would be Britain bound soon after the opening ceremony. No offence to their supporters.

reaching the quarter final sounds impressive, but you only have to win 2 knock out games to get there.( assuming they make it out of the group) It depends on the quality of opposition in the 2 knock out games, which isnt known yet, as to whether 12 is a good value bet

Quarter-final comprises 8 teams, right? It's fantasy land Scotland can make this stage of the competition.

I'll lay England come 1/4-final and 1/2-final.

could get 2 draws and win both penalty shoot-outs, so dont even have to win 2 games. good luck !

The image of Ally MacLeod holding his head with both hands is still fresh in my mind.

its going to take 17 days of group matches to knock out 16 teams

To have lived as a young lad in 1970 to watch the WC in colour with Brazil supreme - nothing has come close. (The era of Everton and Leeds when you could paste your favourite players on your bedroom wall and they'd still be playing for the same team years later.)

Anyone remember Hector Chumpitaz from Peru?

I remember him royal I’m going to guess he was the last one you needed to complete your World Cup sticker album

And yes nothing has come close to 1970 although I must admit I really enjoyed the winter World Cup in Qatar.

RoyalAcademy 11 Jun 26 18:43 
To have lived as a young lad in 1970 to watch the WC in colour with Brazil supreme - nothing has come close. (The era of Everton and Leeds when you could paste your favourite players on your bedroom wall and they'd still be playing for the same team years later.)

Anyone remember Hector Chumpitaz from Peru?



The joy of it all

South Africa have a player with a great name! Step forward SITHOLE!

1970 World Cup.. Esso coin collection

I hounded my dad every day to go and get a gallon of petrol stringvest

I wonder if anyone has a collection with no rust on em

Just watching the build up on itv it’s just dawned on me the two greatest goals in World Cup history were scored in the azteca along with the world cups greatest game.

Biggest  betting  event on the planet shop took 94 quid so far otc.

Good evening ronnie hope your well I think the amount of choice with betting on football has worked the other way.

No looking at google can anyone name the 3 countries making there finals debut in 1970 ?

Jimnast.
Fine thanks  bags are packed  for tomorrow  sands are time a passing away did something  I never  thought  I would do again  order my Cheltenham badge WITH THE FESTIVAL.
Ronnie.

That’s great ronnie after 40 plus consecutive years I gave it a miss for 2 years returned last season absolutely loved it again .

72 games to get rid of just 16 teams, most of them complete no hopers, 1000/1 shots

What's the point in that?

48 teams way to many.

The 1970 World Cup was a good one.
A brilliant Brazilian side.
The bit of magic from Pele v Uruguay!!
England v Germany, great game.

The Dutch side of 74 and 78

The tikatape of 78 and Kempes.

82 was my favourite.
The games between Italy v Brazil, and Germany v France were probably the greatest games in the tournaments history.

86, the greatest player of all time single handily wins the World Cup.

Those days will never be repeated.

Jun 11, 2026 -- 8:07PM, maleuk01. wrote:

72 games to get rid of just 16 teams, most of them complete no hopers, 1000/1 shotsWhat's the point in that?48 teams way to many.

hard to argue

friday 8pm     Canada v Bosnia
saturday 8pm   Switzerland v Qatar

2 mouth watering prime time tv games there !

And with a name like SITHOLE he was destined for the first red!

Don't think holding it in 3 countries does it any favours.
Should only be the 1 host country.

Those days will never be repeated.

It was a cracking final last time around, one of the best.

it was a cracking last 10 minutes. was pretty boring til then

Delashay11 Jun 26 21:22Joined: 14 Apr 25 | Topic/replies: 8,005 | Blogger: Delashay's blog
Those days will never be repeated.

It was a cracking final last time around, one of the best.





I suppose we all look back with rose tinted spectacles, and assume the old days were always better.

Delashay11 Jun 26 21:22Joined: 14 Apr 25 | Topic/replies: 8,005 | Blogger: Delashay's blog
Those days will never be repeated.

It was a cracking final last time around, one of the best.





I suppose we all look back with rose tinted spectacles, and assume the old days were always better.

You guys go back further than me, with the matches and players that you mention. The games changed a lot.

Grateful I can watch the tournament.

3 Red cards in a match that wasn’t dirty

The tournament might be doomed!!

there will be 2 second strings playing each other in the final at this rate

It was funny seeing the panel not disagreeing with the decisions, it seems a nice well paid gig nullified their normal impulse for having justice.

Wait until England are on the receiving end and we might see them be real!

The time difference deffo affects the tournament as a viewing spectacle. We were spoilt with past editions and having say 3 games a day to watch.

With so many games there are bound to be injuries to some top players which will tilt the results a bit. Japan have already lost an A  liner in Endo.

When the talk of great WC matches the 1966 game between North Korea and Eusebio comes to mind. Portugal 3-0 down in first half of hour before Eusebio got going and turned it around.