TheBrownBottle

Look at the picture above. The number 13 is potentially in an offside position when that ball is played. It’s not about the ball being delivered into the box, it’s about the header across. The number 13’s left arm looks like it might be ahead but all but one Qatari player (incl the GK) and ahead of the player winning the ball I’m not saying he deffo is, because sometimes those angles are deceptive - but it’s a bloody close one, and hardly the ‘how have they given that’ that some are portraying it as.

The MBS immunity thing will have deflated a few of the crazies on RTG. And the sad thing is that of course it’s a grubby piece of realpolitik to keep KSA out of the orbits of China and Russia - but those sad acts view everything through the prism of stopping NUFC’s rise. Keeping KSA onside is a good thing for the west, btw - but they don’t care about that whatsoever. They’d happily see their own country’s position weakened if it increased the chances that NUFC. won’t sign a load of new players. That’s a dangerous level of obsession. Broken fuckers.

I want to keep giving him oxygen though. Spontaneous combustion requires oxygen, and he has to be close to that by now

Good to know that in the C21st they post the times on Twitter. Used to be a phone call in the C20th.

No, I don’t think they will this time. Whole thing is tainted. Of course those who care will want England to win, but most of my mates (including the ones who do) are at best indifferent this time. I’m not watching it despite being awake. Won’t give SBS viewing figures for it. Bollocks to them. I’ll watch the England games when they’re on at a convenient time but I’m fucked if I’m watching owt else. I’ll normally watch c.80% of WC matches.

All the sympathy money can buy

All of it is adding up to the incompetently run car crash which was utterly predictable. Money being utterly misspent on badly run projects is the norm in that part of the world. It always brings a smile on my face when people talk about our true owners being super smart and demanding the highest quality. Construction projects in the Arabian peninsula are notorious for over-promising and underdelivering - while being mind-warpingly wasteful with money

I hope that the giant spider makes another appearance in Mexico

Yeah, it seemed odd - Brazil normally take big numbers and Argentina don’t usually outstrip them in ticket sales. Ah well, I suspect the Brazilians who are there will have a good time watching the games (though not in a samba-style atmosphere). Can’t see anyone but the Selecao winning it (would be good to watch Bruno win it too)

Yes, though at least now he’s got time to spend on his hobbies, like cavorting with underage hookers or blackmailing teammates.

Russia v Saudi Arabia four years ago wasn’t exactly one to watch. Which is why I didn’t. Nor South Africa v Mexico in 2010. I didn’t watch that either. I don’t think I’ve watched all the games (well, obviously other than the final group games which are played concurrently) since 1998. Didn’t bother getting up for England v Nigeria in 2002.

I’ve got Croatia and Canada to get out of this group. Which now I’m writing it is even more crackers than I originally thought, and likely means Belgium will win the whole thing. But I’ll stick to my guns. This group is where the shock early exit comes.

100% agreed mate. A ME WC would have been far more appropriate- and like you say, have Qatar host the final if that’s what is agreed. Of course, we know the intention was no such thing. This is about Qatar’s soft power - and also serves as a reminder to the world that it exists. Much harder for a larger local despot to roll the tanks in if the west has actually heard of it.

Yep. I fundamentally don’t trust the fashion opinions of anyone who doesn’t love the mid-‘80s silver away kit Every kid in Newcastle had that top at the time - I’m convinced it was more popular than the home one

Unless Pickford is injured, he starts. Pope didn’t have the best of games last time for England, and GK is the last position you’re likely to swap out before a major tournament. I’ll content myself with the warm fuzzy feeling that I wouldn’t swap Pope for Pickford for NUFC. He’s the better GK for me - said the same last year when we played Burnley.

All good points, though the difference with Russia is that it is a footballing country, not a tiny city state. Personally, I’ve no real issue with the WC being held in the ME - it is a World Cup, after all. As unedifying as it is, human rights abuses occur across swathes of the planet - and historically, said abuses don’t preclude major sports rocking up. But a ME WC should be in Iran, KSA etc. Large countries with sizeable footballing supports and histories (particularly Iran). Holding a WC in Qatar is a bad joke.

I’m one of them. Couldn’t be happier for the lad - never faulted his work rate, just his output. At this point I’m beginning to think Howe could have turned Fumaca into Jairzinho

Yes, it was a classic. Games played in ludicrous (occasionally dangerous) temperatures slowing every game to pedestrian pace, all capped off by the worst final in history. Diana Ross still takes a better penalty than the average Englishman mind you

That must mean that there are 92,000 Argentinians going because the Athletic are reporting that only 8,000 Brazilians are heading to Qatar. https://theathletic.com/3636928/2022/11/11/qatar-world-cup-cost-fans/?amp=1

*remembers 1994 and shudders*

I’ve had orgies like that

I bet Ivan Toney is off to the bookies in disguise after seeing this one It wouldn’t be a surprise tbh - I sort of hope it happens and a bribe is uncovered quickly. Would laugh my bollocks off

I thought the 97/98 one was fucking awful at the time, and the passing decades haven’t softened my opinion. Was also uncomfortable to wear

Likewise. Looks like our ‘original’ away kits from the first couple of decades of the C20th

It’s about soft power rather than good publicity