World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

Next time Ronaldo is questioned at a press conference he should be asked how he feels about being loved by so many kids across the world, while at the same time being a cheat, and showing them such a bad example, and does he not feel any sense of responsibility - even to his own kids watching their father.

Hope he blows a penalty over the bar.

Seemingly he's a party animal on the sly though

😝

I can't see how a sport that had to set a maximum 3hr time limit because of all the stoppages could wipe the floor with anything.

Regular season college football is normally 2/2.5 hours start to finish. Not much different to the group World Cup games in truth, 45 Minute halves plus 8 to 10 minutes injury time plus a 15 minute halftime break. College football is massive in the US, bigger than NFL - most of the world's top 10 biggest stadia capacity wise are US college football stadia, and they are generally full from September to December. There is generally a local element to it, as well as strong past student groups who travel back to games in their Alumi regularly. Fans in most cities are exposed to it at a high level, its very traditional in relation to a relatively young country like the USA which doesn't have many traditions that are over 100 years old (well.... Not many that they can openly celebrate anyway😉)

Of it's not your thing, fair enough - but you ought to try to understand how and why it's strong before poo pooing it and why others might enjoy it. It is a big obstacle to the hearts and minds of many US sport fans.

I'll be amazed if Tunisia finish the game without getting someone sent off.

The header for the Australia goal was brilliant.

Its strong for the same reasons almost every sport is strong.

Because it's the one that area grew up with. Its nothing to do with entertainment factor.

Anyway, back to the soccer, two very limited sides in show here, Tunisia dross in the first half, a little more lively in the second half but no real quality in show. Mooy looks the best footballer on the field, which says a lot really.

Southgate reminds me a lot of Brian Kerr when he was with Ireland.

A quietly spoken very knowledgeable ‘football man’ with a fantastic record most of their contemporaries can only dream of, bar a few. They are an easy target because their approach to football is conservative and results based.

Yet they are still unfavourably compared to those few ‘more successful managers’ of their respective teams - Charlton - McCarthy1 (ROI) and Ramsey (England).

I would argue that Southgate and Kerr are/were the best tactical managers either country has had. As both managers approach to the game meant better teams rarely beat them handy. And poorer teams never won against them. A set up which is ideal for tournament football.

Kerr (disgracefully IMO) was not given more chances to qualify for senior tournament football. Likewise I think the criticism Southgate gets is equally harsh look at the fellas record! All the criticism seems perception based.

Think the criticism will be there for Gareth until they can beat the teams around their level more often. They have a final and semi final to their name, but with their respective paths in each, I think the only decent side they beat were a particularly poor Germany? Lost to Italy, Belgium twice, and Croatia.

And that image of not being able to compete with the big teams was really strengthened by the last Nations League… they always blitz through qualifying when they’re the big dogs, but in a nations league campaign of relatively similar teams they were abysmal. (Not that nations league matters thaaat much, but it doesn’t help). So I think a lot of people would point towards Gareth’s conservatism and see that as him not getting everything out of his strongest players, who are all attacking. Which is a fair enough point.

Surprised the Aussies picked up the win. That was a brilliant header to win it.

Saudis not going to win again, surely? I'll go Poland by 2 goals. Lewandowski to get his World Cup goal.

RTE's coverage has generally been the better option. But your ones voice on co commentary now is too hard on my ears. Time to change over.

Could easily have walked already, going leading in with an elbow like that was very risky. Poland aren't good at all

Her voice is like a cheese grater grating coarse sandpaper. I have the volume on mute.

Zielinski with the breakthrough. Nicely worked goal from Poland. Best thing they've done this half.

That’s the worst penalty decision I’ve seen yet.

Goalkeeper was a bit of the line for the penalty. Meh. Good double save.

Rebound save is exceptional

Was Szczesney off the line?

Milik nearly makes it 2. Great effort.

Gift wrapped on a plate. 2-0.

That's the game. Can't mess around like that with Lewandowski nearby.