samptime29 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 The last games of each group have been amazing. So much drama. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Can't believe I doubted this tournament. Just keep sportswashing me plz qatar x Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 We can't really be getting rid of these gamedays, can we? It's madness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I'm sorry, this has been so much fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I, for one, have been fully sportswashed. For a couple of days, at least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorty Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Me and the missus out tomorrow in Newcastle shopping and drinks. Hoping to catch the Holland game. Soak it up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 1 hour ago, tgarve said: World Cup has been good so far Think it’s definitely the pinnacle would people be dead against wengers idea? Which idea is that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 3 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said: Which idea is that? Every two years I think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, cubaricho said: Every two years I think? Ah right, not keen on that, especially as it would then result in a Euro's every 2 years I love the WC and Euro's but every year would take that away, a lot of what makes the WC brilliant is the jeopardy of going out means you have so long to wait it might never happen again (for individual players) Edited December 2, 2022 by Geordie Ahmed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Nah, every four is right. Dead against adding more teams as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I don't think going to 48 would meaningfully decrease the quality. Lots of teams out there that are the same or similar in quality as the bottom-half teams in the tournament right now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie Ahmed Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, oldtype said: I don't think going to 48 would meaningfully decrease the quality. Lots of teams out there that are the same or similar in quality as the bottom-half teams in the tournament right now. I don't necessarily have an issue with more teams It's the groups of 3 that is shite, takes away what we've seen the past few days Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 1 minute ago, Geordie Ahmed said: I don't necessarily have an issue with more teams It's the groups of 3 that is shite, takes away what we've seen the past few days That I wholeheartedly agree with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 8 minutes ago, oldtype said: I don't think going to 48 would meaningfully decrease the quality. Lots of teams out there that are the same or similar in quality as the bottom-half teams in the tournament right now. Can’t be arsed to go through the lot but having the likes of NZ, Panama, Oman and Scotland would add absolutely nowt bar a bit of colour in the stands. Africa does need more slots though. Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt etc aren’t better/worse than what’s here and that is often the case with the CAF qualifying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said: I don't necessarily have an issue with more teams It's the groups of 3 that is shite, takes away what we've seen the past few days Abso-fucking-lutely. and the spectre of teams knowing the result they need a day in advance. Two teams belaying for a 2-2 draw. No thanks Edited December 2, 2022 by gazza ladra Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 7 minutes ago, Disco said: Can’t be arsed to go through the lot but having the likes of NZ, Panama, Oman and Scotland would add absolutely nowt bar a bit of colour in the stands. Africa does need more slots though. Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt etc aren’t better/worse than what’s here and that is often the case with the CAF qualifying. Agree we could use more African sides. Though Cameroon haven’t shown much this time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 5 minutes ago, Disco said: Can’t be arsed to go through the lot but having the likes of NZ, Panama, Oman and Scotland would add absolutely nowt bar a bit of colour in the stands. Africa does need more slots though. Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt etc aren’t better/worse than what’s here and that is often the case with the CAF qualifying. 12 best teams by FIFA Ranking not to make it this year are: Italy, Colombia, Peru, Sweden, Ukraine, Chile, Tunisia, Nigeria, Russia, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary. None of those would be particularly out of place. Got a whole bunch of decent-ish teams after that too. Europe, South America, and Africa definitely could all use multiple additional slots. Oman would never make it man Would have been UAE if you had an extra slot for Asia this year. They are pretty shit, but it's fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paullow Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Disco said: Can’t be arsed to go through the lot but having the likes of NZ, Panama, Oman and Scotland would add absolutely nowt bar a bit of colour in the stands. Africa does need more slots though. Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt etc aren’t better/worse than what’s here and that is often the case with the CAF qualifying. Aye, but 3 of Italy, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Czech, then Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, plus the African countries you mention and Ivory Coast would add something. If you get 8 of those 12 in then it doesn't harm the event and we get more KO matches to look forward to. Extra CONCACAF and Asian sides might not help the quality of the tournament at this stage, but their participation may well improve them down the line. I'd probably prefer to stick to 32 as it works very well, no 3 team groups or 3rd place teams going through, but wouldn't be too against a few more nations getting their chance. Edited December 2, 2022 by Paullow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) You also have to take into account that if you want to develop international football in North America/Asia/Africa etc., you need to give more teams a foot in the door. Asian teams in particular just straight up don't have any important tournaments to prepare for if they don't make the World Cup because most people honestly don't care about the Asian Cup. Makes it hard for the national team to build support. Edited December 2, 2022 by oldtype Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Just now, Paullow said: Aye, but 3 of Italy, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Czech, then Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, plus the African countries you mention and Ivory Coast would add something. If you get 8 of those 12 in then it doesn't harm the event and we get more KO matches to look forward to. Extra CONCACAF and Asian sides might not help the quality of the tournament at this stage, but their participation may well improve then down the line. I'd probably prefer to stick to 32 as it works very well, no 3 tram groups or 3rd place teams going through, but wouldn't be too against a few more nations getting their chance. Won’t work like that. UEFA is only getting 3 more spots, South America 2 (also Chile and Paraguay wouldn’t be any better than Ecuador were and they went out). Vast majority are going elsewhere where, Africa aside, the quality drop is a lot bigger plus NZ will now be regulars. Although I get why FIFA want to increase elsewhere for reasons you and Oldy have stated. WC should be the best of the best IMO not the best of the best after a couple of attack v defence games to whittle down the trash. It also makes more of a mockery of an already dull qualification process in Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I did just look at the actual numbers and noticed that Asia is getting 3.5 more slots and that.. Well, that's going to be an adventure Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 3 hours ago, ponsaelius said: Can't believe I doubted this tournament. Just keep sportswashing me plz qatar x 3 hours ago, The College Dropout said: I'm sorry, this has been so much fun. 3 hours ago, oldtype said: I, for one, have been fully sportswashed. For a couple of days, at least. Don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying this tournament has been a blast, and also, “fuck Qatar and fuck FIFA.” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 This six-team qualification play-in tournament they're planning for 2026 looks absolutely mint though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtype Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, Tomato Deuce said: Don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying this tournament has been a blast, and also, “fuck Qatar and fuck FIFA.” Of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 No team finishing on 9 points shows just how batshit this tournament has been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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