|
|
Post by Helmut83 on Nov 16, 2022 6:41:22 GMT
So what do you football fans Horacewimp dillwyn tremblinwilbury Timeblue Buttler and others think about this World Cup? Do you have high expectations for your team (sorry TremblinWilbury and Buttler)? Who do you see as candidates for winning it? Is it going to be a good World Cup because players get to it in midseason form, or a bad one because it will be played in a country with no football tradition and not very apt for the multicultural party that a World Cup is supposed to be? |
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Nov 16, 2022 7:19:14 GMT
So what do you football fans Horacewimp dillwyn tremblinwilbury Timeblue Buttler and others think about this World Cup? Do you have high expectations for your team (sorry TremblinWilbury and Buttler)? Who do you see as candidates for winning it? Is it going to be a good World Cup because players get to it in midseason form, or a bad one because it will be played in a country with no football tradition and not very apt for the multicultural party that a World Cup is supposed to be? No, next question.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Helmut83 on Nov 16, 2022 8:50:05 GMT
So what do you football fans Horacewimp dillwyn tremblinwilbury Timeblue Buttler and others think about this World Cup? Do you have high expectations for your team (sorry TremblinWilbury and Buttler)? Who do you see as candidates for winning it? Is it going to be a good World Cup because players get to it in midseason form, or a bad one because it will be played in a country with no football tradition and not very apt for the multicultural party that a World Cup is supposed to be? No, next question..... The next questions are there; you only answered one of them!
|
|
|
|
Post by soonerorlater on Nov 16, 2022 11:26:07 GMT
This is a difficult one for me. I've closely followed the finals of every World Cup since 1974 and for the first time ever, I'm finding it almost impossible to be anything other than indifferent.
The choice of Qatar is mired in controversy (that's putting it mildly) and there was plenty of time to rectify that decision and look elsewhere. It didn't happen and we're left with a tournament in November/December that few people seem to want. The "you'll get into it once it starts" theory doesn't wash either and although I hope England do well, I would have been far prouder of them had they declined to take part. In the end though, it's the money and overall commercialism that wins out.
Despite the key midfield injuries, I think that France may well win it although there is a case for Brazil and Argentina.
|
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Nov 16, 2022 13:29:59 GMT
This is a difficult one for me. I've closely followed the finals of every World Cup since 1974 and for the first time ever, I'm finding it almost impossible to be anything other than indifferent. The choice of Qatar is mired in controversy (that's putting it mildly) and there was plenty of time to rectify that decision and look elsewhere. It didn't happen and we're left with a tournament in November/December that few people seem to want. The "you'll get into it once it starts" theory doesn't wash either and although I hope England do well, I would have been far prouder of them had they declined to take part. In the end though, it's the money and overall commercialism that wins out. Despite the key midfield injuries, I think that France may well win it although there is a case for Brazil and Argentina. Blatter and his pals chose Qatar quite legitimately, no question of money er.... changing ...hands..................was there?
|
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Nov 16, 2022 13:31:37 GMT
The next questions are there; you only answered one of them! I can't get excited about this tournament,all the corruption (allegedly..) England having a poor squad etc etc.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Horacewimp on Nov 16, 2022 16:32:51 GMT
Can’t see England doing very well, might change allegiances to Wales or Argentina, like others have said there doesn’t seem to be a good atmosphere in the build up to the tournament due to Qatar and it’s human rights violations.
|
|
|
|
Post by tremblinwilbury on Nov 16, 2022 18:11:40 GMT
To be honest, Helmut83, I'm not that interested in who does well in this tournament. Which is odd. In 1974 I was too young, and HATED the "wall to wall" coverage of that year's competition. Too many of MY programmes were shoved aside. 1978 - complete transformation! Loved it! And my favourite team won! The suspicions over the selection of Russia and Qatar, decided at the same time, has tainted this World Cup for me. I wish the local sides well. As a Celt, I suppose I'll keep an eye on Wales. Let's see... |
|
|
|
Post by Timeblue on Nov 16, 2022 18:39:46 GMT
I've just drawn Serbia in the sweep at work, oh well.....
|
|
|
|
Post by dillwyn on Nov 16, 2022 21:05:04 GMT
Helmut83 Talk about conflicted  ... Qatar with all its controversy is difficult to overcome. Wales (population of 3M) - total of about 200 professional footballers last I looked) hasn't qualified for 64-years and then only once before in our history... We are naturally excited. This isn't like other countries who qualify nearly every time. It is effectively once in a lifetime for most welsh fans. We have a long history of heartbreaking near misses, I wont bore you with how many times we've been hard done by. The video in the song posted recently sums it all up neatly in a package... the song translated says 'Despite everything we are still here' (it is actually Welsh independence song from the 80's... but has found new life with welsh football fans). Given our schedules/commitments and soul searching, we are actually going to one game (Wales V England). As for others and how they will do ... I have no idea who is good or who will win ... apart from Wales that is ... what a story that would be |
|
|
|
Post by Horacewimp on Nov 16, 2022 21:22:28 GMT
Wow dillwyn you are going to the Wales v England game that sounds brilliant, have a super fun time and stay safe. |
|
|
|
Post by dillwyn on Nov 16, 2022 22:02:42 GMT
Thank you ... we will try .. we are staying in Dubai so hopefully all will be well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Helmut83 on Nov 18, 2022 6:35:17 GMT
Interesting opinions, thank you. I must say I'm a bit surprised at how pessimistic English fans seem to be right now. I've recently made friends with an English guy living here in Buenos Aires, he's a football fan and his opinion and expectations more or less coincide with yours, guys. England got quite an easy group and barring illogical results, the knockout bracket would also favor them to get far. Horacewimp it calls my attention that if you were to switch allegiances you would do it to either Wales or Argentina, two of England's biggest rivals (in particular Argentina when it comes to football). I must say I share the general sentiment about Qatar being a terrible place to host the tournament, and that the most annoying thing is that they didn't cancel everything once corruption in the voting process was discovered. It's no surprise that lately authorities related to the organization have come out saying they won't welcome gay people, or that you can't party, or hug, etc... The writing was on the wall since the very moment they decided to give the tournament to them. As for Argentina, expectations are high here. The team has been playing really well the last couple of years, and winning the Copa America and the finalissima against Italy gave people the feeling that this might be our World Cup. Plus it will probably be Messi's last one, and there's a lot of interest -not only Argentinean- in him raising the Cup before he retires. Personally, I think this World Cup will be won by a South American team, either Brazil or Argentina. Best of lucks in Qatar, dillwyn! I'm glad that you are not letting such a rare opportunity pass you by. |
|
|
|
Post by dillwyn on Nov 20, 2022 11:18:00 GMT
fine fine speech
|
|
|
|
Post by Helmut83 on Nov 21, 2022 10:21:19 GMT
Fantastic speech! Love his accent. The guy is surely a good motivator. Now, you can have all the courage, will and patriotism in the world, if you can't pass the ball correctly and have the technical ability to do what it takes to put put it into the net you'll lose all the same. As I see it, the chances of Wales (and of the US) advancing to the 2nd round will be decided to a very large extent in today's match. I have friends on both sides so it's hard for me to take sides. Wales is probably the underdog here though and their presence at the WC is, as Dillyn said, far more rare, so a win would probably mean more to them. Good luck to both and may the best win!  |
|
... Qatar with all its controversy is difficult to overcome. 
, but we're OK. 
Apparently it's quite hard to see them with the naked eye, you need to be looking through a camera or other type of lens?