Qatar Hero - The World Cup 2022 thread

[Pepe the Horseman]

Either Spain are very good, or Costa Rica are awful. Maybe a bit of both.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Didn't the pundits reckon Spain would struggle to score goals?

[leon]

Didn't the pundits reckon Spain would struggle to score goals?

probably

[Silver Fox]

This has been duller than any of the 0-0s so far

[Sanguine]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Didn't the pundits reckon Spain would struggle to score goals?

Ironic that the "better" sides a lot of people expected to struggle to score (England and Spain) have scored the most so far of any team to have played (bar France - but Spain could easily match/exceed their tally) whereas some of the others (Germany and Argentina) have struggled with various attempts and have lost or not won (Croatia and Denmark).

Too early to tell in the group stages, particularly after one game, but France, England and Spain have started the best. Time will tell as to how that holds up through the tournament once these nations (eventually) start playing higher quality sides.

[South Coast Royal]

Didn't the pundits reckon Spain would struggle to score goals?

Ironic that the "better" sides a lot of people expected to struggle to score (England and Spain) have scored the most so far of any team to have played (bar France - but Spain could easily match/exceed their tally) whereas some of the others (Germany and Argentina) have struggled with various attempts and have lost or not won (Croatia and Denmark).

Too early to tell in the group stages, particularly after one game, but France, England and Spain have started the best. Time will tell as to how that holds up through the tournament once these nations (eventually) start playing higher quality sides.

Am not sure that England were expected to struggle to score v Iran.

Have turned the commentary off after Tyldesley's "jokes", with everybody according to him having a bad back and underdogs going back into their kennel.
Never liked the bloke and surprised that he continues to commentate after supposedly being put out to grass.

BTW Gavi and Pedri could be the Barcelona pairing for even longer than Iniesta and Xavi-they will need a new Busquets.
Pedri a veteran of the Euros and still only 18,.
What a couple of players.

[From Despair To Where?]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

I agree with that last bit completely and there was the emergence of a new generation of exciting English players but I think there's a rose tinted view of the tournament in this country.

Yes, there were moments of class and high farce but that was it, moments in a sea of mediocrity. I don't remember any of England's games being that good. Tense and closely fought maybe but dreadful games of football to watch, particulalrly the group games. Ireland's penalty shootout win was preceded by 120 minutes of awful, awful football. The final was a shocker of German grind versus Argentinian cynicism. That Voller spitting at Rijkaard makes your list of highlights says it all.

[Sanguine]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

I agree with that last bit completely and there was the emergence of a new generation of exciting English players but I think there's a rose tinted view of the tournament in this country.

Yes, there were moments of class and high farce but that was it, moments in a sea of mediocrity. I don't remember any of England's games being that good. Tense and closely fought maybe but dreadful games of football to watch. Ireland's penalty shootout win was preceded by 120 minutes of awful, awful football. The final was a shocker of German grind versus Argentinian cynicism. That Voller spitting at Rijkaard makes your list of highlights says it all.

There were also a lot of world-class 'all-time' players in their prime - Maradona, Matthaus, Baggio, Baresi, Hagi, Romario, Koeman, Van Basten, Gullit, even a young Maldini.

Fwiw that list was just off the top of my head, and home nations-centric, but I don't think it was as bad as you are making out, or indeed, worse than other tournaments, simply for those special moments.

And Nessun Dorma, of course.

[From Despair To Where?]

It was the last tournament where I watched the majority of games. Can't help but think you're getting 90 and 94 merged in your mind with your mention of Romario and Hagi. Both went out on the last 16 and neither scored in 1990.

[Mr Angry]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

There is an excellent programme on Sky Documentaries about Italia 90 that made the same point; in fact, Italia 90 hastened the flood of money into the game because big businessmen could see the value of the game.

[Sutekh]

Hoilett starts for Canada.

[genome]

Put the name and city together

[Dirk Gently]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

There is an excellent programme on Sky Documentaries about Italia 90 that made the same point; in fact, Italia 90 hastened the flood of money into the game because big businessmen could see the value of the game.

Yep - there's a similar 3-part documentary on Ch4 which I very much enjoyed.

The main lesson is that a WC in the right timezone, with "human interest" coverage (e.g. gazza's tears, etc) and a changed attitude to hooliganism suddenly made football acceptable and fashionable to the middle-classes. After that it was the formation of the PL, all seater-stadia and ker-ching.

[Sutekh]

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

There is an excellent programme on Sky Documentaries about Italia 90 that made the same point; in fact, Italia 90 hastened the flood of money into the game because big businessmen could see the value of the game.

Yep - there's a similar 3-part documentary on Ch4 which I very much enjoyed.

The main lesson is that a WC in the right timezone, with "human interest" coverage (e.g. gazza's tears, etc) and a changed attitude to hooliganism suddenly made football acceptable and fashionable to the middle-classes. After that it was the formation of the PL, all seater-stadia and ker-ching.

Wondered what it was that persuaded Sir John to invest in some tin pot little club.

[bcubed]

If we're talking worst World Cup, I know everyone goes on about it being some sort of footballing renaissance but a lot of Italia 90 was pretty dreadful.

True, but there were a lot of stand-out games or results (Argentina 0-1 Cameroon and the red cards, Ireland's shootout win, our semi-final with West Germany, our QF win over Cameroon, West Germany 2-1 Netherlands) ridiculous goals (Baggio's solo effort, Platt's volley, Jozic's volley, Degryse's lob) and 'romantic' tales and brilliant characters (Schillaci coming out of Serie B, Gazza, the Cameroon side, the Voller/Rijkaard spat, Roger Milla - and related, Rene Higuita the sweeper).

Statistically Italia '90 remains the 'dullest' World Cup, with barely over two goals a game, but perhaps why it is really looked upon with such fondness is that it is the last World Cup before the money really took over football.

There is an excellent programme on Sky Documentaries about Italia 90 that made the same point; in fact, Italia 90 hastened the flood of money into the game because big businessmen could see the value of the game.

Enjoyed it too.
Perhaps a bit long, as ever with these sorts of programmes
But the Terry Butcher stuff, especially where he was describing the normal training (drinking) regime were pretty funny
And I particularly liked the pieces on Toto Schillaci (sp.) - and his Dad.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Typically, if the likes of Germany (lol St P) etc, have no way of making the last 16 in their last game, will they have the bollox to wear those armbands that everybody has bottled wearing thus far???

Would like to think so…fukk the consequencies

[Sutekh]

Ludicrous VAR decision imo, even more so for the ridiculous booking of the Belgian, Carasco.

[genome]

Ludicrous VAR decision imo, even more so for the ridiculous booking of the Belgian.

Was a pen for me...

[Sutekh]

Ludicrous VAR decision imo, even more so for the ridiculous booking of the Belgian.

Was a pen for me...

Second VAR was a penalty but first one wasn’t for me.

Canada really deserve to be at least 2 up but just can’t find that finish.

So I guess we all know what’s coming….