FIFA World Cup

[Mike]

Not going anywhere fucking near Fox for that exact reason.

[JNK]

France lost Kanté, Pogba and possibly Varane.

 

Argentina nearly losing Dybala and possibly Di Maria.

 

Can't wait for this World cup, the "hexa" (6th title) was never that close 

[Rafalove]

According to a graphic in the Athleticic  it says it’s illlegal to be gay in the. US?

[Disco]

36 minutes ago, Rafalove said:

Athleticic  

 

Good Croat midfielder him, box to box.

[Rafalove]

shit

[Miercoles]

On 02/11/2022 at 08:18, Rafalove said:

According to a graphic in the Athleticic  it says it’s illlegal to be gay in the. US?

 

Some states still have "sodomy" laws on the books that would make gay sex illegal, but they are not enforced. Gay rights in general vary widely state by state.

 

My own state restricts state funded travel and spending to other states that have what it deems "hateful legislation" - basically interstate sanctions which is kind of wild to think about. They don't mean much obviously and exceptions are routine, but it shows you how much the environment depends on what state you are in, and often what city.

[Mazzy]

Brazil surely the big favourites? 

[Beth]

I see the 2026 WC will have 16 groups of three teams each. So the team that has to play in the first two games could be shafted by collusion if the final game would see both teams playing it going through with a certain outcome.

[Wolfcastle]

24 minutes ago, Beth said:

I see the 2026 WC will have 16 groups of three teams each. So the team that has to play in the first two games could be shafted by collusion if the final game would see both teams playing it going through with a certain outcome.

May as well just call the qualifiers the finals at this point. The top two go into a global draw and a knockout to the final. We'll be playing them in fifty-nine and a half different countries by 2030 anyway so why not.

The football authorities find ever more inventive ways to fuck up something that's worked great for generations. Speaking of which FA Cup starts soon.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by Wolfcastle

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, Beth said:

I see the 2026 WC will have 16 groups of three teams each. So the team that has to play in the first two games could be shafted by collusion if the final game would see both teams playing it going through with a certain outcome.

 

1982 World Cup had groups of 3 in the Second Round, anyone got any idea how they went? Might have been the only time so guessing the fact it was gone by 86 suggests it was shit.

[Geordie Ahmed]

42 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

1982 World Cup had groups of 3 in the Second Round, anyone got any idea how they went? Might have been the only time so guessing the fact it was gone by 86 suggests it was shit.

 

Had a look at this recently, in 1982 the second round did have groups of 3 but it was only the side finishing 1st that went through so no issues there

 

Having groups of 3 with top two going through is problematic 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

 

Had a look at this recently, in 1982 the second round did have groups of 3 but it was only the side finishing 1st that went through so no issues there

 

Having groups of 3 with top two going through is problematic 

 

Is it any worse than a group of 4? Was it Sweden and Denmark that played out a 2-2 draw to knock out Italy one year? With this format the team who are top in the last game are already guaranteed to go through so winning is more an incentive to top the group, without the jeopardy of being knocked out. 

[Geordie Ahmed]

1 minute ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Is it any worse than a group of 4? Was it Sweden and Denmark that played out a 2-2 draw to knock out Italy one year? With this format the team who are top in the last game are already guaranteed to go through so winning is more an incentive to top the group, without the jeopardy of being knocked out. 

In a group of 4 the final matches are played at the same time so it reduces potential collusion if not completely remove it 

 

 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

In a group of 4 the final matches are played at the same time so it reduces potential collusion if not completely remove it 

 

 

 

Still instances where a convenient draw works for both. In those games there's less risk of one going for the win because if they lose, they're out. Here though, the team who are top have no risk of going out so might be more inclined to go for the win.

[Tsunami]

1982 was a funny World Cup. England didn’t play that well (played well the 1st game against France), didn’t lose a game and didn’t concede a goal in the 2nd phase and went out with a load of could have been’s. 
 

KK obvs missed that chance against Spain which did for us.

[samptime29]

World Cup in the work from home era - great times.

 

Also my mate in Preston has got 8 of us over for the first full weekend of World Cup Friday 25th to Sunday 27th.  Hyped! 

[Beth]

13 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Still instances where a convenient draw works for both. In those games there's less risk of one going for the win because if they lose, they're out. Here though, the team who are top have no risk of going out so might be more inclined to go for the win.

Lots of scenarios whereby one of the teams is shafted in the group.

 

Lets say one group has England, New Zealand and Mexico in it. England play NZ first and win 4-0. Next game is England v Mexico. England know they're pretty much already through regardless of the result, so play the squad players to keep the better players fresh. As a result we lose say 0-2 and in the process have basically eliminated NZ before they even play Mexico (unless they beat them 3-0)......

[Guest]

I don't see how that's any different to a group of 4 though where the team in 1st who's won 2 games play a scratch XI.

[Beth]

22 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

I don't see how that's any different to a group of 4 though where the team in 1st who's won 2 games play a scratch XI.

It's much more likely in a group of three though. I suppose we'll find out in 4 years time.

[cubaricho]

Which of our players are guaranteed going and which are on the bubble? I think a list in the OP would be dope. 

[Disco]

53 minutes ago, cubaricho said:

dope

Pretty sure that’s a paddlin’ in Qatar.

[Bizza]

 

That fucking band  

[Paullow]

You'd probably think something like.

 

Likely: Trippier, Pope, Schaar, Bruno, 

Possibly / probably: Kuol, Wilson

Unlikely: Joelinton, Botman

 

 

It's an interesting one. The likes of Joelinton and Botman would probably hardly feature if they were selected having never previously made a senior squad (I don't think), but it would be good for their morale if selected, but probably better for NUFC if they went to Saudi instead, so I probably hope they aren't selected, since it isn't too likely. Wilson is a bit different - he probably won't feature too much either, unless desperate, but he is nearly 31, probably his last chance of a World Cup, and very much in contention to go and (he) would be gutted if he missed out, so I probably hope he is selected.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by Paullow

[TaylorJ_01]

On 20/09/2022 at 12:13, The Prophet said:

 

 

It is a morally shameful, ecologically destructive version of Fyre Festival. All this construction that'll never be used again, it's heartbreaking.

[LFEE]

16 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

1982 World Cup had groups of 3 in the Second Round, anyone got any idea how they went? Might have been the only time so guessing the fact it was gone by 86 suggests it was shit.

You mean you’ve never heard the story of West Germany v Austria? ? Look it up…

 

(Edit: done it for you ?)

 

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by LFEE